Springboks forward Dan du Preez will join PREM rivals Bath after his exit from Sale Sharks was confirmed, Newcastle Red Bulls and Northampton Saints have bolstered their ranks and Reds back Isaac Henry has signed a new deal with the Super Rugby outfit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Here is the latest round-up of rugby transfers and contract renewals from across the globe.<\/p>\n
Dan du Preez completes cross-PREM switch<\/p>\n
Springboks<\/a> forward Dan du Preez will don blue, black and white next season, putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with Bath.<\/p>\n His switch to the West Country comes after a strong seven-year stint at PREM rivals Sale Sharks, making 121 appearances for the club in that time.<\/p>\n Commenting on joining Bath, Du Preez said: \u201cI\u2019m really excited to be joining Bath. It\u2019s a great club with huge ambition and incredible support behind it, and I can\u2019t wait to get started and contribute to what the squad is building.\u201d<\/p>\n Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan added: \u201cOur DNA is being tough to beat, and Dan du Preez fits that mould perfectly.<\/p>\n \u201cA ball carrier, a set-piece expert and an excellent defender, we are looking forward to seeing what Dan will add to our group in the coming years. His test and English PREM experience will be very valuable and, most importantly, he is a brilliant family man.\u201d<\/p>\n He comes to the Rec after the club lost fellow back-rower Alfie Barbeary for next season, with the England hopeful joining Saracens.<\/p>\n Newcastle Red Bulls add latest recruit to ranks for next season<\/p>\n Newcastle Red Bulls<\/a> have further strengthened their squad ahead of next season with the addition of Sale back Obi Ene.<\/p>\n The 22-year-old winger joins the club on a two-year deal, and becomes the 19th player to agree a move to Kingston Park for next season.<\/p>\n A former Newcastle University student, Ene also follows fellow Sharks Raffi Quirke and James Harper to Red Bulls.<\/p>\n Commenting on the move, Ene said: \u201cI came through Yorkshire\u2019s academy and moved up to Newcastle to play for the uni team, which is where I got picked up by England Under-20s and Sale Sharks.<\/p>\n Springboks: Rassie Erasmus includes 16 World Cup winners in virtual alignment camp as uncapped duo called up<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI know all about life in Newcastle, so the club didn\u2019t need to give me the sales pitch in that sense, and it\u2019s an exciting time on and off the field.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s well documented regarding all the improvements around the club under Red Bull\u2019s ownership, and it\u2019s great to be heading over there at the same time as my Sale teammates Raffi Quirke and James Harper. With Raffi in particular, I\u2019ve already got that attacking synergy, so hopefully we can link up and score a few tries between us.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving spoken to the guys up at Newcastle, it\u2019s clear the level of ambition they have, and I\u2019m buzzing to get up there and rip in.\u201d<\/p>\n Neil McIlroy, the club\u2019s sporting general manager, added: \u201cObi is a talented young player who will fit in well to our system.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is a northern lad who has shown some very encouraging signs during the early part of his career, and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing that progress continue when he joins us in the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n Northampton Saints sign South African prop Leftheri Zigiriadis<\/p>\n Two-time PREM champions Northampton Saints have added some more depth to their front-row for next season in the form of Leftheri Zigiriadis.<\/p>\n The South African-native, 24, joins the Saints from CHAMP leaders Ealing Trailfinders, after making 30 appearances for the London club.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n He was a crucial part in Ealing\u2019s run to the 2024\/25 PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals, scoring a try in their win over Northampton at Franklin\u2019s Gardens along the way.<\/p>\n Commenting on joining Saints, Zigiriadis said: \u201cI came to the UK from South Africa with one clear goal in mind: to play rugby at the highest level. For me, there is no bigger club in England than Northampton to help me achieve that.<\/p>\n \u201cThe quality of the coaches here, the facilities and the overall environment give me the perfect opportunity to put my best foot forward and keep developing as a player.<\/p>\n \u201cNorthampton have arguably the best group of props in the PREM, and I\u2019m really excited to be around players like that every day. If you want to play at the top level, you have to learn from the best, and as a developing prop you honestly couldn\u2019t ask for a better environment.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll always be grateful to Ealing for the opportunity they gave me, both academically and professionally. Without them, none of this would have been possible, and I\u2019m fully focused on helping them finish top of the CHAMP this season. But I\u2019m hugely excited about the challenge of the Gallagher PREM and can\u2019t wait to get started next season.\u201d<\/p>\n Also commenting, Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson said:\u201cLefty is someone who has played a lot of rugby in the Championship, and played very well, which caught our attention,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we then met him and spent some time talking about his ambitions, it was clear how driven he is to push himself to the very highest level.<\/p>\n \u201cWe really liked him as both a player and a person. He\u2019s got a huge amount of energy, a real appetite to improve and we think he has a very high ceiling. He\u2019s someone we\u2019re genuinely excited to bring into our environment.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a young prop, being able to compete consistently in the Championship is a really good indicator, and we\u2019ve seen plenty of players make the step-up from the second tier successfully here in the past. We\u2019re excited about where Lefty can get to and what he can become at this club.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom a rugby point of view, the set-piece is obviously fundamental for a prop, and Lefty already has a strong base at scrum time. Working closely with Jaco [Pienaar] will be a big benefit for him.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he also offers a lot around the park \u2013 he enjoys carrying the ball, wants to be involved and is athletic. He\u2019s someone who wants to have an impact on the game, and that\u2019s a quality we really value.\u201d<\/p>\n