The 2026–27 United Rugby Championship transfer market has produced major squad changes across Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa.
Several international stars are on the move, while academy graduates and emerging players are also stepping into senior squads. Among the headline moves are Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe joining the Stormers, Tommaso Menoncello leaving Benetton for Toulouse, Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake moving from the Ospreys to Gloucester, and Gareth Anscombe joining the Scarlets.
Here is the full club-by-club guide to the confirmed arrivals and departures ahead of the 2026–27 URC season.
| Club | Players In | Players Out |
|---|---|---|
| Benetton | Louis Werchon (Queensland Reds) Jean Smith (Sharks) Gonzalo Hughes (Périgueux) Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hurricanes) Josh Flook (Queensland Reds) Matias Medrano (Pampas XV) François Carlo Mey (Soyaux Angoulême) | Tommaso Menoncello → Toulouse Eli Snyman → Ulster Thomas Gallo → Lyon Scott Scrafton — retired Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro — retired Nicolás Roger → Dogos XV Simon Koroiyadi → Nottingham Malakai Fekitoa → Béziers |
| Bulls | Thaakir Abrahams (Munster) Curwin Bosch (Brive) Jean Erasmus (promoted from Academy) Luan Giliomee (Sharks) Hakeem Kunene (Sharks) Hanro Liebenberg (Leicester Tigers) Dylan Maart (Stormers) Mawande Mdanda (Sharks) Heinrich Theron (promoted from Academy) JJ Theron (promoted from Academy) Sango Xamlashe (Pumas) | Kurt-Lee Arendse → Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars Wilco Louw → Stormers Siphosethu Mnebelele → Sharks David Kriel → La Rochelle Jan Serfontein — retired Jannes Kirsten → Mont-de-Marsan Henry Immelman → Cheetahs Ruan Nortjé → Kubota Spears |
| Cardiff | Le Roux Malan (Sharks) Scott Sio (Exeter Chiefs) Semisi Paea (Moana Pasifika) Jarrod Evans (Harlequins) Tom Manz (Leicester Tigers, season-long loan) | Ben Donnell → Ulster Corey Domachowski → Scarlets Leigh Halfpenny — retired Dylan Barratt — released Ed Byrne — released Ollie Das — released Joseff Jones — released Harrison Rock — released Mackenzie Martin → Béziers Will Davies-King → Bedford Blues Rory Jennings → Rosslyn Park |
| Connacht | Ciarán Frawley (Leinster) Will Connors (Leinster) Francois van Wyk (Bath) Fiachna Barrett (promoted from Academy) Sean Naughton (promoted from Academy) Matthew Victory (promoted from Academy) Jerry Cahir (Leinster) Thomas Connolly (Belvedere) Billy Bohan (promoted from Academy) | Joe Joyce → Gloucester Matthew Devine → Ulster Jack Carty — retired Denis Buckley — released Temi Lasisi — released Oisin Dowling — released Oisín McCormack — released David Hawkshaw — released Jack Aungier → Munster Chay Mullins → Ulster Peter Dooley → Leinster |
| Dragons | Anzelo Tuitavuki (Colomiers) Terrell Peita (Blues) Caio Parry (RGC 1404) Ere Enari (Hurricanes) | Aaron Wainwright → Leicester Tigers Ewan Rosser → Pontypool Niall Armstrong — released James Benjamin — retired Luke Yendle — released George Roberts → Scarlets |
| Edinburgh | Riley Higgins (Hurricanes) Hector Patterson (promoted from Academy) Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders) Louie Chapman (Crusaders) Jack Brown (promoted from Academy) Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (promoted from Academy) Alec Hepburn (Scarlets) James Grayson (Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars) Ollie Duncan (promoted from Academy) Euan McVie (promoted from Academy) Kienan Higgins (New England Free Jacks) | Boan Venter → Lions Mikey Jones — released James Lang — released Ross McCann — released Charlie Shiel — released Sam Skinner — released Ben Healy → La Rochelle Hamish Watson → Castres Angus Williams → Doncaster Knights |
| Glasgow Warriors | Jack Oliver (promoted from Academy) Macenzzie Duncan (promoted from Academy) Matthew Urwin (promoted from Academy) Johnny Ventisei (promoted from Academy) Ruwald van der Merwe (Pumas) Fergus Watson (promoted from Academy) Seb Stephen (promoted from Academy) Kerr Yule (promoted from Academy) Bayley Kuenzle (Western Force) Kerr Johnston (promoted from Academy) Jamie Ritchie (Perpignan) Ryan Burke (promoted from Academy) | Adam Hastings → Montpellier Huw Jones → Toulon Jamie Bhatti → Bath Jack Dempsey → Toshiba Brave Lupus Johnny Matthews → Montauban Duncan Weir — retired Sione Vailanu → Biarritz Brent Jackson → Rotherham Titans |
| Leinster | Stephen Smyth (promoted from Academy) Conor O’Tighearnaigh (promoted from Academy) Josh Kenny (promoted from Academy) Joey Carbery (Bordeaux-Bègles) Peter Dooley (Connacht) | Rieko Ioane → Blues Ciarán Frawley → Connacht Will Connors → Connacht Luke McGrath → Perpignan Rabah Slimani → Toulon Jerry Cahir → Connacht John McKee → Scarlets James Lowe → Tokyo Sungoliath |
| Lions | Boan Venter (Edinburgh) Hyron Andrews (Sale Sharks) Boeta Chamberlain (Newcastle Red Bulls) Daniel Kasende (Ospreys) Asad Moos (Stormers) Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Montauban) JP du Preez (Red Hurricanes Osaka) | Gianni Lombard → Sharks Franco Marais — retired Lubabalo Dobela → Narbonne Ruben Schoeman → Narbonne Darrien Landsberg → Sharks |
| Munster | Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) Sean Edogbo (promoted from Academy) Ben O’Connor (promoted from Academy) Ronan Foxe (promoted from Academy) Jack Aungier (Connacht) Max Clein (promoted from Academy) Will Harrison (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners) Ben O’Donovan (promoted from Academy) Kieran Brookes (Perpignan) | Jean Kleyn → Gloucester Niall Scannell — retired John Ryan — retired Thaakir Abrahams → Bulls Tony Butler — released Paddy Patterson — released Andrew Smith → Eastern Suburbs Oli Jager — retired Fionn Gibbons → Ealing Trailfinders Conor Bartley — released Roman Salanoa → Nenagh Ormond |
| Ospreys | Tom Rogers (Scarlets) Dan John (Exeter Chiefs) Liam Wright (unattached) Lalakai Foketi (Chiefs) Lawson Creighton (NSW Waratahs) Marika Koroibete (Saitama Wild Knights) | Jac Morgan → Gloucester Dewi Lake → Gloucester James Fender → Grenoble Phil Cokanasiga → Gloucester Jack Walsh → Montauban Connor Moyse → London Scottish Ieuan Cornelius → RGC 1404 Max Nagy → Ealing Trailfinders Tom Florence → Ealing Trailfinders Luke Scully → Swansea Daniel Kasende → Lions Ryan Conbeer → Bridgend Ravens Will Greatbanks — retired |
| Scarlets | Corey Domachowski (Cardiff) Harvey Cuckson (Bath) Jac Davies (promoted from Academy) John McKee (Leinster) George Roberts (Dragons) Alex Groves (Stormers) Isaac Murray-MacGregor (Canterbury) Will Evans (promoted from Academy) Cullen Grace (Crusaders) Gabe Hawley (promoted from Academy) Carwyn Leggatt-Jones (promoted from Academy) Ioan Jones (promoted from Academy) Josh Morse (promoted from Academy) Isaac Young (promoted from Academy) Tom Allen (Hurricanes) Gareth Anscombe (Bayonne) Chris Apoua (Moana Pasifika) | Marnus van der Merwe → Munster Tom Rogers → Ospreys Alec Hepburn → Edinburgh Jake Ball — retired Dan Gemine — released Steff Jac Jones — released Rhodri Lewis — released Tom Phillips — released Ben Williams → Pontypool Max Douglas → Shizuoka Blue Revs Jarrod Taylor → Ealing Trailfinders |
| Sharks | Thomas du Toit (Bath) Stephan Lewies (Harlequins) Nemo Roelofse (Perpignan) Gianni Lombard (Lions) Ivan van Zyl (Saracens) Donavan Don (South Africa Sevens) Murray Koster (Hino Red Dolphins) Esethu Mnebelele (Bulls) Hendré Stassen (Brive) Darrien Landsberg (Lions) Dominic Besag (unattached) Ma’a Nonu (Toulon) Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers) | Siya Kolisi → Stormers Jean Smith → Benetton Le Roux Malan → Cardiff Luan Giliomee → Bulls Hakeem Kunene → Bulls Mawande Mdanda → Bulls Marvin Orie — released Grant Williams → Kobelco Kobe Steelers Aphelele Fassi → Toshiba Brave Lupus Francois Venter — retired |
| Stormers | Wilco Louw (Bulls) Siya Kolisi (Sharks) Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) | Ruben van Heerden → Montpellier Salmaan Moerat → La Rochelle Siyabonga Ntubeni — retired Dylan Maart → Bulls Corné Weilbach → Saracens Alex Groves → Scarlets Dan du Plessis → Bordeaux-Bègles Asad Moos → Lions Lizo Gqoboka — retired Suleiman Hartzenberg → Sharks |
| Ulster | Eli Snyman (Benetton) Matthew Devine (Connacht) Ben Donnell (Cardiff) Bryn Ward (promoted from Academy) Jamie Benson (Harlequins) Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Red Bulls) Keynan Knox (Nevers) Chay Mullins (Connacht) Henry Walker (promoted from Academy) Aitzol Arenzana-King (promoted from Academy) Daniel Hawkshaw (Clontarf) Martin Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) | Angus Bell → NSW Waratahs John Andrew — released Ben Moxham — released Rory McGuire — released Bryan O’Connor — released Marcus Rea — released Sean Reffell — released David Shanahan — released Lorcan McLoughlin — released Werner Kok → Newcastle Red Bulls James Humphreys → Ealing Trailfinders Matthew Dalton → Kobelco Kobe Steelers |
| Zebre Parma | Alex Mattioli (Racing 92) Pietro Turrisi (Racing 92) Jacopo Botturi (Petrarca Padova) Francisco Minervino (Petrarca Padova) Sergio Pelliccioli (Petrarca Padova) Lorenzo Citton (Petrarca Padova) Tommaso Allan (Perpignan) Patricio Baronio (Viadana) Leonardo Sodo Migliori (Fiamme Oro) | Enrique Pieretto → Agen Enrico Lucchin — retired Luca Morisi — retired Albert Batista — released Shilo Klein — released Martin Roger Farias — released Gonzalo Garcia → Pau Malik Faissal → Northampton Saints Iacopo Bianchi → Rovigo Delta Guido Volpi → Viadana Ion Neculai → Northampton Saints |