The rumour mill

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ScarletSpiderman wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:Leicester Mercury reporter Martin Crowson stating in todays paper that Tigers are after Owen Williams as stand off for next season. Gutted if true, thought he'd push priestland for the starting spot for next season.

The Scarlets are going to have to pull out of the LV= Cup from now on as it is getting to be a bit of a joke now, we have a kid play well for us in it, and then before the season even finishes they get poached by the Jeff side that they helped beat.

That said I wonder how much game time Owen would have got at PYS next season, as we have Priestland as exepected first choice, and then Jordan Williams, Gareth Owen and now Steve Shingler to cover (plus Aled Thomas, if he stays, and Dan Newton too).

How many times has it happened now?

Heard an interesting rumour today regarding a Dragons signing. Won't be announcing it, in case it's wrong, but I think it could be ok. It is a ten.

Risca Rev wrote:Heard an interesting rumour today regarding a Dragons signing. Won't be announcing it, in case it's wrong, but I think it could be ok. It is a ten.

But thats the whole point of a rumour mill!

Now I have to guess! Henson? Matt Morgan?

Nah, you're way off there

He's NWQ and in the Pro 12

Please please don't say it's Dan Parks.

Nah, it's Kris Burton.

Tom May supposed to be signing for London Welsh regardless of if they stay up or not. Allegedly turned down a 1 year deal at Leicester

Odd rumour B, we frankly don't need him. We have plenty of centres at the club and may need a full back but that would be it for the backline. Had we not signed Lamb I suppose he'd have been useful as he covers 10 and 15 as well as centre. Kind of glad he hasn't come to us though I suspect it was agent talk during negociations that has been leaked afterwards. We've been linked with so many players this summer.

Ah Rev I was sure that Ronan O'Gara would be making a move to Newport.

I wouldn't mind that. Under studying a decent ten (unlike Sexton) in Steff Jones might reignite his career Stag.

Risca Rev wrote:I wouldn't mind that. Under studying a decent ten (unlike Sexton) in Steff Jones might reignite his career Stag.

Love it!!

I know that the Garvey and Joseph rumours are well publicised, but I hadn't seen this one:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/rugby/london_irish/s/2130711_lahiff_set_for_australia_but_london_irish_bag_two_tigers

Versatile forward Matt Garvey, England centre Jonathan Joseph and David Sisi, the players’ player of the match in England Under-20s’ 52-7 win over Italy last Friday, are expected to move down the M4 , while Leicester are fighting it out with Bath for Anthony Watson and Alex Gray.

Bath could do a good bit of business there, he is developing into a very promising player. They seem to be putting together a squad the right way now, bringing them in young so they can develop at the club.

On another note though, are London Irish going to have any players left next season?

Cumbrian wrote:I know that the Garvey and Joseph rumours are well publicised, but I hadn't seen this one:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/rugby/london_irish/s/2130711_lahiff_set_for_australia_but_london_irish_bag_two_tigers

Versatile forward Matt Garvey, England centre Jonathan Joseph and David Sisi, the players’ player of the match in England Under-20s’ 52-7 win over Italy last Friday, are expected to move down the M4 , while Leicester are fighting it out with Bath for Anthony Watson and Alex Gray.

Bath could do a good bit of business there, he is developing into a very promising player. They seem to be putting together a squad the right way now, bringing them in young so they can develop at the club.

On another note though, are London Irish going to have any players left next season?

We've brought in Blair Cowan from Worcester and are apparently looking at some guys from Nottingham as well (Or forwards coach, Glenn Delaney, was their HC last year). We're also in the hunt for a couple of guys from Tigers, Alex Lewington and Jonny Harris.

Andy Fenby is confirmed to London Irish. Gutted to lose him, he is such an exciting player, and has scored some really exciting tries.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/5639.php

Andries Bekker has singed for some Japanese club...

will miss andy "crazy legs" fenby, wish him all the best at LI.

Mickado wrote:Andries Bekker has singed for some Japanese club...

Kobe Steelers with his Stormers mates Fourie and Grant.

Peter Grant was in the frame at Leinster before we went with Gopperth.

They must be putting together a good team!

I really rate Grant, how he hasn't featured for the Boks instead of yawn-e Steyn is beyond me.

Bathman_in_London wrote:They must be putting together a good team!

I really rate Grant, how he hasn't featured for the Boks instead of yawn-e Steyn is beyond me.

I would have liked him for Leinster too.

Nottingham's Tim Strether is heading to Sarries to give another powerful option in their midfield. Tigers Andy Forsyth looks set to head to Notts as his replacement.

The Nottingham board rumours seem to indicate Nic Rouse (lock) and Matt Parr (loosehead) are on their way to LI. They'd add experience to the LI tight five but are some years off being over the hill. Doubt they'll set the world alight but they should do a solid job.

Bath are going to make a right mess of LI - taking the majority of their good young players. Given the money behind Bath it's difficult not to find this slightly distasteful. Mind you, Watson would be bonkers to join Leicester.

As bonkers as Thompstone who's gone from not getting starts at LI to third in the AP try scoring charts? Murphy is set to retire and Hamilton is off. There's an opportunity for him, at Bath he'd be behind Abendanon, Biggs, Banahan and Agulla. At Tigers they always play two full backs with one on the wing so only Tait and Morris would be ahead of him.

Rugby paper rumours:

Gareth Delve to Scarlets
Nick Kennedy to stay at Toulon because no AP club will have him.
Kiernan Murphy from the Scarlets to an unnamed AP club
Johnny Golding to Worcester as is Cornish Pirates prop Paul Andrew
Andy Saull to Newcastle
Tigers are in talks with Wicus Blaauw the 26 year old Namibian loosehead at Biarritz. That could throw Stankovitch's Tigers future into doubt.

Saull?!?! They can keep him!

Good bit of squad depth Sgt, good option off the bench and 7s are liable to injuries in the prem so it's very beneficial to more than one.

I've a bit of a dislike for Saull.

Might be due to the constant comparing to McCaw from the rugby club last season.

Can't beat over hyping for causing resentment. A new loosehead also on the cards. Any requests?

Shiells is better than Golding for us tbh. I'm sure Deano has somebody lined up

Andy Saull to Falcons? That's a bit of a step down!

yappysnap wrote:Andy Saull to Falcons? That's a bit of a step down!

Agreed - nowhere near as good as Welch at 7. Sure Newcastle could do better to be honest.

SirBurger wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Andy Saull to Falcons? That's a bit of a step down!

Agreed - nowhere near as good as Welch at 7. Sure Newcastle could do better to be honest.

What is your comment based upon?



Also what yappysnap means is that Saull is swapping one of the top clubs in England for a side in the division below. Quite a bit of a step down.

Saull wouldn't make our best XV Beshocked, backrow is an area of strength for us and I don't think Saull is a particularly good player

Maybe not sgt pooly but he has a far better chance of getting into your XV than ours.

I certainly wouldn't write him off.

Agree

I'd take him at Irish. But not sure he is any better than Treviranus. Certainly not as physical.

stnick88 wrote:I'd take him at Irish. But not sure he is any better than Treviranus. Certainly not as physical.

But his name is nowhere near as cool!

Had Glaws not signed Kvesic I'd have gladly taken Saull and he'll provide good competition to Welch.

North to saints, covered in welsh and englsh press.

If we sign Saull I'll def swap HKC

Sgt_Pooly wrote:If we sign Saull I'll def swap HKC

I was just being kind, I'm not crazy!

HHHmmm not jumping for joy over Saull...but in Deano we trust.

Back row IS our strrongest area...but we are losing Tuifua and whilst we have a strong group of established players we have a couple of real talented kids coming through aswell....so is an interesting aquisition.

He certainly had potential when he came through...maybe Deano and peter russel can work their magic on him and Powell. If they can get the best out of them...could be shrewd moves..but ill wait and see....

geordie: where is tuifua going next season?

Bordoux

Thanks driver

Hudson to Glaws has been confirmed. He'll certainly add something to our lineout and his leadership won't go a miss either.

However, he's not the top flight replacement for Big Jim we'd hoped for, but there has to be a sense of realism as how many top flight locks were available? Bekker was never going to be affordable and Parling was always likely to stay at Tigers. I rate Hudson as highly as Kennedy, but I'd imagine we've got him a lot cheaper than Kennedy.

No he's a definite step down HKC, he's went down a level this season and is pretty much 2nd choice for us now behind Macleod

Saull will be quality for Falcons he's quick, smart and a terrier at the breakdown. I don't really see what the issue is. If he's happy to join and rotate/bench then all it means is even more strength in depth, and don't forget that as good as your current 7 is he's only playing Championship level at the mo, it can be a big step up, especially with the refs. Saull will be able to help him with that.

HongKongCherry wrote:Hudson to Glaws has been confirmed. He'll certainly add something to our lineout and his leadership won't go a miss either.

However, he's not the top flight replacement for Big Jim we'd hoped for, but there has to be a sense of realism as how many top flight locks were available? Bekker was never going to be affordable and Parling was always likely to stay at Tigers. I rate Hudson as highly as Kennedy, but I'd imagine we've got him a lot cheaper than Kennedy.

Having had Kennedy and Hudson at Irish, I have to say Kennedy is the better player. Hudson will do a decent enough job for you though.

HK,

Hows Savage coming along?

Agree that Hudson hasnt quite been the player of old this season. But he has been a good servant.
I think we will be looking at our second row options in the summer.
Del Fava, Macleod, Tomes (whos actually played very well this season) leaves us bare...and Del Fava has been injured quite a bit.

GeordieFalcon wrote:HK,

Hows Savage coming along?

Agree that Hudson hasnt quite been the player of old this season. But he has been a good servant.
I think we will be looking at our second row options in the summer.
Del Fava, Macleod, Tomes (whos actually played very well this season) leaves us bare...and Del Fava has been injured quite a bit.

Savage is shaping up really well and is being linked as being our new captain to replace Big Jim. He faded a little mid season, but considering how much rugby he's played it is no surprise his form dipped a bit, but he seems to be back to his best. The jury is still out as to whether he's a lock or a 6, but I believe Nigel Davies is quoted as saying his best position is on the pitch! Personally, I feel in the long term he could build a very useful partnership will Elliot Stooke in the boiler room, but as present neither are a middle jumper, which explains why we have signed Hudson. However, having said that in the long term he could also build a useful partnership with Kvesic and Morgan (I firmly believe Kalamafoni will be snapped up by a huge offer from France sooner or later).

Wow yeah that would be a really interesting back row HKC....and great balance to in...