5:11am, 29 October 2017

Rumours are circulating that All Black winger Julian Savea has signed for a Premiership side after being overlooked by the All Blacks.

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Savea has been heavily linked with a move to London side Harlequins, who have been in the headlines this week after England winger Marland Yarde exited the club mid-season.

Savea did not make the All Blacks squad for the November Tests and may find a lucrative Premiership deal appealing – however his partner is about to give birth, which means a move away from NZ is unlikely in the near future.

TRANSFER RUMOUR: We can second what is posted in TRP today about Julian Savea moving to Harlequins. We have been told he has already signed. pic.twitter.com/2ndt0SnNPS — RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) October 29, 2017

However, an article in this morning’s Rugby Paper rumoured that the powerful 6’3, 108kg winger might be plying his trade on English shores.

It’s speculated that Savea could sign on a short-term contract, mitigating the loss of Yarde from Harlequins’ roster. Again though, this seems unlikely given that he recently re-committed to NZ Rugby and the Hurricanes on a two-year deal.

A a short-term deal with Harlequins would allow him to return for the 2018 Super Rugby season with the Wellington based franchise, however this would require an exceptional release clause from NZ Rugby.

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Savea’s wife however took to Twitter on Sunday evening to rubbish the claims.

Yarde dramatically quit Quins on Friday evening.

Sale Sharks appear to have been the beneficiaries of unrest between Yarde and Quins, signing the Saint Lucia born winger, who has 13 English Caps to his name and 8 tries.

The 25-year-old failed to turn up for training last week prior to his teams fixture with Wasps and Director of Rugby John Kingston took action by omitting him from his selection.

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It was a busy week for Harlequins in general, who had two players cited following their European Champions Cup match with Wasps.

Harlequins successfully appealed the independent Disciplinary Committee’s application of a three-week suspension against Joe Marler, which ruled the prop should remain suspended until midnight on Sunday, 19 November.

Harlequins argued that there had not been a consistency of approach to the issue of a player’s potential selection in the England Squad and its effect on any sanction imposed.

The independent Disciplinary Committee upheld the appeal and concluded that Marler’s suspension should end at midnight on Sunday, 12 November.