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

Welly wrote: 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.

Looks like the POC thing is a none runner. http://www.the42.ie/oconnell-move-toulon-2061016-Apr2015/

Makes sense the sunscreen bill alone would have countered the wage Toulon were paying

Toulon say no.

http://m.skysports.com/article/rugbyunion//9816353

whether you believe that or not is a different matter entirely.

Castro off already? A great potential catch for someone. He can be a great prop again.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Toulon say no.

http://m.skysports.com/article/rugbyunion//9816353

whether you believe that or not is a different matter entirely.

Castro off already? A great potential catch for someone. He can be a great prop again.

Castro is done IMO.

His allergy thing and injuries will stall progression.

He has a diva attitude.

Treviso are after him but he is wanting to much money. Japan is another destination mentioned.

Although maybe Falcons want him they need a TH.

Japan on a gluten free diet night be interesting. A move to Falcons could work but a return to Treviso would probably be the best option from a rugby perspective as he'd be able to mentor some of the young talent coming through.

Italy on a gluten free diet isn't any better!!

SirBurger wrote:Italy on a gluten free diet isn't any better!!

Yeh but he will be use to it.

Just eat loads of steak and ham

Welly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Toulon say no.

http://m.skysports.com/article/rugbyunion//9816353

whether you believe that or not is a different matter entirely.

Castro off already? A great potential catch for someone. He can be a great prop again.

Castro is done IMO.

His allergy thing and injuries will stall progression.

He has a diva attitude.

Treviso  are after him but he is wanting to much money. Japan is another destination mentioned.

Although maybe Falcons want him they need a TH.

No we don't...we have signed Taione Vea from London Welsh (who has been one of their stand out players in a poor season) and Jon Welsh the Scotland TH/LH.

Add in Scott Wilson and we're fine there now.

Forgot about them.

What do you need now then really?

Everything else...

I dunno you're fairly well stocked aren't you? An upgrade in the 10 or centre channel maybe?

Well at 10 Catterick showed up well this season but has his areas to work on. We have signed Kiwi Delaney for next season who could be a nice contrast.

Centre again...Socino is a player I rate, but seems to have just ran out of steam a bit. Hopefully Harris or Penny can make a play for that 13 spot next season.

I would love to see a monster back rower coming in...a real forceful carrier. kolo'ufai was obviously brought in for that but as he has only managed about an hour of playing time in total this season it hasn't been a big help...having said that he's actually looked mightily impressive in that hour

What we need next season is a better defence and to be more clinical when he have chances.

GeordieFalcon wrote:What we need next season is a better defence and to be more clinical when he have chances.

You have, just there, written Cocker's development plan for next season.

Havent you heard...im the new Tigers coach!

GeordieFalcon wrote:

I would love to see a monster back rower coming in...a real forceful carrier. kolo'ufai was obviously brought in for that but as he has only managed about an hour of playing time in total this season it hasn't been a big help...having said that he's actually looked mightily impressive in that hour
.

You can have Tuifuia back

We've never had him?

http://www.quins.co.uk/news/harlequins-sign-samoan-international-winston-stanley/

Well Winston Stanley is the kind of centre Quins were after. Good signing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32431088

Still after Roberts it seems!

Well in for a penny in for a pound. Quins are really getting into this player signing game aren't they. Years of barely signing anybody and then three internationals and possibly another to follow.

That would be a pretty beefy midfield though, Roberts and Stanley /Lowe.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I would love to see a monster back rower coming in...a real forceful carrier. kolo'ufai was obviously brought in for that but as he has only managed about an hour of playing time in total this season it hasn't been a big help...having said that he's actually looked mightily impressive in that hour

What we need next season is a better defence and to be more clinical when he have chances.

Is Ali Hogg on his way out (I know he doesn't fit the "monster back rower" description but it just occurred to me that, on the few times I have seen Newcastle on TV, Hogg hasn't been playing)? I wouldn't mind him back at Edinburgh

Hogg has been class...he's not the carrier I was talking about needing but he is excellent all the same. Many saying he should be our captain over Welch.

We have just announced the signing of Giovanbattista Venditti the Italian winger...a big powerhouse winger.

Joel Hodgson ..... Saints -> Leeds on a 1 yr contract.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/jamie-roberts-agrees-harlequins-deal-9161501

Roberts to Quins. A real statement and the sort of centre Quins really need. Along with Benson Stanley and a hopefully fit Lowe they now have some excellent centre options.

Whether Roberts can stay fit and perform consistently at club level is yet to be seen though.

1.Marler
2.Ward, Gray or Buchanan
3.Sinckler, Collier or Jones
4.Matthews
5.Horwill
6.Wallace or Clifford
7.Robshaw
8.Easter

9.Care
10.Evans

11.Yarde
12.Roberts
13.Lowe or Stanley
14.Visser
15.Brown

Still in need real of a big ball carrier in the pack and a lot could still lie on whether Nev can have a rejuvenated swan song.

It can't be denied that many teams are building much stronger squads for next season however.

Roberts and Lowe. Great on paper. Not a great injury history at all

GeordieFalcon wrote:We've never had him?

Taiasina Tuifu'a was with the falcons between 2011 and 2013 (at least according to wiki!)

unfortunately Quins have signed Winston Stanley, not Benson. Don't think he would think about leaving Clermont right now for Quins!

Is Benson not going to Newcastle?

whocares wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:We've never had him?

Taiasina Tuifu'a was with the falcons between 2011 and 2013 (at least according to wiki!)

Ah now I know who your on about.... Yes he is exactly what we need.

The only problem with him was he played better for Samoa than he did for us.

He was at his brutal best when Samoa beat Australia.... But we rarely saw that side of him.

Eggchasers podcast linked Carl Fearns to Bristol. That seems like a backward step, even if the move is contingent on their promotion.

A couple of months ago we seemed to be distancing ourselves with Fearns leaving, but now it definitely seems like he will be off, but I hadn't heard Bristol, with Newcastle and Quins the suggestions previously. I guess that the emergence of Burgess at 6 has helped compensate for him leaving.

Fearns is a good player, but he is so injury prone and doesn't really fit into our back row. He has never been a better 6 than Garvey, Louw, Alfie, nor a better 7 than Louw or Alfie, nor a better 8 than Houston or Watson and i've probably forgotten some other players too.

I'd take Fearns at Falcons in a heart beat, I'd love to see a back row of Fearns, Wilson and Hogg as skipper.

I think Quins are reasonably well stocked in the back row - although could do with a monster carrier.

Driver, would that mean you'd have Fearns as the 7 in that unit? Not sure it would work. Fearns is indeed a good carrier, when he's fit

Fearns is a monster in the back row when fit and in form. Problem is that he's rarely fit and in form. All those injuries have stopped him getting a run of games and finding his best form though. A move to Newcastle could be good for him.

Quins would be even better as Easter can't go on forever and he could really flourish off the back of the work rate of those Quins flankers.

No Mark Wilson would play at 7.

I just worry about Fearns injuries. We bought Kolo'ufai who was brought in for exactly the same role that Fearns would be and he's played about an hour in total this season.

We don't need another sicknote.

Fearns is a frustrating player, he should be challenging for an England spot but every time he gets back up to speed he suffers another injury. He is under contract for another year but given Burgess' move to the pack I can see why he might be keen to move off. That said, given that Sisi is already out on loan for next season, it would be odd to let Fearns go as well.

Unless we are after someone else in the back row. I thought that management had said there's still 2 signings in the pack to come

Do Bath have any quality youngsters coming through in the back row?

If they do, maybe their thought is its better to give a promising youngster a go over a good performer who never plays....and probably cheaper.

Confirmed - Ticks to LI
http://www.quins.co.uk/news/aseli-tikoirotuma-to-join-london-irish/

I would have thought Sisi was the quality youngster, but clearly the coaches think differently!

I think that's us done signings wise now that Tikoirotuma has been announced.

Its been a good recruitment drive though Ozzy.

bathman...yeah you would have thought Sisi would have stayed.

If Harlequins are outside the top 6/7, and that looks likely, does that affect Roberts' move there? Would he have anything like that written into his contract (psychological, as I do not think he's put pen to paper yet)?

The Saint wrote:If Harlequins are outside the top 6/7, and that looks likely, does that affect Roberts' move there? Would he have anything like that written into his contract (psychological, as I do not think he's put pen to paper yet)?

Can't see it making a big enough difference to stop him signing due to the location and medical side of things (although he could sign for another London team I guess). From a longevity point of view it may even help him to have a year without top level European rugby after the World Cup (although it won't help Quins bank balance missing out).

If playing in the European top tier wasn't a priority though then he could have went to another region (didn't have to be blues). There might have been a spot for him at the Ospreys even. Is the move based on business side of things? Has he mentioned that?

Thought I read that one of the reasons he was looking at moving to London was do with his doctor stuff, furthering his training/ education/ experience or something. Can't remember where though, was a while ago now.

Salvi is leaving Tigers

propdavid_london wrote:Salvi is leaving Tigers

Has it been confirmed now?