Exiles travel globe to find new homes

"A total of 54 of last season's squad are now in the service of 31 clubs in eight countries"

- PETER JACKSON

At the Stade du Hameau not far from the Spanish border last weekend, an Argentinian prop from Cordoba did his bit to keep Pau ahead of the pack in France.

Some 250 miles north at Clermont-Ferrand, an Australian lock from Queensland helped ensure that The Michelin Men stayed in touch with a landslide home win over Bayonne.

Nearer home, in Greater Manchester, the oldest hooker at the World Cup made a try-scoring return to keep Sale on an upward curve. At The Stoop the following day, a young giant born in Kent and raised in New Zealand did much the same for Harlequins at the expense of Newcastle.

Supporters of London Irish still trying to come to terms with the soul-destroying reality of no longer having a team to support will readily identify the players in question: Facundo Gigena at Pau, Rob Simmons at Clermont, Augustin Creevy at Sale, Chandler Cunningham-South at Quins.