Zürcher Nachrichten - Menoncello, Reece headline Top 14 new-season signings

AFP Sport looks at five new signings set to have a significant impact on the upcoming campaign:

Tommaso Menoncello (Toulouse)

The Italy centre joins the champions, who are eyeing a record fifth-straight French title.

The 24-year-old reportedly also had attractive financial offers from Toulon and La Rochelle before deciding on joining Antoine Dupont's dominant outfit.

The powerful midfielder has been a cornerstone of the Azzurri's recent upsurge under Gonzalo Quesada and was named the 2024 Six Nations player of the tournament.

The former Treviso man will feature in an exciting backline at club level including Dupont, fly-half Romain Ntamack and compatriot in full-back Ange Capuozzo.

Sevu Reece (Perpignan)

The New Zealand winger's move to the perennial Top 14 strugglers came as a shock, especially one year out from a possible spot in a Rugby World Cup squad.

The fleet-footed 29-year-old's main job will be to try and stop the Catalans from featuring in the relegation play-off for a fifth time in six seasons.

Fellow former Crusader Braydon Ennor has also opted to head to Stade Aime-Giral this season from the Super Rugby side.

In 2018, Reece pleaded guilty to domestic violence and a move to Irish province Connacht was cancelled.

Tom Willis (Bordeaux-Begles)

The abrasive No 8 returns to the two-time defending Champions Cup winners from Saracens.

He spent eight months in the south-west of France when Wasps went into administration in late 2022.

The 27-year-old was named the English Premiership's player of the season earlier this year and will put his England career on hold with his move to France, having won the last of his eight Test caps in July 2025.

Willis will face his older brother in current Top 14 player of the season Jack, in the second round of the season when Bordeaux-Begles host Toulouse.

Huw Jones (Toulon)

The Scotland centre moves to the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast from Glasgow having established himself as one of the sport's leading attackers, combining superbly with Sione Tuipulotu at Test level.

The 32-year-old British and Irish Lion will face tough competition for a starting berth from France's Gael Fickou and Italy's Juan Ignacio Brex at Stade Mayol.

"There is a lot of respect and admiration between us. We have to get the best out of each other," Fickou told AFP last week as Toulon eye a return to the play-offs after missing out last season.

Dalton Papali'i (Castres)

The hard-working back-rower's move was another surprise considering his chances of featuring for New Zealand at the World Cup.

The 28-year-old, who is no relation to Castres' other Kiwi back-rower Abraham Papali'i, has had the worst start possible to life in France however, having torn his Achilles in pre-season. So he is only set to return in January at the earliest.

Castres have signed Scotland flanker Hamish Watson as injury cover for the 37-time All Black as they aim for a first league crown since 2018.

H.Roth--NZN