Silly Season Transfer Rumours 16/17

Gordon Reid is off to Irish.

englishborn wrote:With Ford going to Tigers be interesting to see where (if anywhere) Sale go for their 10 now.

Tight five and half back are areas of increasing need for Sale. I don't think money is an option with their new backers and the salary cap. How long has Madigan got left in France?

Dwayne Peel to Ulster as backs coach under Gibbs

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-complete-signing-highly-12605079#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Jack Roberts to Cardiff confirmed.

A shame for Tigers after developing him well over the last couple of seasons. A good signing for the Blues and understandable for the Welsh lad to take his chance at a region. He's a likable player and a proper 'pocket rocket'. He isn't the biggest but has a lot of pace, especially off the mark and he's very hard to put down.

Maybe the Tuilagi rumour isn't guff. When players are injured, the club's insurance will pay their salary after some sort of cooling off period so Tigers may not actually have spent too much on him salary-wise. If he is broken, they may just want shot of him to free up salary cap space??

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Maybe the Tuilagi rumour isn't guff. When players are injured, the club's insurance will pay their salary after some sort of cooling off period so Tigers may not actually have spent too much on him salary-wise. If he is broken, they may just want shot of him to free up salary cap space??

Manu won't want to leave so the club might be somewhat stuck. Just because the insurance is covering his wages doesn't mean it doesn't count towards the cap.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Maybe the Tuilagi rumour isn't guff. When players are injured, the club's insurance will pay their salary after some sort of cooling off period so Tigers may not actually have spent too much on him salary-wise. If he is broken, they may just want shot of him to free up salary cap space??

He also has around 3 years left on his contract which would mean a club would have to buy it out - it would not be cheap

nathan wrote:

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Maybe the Tuilagi rumour isn't guff. When players are injured, the club's insurance will pay their salary after some sort of cooling off period so Tigers may not actually have spent too much on him salary-wise. If he is broken, they may just want shot of him to free up salary cap space??

He also has around 3 years left on his contract which would mean a club would have to buy it out - it would not be cheap

Fair point, Nathan unless one of the rich French owners does the necessary with the cash

InjuredYetAgain wrote:

nathan wrote:

InjuredYetAgain wrote:Maybe the Tuilagi rumour isn't guff. When players are injured, the club's insurance will pay their salary after some sort of cooling off period so Tigers may not actually have spent too much on him salary-wise. If he is broken, they may just want shot of him to free up salary cap space??

He also has around 3 years left on his contract which would mean a club would have to buy it out - it would not be cheap

Fair point, Nathan unless one of the rich French owners does the necessary with the cash

He's rumoured to be on 450k a season. I know the pound is falling in value but that's still going to be around the 1.5m Euro mark just to buy out his contract let alone what they'd then have to pay him. Given his love of where he lives and his lifestyle he won't move on the cheap and his injury record isn't something that will sit well with the likes of Mourad.

Glasgow have confirmed that Mark Bennett, Gordon Reid and Josh Strauss will leave the club at the end of the season. 

Bennett is going to Edinburgh where he will find he has more talent in his Ayrshire winkle than the rest of his entire backline colleagues combined. 

Reid to London Irish is a strong rumour and would make sense with their aging stable of props. 

Strauss will be a terrific capture for any club able to afford him (Glasgow couldn't any more). Sale is still the strongest rumour out there for him although, with all due respect, he could do better.

Rumour on twitter that Strauss is also coming to London Irish but this seems highly unlikely.

George that's a bit harsh on Sale. They are normally around the top sox on the AP and have a combative side that produces a lot of EQ talent. Good, hardworking team that has struggled this season due to injuries to half backs and the inability to find a consistent playmaker. If Dale can get hold of a reliable flyhalf or get McGinty settled in then they'll do ok next season, only a couple of months ago they nearly beat Toulon away (terrible ref decision cost them the game).

I actually agree with George Carlin. If Sale IMO want to being better than mid table they need to get rid of Diamond IMO.

I think also Carlin is also remembering the disaster that was R Gray signing for Sale (still think he missed a trick turning down Sarries).

Sam you should go for Strauss.

I heard Strauss was off to Toulouse.

Well pleased we're not in for Strauss.

Bennett would have been a good one, but not to be.

I wonder if that means the Mermoz rumour...IS true.

beshocked wrote:I actually agree with George Carlin. If Sale IMO want to being better than mid table they need to get rid of Diamond IMO.

I think also Carlin is also remembering the disaster that was R Gray signing for Sale (still think he missed a trick turning down Sarries).

Sam you should go for Strauss.

They got rid of Diamond once, looked likely to get relegated and brought him back to save them. I think he needs to add to his backroom staff though, get some fresh ideas for the attack.

Tigers and Strauss was one I was hoping for. We've got Kalamafoni in already so we might be looking a bit younger and cheaper than Strauss for a secondary option. The Leinster unit Jack Conan was linked but that rumour has unfortunately gone quiet.

Didn't realise there was a 500k transfer fee for Ford along with Burns the other way. Interesting to see how that pans out I'm the next couple of years.

Burns to bath could be a very shrewd acquisition....

Leicester need to now invest in some top physios...to keep their squad away from the injury tables!!

That backline could be scary!!!

Burns is great when he shows up. Anonymous when he doesn't. Extremely frustrating.

Where's the source for the 500k? I've not seen that.

As is always the way GF. Youngs, Ford, Thompstone, Toomua, Manu, JPP, TV. An exceptional backline on paper but when will we see it?

There was an interview on radio 4 this morning with Flatmate and an ex bath ceo whose name I didn't catch. They were discussing the 500k 'transfer fee' and how it would affect the game ie would we end up with 3 clubs dominating. Salary cap was obviously mentioned with a paraphrased quote of not worth the paper it's written on and Flatmate mentioned he'd consider a transfer cap.

beshocked wrote:I actually agree with George Carlin. If Sale IMO want to being better than mid table they need to get rid of Diamond IMO.

I think also Carlin is also remembering the disaster that was R Gray signing for Sale (still think he missed a trick turning down Sarries).

Sam you should go for Strauss.

It's the amazement in your voice that's so hurtful, Beshocked. 

But yes, I don't know why big Richie tanked so badly in Cheshire because they love him in Glasgow, Castres and Toulouse.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/767517/George-Ford-Leicester-record-transfer-fee-Bath-England-fly-half/amp

Didn't Bath pay £500,000 for Burgess?

Also it is £500,000 - Burns

Didn't come across like that on the interview but could well be.

George Carlin wrote:

beshocked wrote:I actually agree with George Carlin. If Sale IMO want to being better than mid table they need to get rid of Diamond IMO.

I think also Carlin is also remembering the disaster that was R Gray signing for Sale (still think he missed a trick turning down Sarries).

Sam you should go for Strauss.

It's the amazement in your voice that's so hurtful, Beshocked. 

But yes, I don't know why big Richie tanked so badly in Cheshire because they love him in Glasgow, Castres and Toulouse.

You are right, I didn't need to say actually. I probably agree with you more than other posters!

Reminds of Chris Jack at Saracens, one of the biggest flops the club has had. High profile 2nd row comes into a club not doing particularly well, there are parallels.

I just think sometimes it can be both the club and player just not gelling.

It's not easy being part of a relegation battle almost as soon as you join which was the case of Richie Gray.

Anyway wonder what kind of team Lam is looking to build.

If he could secure the players without a relegation clause I suspect he could well be shipping on 20 or so players from Bristols 50 man squad.

Hurrell and Woodward will be hard to keep if they are wanting to try and make a break for England (woodward especially).

Apparently Bristol are lining up moves for TJ Perenara and Ryan Crotty, regardless of being in the premiership or not next season.

Thanks 7&1/2.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Burns is great when he shows up. Anonymous when he doesn't. Extremely frustrating.

Where's the source for the 500k? I've not seen that.

As is always the way GF. Youngs, Ford, Thompstone, Toomua, Manu, JPP, TV. An exceptional backline on paper but when will we see it?

I did try to warn you lot. If he could consistently play to his best ability he'd be ahead of Ford in the England setup. Sadly, I don't think he'll ever have that consistent form.

AAC could now end up in Leinster apparently.

I guess Strauss to Toulouse means Isa is going to Toulon or elsewhere.

HongKongCherry wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Burns is great when he shows up. Anonymous when he doesn't. Extremely frustrating.

Where's the source for the 500k? I've not seen that.

As is always the way GF. Youngs, Ford, Thompstone, Toomua, Manu, JPP, TV. An exceptional backline on paper but when will we see it?

I did try to warn you lot. If he could consistently play to his best ability he'd be ahead of Ford in the England setup. Sadly, I don't think he'll ever have that consistent form.

Should have stayed and converted to fullback. He could have been like Geordan.

Actually he did find consistency from the tee, that was flaky when he arrived but these days he's excellent at kicking for goal.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Where's the source for the 500k? I've not seen that.

BBC made a thing of it on Radio 4 this morning

Times saying 500k
Guardian saying 1 million
Telegraph saying 250k

£500k - £250k for Burns going the other way seems the most likely of the rumours that I've seen.

A fair chunk of cash but £450k a year for a FH of Ford's quality isn't a bad deal at all tbh, especially considering Owen Williams is worth £400k in the current market. Thinking about it another way, he's right up there with the top NH FHs, and good luck to Tigers poaching any of them for anything less than £600k a year.

I've only seen appropriate compensation elsewhere with the only figure quoted as 500k.

1 million!?!? This isn't football. Can't see us having paid anywhere near that unless that includes his wages as well. I was surprised there's reports we've paid as much as 500k to be honest.

His quoted salary is about 400 to 450 a year so that would kind of fit. Lot of money even for someone of his class. Your back line looks great though when everyone is fit!

No 7&1/2 wrote:His quoted salary is about 400 to 450 a year so that would kind of fit. Lot of money even for someone of his class. Your back line looks great though when everyone is fit!

That's the appropriate term!

Put the forwards in there aswell!

Aparently we have a BIG signing announcement tomorrow.

So its probably either Mermoz or DTH Van der Merve...

Prob DTH given the timing.

Mermoz is def going to you as a marquee signing though but could see that being officially announced potentially later do the line.

(Could be wrong and it's vice versa).

If that's the case Welly,

Then we can all expect Wasps to announce the signing of Watson any time now....

Welly wrote: Anyway wonder what kind of team Lam is looking to build.

If he could secure the players without a relegation clause I suspect he could well be shipping on 20 or so players from Bristols 50 man squad.

Hurrell and Woodward will be hard to keep if they are wanting to try and make a break for England (woodward especially).

Yes please to both at Tigers if they move on.

Hurrell would fill the whole left by Roberts nicely. He's a Tigers academy lad too so always nice to get a homegrown player back.

Woodward could fill the gap left by Tait perfectly if Mat moves onto France.

King_Carlos wrote:Woodward could fill the gap left by Tait perfectly if Mat moves onto France.

Plus he kicks for goal too. Would be a (big) added bonus considering the 10 you've signed for next season . Would be very happy with him at Saints too if it ever came to it.

Glasgow sign Kebble:

http://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/stormers-loosehead-oliver-kebble-signs-two-year-contract-with-glasgow-warriors/17442.htm

Nice pic of BOD???

Astute signing by Warriors.

Dave Rennie is one of the top coaches in the game, it's going to be really interesting to see where he takes Townsend's squad.

king_carlos wrote:Astute signing by Warriors.

Dave Rennie is one of the top coaches in the game, it's going to be really interesting to see where he takes Townsend's squad.

Absolutely - Rennie is already getting things done for us. 

He was instrumental in Big Brian (Chiefs lock Brian Alainu'uese) coming over and he has been excellent for us. 

Apparently thanks to Rennie we are also close to signing Callum Gibbins, the Hurricanes openside, to replace Simone Favaro (who is great, but constantly broken). Apparently he is an absolute tyro and annoyed about being stuck behind Ardie Savea in the cab rank in Wellington.

Rennie will have coached Gibbins for Manawatu before Rennie went to Chiefs and Gibbins broke through with the Canes.

Makes sense. He's behind some excellent back rows at Canes (Brad Shields and Blade Thomson as well as Savea the younger) so a move and likely more money would probably be welcome to him.

It's some squad that Rennie is inheriting and he's already adding to it.

Bennett out - Jones in
Grant, Puafisi, Reid out - Kebble in

Any rumours who might be replacing Strauss for you, George?

beshocked wrote:I actually agree with George Carlin. If Sale IMO want to being better than mid table they need to get rid of Diamond IMO.

I think also Carlin is also remembering the disaster that was R Gray signing for Sale (still think he missed a trick turning down Sarries).

Sam you should go for Strauss.

I think we need to see how Diamond does with an increased budget to be fair over the next couple of seasons, he has done quite well with a squad that gets cherry picked by the clubs further south.

Maxine Mermoz to Falcons confirmed on a 2 year deal

GeordieFalcon wrote:Maxine Mermoz to Falcons confirmed on a 2 year deal

Who would of guessed that.