Alun Wyn Jones could be doubt for Six Nations and Lions tour

The 35-year-old suffered the medial ligament problem during Wales' final Autumn Nations Cup game against Italy at Parc y Scarlets on 5 December.

"We've spoken to the powers that be in relation to his knee," said Booth.

"We think he'll be double-figure weeks at the very least. If I said it to Alun, he'd say: 'I'll be back in eight. That's the nature of the beast.

"He's probably going to be somewhere around that sort of time frame, but it could be even longer which is disappointing for him and obviously for us.

"If anyone's going to get back early, it'll be him."

He is a free agent once again after his stint with the Blues came to an end. In April, he quit the stalled Japanese scene where he won a title for the Kobe Steelers on the back of his success in France with Paris club Racing 92. The 35-year-old played 112 tests for New Zealand, winning 99 of them and scored 1598 points which remains an international record. It’s expected he will move to Major League Rugby.

Eastmond is reportedly set to sign a short-term deal with Harlequins after departing from Leicester Tigers in July. The 30-year-old was one of five players to have departed, alongside Manu Tuilagi, Telusa Veainu, Greg Batemen and Noel Reid, Tigers CEO Andrea Pinchen said in a video posted on the club website.

Gloucester have signed Scotland fly-half Adam Hastings to fill the hole left by the England fly-halves departure. The 33-year-old, capped 16 times by England, left with immediate effect after two-and-a-half years at Kingsholm, and will be replaced for the 2021-22 season by the 24-year-old Glasgow Warriors back. Early reports have Bath as the favourites to sign Cipriani with Sale and Northampton both also linked.

The 28-year-old is back in New Zealand after his Kobe Steelers sabbatical was cut short by the COVID-enforced cancellation of the Japanese league. However, the lock has rejected an offer from Super Rugby side The Chiefs to remain a free agent. He’s reportedly having a bit of a break with his family before making his return.

The Samoa international is a free agent after departing Newcastle Falcons for personal reasons. He had made 110 appearances since joining in 2014, his side-stepping and power-packed contact skills making him a popular figure with the Falcons faithful. It’ll be interesting to see where he pops up next.