Samu Kerevi, Wales Exodus and Coaches : PlanetRugby

Planet Rugby recaps some of the biggest transfer news, rumours and movements in the world of rugby union over the past week.

The rumours list is hot this week, with players in Wales high up on the shortlist for Premiership and Top 14 clubs, while there is a ton of whispers around the coaching ranks. Here is our full rundown. 

Hugo Keenan, Peter O’Mahony, Jack McGrath, Liam Williams  

Keenan commits: Ireland and Leinster full-back Hugo Keenan has signed a three-year IRFU contract that will see him continue his career in Ireland until the end of the 2025/26 season. He is the first Ireland player to secure a deal with the senior team after representing the sevens side.

O’Mahony extends: Peter O’Mahony has signed a one-year extension to his IRFU contract that will run until the end of the 2023/24 season. The veteran back-rower has started both of Ireland’s Six Nations matches this year, taking his Test cap tally for his country to 91. He has also played 171 games for Munster.

Williams off to Japan: Wales and Cardiff full-back Liam Williams is drawing interest from Japan, with WalesOnline reporting that Kubota Spears are considering putting together a deal worth £500,000 a season for his services. Malcolm Marx, Ryan Crotty, Bernard Foley and Lappies Labuschagne are on the Japanese club’s books.

Lions prop retires: Former Leinster, Ulster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions prop Jack McGrath announced his retirement at 33. The front-rower has battled with a hip injury and was not offered a contract with Ulster for the 2022/23 season. He won two Six Nations titles with Ireland, earned three caps in 2017 for the Lions and won three domestic titles, a Champions Cup and Challenge Cup with Leinster. McGrath won 56 Irish caps and played 145 times for Leinster.

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Having announced his retirement this morning, everybody at Leinster Rugby would like to wish our former player Jack McGrath all the very best.

?145 Leinster caps
☘️56 Ireland caps

Some incredible memories along the way. ?#ThanksJack #LeinsterFamily pic.twitter.com/116Xf1JTwL

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) February 16, 2023

Malakai Fekitoa, Alex Nankivell, Rieko Ioane 

Fekitoa to leave Munster early: Former All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa will depart Munster at the end of the season, cutting his stay at the province short. He joined Munster from Wasps on a two-year deal but will leave after just one season. Initial speculation has linked him with a return to France, having played for Toulon in the past, while Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika has also been suggested as a potential destination. 

Munster sign Fekitoa replacement: Munster have moved quickly to announce Fekitoa’s replacement, with Alex Nankivell arriving from the Chiefs ahead of the 2023/24 season. The Maori All Blacks centre was reportedly in talks with Top 14 club Bordeaux but Munster managed to secure his services. The Irish province also…