The sensation comes from the lower floor which has done some (very) good deals in the transfer market.
The Pro D2 clubs have thus won over renowned foreign internationals.
Biarritz Olympique attracted Wallaby Henry Speight (19 caps) and All Black Francis Salli (2 caps).
Mont-de-Marsan convinced the Fijian winger Vereniki Goneva, in loss of speed on the side of the Harlequins of London, to come to revive in the Landes.
Racing 92 has loaned its young opener and Fijian international Ben Volavola to Perpignan for a season.
The biggest blow is also to be put to the credit of Perpignan with the center of Pumas Jeronimo de la Fuente (29 years old, 54 caps), former captain of the Jaguares franchise in Super Rugby.
Former Montpellier Timoci Nagusa, 80 tries in Top 14, has joined Grenoble
Many regulars in the Top 14 are also going down a notch.
Thus the Fijian winger from Montpellier, Timoci Nagusa (80 tries in Top 14) who will evolve in Grenoble (to form a formidable pair of winger with his compatriot Benito Masilevu, from him from Agen), the English rear of Clermont , Nick Abendanon, in Vannes, the third-row of Lou, Carl Fearns, now in Rouen, or even Alexis Palisson (21 selections with the XV of France) who, after an express loan at the Stade Français, permanently leaves Toulon for Colomiers.
"READ ALSO: Top 14: a transfer window without brilliance
Behind these headliners, we can also mention the pillar of La Rochelle Mike Corbel and the scrum half of Castres Ludovic Radosavljevic who signed in Aix;
Toulouse scrum half Pierre Pagès now in Vannes;
the precious Robert Ebersohn Castres center in Béziers;
or Charlie Cassang (ex n ° 9 Clermont) and Taylor Paris (Canadian winger ex-Castres) in Oyonnax.
Strong injection of character in Montauban with Julien Caminati and Mike Tadjer
Some alumni will throw their last fires in Pro D2.
Strong injection of character in Montauban with the arrival of hooker Mike Tadjer (ex-Clermont) and enfant-terrible Julien Caminati (ex-Castres).
Ditto at Valence-Romans with another hooker, Jody Jenneker, also from Castres.
Conversely, disillusioned ex-hopefuls will try to relaunch their careers on the lower level, such as center Théo Belan (from Toulouse to Aix) or scrum-half Enzo Sanga (from Montpellier to Valence Romans).
Read also
Top 14: discover the shirts for the 2020-2021 season
