Silly Season Transfer Rumours 16/17

First topic message reminder :

Nit before the Lions tour. Don't think any of the All Black internationals will end their career pre tour.

It's certainly an odd transfer saga, I'm not sure where he'll end up to be honest.

George Ford ---> Tigers coming up again.

Yep, Rugby Inside Line have tweeted Ford to Tigers will be announced within 7 days. Someone has asked how credible the source is on twitter and they have responded, "one of the better ones".

Given how reliable Rugby Inside Line are 'one of the better ones' isn't the most inspiring statement you'll ever hear!

king_carlos wrote:Rumours now that Mermoz only hasn't been announced as signing longer term for Tigers because it would make it more complicated registering him as injury dispensation (i.e. outside the cap) this season... 

Sounds like nonsense to me personally. It seems likely that Mermoz will be at Falcons next season with Tigers having simply been outbid for the longer term contract.

Dean seems quite happy to offer the 3year deal to older players when other clubs maybe are reluctant to do so. That may be what has swung it.

Lets hope IF we have signed him that he is a Sinoti, Latu type signing (ie successful) rather than Delayney (very poor so far)

Bennett rumour still bubbling on aswell!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C3xQoh4WEAAG1D3?format=jpg&name=large

Times tomorrow has Ford as coming to Tigers with Burns heading in the opposite direction to Bath.

From what you can see on that front page:

- Sale offered Ford £650,000 pa which would have made him the highest paid player in the Jeff

- Ford rejected and is reportedly getting a contract worth £450,00 pa at Tigers

- Freddie doesn't want to stay as understudy and will take Fords place at Bath

- George Ford returning isn't thought to be connected in any way to Mike Ford joining the coaching staff as some have rumoured

Delighted to see Ford return but such a shame to see Freddie leave as a consequence. Many fans will have mixed emotions and I'm with them.

With Owen Williams leaving it puts Tigers once again in the market for a 10 as well.

200k extra to play next to Mike Phillips obviously isn't enough.

I'm 50/50 on Burns. He can be incredible one week and the non-existent the next. He is reliable off the tee these days which is something Ford isn't. There's no guarantee that he'll be first choice at Bath with Priestland staying either. I think it's his boyhood club which might sway Burns.

The annoying thing is that Burns can also play 15 and is unlikely to be called up. Ford will miss a third of every season with England (and probably injury as soon as he gets to Tigers). Ben Volavola has only signed a one year deal in Australia and can cover 10 and 15 but that would leave us short during the autumn unless we are confident in Worth, Hardwick or Bryant.

George Ford's move has been increasingly clear over the last few weeks, once Sale were sidelined and Saints were never in it.
The surprise is ex- Bath academy Burns actually coming back the other way as it always appeared he didn't want to come back.
Whilst regrettable not a bad piece of business.

From what I hear Burns might not be going next season.

Burns might be thinking that he is already settled at Tigers and he has one year left on his contract. If he stays and manages to keep Ford out of the side the he has a great chance to get in with England. If not then at the end of next season he'll have a lot of offers and not just Bath.

TBF Burns would prob get a better deal moving now than say next season IF Ford came and he went to second choice.

It would also help lower the price to get Ford.

Might be beneficial to us to swap him but I'm not sure he'll get a better deal this summer than next summer. Flyhalfs are always being sought after and they'll always be offers from here and France for him.

Yeh but there is a difference between being a starting fly half to being a 2nd choice 10 wanting out of his current club.

Maybe. More relevant will be the clubs looking to offer him a contract. This summer he can go to either Bath or Saints and compete with Pristland and Myler (if Tigers agree to release him to Saints) or he can go and start at Sale (if Tigers agree to release him to Sale). Next season Sale won't have to pay to gain his release and it could be likely that Quins will be looking should Jackson not make anymore of an impact. He should be able to negotiate more money if there's a bidding war and no Tigers contract to get release from.

That's assuming that Tigers Wong just release him to make the cap space available.

Release Fitzgerald and BOC if we need to or at least that's what we'll tell Burns representatives in order to get a more favourable deal for us.

Bit more on the Ford to Tigers..

http://m.bathchronicle.co.uk/bath-rugby-star-player-george-ford-is-on-the-verge-of-signing-for-leicester-tigers/story-30111320-detail/story.html

Jack Conan ---> Leicester Tigers

Welly wrote: Jack Conan ---> Leicester Tigers

That would be a hell of a signing. A brute who's on his way up.

Suprised though he'd be willing to give up an international career like Marty Moore did

Just saw that Wallaby centre Rob Horne has signed a 3 year deal with Northampton Saints. A quality acquisition.

Huw Jones signs for Glasgow - starting next season.

Rumours yet again...Falcons double swoop from Glasgow...Strauss and Bennett.

George Carlin wrote:Huw Jones signs for Glasgow - starting next season.

We'll take Bennett

Sarge,

The 3 players we're linked with so far...Strauss, Mermoz and Bennett are all quality. Personally im not sure we need Strauss, but as has been pointed out...Hogg and Latu aren't getting any younger.

Still hoping for a new DOR at Quins

propdavid_london wrote:Still hoping for a new DOR at Quins

Stuart Lancaster.

Rob Horne signs for Saints. Good signing (probably bye-bye Pisix2?) but does not address the issue that teh pack have so often looked underwhelming.

LondonTiger wrote:Rob Horne signs for Saints. Good signing (probably bye-bye Pisix2?) but does not address the issue that teh pack have so often looked underwhelming.

Or that they are still heavily reliant on Myler not getting injured. Olver and Mallinder are obviously coming through well but would you want them to start every game for 3 months if Myler had a serious injury? Given that Saints also have a large selection of centres including several talented youngsters Hutchinson, Mallinder and the other injured one, is it a good long term signing?

We are looking to sign a fly half I'm pretty sure. Heard a Biggar move was blocked by the Welsh RFU.

Olver I don't rate and Mallinder seems to be chosen at centre.

Happy with the Horne signing. As for concern about being overstocked at centre, he also plays wing. Although I do think in a number of positions we've made acquisitions that aren't even second choice. Squad is quantity over quality.

LondonTiger wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Still hoping for a new DOR at Quins

Stuart Lancaster.

That would not be a popular move

Dave Lewis to join Quins in the summer.

Biggar would be an excellent signing for Saints and would allow Davies to take the ten shirt at the Ospreys.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38883710

Dave Lewis as no.9 cover for Quins

Put your chequebook away, Biggar isn't for sale

True Raven wrote:Put your chequebook away, Biggar isn't for sale

Sounds like he is, but not to an English team.

Numerous top14 teams are after Richard Cockerill and apparently Edinburgh are interested too

Gavin Henson could be making his way back to the Dragons.

If London Irish gain promotion Adam Ashley Cooper is interested in signing for them.

AAC to Lon Irish! That would be a seriously good signing for them.

AAC is off to Japan from what I have heard.

Cockerill will stay in Top 14.

Irish are also interested in Fainga'a

AAC definitely won't happen, but I think Hamilton and Du Plessis sound like done deals. Fainga'a and Gordon Reid also likely. Rumours of Schatz the Reds back rower and Kalamaotongi the Chiefs/Tonga number 8. Look to be building quite nicely.

propdavid_london wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Still hoping for a new DOR at Quins

Stuart Lancaster.

That would not be a popular move

Why not?

nathan wrote:Numerous top14 teams are after Richard Cockerill and apparently Edinburgh are interested too

Gavin Henson could be making his way back to the Dragons.

If London Irish gain promotion Adam Ashley Cooper is interested in signing for them.

yes please, that would do nicely

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Still hoping for a new DOR at Quins

Stuart Lancaster.

That would not be a popular move

Why not?

Because he is tainted by the England RWC shambles I guess. What are his responsibilities at Leinster and how is he doing?

Didn't all the English Quins players not want him there?

Welly wrote: Jack Conan ---> Leicester Tigers

I'd be well chuffed with that. Hopefully he fancies a Cullen/Jennings style jaunt at Tigers. Hamilton, Kalamafoni, Conan and Williams is some hefty 6/8 options for next season. Unlikely to see a lack of physicality there.

Latest news is that Ben Smith has rejected any moves up North, to remain with the Highlanders and the ABs

Good

France can f**k right off

Apparently Steve Diamond has said Tigers have broken the bank to sign Ford.

nathan wrote:Apparently Steve Diamond has said Tigers have broken the bank to sign Ford.

£450,000 pa is the figure being quoted by a fair few, nathan. Think it came from the Times article which said Sale offered him £650,000 pa but he has turned it down.

Scottrf wrote:

True Raven wrote:Put your chequebook away, Biggar isn't for sale

Sounds like he is, but not to an English team.

Well I have heard from a freind of a freind ( so not saying it's true in the slightest) that it's Dan who has asked to go