The Premiership’s best signings ranked

To be clear from the start, the big transfer action is set to take place next summer following the rise in the salary cap, with a number of big names on the cusp of their contracts expiring. So the 2024-25 moves hint at tactical steps to get us there.

The bulk of this year’s moves fall into the same categories; unproven youngsters or gambles, veterans in their early 30s who (hopefully) still have plenty left in the tank, or capable back-ups. Not many “wow” signings.

A few honorary mentions before the top 10. It is hard to think of a more Steve Diamond signing for Newcastle than Cameron Neild, a tough back-row who played under Diamond at Sale and Worcester. Neild is sadly out for three months with a broken arm, but in the meantime will be helping Diamond coach the defence.

Phil Brantingham has lots of potential, the young loosehead joining Saracens from Newcastle, while Will Goodrick-Clarke showed promise at London Irish and is a smart pick-up by Exeter after a year with Ealing.

Sale signing 6ft 8in Le Roux Roets is a nice throwback to their Afrikaans peak from a few years ago, while it is too early yet for a verdict on Saracens two young signings at fly-half, Fergus Burke and Louie Johnson.

Leigh Halfpenny may end up winning a few games for Harlequins off the kicking tee, but he is 35 and coming off a disrupted spell with injury at the Crusaders. Rodrigo Isgro, the Argentina sevens star also heading to the Stoop, is an intriguing prospect who will need time.

10: Izaia Perese

Leicester Tigers from Waratahs

Last featured for the Wallabies against Portugal at the Rugby World Cup. The former rugby league player will churn out post-contact metres, has a good fend and can make ground on the outside. Plays bigger than he looks at 5ft 8in and 14 stone. Reunited with Michael Cheika, the former Australia coach.

9: Josh Kemeny

Northampton Saints from Melbourne Rebels

Two starts in pre-season, including with the rest of the first-teamers against Bedford last week, suggest that the former Rebel is set for a prominent role to kick off the new campaign. Kemeny has a couple of brief Wallaby appearances under his belt and, well, he is not shy when it comes to carrying with ball in hand.

8: Christian Wade

Gloucester from Racing 92

How much is left in the tank, you might be wondering, given Wade is now 33. My guess is plenty. Sixteen appearances for Racing last season included only seven starts (and three tries), below his hot strike-rate of seven tries in nine games from the previous season. It would be great if Wade now went on a similar late-career surge to Chris Ashton, who retired at the age of 36 on 101 Premiership tries. Wade is currently on 82, and when we spoke two years ago he was adamant he could break the record. Let’s see.

7: Titi Lamositele

Harlequins from Montpellier

Very reliable cog in the dominant Saracens machine that won multiple Premiership and Champions Cup titles in the 2010s. A bit of a golden egg when it comes to props in that he can cover both sides of the scrum, although Harlequins have recruited Wyn Jones as injury cover for Joe Marler on the loosehead side, meaning Lamositele can focus on filling the hole left by Will Collier at tighthead. Still only 29, the Samoa prop seems like good business.

6: Ross Molony

Bath from Leinster

Never capped by Ireland in the end but his availability throughout the whole season will be a plus for Bath, with Molony, 30, arriving from Leinster with a chip on his shoulder after the province opted to bring in RG Snyman. Praised for his intelligence and communication on the field. And qualifies for England, which helps in this age of carefully counting overseas player spots.

5: Viliame Mata

Bristol Bears from Edinburgh

On a surprisingly high salary according to sources, Mata during his peak at Edinburgh was a box-office attraction. There were glimpses of that top form at the Rugby World Cup with Fiji, especially with his try against England with a dummy that left Billy Vunipola lying on the turf. Keep him fit and he might be sensational, but he is now 32 and has been sidelined by a hamstring injury which will keep him out for the first two months of the season.

4: Gareth Anscombe

Gloucester from Sungoliath

Has not actually played since impressing at the Rugby World Cup with Wales – he was superb after replacing Dan Biggar early in the thrashing of Australia. He was sidelined with a groin injury that led to the cancellation of his contract with Suntory Sungoliath in Japan. The groin has recovered and now Gloucester hope that Anscombe, 33, can give them the consistency and quality required to get the most out of their pack and finishers out wide.

3: Waisea Nayacalevu

Sale Sharks from Toulon

Telegraph Sport revealed in March that Nayacalevu had been signed to replace Manu Tuilagi and was on a lower salary. That reduced price and increased availability are two big positives, before even discussing how well Nayacalevu played for Fiji on the field, scoring an excellent try against Wales, and led his country off it during last year’s Rugby World Cup. Age has to be considered at 34 but he will add so much value.

2: Tomos Williams

Gloucester from Cardiff

Long-term sufferers in the Shed will tell you that Gloucester have been crying out for an elite scrum-half for a while, and they might finally have one in the Wales international who at 29 is heading to Kingsholm in the prime of his career. Familiarity with Anscombe makes Gloucester instantly feel more stable and the club’s younger scrum-halves, Charlie Chapman (25) and Caolan Englefield (24), will benefit too.

1: Guy Pepper

Bath from Newcastle

The most exciting bit of recruitment ahead of the new season because of his potential. Having ticked off playing for England U18s, U20s and A, a senior Test cap in the future feels certain for the 21-year-old who joined Bath on a three-year deal from Newcastle. An absolute turnover machine and strong tackler with developing skills in attack, he should thrive learning off Sam Underhill in a competitive back row.