Top 14 club Lyon are looking to rebuild their backline ahead of next season, adding Josh Adams and Liam Williams to their payroll.

The current Challenge Cup champions are doing well in the hotly contested Top 14 table, occupying a play-off spot.

Busy in the market

However, they will be losing some key players at the end of the season, with veteran full-back Toby Arnold leaving the side as well as powerhouse Fijian flyer Josua Tuisova.

Arnold will reportedly not be offered an extension and could retire while Tuisova is off to Racing 92.

Lyon have already confirmed the arrival of Semi Radradra from Bristol Bears, but they are not done just yet.

According to French newspaper Midi Olympique, Lyon have actively tried to convince Adams to sign with the club. The British and Irish Lions flyer still has two years left on his contract at Cardiff, but the French side is willing to buy him out of his deal.

The signing of Adams would compensate for the loss of Tuisova, with the Top 14 club viewing the Welshman as an option in the centres and wing much like Radradra.

Next Kolbe?

They have also reportedly signed Sharks flyer Thaakir Abrahams. The 24-year-old is a fleet-footed winger/full-back who has impressed in recent seasons for the Durban-based side. A diminutive outside back, he is another likened to Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe.

Williams could also form part of Lyon’s backline, with the club keen to bring him on board as Wales stars look to secure their futures outside of the Welsh regions.

It is believed that several Welsh stars are keen on moving abroad as they know getting their wages off their region’s balance sheet will enable more of their current colleagues to have future jobs.

Lyon may face some stumbling blocks as the Welsh Rugby Union must sign off on such deals for Williams and Adams.

If the club is to pull off both signings, the Top 14 side will have a world-class backline able to compete with some of Europe’s best.

Half-backs

Recent Italy call-up Martin Page-Relo will join Lyon from Toulouse at the end of the season. He adds to the scrum-half stocks that already include French internationals Baptiste Couilloud and Jean-Marc Doussain.

They also have the hugely impressive fly-half Leo Berdeu who has been on the cusp of the French national team in recent seasons. Former All Blacks and Wasps fly-half Lima Sopoaga has also returned from injury for the side and is starting to stamp his mark in the starting line-up.

The side has struggled to replace Charlie Ngatai and Pierre-Louis Barassi in the centres. However, Josiah Maraku has started to make his presence felt and could thrive with Radradra. Veteran Thibuat Rigard continues to churn out solid performances, while Kyle Godwin is another star in the centres.

Reports suggest that the club are also attempting to prize Antoine Frisch away from Munster.

Georgian superstar Davit Niniashvili could form an incredibly dangerous back three alongside Williams and Adams. While Les Blues flyer Ethan Dumortier adds another serious threat in the back three.

Potential Lyon backline next season:

9. Baptiste Couilloud
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Josh Adams
12. Antoine Frisch
13. Semi Radradra
14. Davit Niniashvili/ Ethan Dumortier
15. Liam Williams

READ MORE: Rugby rumours and transfers: Nigel Owens, Iain Henderson and Josh Adams

The article Top 14: The world-class backline Lyon could field with Josh Adams and Liam Williams in it appeared first on Planetrugby.com.