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)

And he made championship team of the season at LH so must be an ok scrummager at least

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yeah on another forum, the USA fans dont even rate Fry.

Although in his defence he is always played at TH for the USA...whereas he is most definately a LH.

 
Fry did get his backside handed to him (wearing the 3 shirt) by big Gordon Reid a week ago, but I suspect he didn't receive much help from his colleagues in that regard. At least he made some big hits in defence and some decent carries.

Callum Braley and Henry Purdy confirmed as signing for Gloucester for next season


 Best of luck to Purdy, although I rated Lewington a lot more than him, he hadn't shown me anything to say he would make it as a big player the top league.

 He was behind
 Goneva
 Morrris
 Loamanu
 Scully
 Benjamin
 Camacho
 Hamilton
 
 and with young welsh U18 Rhys Williams coming through who looks a very good prospect I understand the decision to not give him a new contract.

Grant Shiels confirmed to Bath now...bad blow aswell. Especially after the Hodgson announcement the other day.

So bath will actually field an ex falcons front row at times this season -
1 Shiells
2 Batty
3 Wilson

Didn't see that signing coming at all. What do you Falcons make of him? Half decent scrummager? He'll be behind James and Catt in the pecking order, so hoping a fairly solid, cheap 3rd option

Very good scrummager Bathite, he tore many a TH up over the last few seasons including Hayman.

He's a better set piece LH than Catt without doubt, not as good a carrier but very mobile.

Bathite wrote:Didn't see that signing coming at all. What do you Falcons make of him? Half decent scrummager? He'll be behind James and Catt in the pecking order, so hoping a fairly solid, cheap 3rd option

 
Apart from maybe Gordon Reid (whom he is 2 years younger than), I would go so far as to say that Shiells is the most promising young Scottish prop of his generation. I was hoping to hell that Edinburgh would do the smart thing and sign him. Bath fans won't realise what a great signing this is and how much Falcons will miss him, but a lot of people on these boards do.

If he's given some fair gametime, Bathite, then you can expect him to challenge for the starting jersey.

Well this is all very exciting. Catt's come on great in the set piece, but James is starting to get pinged all the time, so it is great to have such a strong alternative

Well this is all very exciting

NO its bloody well not!!!!

We're losing all our young starlets in droves!!

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Well this is all very exciting

NO its bloody well not!!!!

We're losing all our young starlets in droves!!

Worst thing is I can't blame them for leaving us. The coaching last year, the tactics, it all felt pretty medieval and uninspiring.

Shiells hardly played last year and would have needed a decent contract to stay. I'm not massively concerned he's gone although on form he's a great option. I'm just praying Deano has something up his sleeve in the FH stakes or it's going to be another tight season.

At least Welsh haven't recruited stongly.

Matera extends contract at Tigers
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Matera-agrees-extend-contract/story-21253087-detail/story.html

Scarlets have signed

Regan King (Clemornt)
Chris Hala’ufia (London Irish)
Harry Robinson (Blues)
Michael Tagicakibau (Saracens)
Peter Edwards (London Welsh)
Wyn Jones (Llandovery)
James Davies (Carmarthen Quins)
Rory Pitman (Wasps)
Wayne Pivac (Auckland) - forwards coach

And we are meant to be in talks with Dwayne Peel and Ian Evans, but I would say that we are most likely finished in our recruitment now as I can't see us winning over either of those.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Shiells hardly played last year and would have needed a decent contract to stay. I'm not massively concerned he's gone although on form he's a great option. I'm just praying Deano has something up his sleeve in the FH stakes or it's going to be another tight season.

At least Welsh haven't recruited stongly.

I know what your saying mate he did barely play and the concerns would be that his back issue is a long term non fixable one...which maybe the reason Dean is dispatching him.

My concern is that Fry is the replacement. I will wait till i actually view him on the field...as there just seems so many differing views on him.

I see Taulava signing hasnt gone through as he failed a medical.

broadlandboy wrote:Matera extends contract at Tigers
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Matera-agrees-extend-contract/story-21253087-detail/story.html

great news

Ian evans apparently staying with the O's

Saracens have released Joel Tomkins from his contract, he's signed for Wigan and going back to league

Not a surprise that. He's had form and injury issues with Sarries having Bosch and Streather as good OC options with their young lad in the under 20s likely to step up in the next couple of years as well.

whocares wrote:Ian evans apparently staying with the O's

That's probably the best for both him and the region. Shame his big bucks Toulon adventure was a bust

At least that'll end the confusion between Tomkins and Tompkins (the England U20 player)

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Well this is all very exciting

NO its bloody well not!!!!

We're losing all our young starlets in droves!!

McGuigan -----> wasps
Zach Kibirige  ----> Bath

     

Now you can just pack that in Welly!!

I'm assuming that Kibirige comment is completely made up? Not heard it myself

Bathite wrote:I'm assuming that Kibirige comment is completely made up? Not heard it myself

 Why did you think I put smileys at the end.

Euan Murray rejoins Glasgow Warriors on a one year deal.

Aleki Lutui signs for Glos.

Jake Abbott rumoured as going to Nottingham. That knee injury seems to have knocked his employability. Great signing for Notts.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Jake Abbott rumoured as going to Nottingham. That knee injury seems to have knocked his employability. Great signing for Notts.

 Remember when the rugby paper had Tigers swapping Matera for Abbott.

Where are the Quins signings?!!!!

Don't worry yappy, I'm sure you will be signing up PDJ on a longer contract.

Maybe Ouins are going light this year so they can maximise their spend on the SH exodus post RWC.

yappysnap wrote:Where are the Quins signings?!!!!

But who is available at this time of year who is of any note? Props and locks are at a real premium, so even if any available you'll face huge competition. I'd presume your pre-season starts within the next 2 weeks, so surely this is probably it. You need to employ one of these creative accountants who have been doing the rounds in the Jeff   

Samoan Loose head Aniseko Sio -------> Leicester
Rizzo ----------> Leicester

 Sio is a development project @ 21.

Ian Evans ------> bristol

Welly wrote:Ian Evans ------> bristol

Probably explains why he was dropped from the 22 on Saturday!

Gatland must be furious, Wales really need a battle hardened Ianto as he and Charteris are the only two top notch middle of the line jumpers. Who is advising these guys, what kind of preparation for playing a major test match is playing against Cornish Pirates, Jersey and Bedford in the depths of the English Championship?

Could not agree more! He at least had one firm offer from Exeter! I know Chiefs arnt the best team in the land but we've got up and coming England Internationals in our ranks and a new stadium under construction. He's obviously chasing the big bucks

That's Ian Evans international career over. It's ok though, we still have four top class locks at our disposal.

It depends what you define as "top class" Jhamer......

Worse lazy journalism I have seen

 Leicester Falcons lololol


http://news.sky.com/story/1287781/leicester-falcons-swoop-for-prop-duo

Unless Ian Evans has a loan deal set up for next season in the hope that Bristol will be promoted next season and he can return to an AP team. It is a very odd move. Distinct lack of ambition.

Welly wrote:Worse lazy journalism I have seen

 Leicester Falcons lololol


http://news.sky.com/story/1287781/leicester-falcons-swoop-for-prop-duo

I don't know Welly, the amount of players you've nabbed from us over the years it's rather fitting

Think we've only got the two former Falcons these days. Tait came via Sale as well.

You'll be thanking us for Hawkins in a few months time though. He's a god player who was unlucky that he suffered the injury he did at the hands of a two bit thug just as Tom Youngs rise began in earnest. That injury doesn't happen then it's Youngs player second fiddle to Hawkins.

You've had your fair share over the years Sam. Flood, Woods, Parling, Young, Tait, Brookes, Stimpson etc

Well you will have next season deano, Wells, Brookes, Hawkins, alex and andy tualigi.
Talk about poaching.

Yea cheers for Wells!

We fixed Brookes after you broke him

Oh no you didn't Brooke's learnt his trade here. Including how to eat as much Nandos as possible.

Haha....he's looking in mean shape lately, really impressed against Woodcock imo

I see our lock Fraser Mckensie has signed for Edinburgh. I wish him luck.

Tomas Vallejos, former Quins and Scarlets has been confirmed to Treviso.