Super signings.

England and Lions stars Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell could be set for stunning loan deals in Super Rugby next season with Saracens boss Mark McCall confirming he’s spoken to Warren Gatland about the possibility.

The reigning Premiership champions have already lost 15 senior players either on loan or permanently ahead of their relegation to the Championship – but so far have managed to retain the services of England World Cup final stars Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, Billy and Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Elliot Daly, at least in the long-term.

Most of not all of those players will be in contention for next year’s Lions tour of South Africa and it appears while Gatland will probably select guys like Farrell and Itoje no matter what – he’d like them to get some higher-quality games in somewhere next season before the tour if possible.

And he has the solution – loan them to a Super Rugby team. But where would they go? How about the Chiefs where Gatland is the head coach (although he’ll be taking a break next season fo the Lions tour)?

The Chiefs have lost all their Super Rugby Aotearoa games so far and are really struggling with some reports suggesting he’ll try and get Farrell and Itoje to sign for them on loan from Saracens to help out.

“I don’t think it is out of the question,” McCall said last week when asked about the possibility of Super Rugby loans.

“I don’t think, if that was to happen, it would be for very long. It would be to get enough rugby to make sure they are firing come the Lions tour.

“I talked to Warren on Monday and he was very happy with the situation.”