{"id":817315,"date":"2026-10-29T06:50:11","date_gmt":"2026-10-29T06:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/817315\/"},"modified":"2026-10-29T06:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-10-29T06:50:11","slug":"rugby-transfers-red-bulls-captain-decides-newcastle-future-promising-hooker-linked-with-move-to-la-rochelle-and-irish-trio-extend-contracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/817315\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby transfers: Red Bulls captain decides Newcastle future, promising hooker linked with move to La Rochelle and Irish trio extend contracts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle<\/a> Red Bulls captain Tom Christie has committed his future to the club with a new two-year contract.<\/p>\n

The three-time Super Rugby winner has scored six tries in 24 games since arriving a year ago and will now remain on Tyneside<\/a> until at least the end of the 2028\/29 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at the start of a really exciting journey here,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cThere\u2019s no limit as to what can be achieved at this club.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team are working towards some big goals, and Newcastle<\/a> already feels like a home from home for my fianc\u00e9e Sophie and I. It\u2019s a tremendous city and the fans make it a special place to be, so it was an absolute no-brainer in terms of wanting to extend our stay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Newcastle head coach Dan McFarland was equally delighted to have retained the services of his skipper, saying: \u201cTom\u2019s leadership and professionalism are having a huge influence on our other players, and it\u2019s fantastic to get this extension locked in.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has an incredibly high level of involvements in our games and his effort level is unsurpassed. His ability in defence and at the breakdown is well known throughout the sport, and in addition to that he is bringing a real attacking edge to his game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat energy and physicality is infectious, and both he and Sophie seem to have developed a genuine affinity for North East England during the relatively short time they have been here.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a period of so much change at the club it is great to have that core around which we can build, and in Tom we have someone who will be a real figurehead for many years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mamoudou Me\u00eft\u00e9 to La Rochelle<\/p>\n

French publication RugbyRama has suggested that 24-year-old Mamoudou Me\u00eft\u00e9 is set to sign for La Rochelle from D2 side, Le Soyaux Angoul\u00eame XV.<\/p>\n

The publication stated: \u2018Sought after by several Top 14 clubs, the young and promising Mamoudou Me\u00eft\u00e9 is, in fact, very close to signing with Stade Rochelais. He recently informed the various clubs that had approached him that he had chosen the club with the caravelle emblem.<\/p>\n

\u2018The 23-year-old hooker has taken his game to another level since the start of the season. He has started four times for SA XV and scored three tries. <\/p>\n

\u201cLast season, he already played in 27 Pro D2 matches (12 starts). Having made his professional debut at Massy (2022\/2023), before playing for Stade Fran\u00e7ais Paris (2023-2025) and then Angoul\u00eame, he would now be joining his fourth professional club.\u2019<\/p>\n

Wallabies boss Les Kiss: \u2018The one thing that I wanted to make sure was clear when I spoke to Marky Mark\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Ulster trio locked in<\/p>\n

Ulster have announced that Robert Baloucoune, James McNabney and Joe Hopes have all signed new contracts with the province until at least the summer of 2029. All three players are Ulster academy alumni and are set to continue playing an important role in the senior squad.<\/p>\n

Ireland wing Rob Baloucoune is a huge re-signing, having recently re-emerged on the international scene ahead of next year\u2019s World Cup, while 23-year-old back-row forward McNabney also bring international pedigree to the squad, having recently been called up by Andy Farrell for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures.<\/p>\n

Hopes, the 2022 Ulster Schools player of the year, has also committed his future to the squad, with the 22-year-old primed for an exciting future anywhere along the back-row.<\/p>\n

Ulster general manager Rory Best, said:\u00a0 \u201cWe are delighted to have secured the futures of Rob, James and Joe. Rob has showcased his importance to this Ulster team and the national team with his abilities and performances. He is a Test-level winger who has really benefitted from a run of games over the past year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth James and Joe are working hard in the early stages of their professional careers and have both shown a lot of potential in our forward pack. Everyone here was delighted to see James called up to the Ireland squad after the adversity he faced coming back from a long-term knee injury.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have full belief that all three will form an important part of our Ulster team in the coming years and look forward to seeing what they produce on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stat Stuart Lancaster believes \u2018shows the progression and development\u2019 Connacht have made<\/a><\/p>\n

Bongi Mbonambi to Stormers<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Sharks<\/a> have confirmed that Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi has departed the club and will join the Stormers with immediate effect. The decision follows a disciplinary issue during a team-building camp when the 35-year-old blatantly ignored head coach JP Pietersen\u2019s rules.<\/p>\n

The Sharks took disciplinary action as a result, and Mbonambi\u2019s contract was reportedly in danger of being terminated. However, the Durban-based club have stated that they are parting ways on \u201camicable terms\u201d, with the double World Cup winner rejoining his former club,\u00a0Stormers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A club statement read: \u201cThe Sharks confirm that the club and Bongi Mbonambi have mutually agreed to bring his playing contract to an end with immediate effect. The decision follows constructive discussions between both parties and has been reached on amicable terms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kwagga Smith to Bulls<\/p>\n

Springbok<\/a> back-rower Kwagga Smith will return to South Africa after signing a three-year deal with the Bulls. Head coach Johan Ackermann said he was delighted to team up again with the reliable\u00a0Smith<\/a>, having coached him previously at the Lions.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a youngster, he showed character and fight and integrity,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s a team man who has grown into a stalwart, and it\u2019s been a privilege to watch his career unfold and establish himself as one of the best back-rows in world rugby. Wherever he goes, he makes a difference, and I look forward to him contributing both on and off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Warren Gatland says \u2018people lose their jobs\u2019 over results as \u2018a lot at stake\u2019 for England boss ahead of Nations Championship<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Newcastle Red Bulls captain Tom Christie has committed his future to the club with a new two-year contract.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":817316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[348,50,5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-817315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-home-page","tag-news","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/817315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=817315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/817315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/817316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=817315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=817315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=817315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}