Top 10 Premiership signings of all time

It’s the season of player movement in the Aviva Premiership, with new signings and contract extensions seemingly announced on a daily basis.

Schalk Burger has already pledged his future to Saracens in perhaps the most exciting signing of the season thus far, while Leicester Tigers are looking forward to welcoming Matt Toomua to Welford Road for the 2016/17 season.

With this in mind, we have put together our list of the top 10 foreign signings of all-time in the Premiership, but do you agree? Let us know your thoughts!

Before we get started, be sure to check out the extensive list of honourable mentions, many of whom were just on the cusp of making the cut, but goes to show the quality that has plied its trade in the Premiership over the years.

Honourable mentions – Olivier Azam, Brad Barritt, Serge Betsen, Justin Bishop, Kelly Brown, Jacques Burger, Thomas Castaignède, Martin Castrogiovanni, Sébastian Chabal, Michael Claasens, Thinus Delport, Craig Dowd, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Chris Hala’ufia, Carl Hayman, Raphaël Ibañez, Ernst Joubert, Pat Lam, Trevor Leota, Kenny Logan, Francois Louw, Samu Manoa, Seilala Mapusua, Aaron Mauger, Ludovic Mercier, Conor O’Shea, Budge Pountney, Akapusi Qera, Eoin Reddan, Carlos Spencer, Soane Tonga’uiha, Keith Wood.

10. David Paice and Sailosi Tagicakibau, London Irish (and Wasps)

How do you separate this pair? Both players have given the best years of their careers to London Irish and for the vast majority, were among the very best players in the Premiership at their positions. With a combined 22 years of service, 382 club appearances and 71 tries, they are two players who have embodied Irish over the past decade.

Paice continues to add to that combined tally, regularly packing down as Irish’s starting hooker, and though Tagicakibau is no longer a member of the Irish squad, he continues to contribute to the Premiership, impressing on the wing for Wasps.

9. Marcos Ayerza, Leicester Tigers

The Argentinean has been a mainstay of the Leicester front row for 10 years now and it’s in the East Midlands that Ayerza developed into arguably the most formidable scrummaging loosehead in world rugby. Over that time, Ayerza has chalked up 222 appearances for the club and been remarkably durable given the physical demands imposed on modern-day props.

At 32 years of age, Ayerza has seemingly turned his back on the international arena, opting not to move to the newly-formed Jaguares franchise in Super Rugby (from which Argentina have said they will pick their team in the future) and should continue to add real value to the Tigers on and off the pitch over the coming years.

8. Bruce Reihana, Northampton Saints

Now a coach at Bordeaux-Begles, Reihana was best known during his playing career for his nine-year stay at Franklin’s Gardens. In 236 appearances for the club, he contributed 1,032 points and wrote himself into the folklore of the historic club.

Featuring at fly-half, centre and across the back three, Reihana was the epitome of the now rare utility back. He was a steadying and consistent presence when the club was relegated following the 2006-07 season and played a vital role in bringing them back to the Premiership just a season later, before helping lay the foundations for their 2013-14 Premiership title.

7. Neil de Kock, Saracens

Another foreign player to break the 200 appearance mark for a single Premiership club, de Kock has been one of the driving forces behind turning Saracens from a team mired in mid-table obscurity, to the side which now sits atop the Premiership table.

The South African has accumulated 240 appearances since his move from the Stormers in 2006 and his battle with Richard Wigglesworth for the starting jersey has helped propel Saracens to the lofty place they currently enjoy in European rugby. The 2015/16 season will be de Kock’s last and the North Londoners will certainly miss his calming presence linking their forwards and backs next season.

6. Schalk Brits, Saracens

Brits joined Saracens three years after de Kock, but has arguably played an even bigger role in turning around the club’s fortunes than the scrum-half. The hooker has electrified the Premiership with his dynamic play in the loose over the last seven years and it’s clear to see that he’s influenced young English hookers such as Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie with his style of play.

The South African is gradually transitioning into an impact role from the bench due to the performances of George, but he will still be confident of adding to his 154 appearances for Saracens. Brits’ 21 tries for the club shouldn’t be ignored either and he’s playing at a level where he can certainly add to that over the next season or two, despite turning 35 later this year.

5. Mark van Gisbergen, Wasps

When you think about Wasps’ great period of success during the 2000’s, names like Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley and Josh Lewsey inevitably creep to the forefront of your mind. Whilst they were clearly the heartbeat of the club during that period, van Gisbergen is a player whose impact on those formidable Wasps sides often gets overlooked.

The New Zealand-born full-back was impressive enough during his time with Wasps to earn an England cap and was unlucky not to add to that tally. During his nine-year stint in West London and High Wycombe, van Gisbergen won four Premiership titles, two Heineken Cups, a Challenge Cup and contributed 1,207 points (36 tries) in 249 appearances.

4. Terry Fanolua, Gloucester

Another nine-year servant to Premiership rugby, Fanolua scored 60 tries in 228 appearances for Gloucester and was one of the best centres in the competition for much of his time with the Cherry and Whites. His powerful carrying quickly made him a fan favourite at Kingsholm and he played a pivotal role in them lifting the Challenge Cup in the 2005-06 season, their first major trophy of the professional era. 

The Samoan continues to have an impact on both Gloucester and the Premiership, currently working as an academy coach for the club and helping shape the stars of the future.

3. Alesana Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons

Has there been a more exciting player to watch in the Premiership than Tuilagi? Alesana bordered on unplayable when he was in his pomp with Leicester, as player after player was brushed aside by the big Samoan during his rampages to the try line. The marauding winger managed an incredible 63 tries during his eight-year stint in the East Midlands, before departing for a short sojourn in Japan.

He has since returned, signing with Newcastle Falcons, and although he’s not the same force he once was, he still relishes one-on-ones with a fervour that has defenders extremely worried. Tuilagi and van Gisbergen were the finishing touches to Leicester and Wasps sides which dominated not only the Premiership, but also European rugby for a good few years.

2. Geordan Murphy, Leicester Tigers

From one Tigers legend to another, Murphy deserves inclusion at this point for his longevity alone. The Irish full-back spent 16 seasons with Leicester, lifting eight Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups. To put that into context, every title Leicester have won during the professional era has come while Murphy was with the club.

The ultra-reliable full-back, like Fanolua, continues to aid his side following his retirement as a player, forming part of the coaching team working under Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger at Welford Road.

1. Nick Evans, Harlequins

It just had to be Evans. The Harlequins fly-half has been the stellar foreign import of the Premiership era, contributing 2,047 points to the London side’s cause over the past eight years. In the Premiership alone, Evans has registered 1,506 points, which recently saw him pass Jonny Wilkinson in the all-time standings.

Evans’ influence goes beyond the points he has scored however, and the brand of expansive rugby that Quins have been able to play with Evans at helm has helped them stay competitive year after year, not to mention aiding the England bids of backs such as Mike Brown, Ugo Monye and David Strettle. The fly-half was unlucky to play in the same era as Dan Carter and the 16 All Blacks caps he picked up do not justice to the considerable ability he has shown over the past 15 years.