Silly season transfer rumours (continued)....

Continuation of the previous thread from the esteemed Mister GeordieFalcon:
https://www.606v2.com/t57129-silly-season-transfer-rumours

Saints have apparently made a new centre signing, Pat Howard from WP

That Colin Slade signing to Pau is causing tremors in NZ, coming after Charles Piutau and Francis Saili agreed their moves.

I think the impression before tended to be that France, Japan and, to a lesser extent, the Home Nations, were a destination for senior All Blacks who were calling time on their international careers, or looking for a gap year pay day between World Cups.

The realization is that there are life-changing sums of money on offer which are sufficient to turn the heads of younger players who were expected to play a full part in squad planning from here to the next World Cup.

I can't help thinking that the number of injuries in the game these days is playing a part when players are making their calculations. And Slade's comment also suggests that players aren't certain whether they will always be able to command such offers:

"From [purely a rugby point of view] an outsider would probably think it's a silly decision to leave now, but I have weighed-up every factor," Slade said. "You just never know when these deals are going to come up - this is a good club in a good part of the world. It was just something I couldn't pass up."

Its hard to criticise players for taking the money (and experiencing a completely new culture). I wonder if a unintended consequence of the success of the world cup is that the international season inbetween will become devalued as players look for 2/3 year contracts which start after the WC.

Another interesting thought is that will NZ always be able to not pick overseas players? I hope so for their sake, but if enough leave you never know...

Michael Allen to Edinburgh. Decent signing if true.

Used to live just out side Pau and it is a lovely area of France, can't blame him for taking the (probably Poopie loads of) money and wanting a bit of sun and fun too.

Pau are looking like they mean business but of they do go straight back down will these big signings stick with them?

yappysnap wrote:Used to live just out side Pau and it is a lovely area of France, can't blame him for taking the (probably Poopie loads of) money and wanting a bit of sun and fun too.

Pau are looking like they mean business but of they do go straight back down will these big signings stick with them?

I guess they have a release clause. Mannix seems to have a done a good job by adding a real professional attitude in that team. the added advantage for kiwis playing over there is that there is plenty of sheeps in that part of france so they will likely feel more at home !

Slade is another Kiwi allegedly on 500k Euros a season. That big money is great for a player like him who'd be largely a back up for the ABs and who can secure his future and still return home before the next RWC.

Rugby tumbles headlong into Football circles....

Andy Saull confirmed to Yorkshire on a two year deal.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Michael Allen to Edinburgh. Decent signing if true.

This rumour has caused a bit of a debate given the large contingent of NSQ players already at Edinburgh, and the fact that we have a couple of promising Scottish wingers/centres that are waiting to come through. He does look like a decent player though that has just been unfortunate to have so many class players in his position at Ulster.

Also, Edinburgh are hopefully getting rid of some NSQ dead wood in the backs so he would just be a replacement for them.

I don't know if someone has sayed it, but François Steyn will probably sign with Pau.

Good young prospect signed by Saints at TH.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32348215

LondonTiger wrote:Good young prospect signed by Saints at TH.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32348215

Yeh.

Paul Hill from Leeds. With the Wallers and Denman, Corbs will be the only prop over 25

Isn't Mercey there as well. He's late 20s now.

Well spotted FKAS, he is 28. He gets so little game time that I had forgotten about him. It was only a couple of years ago that he was a Saxon and one of the bright young things pushing Mujati for the 3 shirt. Now he seems to be 3rd in line for the shirt.

Nili Latu confirmed to Falcons for next season.

Yeah Saul out Latu in.

Latu is old like at 33.

Hill looks a cracking prospect for Saints.

Poor Leeds we have signed Harris the LH now hill has left

Nathan Earle ---> L.Irish doing the rounds

Where did you hear that Welly?

David Mele to Tolouse on a three year deal.

Odd one : luke burgess to Zebre

I think you are right to question the Nathan Earle post Ozzy, but how about Eoin Sheriff to Irish.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Well spotted FKAS, he is 28. He gets so little game time that I had forgotten about him. It was only a couple of years ago that he was a Saxon and one of the bright young things pushing Mujati for the 3 shirt. Now he seems to be 3rd in line for the shirt.

don't forget Brookes is joining, so could be 4th behind Brookes, Denman, Hill

formerly known as Sam wrote:David Mele to Tolouse on a three year deal.

good for Toulouse............ and good for us.

I would imagine Hill has been signed as a prospect. You'd think Mercey would be third choice next season and ultimately released the summer after Hill overtakes him.

I have mixed feelings on Mele leaving before the RWC. Harrison is the second choice and an increasingly quality option but after him we're looking at the academy. Tresidder is highly rated but we've barely seen him in the first team. Youngs has a habit of returning from international commitments (Lions tour, SA tour and NZ tour?). Keeping Mele for one more year and reducing the pressure on Harrison and the academy might have been preferable.

Mele is too good to be third choice, and it seemed that the frustration was causing him to try too much and get flustered. Happy to see Harrison start with Tresidder on bench for KotN games and first couple of AP, then with Ben phased in once we are out. Of course fail to make the 1/4 finals and he is available for the start of the AP

I'd prefer to see Tresidder and Harrison rotated in the King of The North series. Harrison needs to be played enough to get match fit only don't want to risk him getting injured with so few options. Get the young lad plenty of game time, Tresidder has a nice skill set and bags of pace. Be nice to see him get a run before the season starts.

Suppose it is a cost saving measure if Tresidder gets moved up.

We would have 3 Scrum halves who are 25 and under and All Academy products.

The Earle rumours have been doing the rounds in various forums etc.

Replacing Mele with Tresidder would free up about 100k of cap. Increases my hope of us landing a top quality fifteen and maybe a centre as well.

Though that is about the que for us to sign a thirty something thoroughly average academy block on a two year deal.

We should have some money to play with:

Parling has yet to be replaced in terms of like for like wage he was on about 250K
Croft has taken a major pay cut rumoured to be around 100K ish cheaper
Mele 80-100K sounds about right

Thats a potential 430 - 450K free with the cap increase of 500K.

Assuming that Betham will take up Tait's, Hamiltons and potentially Hepetema's cap prob a bit more Although we could see some players leave.

We have replaced
Briggs --- Bateman (Prob on around the same)
Gibson --- Williams (Prob on about the same)
Barbieri -- Fonua (Fonua prob a bit more but not much more) lets say 20 - 30K more
Deacon -- Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald will be on around 50 -60K more imo.
Salvi --- O'Connor (O'Connor will be cheaper compared to Salvi last deal maybe 20 - 30K cheaper)

McCaffery is due to sign as well as the pay top ups for the front row and Kitch. That will be offset by Cole and Ayerza probably being our marquee players (unless we bring in a big name in the backs).

Bit more shopping to do;
Lock - ideally bring back Wells full time
7 - ideally a veteran mentor for our younger guys that can cover any serious injury to O'Connor and stop us needed to select a 20 year old in a big game. One year deal.
Centre - creative option to add some punch to the midfield though that would be the icing on the cake style signing unless Allen retires then it's a priority.
Fullback - priority as we have no one imminently coming through the academy in that position and Tait has been a rock there this season.

One of the marquee players can't have played AP rugby this season. My money is on Ayerza being the one next season.

I expect nearly all of the extra 500K to be in re-signings etc.

I have heard Andre Taylor being floating around as a possible 15, who would be good and wouldn't be a marquee signing IMO.

Andre Taylor would suit me fine. He's in Japan at the minute so who knows what his thinking is. If he wants to bring his mate Tim Bateman then that would be nice. Failing that Moala from the Blues would be nice. That is if Mermoz isn't arriving.

Peter Betham confirmed ---> Leicester Tigers

Welly wrote: Peter Betham confirmed ---> Leicester Tigers

That is a brilliant signing - he is quality (witness his 2 tries at the weekend) and exactly whom I hoped Glasgow would sign, to be honest.

Yep I am very happy TBH gives us a different attacking threat to what we already have.

TBH ATM our signings have on paper been the best we have had for a while so far.

Scarlets sign Dylan Evans...

Quade Cooper to Toulon, and maybe Paul O'Connell.

Tigers sign Fitzgerald the lock and occasional blind side from the Chiefs in NZ. Seems a good signing and replacement for Deacon.

Glasgow sign...............absolutely bloody nobody.
Confirmed.

With Claasans and Durand leaving I expect Toulon will also be looking to splash some cash on a scrum half to complement Tillus-Borde.

Isn't Hayman retiring at the end of the season as well?

Aren't Ali Williams and Bakkies hanging up their boots?

Yeah they are fkaS. Hence the POC rumours.

They'll still have Suta and Taofifenau.

Masoe is leaving and I'd guess that Manoa is a replacement. If Manoa is being looked at as a second row we could yet see another big back row signing from them.

A fair bit in that regard may depend on whether Gorgodze moves on or not however. Reports a bit back suggested he was looking to leave but I haven't heard anything since really.

I wonder where Masoe will end up. He's getting on but he can still certainly play to a very high standard.

Isa's return to Leinster will be confirmed very soon according to MOC.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I wonder where Masoe will end up. He's getting on but he can still certainly play to a very high standard.

Isa's return to Leinster will be confirmed very soon according to MOC.

He goes to Racing.

Toulon have confirmed Quade Cooper for next season

So Toulon pack next season will be:

1) ?, 2) Guirado, 3) Ma'afu
4) O'Connell, 5) Etzebeth
6) Manoa, 7) Armitage, 8) Vermeulen

Jesus Vermeulen is basically a done deal, Etzebeth and O'Connell linked, Etzebeth was a pretty strong rumour.

Paul Munster O'Connell leave? Nah. He'll play until he retires then move straight upstairs.

Guirado is good in the loose but not at the set piece. Ma'afu is good in neither and Castro isn't the prop he was. Not the best recruitment going on in that front row.

Wouldn't surprise me if they are after the beast and another TH Castro is off end of season.

POC has bussiness interests in south of France and got married there so could see it happening really.