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)

Ex-Glaws players Tim Molenaar and Koree Britton both confirmed for London Welsh. Both are decent signings, as Molenaar showed his worth to Quins and Britton has huge potential if Welsh can get him to throw straight and hopefully curb his off-field behaviour.

formerly known as Sam wrote: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.

Surely we'll be thanking Bath for Hawkins, he did play there until he was 27!

Shame about McKenzie, but it explains the deluge of lock that Deano seems to have budgeted for.

It's not them that's been improving him for the last few years and who released him this summer though is it.

Good signings for LW. Particularly Mole near. He'll add some nice physicality to their midfield and should help their defensive organisation.

I doubt how much he's been improved by sitting on Tigers' bench. To be honest, I hope he'll be back up to McGuigan and nothing more (with the proviso that McGuigan has improved his lineout throwing over the summer).

Like you improved Brookes Sam?   

Yeah i want to see McGuigan really progress on this season after a very good first one last season.

We have Lawson aswell and Thompson...so plenty of options.

formerly known as Sam wrote:It's not them that's been improving him for the last few years and who released him this summer though is it.

Good signings for LW. Particularly Mole near. He'll add some nice physicality to their midfield and should help their defensive organisation.

He was a really good player for us. I don't think he's improved much, you're just noticin him more. We released him because we knew webber would be first choice

Sgt, Brookes had a serious knee injury and then opted for Nandos rather than rehab. Apparently his efforts in training were not appreciated (mainly because there weren't any). Seems to have founds his way back up north.

Before his nasty elbow injury Hawkins was looking good. I was pretty happy when we grabbed him off Bath and his defence certainly improved at Tigers. The injury set him back quite a bit as he had issues straightening the arm etc. Falcons fans will be pleased with what he offers them.

Only messing Sam, quite surprised you couldn't do anything with him tbh

I was disappointed we couldn't. He looked a beast in that third test. Wilson must be looking over his shoulder nervously. Nice to see him flourish back at the Falcons. We've got a couple of young tight heads so all isn't lost.

Cole is a better scrummager and a menace at the breakdown with Brookes and Sinckler both being minsters ball in hand, as soon as they up their scrummaging performances then Wilson's England career is pretty much done.

I've been less than impressed by Cole's scrummaging over the last year or so, do you not think Wilson is better in the set piece?

It depends Sam , Wilson has come on 200% in the last 1 and a half. 

Scrummaging is better than Coles i'd say now , suits a more open style having Wilson as your 3 aswell.

Cole's problem is he loses posture as the game goes on and his shoulder's are a bit out of shape and his right foot tends to be half a inch too far forward.

Losing the shape seems to be the neck problem. Last season he wasn't at his best. The year before he massacred Toulon and then the Saints in the scrum. Wilson seems to blow hot and cold in the scrum, great in the first test but then failed to get the upper hand in the second or third. His handling and carrying skills were almost non existent on the NZ tour the first test he couldn't catch the thing.

Unless he refinds his 6N form for a consistent period I think he might actually miss out on the RWC. If he losses his position in the AIs which is possible given the impact of Brookes in the third test. Cole returns and gives us the much needed extra impetus we need at the breakdown and he's out of the match day squad.

I think you are looking at this with some serious Tigers tinted glasses fkas.  Wilson has been very good for England, and has definitely been better than Cole int he scrum over the past 18 months.  England need set piece dominance, and Cole faces a serious battle to get the shirt back.  I don't think there is any chance of Wilson not making RWC squad barring injury, and it could mean that Cole has to make to with the number 18 jersey.

I think that's where the opinion differs I don't think Wilson has been good for England he has been adequate. I don't think Cole will walk back into the team but I think it may be someone other than Wilson he is competing against come the 6N when he comes back.

Brookes looked better in both the scrum and the loose in the final test. Hopefully he continues to show good form.

For me the only problem Cole has had is a lack of competition for his spot. In the last 9 months Wilson has finally fulfilled his potential and is a genuine alternative. Both fully fit Cole is the starter for me, but now we know he can put in a 50-60 minute shift and then be replaced by top quality player rather than having to go the whole game all the time.

Brookes did well coming off the bench granted, but I don't think he's going to replace Wilson based on an 30 minute cameo.  When we hit the AI's, England need to start winning and Lancaster knows this, so I wouldn't expect him to start experimenting with Brookes or anyone else starting.  Wilson will start, as the man in possession (we know how loyal Lancaster is) and if he plays well, which I accept you don't think he has done, he will keep the shirt.

The critical areas we have lost with Cole (and Corbs actually) is the breakdown.

Davy Wilson did actually disappoint me in NZ as his carrying can be excellent when he decides to have a go, but i dont think i can remember him making one attempt.

GeordieFalcon wrote:The critical areas we have lost with Cole (and Corbs actually) is the breakdown.

Davy Wilson did actually disappoint me in NZ as his carrying can be excellent when he decides to have a go, but i dont think i can remember him making one attempt.

That's because everytime he did, he dropped it! It was almost laughable!

Glasgow signs James Downey from Munster and Edinburgh signs Phil Burleigh from the Highlanders.

Has anyone mentioned Dan Parks retiring?

So good of him to wait to announce this so as not to overshadow BOD and Wilko's retirements

Sale will announce a really big signing that will surprise people later this month according to Steve Hanley on twitter.

SirBurger wrote:Sale will announce a really big signing that will surprise people later this month according to Steve Hanley on twitter.

Perhaps I'm thinking too big and too surprising but...Kurtley Beale? After all there have been rumours out of Australia in the last week that he might be considering a move abroad even before the world cup and he was close friends with Cipriani and Sale have lost Miller to Wasps so may well need a fullback.

Would certainly be big and surprising...

I saw the same on the Sale board, but Sale signed McLean to replace Miller so if he did come I imagine it would be as a playmaking 12 to link up with Cipriani.

Tagicakibau from Sarries to Scarlets

lostinwales wrote:Tagicakibau from Sarries to Scarlets

You have to laugh, Sarries tweeted him good luck at his new club the Scarlets, about two or three weeks ago (if not more), and it is only today that we have actually gotten around to making it official.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

lostinwales wrote:Tagicakibau from Sarries to Scarlets

You have to laugh, Sarries tweeted him good luck at his new club the Scarlets, about two or three weeks ago (if not more), and it is only today that we have actually gotten around to making it official.

I wasnt sure if it had come up here but couldnt see it - and its now on the BBC

lostinwales wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

lostinwales wrote:Tagicakibau from Sarries to Scarlets

You have to laugh, Sarries tweeted him good luck at his new club the Scarlets, about two or three weeks ago (if not more), and it is only today that we have actually gotten around to making it official.

I wasnt sure if it had come up here but couldnt see it - and its now on the BBC

Not sure if it had been mentioned on here, but it has been on the Scarlets fans board for a while (Sarries tweet appears to have been removed, but was 10th Jun).  But to be honest the four regions seem to be quite slow on announcing deals that have been done already, where the current unrest is behind that I don't know.

SirBurger wrote:Sale will announce a really big signing that will surprise people later this month according to Steve Hanley on twitter.

If Buckley has retired and Henry Thomas has left, a prop might be a possibility? Big in terms of size rather than name maybe.

Hey anyone sarries fans know anything about this Tagicakibau. Is he any good?

Also Adam Jones springs to mind Bathman_in_London, the longer the period he hasn't resigned for ospreys increases my suspicion of him moving away.

Michael Tagicakibau is a good squad player at AP level. He can play with and OC. Makes big hits and has some pace. Not really explosive nor powerful enough to make a real name for himself but still a handy player.

A prop would make most sense for Sale. They need to improve their scrum from last season and Diamond is a DOR who likes his forwards to do the business up front. They have options in the centres. Not sure they'd make changes there. Especially when they have lost sso many forwards so far this summer.

Agree a prop would be more likely. A lot of the big name signings so far haven't worked for them, so it'd be odd to go down that route again.

I'd imagine that Diamond will go for a more hard working name as opposed to a show pony like Gray. The Cipriani signing has worked well and Dan Braid has been a revelation for them. It was really only the one big name signing that failed miserably in the last couple of years.

Have Sale signed a new back row or two yet? Perhaps a big nasty number 8 to carry hard whilst the pair of 7s hassle and control the breakdown?

Victor Vito maybe?

Vito maybe after the RWC. He's got a decent chance of making the NZ squad he won't throw that away.

More likely to be a Pacific Island monster. Is Henry Tuilagi still going?

'A big one to come. Amazing player.'

That was Steve Hanley's tweet - not sure an over the hill Henry Tuilagi quite falls into that category.

He also tweeted - 'reckon it will shock a few.'

Another one off the BBC - Yapp to Wasps

Weepu rumoured to have signed for Welsh

http://www.therugbyblog.com/piri-weepu-set-to-sign-for-london-welsh?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRugbyBlog+%28The+Rugby+Blog%29

Not convinced that's a great signing. Wrong side of 30, overweight, can't get in the Blues team and hasn't been offered a new contract. Also had a massive health scare this year.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Not convinced that's a great signing. Wrong side of 30, overweight, can't get in the Blues team and hasn't been offered a new contract. Also had a massive health scare this year.

All of that is still a huge step up on Ruki Tipuna.

Riki Tipuna didn't play for Welsh

Tyson Keats was the LW scrum half. Weepu could be a very good move for them or he could be a disaster. Will have to see how well they manage him when he arrives.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tyson Keats was the LW scrum half. Weepu could be a very good move for them or he could be a disaster. Will have to see how well they manage him when he arrives.

 Agreed if it works then they have a solid goal kicker and a very experienced scrum half who could help boss the pack around and give them direction.

 TBH with the SH on the market it is a very good signing and imo worth the risk.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Riki Tipuna didn't play for Welsh

y

Yeah he was Bristol, I feel silly now

Haha...no need

lachlan mccaffrey  -----> L.Welsh

 decent signing.

L Welsh - whole new team. It just feels wrong

Not really showing much loyalty to the players that got them promotion are they. Must make it hard for the coaches as well as they'll have to work from scratch. The combined backs/attack coaches are Gordon Ross and Ollie Smith. They aren't seasoned coaches they only have a few seasons experience, it'll be a big ask for them to restructure the teams attacking play.

Never mind that they have seemingly replaced the majority of the pack. The poor forwards coach won't have anybody left who knows the calls at this rate.

piri weepu to go to London Welsh...looks confirmed

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10254084/Piri-Weepu-to-leave-Blues-for-London-Welsh