Multiple big-name players have swapped sides ahead of the upcoming European club rugby season. We use Opta data to select a competitive XV.
This weekend sees the start of the 2024-25 TOP 14 campaign, signalling the beginning of the European club rugby season, with the Premiership and United Rugby Championship kicking off in a couple of weeks’ time.
Over the summer plenty of clubs have welcomed new signings through their doors for pre-season, hoping to have picked up the personnel to take their team to the next level in 2024-25.
A mixture of up-and-coming youngsters, experienced heads and genuine world-class talent will be pulling on new colours over the coming weeks and months and the team at OptaJonny have picked out an XV who could have a big impact for their new team this season.
1. Mako Vunipola
RC Vannes
Both Mako and Billy Vunipola have left Saracens after distinguished spells, but while Billy is set to join Montpellier on the south coast, Mako will link up with RC Vannes in the north as the Brittany-based outfit gear up for a historic first ever TOP 14 campaign.
The feel-good factor is alive and well in Vannes after their play-off victory over Grenoble and the addition of a player with 79 England caps and three British & Irish Lions tours under his belt will give hope that their top-flight status is far from fleeting.
Since his first Premiership start for Saracens on the opening matchday of the 2012-13 season Vunipola has made more carries (1187) and dominant tackles (82) than any other prop in the competition.
He didn’t have to wait long for his Guinness Men’s Six Nations bow after bursting onto the scene at Saracens, appearing in all five of England’s games during the 2013 edition. Since then he has been a mainstay at Twickenham, despite often sharing loosehead duties with Joe Marler.
Since his first Six Nations appearance, Vunipola has averaged the most completed tackles per 80 minutes among the 27 props with 800+ minutes played (13.3) as well ranking third for both carries (10.2) and metres gained (13.6) per 80 minutes.
2. Gianmarco Lucchesi
RC Toulon
23-year-old Italian hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi has departed Benetton to join RC Toulon’s cohort of summer signings where he will link up with Azzurri teammate Paolo Garbisi. An archetypal modern hooker, Lucchesi involves himself in every aspect of the game, ranking first for ruck hits (32.6) as well as second for both carries (11.7) and tackles made (15.3) among the 28 hookers with 400+ minutes played in last season’s United Rugby Championship.
Lucchesi has also been a key cog in Italy’s resurgence of late, showcasing his cutting edge again during this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations, where despite playing just 196 minutes, he was the only hooker to make 50+ tackles (53). He also won the joint-most turnovers of any front row forward, alongside Leinster and Ireland powerhouse Andrew Porter (4 each).
3. Demba Bamba
Racing 92
Demba Bamba has left Lyon to link up with Racing 92 and he will be in familiar surroundings having grown up not too far away in Saint-Denis.
The 26-year-old prop was unlucky to miss out on selection for France’s home World Cup last year, having featured during their warm-up match against Scotland. He did feature in all three of Les Bleus’ summer Tests this year though, and will be looking to convince Fabien Galthié of his credentials once the TOP 14 season gets underway.
Bamba is as dynamic as tightheads come, having gained more metres (19) and beaten more defenders (2.6) per 80 minutes than any other prop in the TOP 14 over the last four seasons (min. 1600 minutes played), shrugging off 25% of the tackles he’s faced over that period – also the highest rate of any prop still plying their trade in the top flight of French rugby.
His ability to beat players with ball in hand will add yet more firepower to a Racing 92 side littered with big ball-carrying threats.
4. Jonny Gray
Union Bordeaux Bègles
After four years with the Exeter Chiefs, Jonny Gray made the move to Bordeaux this summer to play for one of the most exciting teams in Europe. UBB play a scintillating brand of rugby, with their electric backline capable of cutting any team open. To facilitate that, though, you need a pack capable of getting through a mountain of work to allow the dangermen to flourish. And in the Scottish international Bordeaux have one of the hardest-working players around.
We all know of Gray’s work rate in defence, making countless tackles, with missed attempts coming once in a blue moon.
In his Six Nations career, for example, he’s made 559 tackles and missed just 13, an average of 43 tackles completed for each miss.
However, just focusing on his tackling underplays his all round work rate. If we tally up Gray’s carries, tackles and rucks in the Six Nations so far this decade, he averages 53.9 per minute. Of the 77 players to feature for 800+ minutes in the Championship in that time, only two players – both back rows – can better his tally (Matt Fagerson – 56.3 and Caelan Doris – 54.2).
If he can stay injury free this season then Gray can help Bordeaux shine.
5. RG Snyman
Leinster Rugby
Towering South African lock RG Snyman has swapped Munster for provincial rivals Leinster after an injury-ravaged four years in the south of Ireland.
While Munster fans perhaps didn’t see as much of Snyman on the pitch as they were hoping for, when he did line up, his ability was plain for all to see. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner averaged 3.3 completed offloads per 80 minutes in the URC last season, comfortably the most of any of the 404 players to feature for 400+ minutes in the league in 2023-24. In fact, only two other players managed an average of at least two offloads per 80 minutes (Cameron Hanekom – 2.2 and Warrick Gelant – 2.0).
As adept as he is at shifting the ball in contact though, Snyman is perhaps at his best when smashing his way through the opposition single-handedly, as showcased by his heroic efforts across the Springboks’ victorious 2019 and 2023 World Cup campaigns. In those campaigns, he maintained the highest gainline success rate of any lock across the two tournaments (73%, min.20 carries) in addition to ranking first for line breaks (4) and second for defenders beaten (10) over that period, only behind Scott Barrett (11), whose brother Jordie is set to link up with Snyman at the four-time European champions, but more on him later…
6. Lewis Ludlam
RC Toulon
Northampton Saints will have two sizable holes to fill in their pack this season after Courtney Lawes and Lewis Ludlam both announced moves to France. While Lawes has made the move to Pro D2 to sign for CA Brive, Ludlam has put pen to paper on a deal with three-time European champions RC Toulon, following in the footsteps of another Saint, David Ribbans, who made the same switch last season.
English imports tend to fare well in Toulon, with the likes of Chris Ashton, the Armitage brothers, and perhaps most famously, Jonny Wilkinson, all making significant impacts in the French Riviera.
While Lawes has cemented his legacy in Saints folklore forever more, Ludlam’s numbers over the last six seasons – when he became a permanent fixture in Northampton’s starting lineup – indicate that his loss will be felt just as much at Franklin’s Gardens.
When comparing their numbers at flanker specifically, Ludlam has averaged more tries (0.2), carries (10.3), metres gained (27), defenders beaten (1.9) and tackles made (12.4) than his former teammate in the Premiership since the start of the 2018-19 season.
Should he carry those figures into the TOP 14, with Toulon already able to count on big names such as Charles Ollivon and Facundo Isa in the back row, they will be quietly confident of improving on their fourth-place finish last season.
7. Guy Pepper
Bath Rugby
Over the last few seasons, Bath have steadily assembled a squad capable of competing for titles and the addition of Guy Pepper will add to their abundance of talent in the back row. The 21-year-old makes the journey to the west country after a real breakthrough season with Newcastle Falcons in 2023-24, playing 14 of 18 games in the Premiership, with each of his appearances coming in the starting lineup.
His work rate really stood out for Newcastle last season. Pepper was one of just three players to hit triple figures for carries (111), tackles (204), attacking rucks (216) and defensive rucks (109), alongside Harlequins duo Will Evans and Alex Dombrandt, who both played at least 200 minutes more than Pepper.
His defensive work was the most impressive part of his game, ranking in the top five players for turnovers won (12, tied-fifth), tackle success (95.3%, fifth; min. 100 attempts) and tackles completed (204, third).
In fact, his average of 16 tackles per 80 minutes was the best of any of the 54 players to feature for 1000+ minutes in the Premiership last season, while 35 of his tackles came in a single match against Saracens in December, the most by any player in a Premiership match since Opta have recorded this data.
As far as signings go, Pepper is certainly worth his salt.
8. Viliame Mata
Bristol Bears
Viliame Mata has been ever-present in the Edinburgh back row over the last eight years, falling just one appearance short of a century in the URC (incl. Rainbow Cup) since moving to the Scottish capital in 2016. In that time, he was the only No. 8 to make 1000+ carries (1211), gain 3000+ metres (3857) or beat 150+ defenders (156) in the competition.
The Fijian’s all-action approach to the game should see him slot seamlessly into a Bristol Bears team which averaged the most carries (133) and metres gained (536) per game of any side in the 2023-24 Premiership season, as Pat Lam seeks to add some marginal gains and clinch the play-off spot that the Bears missed out on by just two points last term.
9. Tomos Williams
Gloucester Rugby
Scrum-half Tomos Williams makes the trip across the Severn to join a Gloucester side who already possess two of his international compatriots in the form of Gareth Anscombe and Max Llewellyn.
While Williams will be tasked with unleashing the riches of Gloucester’s attack, including the likes of Christian Wade, Ollie Thorley and Santiago Carreras, he is a carrying force in his own right.
Since the start of 2020, he is one of just three scrum-halves to have evaded at least half of the tackles he’s faced in the URC (50%, min. 20 faced), alongside Embrose Papier and Grant Williams, and is the No. 9 with the most offloads completed per 80 minutes (0.9, min.1600 minutes played).
10. Owen Farrell
Racing 92
For the first time in a professional career which has already spanned 16 years, Owen Farrell will be plying his trade outside of England, joining Racing 92 in the TOP 14, who are no strangers to fielding an international superstar at 10 (just ask Dan Carter, Johnny Sexton or Finn Russell).
Farrell himself needs no introduction. One of the top point scores in the international game, he has scored 1237 points for England and a further 34 for the British & Irish Lions, with only Racing 92 predecessor Carter having scored more points in men’s Test rugby (1598 for New Zealand).
While he has switched between fly-half and inside centre at Test level, the vast majority of his Saracens appearances in recent years have come at No. 10, and that’s where he’ll be expected to line up for Racing 92 as well.
In fact, he hasn’t played outside of 10 in the Premiership since the start of 2016 and in that time, he has provided more try assists (0.6), won more turnovers (0.5) and made more dominant tackles (0.8) per 80 minutes than any other fly-half in the league (min. 1600+ minutes), as well as ranking second for break assist passes (1.1).
While his move to the French capital has scuppered his England prospects for the time being, should Owen set Paris alight with his usual dazzling displays, he’ll still be hopeful of a British & Irish Lions call-up from father Andy at the end of the season.
11. Thaakir Abrahams
Munster Rugby
Antoine Frisch’s return to his native France leaves behind some big shoes to fill in a Munster attack which has been performing well in recent years under the tutelage of Graham Rowntree.
In the latest in South Africa’s production line of diminutive wingers with scrumcaps, Abrahams comes highly recommended after an impressive 2023-24 Champions Cup campaign.
Of the 213 players to feature for more than 240 minutes in the competition last season, he topped the charts for tries (1.3), metres gained (95) and line breaks (2.3, level with Damian Penaud) per 80 minutes. Additionally, the speedster was one of just three players to average 6+ defenders beaten per 80 minutes (6.0), alongside French superstar Penaud (6.8) and fellow Munsterman Alex Nankivell (7.1).
Munster won’t be Abrahams’ first taste of the URC, having lined out for the Sharks between 2021 and 2023, scoring five tries across 11 URC starts for the Durban outfit, including a brace, which the Thomond faithful will be pleased to know came against arch-rivals Leinster in October 2022.
12. André Esterhuizen
Sharks
André Esterhuizen is set for a return to the Sharks, picking up where he left off four years ago after a fruitful stint in the Premiership with Harlequins.
During his time at the Stoop, he made the most carries of any back in the Premiership (691), while his tally of 41 turnovers won was also the most of any back over that period.
His ability to punch holes in the midfield has been a key component of Harlequins’ game plan since the South African arrived, allowing them to get over the gainline and give their exiting backs the time and space to tear the opposition apart.
In the Premiership last season, Esterhuizen averaged 12.6 carries per 80 minutes: of the 54 backs to feature for 800+ minutes in 2023-24 only two averaged more runs with the ball (Freddie Steward – 14.2, George Furbank – 13.3). This high volume of carries was coupled with a relentless ability to drive through opposition defenders with the 30-year-old being one of just two players to average more than two metres in contact per carry in the league last term (2.03), along with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (2.05).
Esterhuizen will add yet more bite to the Sharks midfield, where he first made a name for himself in senior rugby. He made the most dominant tackles (61) and won the most turnovers (52) of any centre in Super Rugby during his previous spell there and will no doubt have a similar impact this time around.
13. Waisea Nayacalevu
Sale Sharks
Waisea Nayacalevu is one of the most devasting centres in world rugby and the Fijian demonstrated his attacking ability at last year’s Rugby World Cup, as he led his side to a quarter-final in France – Fiji’s best finish since 2007.
He was one of the best players at the tournament for getting his team on the front foot, recording a gainline success rate of 84%. Of the 99 players to make 30+ carries at the tournament, only two players – both wingers, who are often able to cross the gainline unopposed – recorded a better rate (Louis Rees-Zammit 91%, Will Jordan 85%).
As a result Nayacalevu carried the ball for 469 metres from his 45 carries at the World Cup, an average of 10.4 metres per carry, placing him in the top 10 players overall and once again being the top ranking non-back three player.
Sale may be saying goodbye to one centre who can pack a punch in Manu Tuilagi, but they will replace him with a midfielder just as adept at getting over the advantage line, and hopefully one who can stay injury free…
14. Christian Wade
Gloucester Rugby
It’s been six years since Christian Wade last played in the Gallagher Premiership, departing Wasps in 2018 for a spell in the NFL, the same career move that has prompted Gloucester to look to him to replace the void left by Rees-Zammit’s stateside switch earlier this year.
If Wade picks up where he left off on English shores, and his form at Racing 92 over the last two years suggests he can, then fans should be in for a treat at Kingsholm.
Between his first appearance for Wasps in April 2011 and his final outing in October 2018, Wade scored at least 25 more tries than any other Premiership player (82) in addition to ranking first for both line breaks (150) and defenders beaten (381) over that time.
Despite not playing in the league since 2018, his tally of 82 tries leaves him just 20 short of breaking the all-time Premiership try scoring record, currently held by Ashton.
Wade scored at least 12 tries in each of his last four full campaigns with Wasps and although he’s reaching the twilight of his career, there is no reason to believe he can’t break the record if he manages a couple of seasons with the Cherry and Whites.
Any doubts that his powers may have waned soon vanished the moment he lined out for Racing 92 in the TOP 14, as he went on to score five tries across his first five league outings for the Parisians, gaining 100+ metres in two of those matches.
15. Jordie Barrett
Leinster Rugby
Leinster have made a few high-profile signings ahead of the 2024/25 season, with the aforementioned RG Snyman making the move from rivals Munster and experienced France prop Rabah Slimani set to add some weight to the front row.
However, not many signings will have turned as many heads as Jordie Barrett, who is taking a six-month sabbatical to join a province he is somewhat familiar with having spent 15 months in County Meath in the early 2000s.
Although he’s predominantly worn the number 12 jersey in recent years, Barrett is the ultimate utility player who will be able to slot in at almost any position in the Leinster backline – as such we’ve slotted him into full-back for our XV.
In his senior rugby career, over half of his starts have come at full-back, but the All Black has worn every jersey from 10 to 15 for either New Zealand or the Hurricanes.
This ability to seamlessly fit into the team in any position could be of huge benefit to Leinster for the short period he is with the province – he can be the experienced head in the URC games when Leinster are often without a multitude of international stars, while in the heavyweight games in both the league and Europe he will add yet more star power to what is already a world-class outfit.
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