Hopes of seeing All Blacks and Blues number eight Hoskins Sotutu in the Premiership next season appear to be hanging by a thread, with a potential switch to play for England also in the balance.
Sotutu, 26, is under contract with the NZRFU until 2026, but there is a break clause in his deal should he choose to pursue residency in another country. It has been widely reported that he has spoken with England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Saracens, Leicester Tigers and Gloucester are all understood to have shown interest, with Gloucester emerging as frontrunners. The Cherry and Whites are set to lose Zach Mercer to Toulon at the end of the season. Provence Rugby are monitoring Albert Tuisue, and Ruan Ackermann has been linked with a return to South Africa.
Gloucester are in the market for a top-class replacement and have held talks with Sotutu, who won the last of his 14 All Blacks caps in a 25-25 draw with England at Twickenham in November 2022.
Injuries ruled him out of Scott Robertson’s squad last summer. He could switch international allegiances in November, which marks three years since his last All Blacks appearance. He qualifies for England through his mother.
The Auckland-born back row could also represent Fiji, who his father Waisake Sotutu played for 12 times, but England — and a potential Enhanced Elite Player Squad contract worth around £160,000 — is considered a more likely option.
Sotutu has played three games for the Blues this season. He missed three weeks of the campaign after receiving a red card for a high tackle against the Highlanders, the first sending-off of his career.
RugbyPass sources suggest he is now leaning towards staying in New Zealand. Unless there is a late change of heart, a Premiership move appears off the table for next season.
