Silly season transfer rumours (continued)....

First topic message reminder :

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

nathan wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Salvi is leaving Tigers

Has it been confirmed now?

Yes

Tolouse have snapped up Semi Kunatani the Fiji sevens player. Apparently he's a flyer and weighs in at around 98kg. Second highest scorer in world sevens this year with 37 tries. There's a lot of prospect there for a team that are searching for a cutting edge.

Ealling have signed our players Chris York and Danny Barnes.

Chris York is a serious player, I'm disappointed to lose him if i'm honest.

Thought he was a victim of the Welch must play every game scenario, same as Andy Saull.

Have Ealing got up to the Championship? Little bit surprised he hasn't got himself an AP deal.

Pity about York but he's never progressed, he'll make a fine Championship player.

Barnes never really showed much at this level, he had to move on really.

Ealing are recruiting heavily it seems. On the Notts board there seems to be a fear that several clubs are spending in the Championship and it could be an arms race that those without significant funds can't compete in.

Ealing have signed a lot of fringe AP players and are having a real crack at back to back promotions...or at least that's what they are telling the players they recruit!

There is some big money players in the Championship.

Matthew Morgan , Cooper Vuna are full internations for top sides.

Be a bit of waste if they decide to ring fence the AP.....

Do you think Welch is food enough to command the shirt permanently. I'm not sure.

Though I don't think York has progressed as we hoped.

Salvi confirmed to Exeter

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32726147

Finally confirmed it had been done for a while now.

Was a massive man sausage up from both player/agent and club there.

(Although IMO Leicester didn't do much wrong).

Chiefs are doing some serious recruiting at the moment - its really good to see.

For Quins - they have announced the retiremement of Tom Williams, and he will join the coaching staff.
He joins the 1 club man........club.

propdavid_london wrote:Chiefs are doing some serious recruiting at the moment - its really good to see.  

For Quins - they have announced the retiremement of Tom Williams, and he will join the coaching staff.  
He joins the 1 club man........club.

They're bringing in strong experienced players to combine with their talented academy players...a very good mix.

So there seems a general trend of players moving South (via Leicester ofc) as they get older and more experienced

Exeter are new, young and hungry as a team. They have prooved their credentials by staying up in the Prem for a number of years and moved gradually up the table each time.
Theyve previously brought in a bit of experience to help them along and at the start of their prem experience a lot of guys that were being sidelined by their clubs that were keen to prove a point.
Now is the first time that they seem to be having a real recuitment drive and presumably are spending some serious cash.
Good on them.

Exeter lose high quality prospect Joel Conlon to Sarries. Sarries will feel smug with that deal he's a good back row and could be a real force after some careful development.

propdavid_london wrote:Exeter are new, young and hungry as a team.  They have prooved their credentials by staying up in the Prem for a number of years and moved gradually up the table each time.  
Theyve previously brought in a bit of experience to help them along and at the start of their prem experience a lot of guys that were being sidelined by their clubs that were keen to prove a point.  
Now is the first time that they seem to be having a real recuitment drive and presumably are spending some serious cash.  
Good on them.

To be fair, I'm not sure if it is their first real recruitment drive, they've got in 1 big name signing most years. Dean Mumm was a huge signing, then Waldrom. I think that they've stepped it up a bit though and gleefully become the second Tigers' retirement home in the SW!

We used to do it with Newcastle, now Exeter are doing it to us

The only thing that is concerning is if the next club is getting a lot more out of the players than Leicester did. That, so far, does seem to be very much the case with Waldrom

Why didn't Tigers renew Salvi's contract always thought he was a class act

rosbif wrote:Why didn't Tigers renew Salvi's contract always thought he was a class act

Because we had all ready pretty much signed his replacement (O'Connor) When his deal with Bayonne had fallen through.

- Salvi wanted out of contract so could go Bayonne who had approached him.
- Leicester agreed and Mauger approached O'Connor
- O'Connor and Leicester pretty much agree to terms (Leicester did this fast as the Castro Schuster situation showed what happens if you take to long)
- Bayonne deal falls through
- Salvi wants a new contract from Leicester
- Leicester offer deal but because we have signed O'connor and have designated the cap elsewhere it's not much.
- O'Connor holds out for more money
- Leicester then withdraw money when we confirm Fitzgerald and O'Connor
- At around this time was the whole we have offered Salvi our best deal thing (And him saying on Twitter he accpets it) but basically cap had already been spent.
- Salvi is without a contract for next season.
- His Exeter contracts White and Mumm plus waldrom prob tell Baxter etc, etc.

Basically if Salvi hadn't asked to be released before he had agreed terms with Bayonne he might have been staying prob bad work by agent.

But Leicester have been stung twice by players taking to long and/or messing them about.

Castro and Schuster
and
Hernandez and Evans

lostinwales wrote:The only thing that is concerning is if the next club is getting a lot more out of the players than Leicester did. That, so far, does seem to be very much the case with Waldrom

Waldrom won Premiership Player of the year with us and got capped by England.


It is a real shame that Salvi is off, but Welly has taken us through the machinations that caused it. It i san even bigger shame that to accommodate Salvi, a bright England prospect Joel Conlon leaves Exeter and joins Saracens.

Its a shame Exeter are losing Conlon indeed but he's not going to a bad place in Sarries.

Im sure Exeter have a stack on the conveyor belt to replace him aswell. They certainly look like they have their academy process and coaches nailed on...

Waldrom now into his thirties though. Conlon would have been an ideal candidate to mild as his replacement.

Sam Skinner seems to be the chosen one there

LondonTiger wrote:

lostinwales wrote:The only thing that is concerning is if the next club is getting a lot more out of the players than Leicester did. That, so far, does seem to be very much the case with Waldrom

Waldrom won Premiership Player of the year with us and got capped by England.


It is a real shame that Salvi is off, but Welly has taken us through the machinations that caused it. It i san even bigger shame that to accommodate Salvi, a bright England prospect Joel Conlon leaves Exeter and joins Saracens.

He did very well, but I understand there was a feeling that his performances had diminished over the last couple of years at Leicester, and now he is back to his best

I think the way Exeter play just suits Waldrom. His work rate in defence is poor but that is offset by two flankers who love to graft, at Tigers the 8 is expected to be constantly in the thick of it think Corry and Crane. The Exeter attacking game is pretty much built to get the best out of Waldrom as well, he's a luxury that Tigers couldn't make fit but that the Chiefs have made room for and made work.

I saw a report that Yapp the prop has had to retire due to a back injury

I hadnt realised that A.Jones was coming to Quins on a 1yr deal.

Will say Pearce IMO is the way forward him and a fit Fonua could cause some serious damage.

Anyone see Pearce bump Barritt.

That Pearce does look a powerful lad Welly.

Welly wrote: Will say Pearce IMO is the way forward him and a fit Fonua could cause some serious damage.

Anyone see Pearce bump Barritt.

Very impressed with Fonua when I've seen him but not sure how he'll fit in with Tigers. He could be a real asset if used the right way, gutted we didn't get him.

I think Fonua will be streamlined over the summer. Then used in a similar way to how Henry Tuilagi used to be. I think he could be very good. Pearce is definitely the future option he just needs to be further refined.

Jamie Roberts confirmed at Quins

HARLEQUINS
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CATEGORY:ALLCLUB NEWSRUGBY NEWSQUINS TVBLOGYOU SAID WE DID
BRITISH AND IRISH LION JAMIE ROBERTS JOINS HARLEQUINS
Monday, 18th May 2015 @ 10:00

HARLEQUINS IS DELIGHTED TO CONFIRM TODAY (MONDAY 18TH MAY) THAT BRITISH AND IRISH LION SERIES WINNER AND TWO TIME SIX NATIONS GRAND SLAM CHAMPION, JAMIE ROBERTS, WILL JOIN HARLEQUINS FROM NEXT SEASON.


Commenting on the news Harlequins Director of Rugby, Conor O’Shea, commented: “The whole club is ecstatic to have signed a player of Jamie's quality. He is massively ambitious to achieve at both club and international level. As a role model to all of our players, he will be someone we can all learn from. “We know we won't see Jamie in the Harlequins jersey for a while yet, but when we do I know he will be a massive contributor to the history of this club, the development of our team and the development of young players like Joe Marchant and Harry Sloan."

Roberts, 28, will arrive from Top 14 side Racing Metro; a club he joined in 2013 after six years with Cardiff Blues.

During his time with the Welsh region, the powerful centre won the Anglo-Welsh and European Challenge Cups in 2009 and 2010 respectively before graduating as a Doctor in 2013 following his studies at Cardiff University.


20150518084640After representing Wales at U19, U21 and in 7s, he made his international debut in 2008 against Scotland. Since then, Roberts has played for his country on 69 occasions, winning two Six Nations Grand Slams (2008 and 2012) and one Championship title (2013). In 2011 Jamie helped Wales to a fourth place finish at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.


Roberts’ physical nature on the field and lethal ability to break the gainline saw him called into the 2009 British and Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa. Despite the Series loss, the Newport-born back was named Man of the Series.


He toured again with The Lions in 2013, scoring in the third Test against Australia to seal a historic Series win.





Jamie’s physicality and professionalism both on and off the pitch will make him a valuable asset to both Harlequins and the Aviva Premiership.

Commenting on the announcement, Roberts said: “I’m delighted to have signed for Harlequins. Having played in Cardiff and in Paris, moving to London is a chance for me to experience and further develop my career in a different league. My desire to compete and win at both Club and International level remains as strong as ever and the brand of rugby Harlequins play will challenge my skill set and no doubt help me improve as a rugby player.

“You look at the calibre of the Harlequins squad and the coaching set up; they are a team that are going to be competing at the top level year in year out and that was a huge factor in my decision to sign.

“I'm also delighted and feel very privileged to have been accepted to study a Masters degree (MPhil) in Medical Science (surgery) at Cambridge University and look forward to furthering my education part-time alongside my professional playing career. That balance in my life has served me well in the past and I'm excited to start this new chapter in London.”

Roberts will join Harlequins next season alongside other notable signings including fellow internationals James Horwill, Adam Jones, Tim Visser and Winston Stanley.


Player profile
Jamie Roberts
Position: Centre
D.O.B: 08/11/86
Height: 1.93m
Weight: 110kg
International Honours: Wales ( 69 Tests), British and Irish Lions (3 Tests)

Well, very happy with these signings, just the kind of refresh we needed.

Marler, Ward/Gray/Buchanan, Jones
Horwill, Matthews
Robshaw, Clifford, Easter

Care, Evans/Swiel
Yarde, Lowe, Roberts, Visser, Brown

Tasty

Still a worry about lock and backrow though.

Mathews and the other academy boys are all a way off starting locks at the moment, Horwill will also probably take the remainder of next season to settle which'll put pressure on Easter.

In the backrow after Wallace, Robshaw and Clifford we only have 1 other flanker in baby Chis who isn't ready yet.

Still the team looks a lot stronger. Roberts and Lowe will be a great combo.

Cambridge have got a hell of a player. (He is allowed to play in the Oxbridge game)

Yea they'll be pleased with that!

A link would have sufficed Yappy

Taqele Naiyaravoro from the Waratahs to Glasgow Warriors:



Oh yes yes yes yes yes.

Tom Casson to Yorkshire Carnegie (Leeds).

Sgt_Pooly wrote:A link would have sufficed Yappy

It looked smaller on the web page!

Tom Casson is off! Thats a bit worrying isnt it? I guess he is after more game time - the Casson/Hopper partnership never really worked.

There were snippets of what he can offer though, just not consistent.

That will leave us with Lowe, JTH, Hopper, Roberts, Merchant is academy cover.
Is Winston Stanley a 15 or a 12?

Stringer signs 12 month deal with Sale

Isn't Sloane still at Quins next season? Casson has never really looked up to much when I've seen him. If he stays fit he should so a good job for Yorkshire. Merchant looks a live wire for the under 20s.

Stringer to Sale is an odd one. Is part of that a coaching role for their younger players coming through?

propdavid_london wrote:Tom Casson is off! Thats a bit worrying isnt it? I guess he is after more game time - the Casson/Hopper partnership never really worked.

There were snippets of what he can offer though, just not consistent.  

That will leave us with Lowe, JTH, Hopper, Roberts, Merchant is academy cover.  
Is Winston Stanley a 15 or a 12?

When he was at the Force Stanley played either 12 or 13, looked comfortable in either centre position.

Oops - forgot about Sloan.
OK - so I can see now why Casson feels the need to move. Its game time he is after and he potentially wont get much.
Are Prem clubs moving away from the loaning out of players to championship sides? You dont hear so much of it anymore.