British and Irish Lions and England star Mako Vunipola headlines the latest bout of PREM Rugby signings as he joins Leicester Tigers, who have announced two further signings, while Harlequins add to their front row stocks.<\/p>\n
Check out our latest transfer news and rumours update:<\/p>\n
Mako Vunipola makes PREM return with Leicester Tigers<\/p>\n
Mako Vunipola will make a sensational return to the PREM next season, after signing a deal with Leicester Tigers for next season.<\/p>\n
The experienced prop will bring heaps of Test and PREM experience with him to Mattioli Woods Welford Road, boasting 79 caps for England and nine Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions across three series. He also made 234 appearances for Saracens prior to his departure, helping the club win four PREM titles, three Investec Champions Cups and one RFU Championship title in the process.<\/p>\n
His signing for Leicester also marks his return to the English top flight after two seasons with French side Vannes, where he has made 32 appearances at the time of writing across both the Top 14 and ProD2.<\/p>\n
Commenting on joining the Tigers<\/a>, Vunipola said:\u00a0\u201cIt still hasn\u2019t sunk in. It\u2019s something that I would never have envisaged, but I am honoured to be part of this prestigious club.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTigers are an incredibly well-supported club, and those fans are so passionate about their rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a history behind the club. Whenever you play at Mattioli Woods Welford Road you\u2019re in for a huge challenge \u2013 it\u2019s something I can\u2019t wait to experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Also commenting, Leicester Tigers head coach, Geoff Parling, added: \u201cFirstly, it\u2019s great to welcome someone of Mako\u2019s experience and quality into the squad next season. He\u2019s a proven international loosehead that is hungry to come back to the PREM to finish his career and is looking for a place that can get the best from him whilst offering the opportunity to play in big games.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSecondly, he\u2019s an outstanding character that will add real value to the group. He will be here to play and play well, but it will also be an opportunity for our young looseheads to develop and learn from someone who has repeatedly performed at the top of the game, and he\u2019s also excited to help with our younger academy players to push their careers forwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Eddie Hearn: \u2018Henry Pollock is the guy to completely change rugby, the spike is coming\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Harlequins draft in tighthead Ruan Swiegers<\/p>\n Harlequins<\/a> have added further depth to their front-row stock for next season, with South African prop Ruan \u2018Sampie\u2019 Swiegers heading to South West London.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old tighthead will join Quins from club side Pumas, and will head to the Stoop at the end of the 2026 Currie Cup campaign.<\/p>\n He is also the latest Pumas man to be signed by a top European club, with back-rower Ruwald van der Merwe headed to Glasgow Warriors next season.<\/p>\n Commenting on joining Quins, Swiegers said: \u201cI\u2019m incredibly grateful and humbled to sign with Harlequins. This is a dream come true for me. I\u2019ve worked hard for many years, often taking the long road, and there were times where things weren\u2019t certain.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I never stopped believing or putting in the work. Playing rugby at the highest level has always been my goal, and to now have that opportunity with a Club like Harlequins is something I don\u2019t take for granted. I look forward to applying my skills to support the team\u2019s success and be a great teammate.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m thankful to everyone who supported me along the way \u2013 my wife, my parents, my family, coaches, and teammates \u2013 for believing in me and helping me get to this point. Without these people and support system I had along the way, nothing would\u2019ve been possible.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for the opportunity. Like my father always says, \u2018it\u2019s harder to stay there than to get there\u2019 \u2013 the hard work starts now!\u201d<\/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 Quins\u2019 head coach, Jason Gilmore, added: \u201cSampie\u2019s got a good age profile and is moving into his peak years as a tighthead. He starts the puzzle of getting our tight-five to what we want to look like over the next 12 months \u2013 certainly getting him and James Dun on that tighthead side of the scrum is a positive.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a project player for us and he knows he\u2019s got some hard work to get him where we want him to be, but we\u2019re excited to have him in our environment. He\u2019s big body, loves contact and the set-piece, so that bodes well for us.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got some experience in the front row as well as Adam Jones and Matt Ferguson in the building, so we\u2019re confident he\u2019ll received the quality coaching required for his development.\u201d<\/p>\n Tigers further bolster ranks as Joe Jenkins and Jack Doorey-Palmer sign<\/p>\n Vunipola isn\u2019t the only new face heading to Mattioli Woods Welford Road for next season, either, with Bristol Bears back Joe Jenkins and Harlequins hooker Jack Doorey-Palmer also joining the Tigers.<\/p>\n The pair both bring decent experience with them to the East Midlands, with Jenkins making 33 appearances for Bristol since his debut in the 2022\/23 season, while Doorey-Palmer has made two appearances for Quins alongside loan spells with CHAMP sides Cambridge and London Scottish.<\/p>\n