Transfers 2014/2015 Continued

First topic message reminder :

Well silly season is almost upon us so thought I would keep tabs on the comings and goings.  Will put the confirmed transfers, unconfirmed transfers (rumours) and out of contract players into various columns.  Please post any news or rumours and I will keep the original post updated.

Confirmed
Jon Davies (Scarlets) to Clermont
Regan King (Clermont) to Scarlets
Ian Evans (Ospreys) to Toulon
John Afoa (Ulster) to Gloucester
Rory Kockott (Castres) to Toulon (reportedly trying to cancel deal to stay at Castres)
Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) to Gloucester
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) to Toulon
Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan) to Clermont
Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan) to Toulon
Robin Copeland (Blues) to Munster
Armitev (Northampton) to Russia (unconfirmed club)
Qera (Gloucester) to Toulouse
Casey Laulala (Munster to France (Club unconfirmed but thought to be Racing Metro)
Tom Court (Ulster) to London Irish
Andre Pretorius (Blues) to Worcester
Zac Guildford (New Zealand) to Clermont
Sivivatu (Clermont) to Castres
Aled Brew (Biarritz) to Dragons
Lee Byrne (Clermont) to Dragons
Dwayne Peel (Sale) to Bristol
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester) to Exeter
Dan Evans (Dragons) to Ospreys
Ieuan Jones (Dragons) to Blues
Jean-Philippe Genevois (Biarritz) to Perpignan
Benoit Cabello (Clermont) to Perpignan
Sakiusa Matadigo (Racing) to Perpignan
Jonathan Wisniewski (Racing) to Grenoble
Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) to Toulon
Josh Turnbull (Scarlets) to Blues
Nick Abendanon (Bath) to Clermont
Anthony Perenise (Bath) to Bristol
Craig Mitchell (Exeter) to Blues
Hoani Tui (Exeter) to Lyon
Tavis Knoyle (Gloucester) to Blues
Marland Yarde (London Irish) to Harlequins
Neil Cochrane (Wasps) to Edinburgh
Henry Thomas (Sale) to Bath
Josh Matavesi (Worcester) to Ospreys
Nick Auterac (Saracens) to Bath
Boris Stankovich (Leicester) to Dragons
Bradley Davies (Blues) to London Wasps
Moray Low (Glasgow) to Exeter
Chris Cussiter (Glasgow) to Sale
Matt Stevens (Saracens) to Sharks
Sam Smith (Harlequins) to Worcester
James Gaskell (Sale) to Wasps
Eoin Griffin (Connacht) to London Irish
Sam Burgess (Rugby League) to Bath
Adam Hughes (Dragons) to Bristol
Sam Parry (Dragons) to Ospreys
Joe Rees (Ospreys) to Worcester
Ian Nagle (Munster) to Newcastle
Tom Guest (Halrequins) to London Irish
Luke Narraway (Perpignan) to London Irish
Freddie Burns (Gloucester) to Leicester
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys) to Bristol
Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) to Saracens
Toby Flood (Leicester) to Toulouse
Lote Tuquiri (Leinster) to NPC
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) to Castres
Ryan Jones (Ospreys) to Bristol
Greg Laidlaw (Edinburgh) to Gloucester
Brice Dulin (Castres) to Racing Metro
Antonie Claassen (Castres) to Racing Metro
Gio Aplon (South Africa) to Grenoble
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso) to Leicester
Robert Barbieri (Treviso) to Leicester
Loamanu (Treviso) to Leicester
Rob Hawkins (Leicester) to Newcastle
Ian Gough (London Irish) to Dragons



Unconfirmed
Michele Rizzo (Treviso) to Leicester



Out of Contract
Adam Jones (Ospreys) - Looks like he is signing for Ospreys/WRU as indicated in press
Keith Earls (Munster)
Daniel Bowden (Leicester)
Scott Hamilton (Leicester)



Retiring
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Andrew Sheridan (Toulon - unconfirmed)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
Sebastien Bruno (Toulon)
George Chuter (Leicester) moving to Worcester coaching
Johann Muller (Ulster)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester - unconfirmed)
Will James (Gloucester)

Aye...valid point Welly

Nick Schonert (Cheetahs) to Worcester

Francis Chapparo has left the Dragons and is returning to Argentina a year early

Peter Lydon (Stade francis) to London Scottish.

I hear the LS are a development club for Quins. And Lydon played against Quins 2 weeks ago...

What position does Lydon play?

yappysnap wrote:What position does Lydon play?

Says he is a Utility Back (does that mean not quite good enough in any single position?):

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/lydon-signs-deal-as-london-scottish-seek-recruits-1-3377834


Played full back against Quins for Stade

You have to add this one - Hogg to Ulster

Rumour doing the rounds big time here

Eric Fry - USA Loosehead, from London Scottish to Falcons confirmed.

4 Players signed from the championship now!!!!  

geoff998rugby wrote:You have to add this one - Hogg to Ulster

Rumour doing the rounds big time here

You want ANOTHER fullback that takes people out in the air ?   

munkian wrote:

geoff998rugby wrote:You have to add this one - Hogg to Ulster

Rumour doing the rounds big time here

You want ANOTHER fullback that takes people out in the air ?   

Definitely a specialist skillset. Hoggy is yerman.

Tom McCartney Auckland Blues to Connacht. He is a hooker who can play loose head.

profitius wrote:Tom McCartney Auckland Blues to Connacht. He is a hooker who can play loose head.

 I think you mean Irish all blacks now.

 Good signing imo, Connacht definitely been doing some shopping in NZ looking for uncapped players to play for Ireland maybe.

Ye because we need badly need project LH's and hookers (our two best positions in terms of the depth we have there). This guy will never make the wolfhounds let alone Ireland.

The reason why super rugby players are joining Connacht is because of Lam's connection there.

Ye Lams doing well with signings.

I know Connacht get a certain amount or leeway re NIQS but this is getting silly. They must have 9 or 10 by now.

Naoupu
Parks
Poolman
Nikora
Muldowney
Heenan
Fifita
Clarke
White (not sure if hes IQ yet)

This McCartney chap and Bundee Aki next season.

Muldowney, Nikora and Fifita are all IQ. White, Heenan and Poolman will be IQ soon. I think its great that they can attract these players.

I don't get why people get upset about the amount of foreign players at Connacht. They supply 1 player to the national team (currently) so it has no effect. The main goal should be to improve Connacht to raise the profile of the game there.

Golden wrote:Ye Lams doing well with signings.

I know Connacht get a certain amount or leeway re NIQS but this is getting silly. They must have 9 or 10 by now.

Naoupu
Parks
Poolman
Nikora
Muldowney
Heenan
Fifita
Clarke
White (not sure if hes IQ yet)

This McCartney chap and Bundee Aki next season.

It is a bit over the top alright. David Nucifora was unveiled today and whats clear is they're going to try and have a more fluid system within Ireland for player movement. Its a joke that the 3 big provinces are stockpiling players in certain positions while Connacht have a lot of second rate foreigners in their squad.


BTW Ulster have a fair few foreigners too - Diack, Pienaar, Payne, Doyle, Herring, Court, Muller, Williams, Afoa, Tuohy. Difference is more Ulster players have Irish heritage.

Just a rumour but i read that Connacht are interested in Mils Mulianina.

Surely theres no way?

Golden wrote:Just a rumour but i read that Connacht are interested in Mils Mulianina.

Surely theres no way?

Why not they need all the quality players they can get?

Just didnt think theyd be able to get him. Im sure a French team would be interested.

Not used to Connacht having that pulling power. Lams really making use of his connections

Golden wrote:Just didnt think theyd be able to get him. Im sure a French team would be interested.

Not used to Connacht having that pulling power. Lams really making use of his connections

Ye although Connacht have gotten a budget increase from the IRFU and there are rumours circling that they are seeking private investors. Plus Mils hasn't been in great form this season.

I'm liking the ambition Lam and Connacht are showing after the relatively poor season they had.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Golden wrote:Just didnt think theyd be able to get him. Im sure a French team would be interested.

Not used to Connacht having that pulling power. Lams really making use of his connections

Ye although Connacht have gotten a budget increase from the IRFU and there are rumours circling that they are seeking private investors. Plus Mils hasn't been in great form this season.

I'm liking the ambition Lam and Connacht are showing after the relatively poor season they had.

it would seem these signing for Connacht will help the rising yougster. My one worry is it is a peace offering for moving Henshaw

It has been made clear by the IRFU that Henshaw is staying at Connacht.

Gareth Anscombe -------> Cardiff Blues has a welsh mother and Gatland wants to have him in the welsh squad for the WC, excellent player plays  10 and 15 both to a really high standard, got great pace and has a great kick first choice kicker for the chiefs.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9277783,00.html

Exe will be looking for another lock now that James Hanks has retired due to injury - very sad news again, Hanksy was an instrumental part of the Chief's rise over the last several seasons

Anscombe would be a great signing for Cardiff. When I've seen him he looks a better creative full back than fly half. That could be because he's compared to Cruden at the Chiefs though and Cruden has a degree of creative genius Anscombe doesn't have. Would be an ideal place kicking replacement for Halfpenny though.

Can't believe he's ear marked as a Welsh International! Remember that if we, or anyone, are ever accused of poaching again!

The blues have been doing some serious research in NZ lately and i would suspect we're in for him as he is WQ but the papers running with us getting him as a FH.

I would hope Patchell will start at 10 next season with GA (if he signs) as a FB. Move Fish to the wing if we want to accomodate him.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Can't believe he's ear marked as a Welsh International! Remember that if we, or anyone, are ever accused of poaching again!

It is poaching though. You should know as England have done their far share as well as a few others.

Yeah, but we try to be a tad less blatant about it, generally!

Ah, but you don't have Gatland as a coach. The only thing he does quietly is fart when his mrs is in the room

ChequeredJersey wrote:Yeah, but we try to be a tad less blatant about it, generally!

Yeah, fair. I'm not sure how much truth there is in that, I'd wait until Gats says something live. I'd be surprised if he's come out and said I want you to play for Wales, he was a lot less subtle when Ben Morgan had the choice remember.

Reported on Munsterfans that academy second row Darren o,Shea has signed with Gloucester.

Interesting...with Ian Nagel currently on trial with us...are munster having a clearout...

Maybe gf. There are 3 locks in the academy and 5 senior locks. Probably more coming into the academy too so maybe I'Shea was encouraged to move. He is 22 now so maybe its best he moved to get gametime somewhere.

Nagle was in a similar situation.

Okey dokey.

Nagel seems to have been here a while now, but not featured yet. Seems curious.

He came on as sub on Sunday GF, looked ok

Yeah im just finding that out on the unoffy Sarge. Saying the lineout improved a little when he came on.

Be interesting to see if they offer hm a contract

Am starting to read definitive reports about Ruaridh Jackson to Wasps.

Bressler from Natal Sharks to Edinbokke - sigh

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Bressler from Natal Sharks to Edinbokke - sigh

Edinburgh need a bit of depth and experience in that department. They played a couple of kids there last weekend and got turned over by Zebre. I would not want to see that happening on a regular basis

George Carlin wrote:Am starting to read definitive reports about Ruaridh Jackson to Wasps.

Now confirmed by both Warriors and Wasps.

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/14/04/23/jackson-leave-glasgow-summer

http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps34394.ink

Good luck to him.

the corpse is not cold yet (or dead in that case!) that the vultures are already having a feast !

the following Perpignan players are on the move (provided the club get relegated) :
- Hook : rumours around Japan
- Charteris : Montpelier trying to get him to replace Hamilton
- Lopez and Taofifenua would join Toulon
- Guitoune and Guiry off to Bordeaux-Begles

Strokosh, Allan and Mjekevu future is still uncertain.

wonder in what sort of condition the players will be i ntheir last season game against Clermont.

whocares wrote:the corpse is not cold yet (or dead in that case!) that the vultures are already having a feast !

the following Perpignan players are on the move (provided the club get relegated) :
- Hook : rumours around Japan
- Charteris : Montpelier trying to get him to replace Hamilton
- Lopez and Taofifenua would join Toulon
- Guitoune and Guiry off to Bordeaux-Begles

Strokosh, Allan and Mjekevu future is still uncertain.

wonder in what sort of condition the players will be i ntheir last season game against Clermont.

Lyon are interested in Hook apparently

Chris Noakes to Irish.

Deacon Manu to leave Scarlets for Japan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27196405

Steffan Jones (Dragons) is off to Bedfordshire on loan - doubt he'll come back as it will be the end of his contract

England under 20s and Leicester Tigers centre Javiah Pohe is rumoured to be off to Clermont's second team for next season. Will be gutted if true as he is a brute of an inside centre and there's a lot of Tigers fans desperate to see him and Manu at 12/13 with Benjamin and Goneva on the wings. Would have been an incredible back line.

Development squad members Catchpole, Purdy and Bower (who have all played for the England under 20s) are off to Worcester allegedly. Those three I'm not so fussed about losing only Purdy may have been a squad player going forward.

munkian wrote:Deacon Manu to leave Scarlets for Japan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/27196405

Hong kong as a head coach

formerly known as Sam wrote:England under 20s and Leicester Tigers centre Javiah Pohe is rumoured to be off to Clermont's second team for next season. Will be gutted if true as he is a brute of an inside centre and there's a lot of Tigers fans desperate to see him and Manu at 12/13 with Benjamin and Goneva on the wings. Would have been an incredible back line.

Development squad members Catchpole, Purdy and Bower (who have all played for the England under 20s) are off to Worcester allegedly. Those three I'm not so fussed about losing only Purdy may have been a squad player going forward.

BBC confirms Bower and George from Gloucs to Worcs

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Golden wrote:Just didnt think theyd be able to get him. Im sure a French team would be interested.

Not used to Connacht having that pulling power. Lams really making use of his connections

Ye although Connacht have gotten a budget increase from the IRFU and there are rumours circling that they are seeking private investors. Plus Mils hasn't been in great form this season.

I'm liking the ambition Lam and Connacht are showing after the relatively poor season they had.

I heard this rumour too. Mils Muliaina is 34 now plus there are already a lot of foreign players in Connacht now. Id rather they take on some more fringe players from around Ireland first like the Conor Gilsenan signing etc. before signing more SH players.