Lots to cover in the past couple weeks of Aviva transfers, and with Bristol edging closer to promotion it’s time they were included in the mix. No news again from Northampton, though that’s probably a good thing if you’re a Saints fan. Don’t forget to check the updated chart here to keep track of all the moves thus far.

Things have gone a bit quiet since the Sam Burgess announcement, with the focus now on the new Rec re-design. Gavin Henson had been meant to have signed for Dragons by now, but is reportedly still in discussions in the hopes of staying. Whether that’s possible under the salary cap has yet to be seen. Peter Stringer is also a question mark but it appears a one year player-coach role is likely to hold down the fort until after the World Cup, when it is hoped Will Genia will join the club.

Paul James is out of contract and has surprisingly not been locked down yet, though he is expected to stay. The same can’t be said for Eusebio Guinazu, who could be headed back to Argentina after failing to challenge Rob Webber for a starting position and even falling behind Ross Batty in the pecking order. Academy hookers Tom Dunn and current England u20 starter Tom Woolstencroft should provide enough cover going forward.

Two others in strange situations appear to be Ryan Caldwell and Tom Heathcote. Both players have a year to run on their contracts but could, like Nick Abendanon, be looking elsewhere for more opportunities. Irish lock Caldwell is now at best fourth choice, and with Will Spencer on the rise his chances appear increasingly limited.

Meanwhile Heathcote is firmly behind George Ford at no10, with Ollie Devoto’s versatility often keeping him off the bench as well. With the World Cup just around the corner his Scotland aspirations might require a move elsewhere for more playing time. If Heathcote does move on it could free up some space to keep Henson.

Now seems as good a time as any to start talking about a return to the Premiership from the Championship leaders. Their intent was well and truly signalled today as they announced seven signings all at once. Jack O’Connell, Max Crumpton, Craig Hampson, and Darren Hudson are all young squad members with potential. Nick Koster has been on loan from Bath all year and it’s unsurprising that he will stick with them given Gary Gold’s departure.

Jack Lam from the Hurricanes is a big signing, one that could prove the best of the bunch. He’s been in superb form and is currently keeping Ardie Savea out of the side. Matthew Morgan is another ambitious pick-up, having spurned a considerable offer from the Dragons to sign on. There will always be concerns about the diminutive flyhalf’s defense, but with ball in hand he is absolutely electric and he could be a very good signing.

Of course Dwayne Peel, Anthony Perenise, and David Lemi have already been announced, and should they win promotion, as looks increasingly likely, there’s every chance that Ross Rennie will stay on and be joined by Ryan Jones. Head coach Andy Robinson is clearly set on staying at the top once they get back there.

The Chiefs have opted to retain veteran trio Kai Horstmann, Haydn Thomas, and Ceri Sweeney for another year after speculation that all three were headed elsewhere. Only three players – Tom Cowan-Dickie, James Phillips, and Jason Shoemark – are out of contract, with the latter expected to be retained but the first two on the way out, possibly to the Championship sides where they are currently on loan. Only a couple players are still to be added, with another tighthead prop still of the utmost importance. Adam Hughes has been rumoured to be arriving via the Dragons, but is currently on loan at Bristol and could stay there.

There are still a few slots yet to be filled but an all-important halfback spot has been taken this week by part-time Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw. Jimmy Cowan’s time at the club is almost certainly over as a result. A flyhalf is still on the needs list, and another versatile back rower, though openside Thomas Young has been brought in to replace Andy Hazell.

As mentioned previously Callum Braley, Mark Atkinson, and Stevie McColl are all expected to be made official soon, with Santiago Fernandez another strong possibility. Huia Edmonds, Dan George, Rupert Harden, Lua Lokotui, Tim Taylor, Jonny Bentley, Martyn Thomas, and Cowan are all out of contract and not expected to stay. Mike Tindall is likely to retire as well, which may require another centre addition.

Surprising news came with the re-signing of all three Saxons hookers – Rob Buchanan, Joe Gray, and Dave Ward – to new contracts, which now leaves Harry Allen out in the cold. Quins fans are starting to get a bit antsy about Jordan Turner-Hall and more so Joe Marler, both of whom are out of contract and garnering interest from other parties. Of the two Turner-Hall is the most likely to leave after struggling to find form and fitness over the past couple seasons, though a move would still come as somewhat of a surprise. Squad members Darryl Marfo, Nic Mayhew, Joe Trayfoot, Tim Molenaar, and Ollie Lindsay-Hague are also out of contract, with Mayhew and Molenaar most likely to leave.

The move for Alberto de Marchi has been scuppered by French vultures after his hugely impressive form in the Six Nations, so Tigers have instead opted to sign up his club rival Michele Rizzo. Also on the way from Treviso are star hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini and Italo-Canadian back rower Robert Barbieri. The latter’s signing is a result of the Opeti Fonua deal falling through as he remains contracted for another year to Bayonne, and his get-out clause only takes effect if they fall to Pro D2, which now looks highly improbable.

Fijian Seremaia Bai and Japanese international Christian Loamanu have also been sounded out as hopeful singings, though both appear to have hit snags with visa applications still to be sorted. Vereniki Goneva’s on-again off-again move to Castres has shown no signs of being resolved, while Daniel Bowden is another yet to decide his future with offers on the table from several interested parties.

Louis Deacon, Pablo Matera, and Blaine Scully are off contract but all hopeful of signing new contracts. The fate of Rob Hawkins looks less assured, as the signing of Ghiraldini all but consigns him to a release. Michael Noone is another yet to be re-signed, though the additions of Barbieri and Laurence Pearce suggest his future is elsewhere.

C.J. van der Linde’s Irish career appears to have ended after 20 minutes of action as he has headed back home to recover from surgery on a pectoral injury. Joining him on the plane is Sailosi Tagicakibau, with the Samoan international heading to the Stormers on a season-long loan. It’s unclear whether he will be back next season, but the suggestions are that he won’t be.

Promising hooker Gerard Ellis, moonlighting as a flanker in recent weeks, has been re-signed for another season, while former England no8 Luke Narraway is incoming from Perpignan. The old Gloucester captain adds good leadership to the squad and will compete with Tom Guest for his preferred position. Christopher Hala’ufia has been linked with Scarlets now that his presence is no longer required.

John Yapp and Ian Gough are out of contract and unlikely to be retained, while Declan Danaher has all but confirmed his retirement. There’s still room in the squad for a couple new signings, with a second row highest on the priority list. Manu Samoa lock Daniel Leo has recently announced he is returning to the UK, could he be joining his Perpignan teammate in London?

Scrumhalf Chris Pilgrim and burly centre James Fitzpatrick are headed to Leeds, furthering the rumours of the arrival of Ruki Tipuna and Juan Pablo Socino. Rob Vickers has re-signed after switching to loosehead prop this season from hooker, with Grant Shiells expected to depart as a result. Key backs Gonzalo Tiesi, Ryan Shortland, and Sinoti Sinoti have yet to be re-signed but it’s unlikely Dean Richards would let them go. Back row forwards Richard Mayhew and Chris York are likely fighting for one spot, with the latter most likely to depart.

Steve Diamond is in the market for a tighthead prop with Henry Thomas already gone and Tony Buckley expected to join him. The rest of the squad seems fairly settled, though youngsters Josh Beaumont, Nathan Fowles, Will Addison, and Charlie Ingall remain out of contract but likely to re-sign.

It appears Adam Jones has opted to stay in Wales, so tighthead prop remains a big hole. Hooker Max Crumpton, currently on loan at Harlequins, is off to Bristol next season. Veterans Ernst Joubert and Neil de Kock are set to retire, and fringe players Petrus du Plessis, Eoin Sheriff, Justin Melck, and Nick Fenton-Wells are out of contract and unlikely to be retained. Several key veterans are also out of contract but expected to be re-signed, Alistair Hargreaves and Charlie Hodgson among them.

Tom Lindsay now looks more likely to stay following Ghiraldini’s move to Leicester, and no news is probably good news as regards Tom Palmer, with the veteran lock still hoping to secure a new contract to stave off retirement rumours. Tommy Bell could be looking elsewhere with impressive Leeds flyhalf Alex Lozowski reportedly on the way, and if Lorenzo Cittadini’s arrival is confirmed it could mean an exit for Phil Swainston. The log-jam in the back row probably means a departure for one or both of Ed Jackson and Rory Pitman, with Matt Everard almost certainly off, possibly to London Scottish where he has been on loan.

Dean Ryan has moved to replace Mariano Galarza with Dan Sanderson of Rotherham, a player of very similar attributes. Two young hookers, Niall Annett and Ben Sowrey, have also been brought in, calling into question the future of Agustin Creevy, who despite saying that he wished to stay must be looking elsewhere to preserve his Pumas starting spot. Ed Shervington is most likely the other hooker set to give way.

Leonardo Senatore is unlikely to stick around for reasons similar to Creevy’s, with Semisi Taulava certainly on the move and possibly headed to Newcastle. Props John Andress, Jeremy Becasseau, and Rob O’Donnell are all out of contract, so too veteran locks Chris Jones and Dean Schofield, and key flanker Jake Abbott. All could be off with relegation all but certain at this point, though Abbott remains firmly in Ryan’s long-term plans.