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Rugby Transfers: Racing 92 star returns to NRL, England forward attracts Top 14 interest and Springbok duo targeted Joey Manu will return to rugby league at the conclusion of the 2026/27 Top 14 season, an England forward is attracting the interest of a Top 14 giant and two Springboks have appeared as shock transfer targets. Here are all the latest rugby rumours, transfers and contract renewals. Joey Manu’s NRL return confirmed Racing 92 back Manu will make his return to the NRL at the end of the season, signing a two-year deal with ambitious expansion franchise Papua New Guinea Chiefs. The 30-year-old first made the switch to Japanese outfit Toyota Verblitz following his move into the 15-man game, before heading to Paris at the start of last season. Since arriving at Racing, Manu has made 22 appearances in all competitions. Manu also follows fellow rugby union convert Zac Lomax to Port Moresby for the 2028 NRL season, and also becomes the club’s seventh addition ahead of their entry into the Australian competition. Commenting on the addition of Manu, PNG Chiefs CEO, Lorna McPherson, said: “Joey is another key signing for us and a further demonstration of the ambition we have for this club in making an impact for the people of Papua New Guinea. His connection to the Pacific, his character, experience and standing in the game will have a profound impact on our club. Lions bolstered by released Springboks and new signings for All Blacks showdown “He understands the responsibility that comes with representing something bigger than himself, and we believe he can have a genuine impact on our young players and the next generation of Papua New Guineans – who we are proud to represent as a club.” Chiefs general manager of football, Michael Chammas, added: “We’re thrilled to add Joey to our squad moving forward. He is a world-class footballer with versatility across several positions and can change a game in a single moment with the skills he possesses. “His experience and demonstrated success at the highest level will be a great benefit to our team and we can’t wait to see him have a significant impact in the Chiefs jersey.” During his first stint in rugby league, Manu made 181 appearances for the Sydney Roosters and helped the Chooks to win back-to-back Premierships in 2018 and 2019 as well as two World Club Challenge titles. He also won 17 Test caps for New Zealand and represented the Kiwis at the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup. England star attracts Top 14 interest PREM outfit Bath could be dragged into a tug-of-war with a Top 14 and European giant over England international prop Beno Obano, according to reports. Per RugbyPass, the 31-year-old loosehead, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is attracting the interest of reigning Investec Champions Cup champions Bordeaux-Begles, with Obano holding talks with the French club. The powerhouse forward debuted for the Blue, Black and Whites back in 2015, and has since made 189 appearances for the club while helping them win a historic treble in the 2024/25 season. Should Obano leave Bath, it would be yet another blow to Johann van Graan’s front-row stocks, with Springbok tighthead Thomas du Toit and compatriot Francois van Wyk both leaving the club at the end of last season to sign for the Sharks and Connacht, respectively. Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust. A move across the channel would also bring an instant end to Obano’s Test career, with the loosehead winning his first cap since 2024 in their Nations Championship defeat to the Springboks back in July. Springbok duo shock targets for South African franchise Scrum-half duo Faf de Klerk and Louis Schreuder have been namechecked as possible emergency recruits for the Stormers by head coach John Dobson, ahead of the United Rugby Championship (URC) season. Interest in the pair comes amid the backdrop of an availability crisis at scrum-half on the eve of the new URC campaign, with both Imad Khan and Dewaldt Duvenage picking up knocks against the All Blacks while Cobus Reinach will still be involved with the Springboks. “Loan players are an option, like Faf (de Klerk) and Louis Schreuder from Boland,” Dobson told Rapport. “We are looking at that.” Either of the scrum-halves would certainly add some experience to the Stormers side if they were to put pen to paper with the Cape Town outfit. De Klerk boasts 68 Test caps for the Springboks and played a crucial role in their back-to-back World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, alongside stints with the Lions, Sale Sharks, Yokohama Canon Eagles and now the Cheetahs. 36-year-old Schreuder also boasts serious club experience with the likes of the Stormers, Southern Kings, Sharks, Newcastle and Bath, and won his one and only Test cap for the Boks in 2017 against Wales.