It’s silly season again in Europe, with transfers being announced almost daily. Here’s an update on all the Aviva moves over the past week and a bit.

Be sure to check out the convenient Transfer Charts, updated often, for a complete overview of announced and rumoured moves across the four big pro leagues.

The longest serving active player at the club is leaving for pastures new. Nick Abendanon heads across the channel to Clermont to replace departing Lee Byrne. The twice-capped fullback has apparently been in talks since the beginning of the season and with Anthony Watson’s progress this season his days in the first team were pretty much over.

Kane Palma-Newport and Olly Woodburn have signed new contracts, but there is still no word on the futures of Gavin Henson or Peter Stringer, though both appear to be keen on staying for another year. Paul James’ contract is up but he is expected to re-sign shortly, but question marks surround Eusebio Guiñazú, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Mat Gilbert, Will Skuse, and Chris Cook.

Some minor rumours but nothing substantial this week from Chiefs. Their biggest priority is still tighthead prop, other than that the squad appears fairly settled. Jason Shoemark and Haydn Thomas are expected to re-sign soon, others out of contract include Tom Cowan-Dickie, Romana Graham, Kai Horstmann, James Phillips, and Ceri Sweeney.

A few surprises this week as Tavis Knoyle headed back to Wales to play for Cardiff Blues despite having a year remaining on his contract, and solid youngsters Matt Cox and Ryan Mills have both opted for Worcester. Andy Hazell’s retirement has taken effect immediately due to concussion problems, with Will James to follow at the end of the season. Big holes at the halfbacks and midfield are still to be filled, with Stephen Brett and Santiago Fernandez among those rumoured to be targets.

Conor O’Shea doesn’t like to make too many personnel changes, but he has made two big moves this week, signing Asaeli Tikoirotuma from 2-time defending Super Rugby champions Chiefs, and ending speculation by confirming the arrival of Marland Yarde from London Irish. Sam Smith is off to Worcester, with Paul Sackey expected to retire to make space. There is also serious concern over the long-term health of George Lowe, out for the foreseeable future with a neck injury suffered in October.

Quins are in the market for a new flyhalf with Ben Botica likely to exit, and have yet to announce which of four out-of-contract hookers will be retained. Three have Saxons experience, Dave Ward being the most recent, and one of Rob Buchanan or Joe Gray is likely to be headed elsewhere. Centre Jordan Turner-Hall’s contract is up but will likely be extended now that he is back to full fitness, likewise Joe Marler who is certain to re-sign.

Jordan Crane has extended for a further two years, so too Adam Thompstone, Miles Benjamin, and David Mélé, with the latter now signed up until 2017. While rumours of Teddy Thomas and Takudzwa Ngwenya have quieted, massive Tongan no8 Opeti Fonua appears to be headed over from Bayonne. Boris Stankovich may be on the way to Dragons in a player-coach capacity, and Vereniki Goneva is almost certainly off to Castres.

James O’Connor and Marland Yarde confirmed what we already knew, they’re both off at the end of the season. Brian Smith already has most of his squad sewn up for next season, but is looking for 5-6 players to bolster the squad, with a back rower likely a priority given the probable departure of Christopher Hala’ufia and retirement of Declan Danaher. Powerful Samoan Ofisa Treviranus is close to signing a new deal.

There are several players off contract this year, including young flyhalf Joel Hodgson, Pumas centre Gonzalo Tiesi, and wingers Ryan Shortland and Sinoti Sinoti. Second rowers Carlo Del Fava and Scott MacLeod could be departing, with Calum Green inbounds from Leeds and Leo Auva’a possibly in his way from Leinster. Rotherham star Juan Pablo Socino is a target, but also on the radar of several other clubs.

Saints may set an off-season record for least squad changes, with G.J. van Velze’s move to Worcester the only confirmed change thus far. Dominic Waldouck and Fa’atoina Autagavaia are both possible departures with their contracts set to expire.

With Glasgow’s lock stocks all sewn up, Steve Diamond has snatched up Nathan Hines from Clermont, a quality signing despite the former Lions’ age. He replaces Wasps-bound James Gaskell, with Mike Paterson likely to switch to the back row after playing lock this season. Rob Miller is also off to Wasps to replace Hugo Southwell, who is unlikely to be retained even if he staves of retirement due to injury. Tighthead prop and scrumhalf are the most pressing concerns for Diamond, and he is in the running for disenchanted Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw.

No signings have been announced as of yet, though Adam Jones remains of interest as it appears Matt Stevens might be off, either to South Africa or possibly to Exeter. A host of squad players are out of contract but with plenty of academy players on the rise they are unlikely to be replaced.

The big movers of the off-season so far, with Bradley Davies confirmed today, joining Alapati Leiua and the aforementioned Gaskell and Miller. Italian front rowers Lorenzo Cittadini and Leonardo Ghiraldini are being looked at, with the former apparently all but signed at this point. Hooker could be an issue with Neil Cochrane off to Edinburgh and Tom Lindsay possibly on the move, but otherwise the squad looks close to finished and quite impressive.

Dean Ryan is preparing for the inevitable, but with whispers of a new British & Irish league circulating he may not be doomed just yet. Cox, Mills, Smith, and van Velze are solid signings, with lesser-knowns Joe Rees, Heath Stevens, and Charlie Mulchrone also on the way. Mulchrone is highly rated and was thought to be headed to Saracens before the announcement.

On the way out are David Lemi and Josh Matavesi, to Bristol and Ospreys respectively, with Semisi Taulava and Leonardo Senatore expected to join them. Several others have yet to be re-signed, with Ravai Fatiaki and Dean Schofield among them.