Silly season transfer rumours III...

First topic message reminder :

Aaron Jarvis has signed for Clermont (http://www.planetrugby.com/news/ospreys-prop-jarvis-to-join-clermont/). The Osprey's signed Rhodri Jones as a replacement I guess.

Steve Shingler (of is he eligible for Scotland or not fame) has gone to the Blues. Straight swap of Shingler for Patchell. Hope Cardiff are paying less as Scarlets got the better player (http://www.planetrugby.com/news/shingler-swaps-scarlets-for-blues/)

Bath board seem pretty certain that Ford Jr and Sr have had a big non-rugby related fall out. Maybe the only thing keeping Mike in his job was the worry that George would follow him, but now Bruce feels that is unlikely to happen. Probably just Love sacks though, as are most internet rumours.

From Bath Chronicle

There is a real danger George Ford has played his last game for Bath Rugby

Where would he go? He's hardly being setting the world alight lately so I doubt clubs would want to break the back for him.

Sarries, Tigers, Quins, Wasps......no

I doubt Exeter would be in for him, possibly Sale? We've already got 3 under performing FH's....

Saracens would be interesting, if not only to see beshocked go into full reverse in how much he rates him! Doubt he will go but if a fly half as good as him becomes available clubs will be interested.

Saints?

10) Ford
12) Mallinder

I think half the AP would be interested in Ford. Sale, Bristol and Falcons would literally beg for him to join them. Tigers may be more interested next summer dependent on whether Williams is tempted home, Quins would be open given Nev has little time left in him and only Jackson as an alternative. Saints have been trying to find a replacement for Meyler for a while and Ford would fit well there. Gloucester haven't had a reliable ten for a while and Hook isn't getting any younger. He'd be a step up to anything Worcester have.

Knowing Ruaridh Jackson's luck he'll be off to Quins in no time!

No 7&1/2 wrote:Saracens would be interesting, if not only to see beshocked go into full reverse in how much he rates him! Doubt he will go but if a fly half as good as him becomes available clubs will be interested.

Sorries don't need him as they've already picked up the very very highly rated Alex Lozowski from Wasps....I know I couldn't believe they'd let him go either.

As for Ford to Saints, well that could actually work but really he should get over himself, knuckle down and remind us all what talented player he is by doing the business at the Rec.

Sam,

I wouldn't be bothered with Ford. He's not what we need. We have similar players to him...Catterick, young Willis and Hodgson returning...not to mention Delayney.

Id prefer a Younger version of Andy Goode to control the game for us far better.

But Willis is the one that I think will take the spot permanently soon.

So that's a no from the Falcons.

To be fair I think Ford has done ok since Cook has stayed at 9 and he did well for England. The first half of the season at Bath with his pack going backwards, RWC fatigue and Matawalu passing skills he struggled. Lack of effort hasn't been his issue, wasn't a Tigers either, young play makers make errors. We've seen Farrell rush out the line or have the red mist. We've seen Ford over complicate and sometimes overplay. Happens.

Ford, Mallinder, Burrell would be excellent but a little forward thinking for Saints.

Geordie, I've watched Ford since he was 16 playing for the A league team. He's head and shoulders above all your ten options and looked more assured at 16 than Delaney does at 30 something for you guys this season. Players like Goode aren't readily available and whilst Willis has a load of potential Ford would walk into your first team if you could convince him to join. Goneva running onto his flat passes and his well weighted crossfields into the hands of Hammersley and Watson.

Hes played very well...but purely on passing alone...Catterick plays some of the best passes ive seen from a falcons 10 in years. Catterick is a frustration....as he should have nail that spot by now.
Willis is a genuine one to watch.  

I genuinely wouldn't be ectstatic by us signing Ford.

PS I don't rate Delayney in the slightest and would ship him out.

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Bath board seem pretty certain that Ford Jr and Sr have had a big non-rugby related fall out. Maybe the only thing keeping Mike in his job was the worry that George would follow him, but now Bruce feels that is unlikely to happen. Probably just Love sacks though, as are most internet rumours.

Heard a rumour that Snr and Jnr aren't too close at the moment and that Mike was cheating on his Mrs with one of the physios and that George was the one to tell his mother.

Catterick and Willis will be off soonish anyway.

Driver wrote:

Fuzzy Dunlop wrote:Bath board seem pretty certain that Ford Jr and Sr have had a big non-rugby related fall out. Maybe the only thing keeping Mike in his job was the worry that George would follow him, but now Bruce feels that is unlikely to happen. Probably just Love sacks though, as are most internet rumours.

Heard a rumour that Snr and Jnr aren't too close at the moment and that Mike was cheating on his Mrs with one of the physios and that George was the one to tell his mother.

Heard that too although wasn't going to post as it is fairly intimate.

England fly half, player of the year last year. People have short memories. Same thing happened to faz a few years back and people slaughtered him for it, now look at him.

He needs to start producing.....soon.

Ford has had a truly awful year, he's looked a shadow of the previous excellent fly half, full of potential.

I don't think Ford would suit too well with Falcons, he needs a dominant pack so I'm with GF. He's obviously better than anything we have by a distance(on form) but I don't think he'd be a good fit. I'd take Flood back within a heartbeat...

This has to be difficult for Ford The Younger and we need to be a bit sympathetic to that.

However - surely Ford knows someone older than 30 years old in the business who has seen a little bit of the world and can tell him that moving as an act of protest about his dad is short sighted and fundamentally unprofessional.

Nobody (his dad probably most of all) would think it disloyal if he stays and unless it makes sense to move to a club that can give him first choice status in a structure that will support him and a quality of team mate that means he stands a chance of winning a few things, he potentially setting his career back. I agree with the posts above - he would cost a fortune and unless there genuinely isn't a first choice in the position in a top 6 club, what incentive do top 6 sides have to elbow their incumbent aside and wedge him into the process?

If, on the other hand, he has seen Owen Farrell recently take centre stage in world club rugby and be instrumental in winning a major tournament and wants a piece of that, then that is natural but he needs to grow up a little bit and realise that sometimes the other guy gets a turn. His club massively underachieved this year, but he is only a kid who has moved recently - he needs to see this contract out and then decide what is next.

I wouldn't like to see him turn into a Sonny Bill-esque club hopper.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Saracens would be interesting, if not only to see beshocked go into full reverse in how much he rates him! Doubt he will go but if a fly half as good as him becomes available clubs will be interested.

Ford is a fine player when in form but like most players he has his weaknesses.

Think he would enjoy playing with the powerful Sarries pack like any 10 should.

Very unlikely that Saracens would sign Ford as the club believe Farrell = deity.

I don't - Farrell Jr has his flaws but he's a fine 10 too.

Lozowski could indeed be a good signing kingelderfield.

I'm still suprised how little rugby Wasps gave Lozowski. He always looked good, still young, strange.

Ford could go to Sarries as 10 and play Farrell at 12 but that would risk alienating Farrell as well as having to drop Barritt or Taylor to fit them.

Quins or Saints make the most sense for me should he move. Quins have Jackson (who should play a lot more than he has) and Saints JJ but Jackson is unknown at the Quins and JJ has not lit Saints alight.

Ultimately Bath is the best situation for him. The pack will be much improved (surely?), he will learn to play with a unpredictable 9 (Mata or Kahn) and he has a fantastic backline to work with. Who would Bath get if Ford did leave?

Bath have had such a clusterF of a season on and off the pitch but have a good squad. With a new coach they can only get better.

I was reading about the Maki incident yesterday.

Rumours galore around Wasps
Symons apparently going to replace Davies
Wade off to Bristol

Not sure either one will happen though.

Wade to Bristol would make no sense! I'd guess that's just agent talk to try to pump up contract negotiations a tad. When Wade last re-signed with Wasps I think he and his agent would have had eyes on a BIG contract next time around with many expecting him to be a star international by now. As things have transpired it will probably take a tad more bargaining.

Symons to Wasps would make sense though. It would be a shame for LI but playing next to Launchbury would help both of them develop I'd imagine.

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Ultimately Bath is the best situation for him. The pack will be much improved (surely?), he will learn to play with a unpredictable 9 (Mata or Kahn) and he has a fantastic backline to work with. Who would Bath get if Ford did leave?

I think there was talk Matawalu would be played in the back three next season with Cook and Khan as the 9s.

Bath have struggled up front with injuries and losing James. James hasn't been replaced. No experienced hooker coming in, they have at least got a tackle machine in the back row to replace Burgess as Denton has been as much use as a chocolate frying pan.

Bath's head of recruitment really dropped them in it last season.

Can't see it being agent spin yet, as I would of thought one of the big rugby gossips (fissler etc) would be the ones to say it.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Ultimately Bath is the best situation for him. The pack will be much improved (surely?), he will learn to play with a unpredictable 9 (Mata or Kahn) and he has a fantastic backline to work with. Who would Bath get if Ford did leave?

I think there was talk Matawalu would be played in the back three next season with Cook and Khan as the 9s.

Bath have struggled up front with injuries and losing James. James hasn't been replaced. No experienced hooker coming in, they have at least got a tackle machine in the back row to replace Burgess as Denton has been as much use as a chocolate frying pan.

Bath's head of recruitment really dropped them in it last season.

Pretty sure Faletau doesn't mind the odd tackle

munkian wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Ultimately Bath is the best situation for him. The pack will be much improved (surely?), he will learn to play with a unpredictable 9 (Mata or Kahn) and he has a fantastic backline to work with. Who would Bath get if Ford did leave?

I think there was talk Matawalu would be played in the back three next season with Cook and Khan as the 9s.

Bath have struggled up front with injuries and losing James. James hasn't been replaced. No experienced hooker coming in, they have at least got a tackle machine in the back row to replace Burgess as Denton has been as much use as a chocolate frying pan.

Bath's head of recruitment really dropped them in it last season.

Pretty sure Faletau doesn't mind the odd tackle

That's what FKAS said!

Wasps don't seem to have many academy products really:

Leicester Tigers have signed former Cardiff RFC back rower Luke Hamilton from Agen.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36311187

Steffon Armitage wants to leave Toulon for the Premiership. Toulon are willing, if the price is right.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/armitage-asks-to-leave-toulon/

Welly wrote: Wasps don't seem to have many academy products really:

Not sure if this is a wind up or not. But Cooper Wolley, Launchbury, Haskell, Simpson, Cipriani, Daly, Wade doesn't seem like a too shabby alumni off the top of my head. Plus Tom Rees. Sure that a wasps fan will correct me on some of these but not sure why their academy is coming in for flack.

Cooper-Woolley was not in Wasps academy, but you did miss Joe Simpson

Welly wrote: Wasps don't seem to have many academy products really:

I think they're a bit like Tigers where as they produce a gem every few years rather than a constant turnout of decent AP players.

Launchbury isn't technically a wasps academy product either.

Billy Vuinipola?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Billy Vuinipola?

I'm on about in their squad now.

Not ever.

Was just wondering out of all the teams that get criticised about academy squad usage Wasps never really get mentioned.

Welly wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Billy Vuinipola?

I'm on about in their squad now.

Not ever.

He was developed by Wasps though. They have a pretty good record when it comes to producing top talent. It'll be interesting to see if this continues with the boundaries etc.

Welly wrote:Launchbury isn't technically a wasps academy product either.

Yes and no. Quins released him as not good enough at 18, Wasps picked him up almost immediately - so he was in both academies.

Wasps picked him up a year after he was dropped by Quins.

Would of been 19 and falls outside the credits.

If Heinrich Brussow isn't a done deal then Armitage to Wasps would make sense with Smith leaving, their cheque book and style of pay.

Sarries - Fraser
Exeter - Salvi, Armand, White
Wasps - Smith leaving and they'll want a replacement. Young is a great talent though.
Tigers - O'Connor, McCaffery and young Will Evans
Saints - Harrison, Clark, Wood, Gibson
Sale - Braid, Seymour, Lund, Ioane
Quins - Robshaw, Wallace, Clifford
Gloucs - Kvesic
Bath - Louw
Worcs - Not the money
Falcons - Latu has been excellent and if the money were available it would be used elsewhere

Bristol - Jack Lam is a star performer
Donny - money wont be 'right'

Wasps are the best fit although with Joubert, Burger and Brown gone Sarries might be able to afford him. With Fraser there I'd presume they won't bite though.

Wasps problem now is that by moving to Coventry they have cut the link with the Public Schools they used to use.

Although didn't they have to get rid of the academy for a few years.

So prob would of affected any flow as well.

News on radio is that Wasps are interested but have had no contact with Toulon.

king_carlos wrote:If Heinrich Brussow isn't a done deal then Armitage to Wasps would make sense with Smith leaving, their cheque book and style of pay.

Sarries - Fraser
Exeter - Salvi, Armand, White
Wasps - Smith leaving and they'll want a replacement. Young is a great talent though.
Tigers - O'Connor, McCaffery and young Will Evans
Saints - Harrison, Clark, Wood, Gibson
Sale - Braid, Seymour, Lund, Ioane
Quins - Robshaw, Wallace, Clifford
Gloucs - Kvesic
Bath - Louw
Worcs - Not the money
Falcons - Latu has been excellent and if the money were available it would be used elsewhere

Bristol - Jack Lam is a star performer
Donny - money wont be 'right'

Wasps are the best fit although with Joubert, Burger and Brown gone Sarries might be able to afford him. With Fraser there I'd presume they won't bite though.

Won't schalk be a 7 for Sarries?

Welly wrote:Saints?

10) Ford
12) Mallinder

Anything is possible, but I don't think he fits with Saints. They prefer at least a modicum of a defensive presence and stability in their fly halves. Already burned by signing Ryan Lamb a few years ago.

Being reported on sky sports that la roux to wasps is a done deal

Don't see how clubs wouldn't be happy to sign Ford. We already have Jackson but with Nev getting on I'd be delighted to sign Ford too. Though he wouldn't be cheap and we could spend the money elsewhere. Need some forwards and most of all a 9

Wasps obviously got a miss print on the salary cap, must of had a couple of extra 00 on the end

Welly wrote:

king_carlos wrote:If Heinrich Brussow isn't a done deal then Armitage to Wasps would make sense with Smith leaving, their cheque book and style of pay.

Sarries - Fraser
Exeter - Salvi, Armand, White
Wasps - Smith leaving and they'll want a replacement. Young is a great talent though.
Tigers - O'Connor, McCaffery and young Will Evans
Saints - Harrison, Clark, Wood, Gibson
Sale - Braid, Seymour, Lund, Ioane
Quins - Robshaw, Wallace, Clifford
Gloucs - Kvesic
Bath - Louw
Worcs - Not the money
Falcons - Latu has been excellent and if the money were available it would be used elsewhere

Bristol - Jack Lam is a star performer
Donny - money wont be 'right'

Wasps are the best fit although with Joubert, Burger and Brown gone Sarries might be able to afford him. With Fraser there I'd presume they won't bite though.

Won't schalk be a 7 for Sarries?

Yep he is. Knew I'd forget something!

doctor_grey wrote:

Welly wrote:Saints?

10) Ford
12) Mallinder

Anything is possible, but I don't think he fits with Saints.  They prefer at least a modicum of a defensive presence and stability in their fly halves.  Already burned by signing Ryan Lamb a few years ago.

Yet you play Myler. Ford is a much better defender imo. At least he tries to tackle, whereas Stevie does a Les "Speedbump" cusworth impression.