FC Nantes are in active discussions with Championship side Aston Villa over the possible signing of central midfielder Jordan Veretout.

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As reported by Gianluca di Marzio, Nantes have been in discussions with Aston Villa for some time now over a possible return for their initial youth academy product, but the Championship outfit are playing hardball in fee negotiations.

Veretout has been on President Kita’s watchlist for some time and the French side remain confident of reaching an agreement.

Stef Peeters has officially joined Ligue 1 side Caen from Belgian side Saint-Trond on a deal until 2020.

The 25-year-old was on top form in the Jupiler league last season for Saint-Trond, assisting his teammates 12 times in all. The attacking midfielder caught the attention of other Belgian clubs, but Caen won his signature to bring him to Ligue 1, much like they did with Ivan Santini last season.

“This is part of our new recruitment policy. We look at what is happening in neighbouring countries,” says Xavier Gravelaine, the General Director for the club.

“Stef has a very good left foot, he has superb positional play, can work in a number of positions and is a really good passer of the ball,” said Gravelaine who was glowing in his praise for the new Caen number eight.

T.S.

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Glasgow Warriors have announced the signing of South African back-row Henco Venter, who will arrive from the Sharks at the end of the season.

Subject to visa clearance, the 31-year-old forward will line up in a Glasgow jersey from the next campaign and is set to be a handy addition to the Scottish outfit.

He has played 48 matches thus far for the Sharks, representing them in Super Rugby and Currie Cup action in addition to the United Rugby Championship.

Venter is capable of playing across the back-row and has turned out for the Cheetahs and Toshiba Brave Lupus before making the switch to the Dubanites.

Admires the Warriors playing style

“Glasgow has always been a club I have enjoyed watching and admired the way they approach their rugby,” the back-row told the Warriors’ official website.

“The way the team has played this season, in particular under Franco, has been so great to see, and seeing the results and how much everyone is enjoying their rugby makes Glasgow a place you want to come and play.

“Franco plays a winning brand of rugby, but he also understands that it’s a brand of rugby that people in the stands need to enjoy coming to see. You can see how he’s blended that this season with the coaches at Glasgow, and I can’t wait to get involved.

“I’ve also played with both JP [Du Preez] and Sintu [Manjezi], so I spoke to them before signing, and they just said how great a place Glasgow is to both live and play. The enthusiasm they spoke about the club and the city just makes me can’t wait to get started.

“I’m happy to do whatever it takes to help the team win – I enjoy being physical in attack and defence, and I love to have the ball in hand. An attacking mindset is always more fun.

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“The result against Connacht last weekend showed the character of this team, and that character just makes you really want to fight for your team and be a part of everything.

“I honestly can’t wait to join this club. I want to give back to the club and the supporters in the stand, and I believe this club is capable of doing something special.”

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith added: “Henco is not only a top-class rugby player, but also a first-rate person.

“He’s an incredibly hard-working athlete, and his ability to cover all three back-row positions will make him an invaluable asset to our squad next season.

“He leads from the front, and we believe he will contribute a great deal to our squad as we move forward. We look forward to welcoming him to Scotstoun this summer.”

Eli Snyman returns to Benetton

Elsewhere, Benetton have signed South African second-row Eli Snyman, who will rejoin the club from Premiership side Leicester Tigers ahead of 2023/24.

Snyman, 27, has made 34 appearances to date since arriving in the East Midlands before the 2021/22 campaign.

Born in Zimbabwe, Snyman represented South African U20s in 2016 before making his Currie Cup debut for the Bulls in the same season.

His Super Rugby debut came in 2019, for the Bulls, before signing with Treviso ahead of the 2019/20 European season.

Speaking about Snyman, Leicester Tigers interim head coach Richard Wigglesworth said: “Eli has been a big part of the Leicester pack during these past two seasons, playing a key role both on the pitch and as a leader for the young players in his position.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to play alongside Eli last season and for the first part of this season and equally so the chance to have coached him during that time.

“He’s been a great contributor to Leicester Tigers and we thank him for that, as well as wishing him all the best for the next stage of his career back in Italy with Benetton.”

Glasgow Warriors boss Franco Smith has challenged his players to conquer the Scarlets’ home support when they face off in their Challenge Cup semi-final on Saturday.

The Warriors are in a rich vein of form as they have lost only once in 17 matches in all competitions and will be slight favourites to advance to their first-ever European final, at the expense of their United Rugby Championship (URC) rivals.

Smith‘s troops finished in fourth position during the league phase of the URC, which was 10 places above the Scarlets and they beat the Welsh region 12-9 in a tough encounter at Scotstoun two weeks ago.

Wary of Scarlets

Despite that result, Smith is wary of his opponents especially the galvanising effect home ground advantage will have on the Dwayne Peel’s charges.

“The Scarlets will be favouring their chances to go all the way in front of their home supporters,” he told the Warriors website.

“We as a team know this, and therefore it presents an opportunity to take on this challenge that will ask the very best of us.

“We have prepared well this week for what we know will be a hard battle in front of a big Welsh crowd.”

One in one out for Edinburgh

Elsewhere in Scotland, Edinburgh have announced the departure of attack coach Gareth Baber and the signing of back-row forward Tom Dodd.

Baber’s exit at the end of his contract could potentially pave the way for Mike Blair to remain at the club when he steps down as head coach to pursue a career as a specialist attack coach.

Former Fiji Sevens coach Baber joined Edinburgh in December 2021 as skills and assistant attack coach and will return to Wales to be with his family.

He said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time in Edinburgh and I’ve built connections with coaches, management and players that will last a lifetime. It’s a brilliant club and I’m certain this group will bounce back next season.

Right time to end time at club

“I have, however, spent the last 18 months away from my family who are living in Wales, so it felt like the right time to relocate home and bring an end to my time in Edinburgh. It’s been a truly brilliant experience and I can’t talk up the club enough.”

Former Scotland U20 international Dodd will sign on a two-year deal following a spell with English Championship side Coventry.

The 25-year-old scored four tries for Scotland U20s and helped them to a fifth-placed finish at the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship.

The flanker – who qualifies for Scotland through his Glenrothes-born mother – made 31 appearances for Worcester before the club went into administration in September last year.

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Toulouse manager Pascal Dupraz has invited French winger Nicolas Maurice-Belay to join the Ligue 1 side during their pre-season camp this week with a view to a possible deal.

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Maurice-Belay, 32, has only just recovered from a long-term injury and is currently a free agent after not receiving a contract extension proposal from his most recent club Bordeaux.

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St Étienne are the side in pole position to land French defender Marcel Tisserand, according to sources contacted by Get French Football News.

Tisserand, who is formerly of AS Monaco and was relegated with Ingolstadt from the Bundesliga in the 2016/17 campaign, is expected to return to Ligue 1.

It is our understanding that St Étienne are the side that are in pole position at the moment, with constant contacts occurring between the player’s camp and Les Verts. Talks have even intensified in recent days.

Marseille were initially thought to have been in the race, but are no longer there. As for Lyon, lines of communication are open but it would appear as if Les Gones are exploring other central defensive options. Tisserand can play both at left-back and as a central defender.

In the Premier League, Watford, who were interested last season, have held informal talks for the player with a view to a transfer for this summer.

It is our understanding that Tisserand will chose his future destination in a definitive fashion next week, but St Étienne lead the way.

S.R.

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In a shock move, the Bulls have reportedly signed Bath and England lock Charlie Ewels on a short-term deal as he makes his return from injury.

Ewels has returned from a serious knee injury earlier than expected and is looking to make a late claim for a place in England’s Rugby World Cup squad.

Why the Bulls?

The England and Bath second-row underwent knee surgery last July after sustaining the injury during the preparations for the first of the three Test match series against the Wallabies.

The 27-year-old was not expected to return during this season but has recovered in time to prove his fitness and press for a place in Steve Borthwick’s England squad.

According to The Times, he has joined the Bulls and could make his Currie Cup debut this weekend against the Sharks.

The report adds that the Stormers were in line to sign the lock, but the side could not raise enough funds to pay for his visa in time.

He also explored options in Australia but has now arrived in Pretoria.

Bath expected Ewels to miss the entire season and signed players such as Ted Hill and Fergus Lee-Warner from Worcester Warriors as injury dispensation.

They, therefore, used up their salary cap and Ewels needed a short-term deal elsewhere due to his early return.

Things to know about Charlie Ewels

Ewels was a member of the England U20 team that won the 2014 Junior World Championship, partnering Maro Itoje in the second-row. He captained the side a year later and finished as runners-up to New Zealand.

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He made his debut for Bath at 19 and has played over 100 times for the Premiership club. 

Ewels took over the captaincy at Bath ahead of the 2019/20 season under former head coach Stuart Hooper.

In 2016, he earned his maiden Test call-up for England and debut against Fiji in November.

He was part of Eddie Jones’ wider Rugby World Cup squad and featured in the 2020 Six Nations squad.

During the Six Nations, he set the unwanted record of the quickest red card in the tournament’s history.

In the Test against Ireland, he was given his marching orders for a late and high tackle on James Ryan, with the pair colliding heads.

Ewels lists former Bulls legend and captain Victor Matfield as his most admired player in his player profile on England Rugby’s official website.

The lock is a car collector and takes his Ford Mustang to motor shows across the South West of England. 

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READ MORE: Premiership: The race for the top four and Champions Cup qualification with three rounds left

Glasgow Warriors are looking to grab hold of a “massive opportunity” to reach the Challenge Cup final when they face Scarlets in the semi-finals this weekend.

The Warriors will travel to Wales to face their United Rugby Championship (URC) rivals in the last four of the tournament with all eyes on progressing to the final.

Glasgow are in great form of late, winning their last six games in all competitions, subsequently earning them a top-four finish in the URC.

Semi-final week

Their last outing was a narrow 29-27 win against Connacht, and assistant coach Peter Murchie is hoping the team will make the most of the energy a semi-final week brings.

He said: “We have had a really good day. We reviewed the game we just played, and there is always a spring in the step coming into semi-final week.

“We spoke about the occasion. I am sure there will be a full stadium down in Scarlets, so it is a massive opportunity, a semi-final; you are obviously one away from a final and an opportunity to win something so there is an excitement.

“For the group, it is excellent to have the opportunity to get to a big final.

“They haven’t happened every year, the last time for the club would have been the Celtic Park final (2019 Guinness PRO14 final).

“It would be something to cherish. It is a massive event, and if we could get ourselves to Dublin, it would be a big event, I am sure Glasgow would be behind us, and there would be a big turnout from the city to watch us but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, we have a tough one this weekend to get through.”

No injury update

The fitness of several stars was thrown into doubt after last weekend’s game, including Huw Jones (head), Jamie Dobie (knee), Cole Forbes (hamstring) and Lucio Sordoni (head), but Murchie could not offer any updates.

He said: “There is nothing to report on the guys that came out, they are still being assessed.

“But we are hoping that there is nothing major and we will have a good squad to select from at the weekend, and hopefully we will have a couple of guys coming back to us who have been injured in the last couple of weeks.

“So we will have a strong squad.

“If players are in your squad, they are good enough to play, and when they play they generally repay you, and it is a good loop to be on.

“If guys think they have a genuine opportunity, they train hard during the week.

“If they don’t have that, then human nature dictates that you maybe are not going to work as hard during the week.

“In pretty much every position, there is three you can pick from. That’s something that we maybe haven’t had in the last couple of years but we have now so that’s brilliant.”

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Ligue 1 side Lille have opened discussions with Manchester City for the possible transfer of Ivorian forward Wilfried Bony, according to RMC.

Bony, who is transfer-listed, is soliciting interest from China too.

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Nancy have completed the signing of goalkeeper Geoffrey Jourdren on a two-year-deal.

The former Montpellier goalkeeper will be given the number 30 shirt when he reports to pre season training with his new club. The 31-year-old came through the same youth age group at Clariefontaine as Hatem Ben Arfa and Abou Diaby before spending 11 seasons with Montpellier, where he would win Ligue 1.

Jourdren will offer experience at the back for Nancy, who will be looking once again to survive in Ligue 1. If this signing is anything to go by, they should be in good shape heading into the new season.

T.S.

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