The Espoirs transfer market is picking up pace. Several clubs have confirmed their signings for the youth age groups next season, with a strongly international flavour. Here is the round-up.

Oyonnax beef up their academy

The Ain club have confirmed seven Espoirs signings for next season, with a very international profile: Belgian loosehead prop Maxime Nyssen (2007, ex-Rugby Liège), Fijian tighthead prop Ratu Isoa Rotuisolia (2008, ex-JCU Mariners), Russian lock Vladimir Palferov (2008, ex-Aviron Bayonnais), scrum-half Louka Mayre (2008, ex-LOU), and three back-rowers: Sioleso Hoatau (2005, ex-RC Toulon), Alessio Contigliani (2006, ex-Provence Rugby) and Romania’s Codrin Giusca (2007, ex-CS Rapid).

Dax stock up on youngsters

The Landes academy is welcoming several Espoirs. Fly-half Hugo Etchebarne leaves Section paloise, where he played two Espoirs matches this season. Italian hooker Leonardo Derugna, a freshly crowned Crabos champion of France with Montpellier (19 matches, 1 try), also joins Dax. So do scrum-half Gaspar Laffont, who arrives from Toulouse until 2028 after a season of 14 matches and 4 tries in Crabos, and hooker Maxime Casenave, coming from Bayonne.

Provence Rugby (Aix) sign two profiles

Dutch lock Sjoerd Bakker joins the Aix academy, arriving from St Joseph’s College, in England. Loosehead prop Matteo Fourcade comes from Béziers, after 14 matches and a try in Élite Espoirs this season.

Biarritz and Agen dip into the international market

New Zealand back-rower Zephaniah Lewis joins the Biarritz Olympique academy until 2028, arriving from Blackrock College, in Ireland. For their part, tighthead prop Jaz Barres Mucret, a Crabos champion of France, leaves Montpellier for the Agen academy until 2027.