Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

by **George Carlin** Sun 30 Jul 2017, 7:15 am

First topic message reminder :

New season, new thread.

by Welly Thu 09 Nov 2017, 11:30 am

Been rumoured for a bit was in the rugby paper like a month or so ago.

by BamBam Thu 09 Nov 2017, 2:47 pm

TPN to Leicester confirmed, probably already discussed

by nathan Thu 09 Nov 2017, 3:03 pm

Do wonder if tom youngs will be taking some time out or is going to retire

by Welly Thu 09 Nov 2017, 3:28 pm

nathan wrote:Do wonder if tom youngs will be taking some time out or is going to retire

From what i hear i don't think so currently.

by Sgt_Pooly Thu 09 Nov 2017, 3:29 pm

Good option and certainly an upgrade on TY. He'll booster your scrum which is worrying as it's looked very good of late.

by formerly known as Sam Thu 09 Nov 2017, 3:55 pm

As news on how long the deal is for? If it's short term then that's OK but I'm unsure about signing a 32 year old who has in the last week given an interview saying he's eager to play but his body isn't. We also have talented young hookers coming through who short term will learn from him but long term may decide to leave to get game time with two internationally experienced hookers ahead of them in the squad. That would not be good for us.

Youngs may want to spend Christmas at home with his family and take a rugby break then so this signing may help that and I see no problem refueling him then for later in the season. What little I've heard of the situation indicates that his wife has been in better health then was feared in the summer so we can only hope that continues.

by **Ozzy3213** Thu 09 Nov 2017, 3:58 pm

Two and half year deal it said fkaS. arriving in December.

by formerly known as Sam Thu 09 Nov 2017, 5:33 pm

Ozzy3213 wrote:Two and half year deal it said fkaS. arriving in December.

FFS. I wonder which of Thacker or McGuigan will decide to leave first. I thought we were in a really good place the develop and that succession planning in that department was working nicely.

At least this season we'll get a real injection of brute force and if he can stay fit he should remain at the height of his powers for at least another season after that.

by Welly Thu 09 Nov 2017, 5:58 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:Two and half year deal it said fkaS. arriving in December.

FFS. I wonder which of Thacker or McGuigan will decide to leave first. I thought we were in a really good place the develop and that succession planning in that department was working nicely.

At least this season we'll get a real injection of brute force and if he can stay fit he should remain at the height of his powers for at least another season after that.

Personally i think we need to start planning for this and next season and TPN is a upgrade on all current hookers.
With the backline we have now and how they are playing we need to keep improving our pack along the lines of it.

Make the most of having a 12 like toomua here and build a pack thats gives him and ford so much time and space.

by formerly known as Sam Thu 09 Nov 2017, 6:46 pm

Welly wrote:
formerly known as Sam wrote:
Ozzy3213 wrote:Two and half year deal it said fkaS. arriving in December.

FFS. I wonder which of Thacker or McGuigan will decide to leave first. I thought we were in a really good place the develop and that succession planning in that department was working nicely.

At least this season we'll get a real injection of brute force and if he can stay fit he should remain at the height of his powers for at least another season after that.

Personally i think we need to start planning for this and next season and TPN is a upgrade on all current hookers.
With the backline we have now and how they are playing we need to keep improving our pack along the lines of it.

Make the most of having a 12 like toomua here and build a pack thats gives him and ford so much time and space.

As I said great in the short term but if it drives the young options away then in a couple of seasons we'll be looking at possibly needing to sign multiple quality hookers as Tom will be 33 and TPN 35. Where as if we'd looked more long term and gone with the young guns then as Tom starts looking at his farming career McGuigan is a ready made replacement for years and Thacker I still think has the potential to be as well.

The succession planning aspect of this signing is what concerns me not the player himself.

by stnick88 Fri 10 Nov 2017, 11:16 am

LondonTiger wrote:
stnick88 wrote:Lewington to Saracens

Source?

me

by **George Carlin** Sat 11 Nov 2017, 5:23 am

stnick88 wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:
stnick88 wrote:Lewington to Saracens

Source?

me

by geoff999rugby Mon 13 Nov 2017, 6:42 pm

Robbie Diack and Conor Carey to Bristol

by formerly known as Sam Mon 13 Nov 2017, 7:47 pm

Rohan Janse van Rensburg has joined Sale on loan until February.

by nathan Mon 13 Nov 2017, 8:42 pm

Really think we'll be losing thacker next season to bristol

by Geordie Mon 13 Nov 2017, 10:16 pm

If he stays as a hooked I don't think that's a loss Nathan. I genuinely think Thacker needs to nail a back row spot..7

He's just too small to be a top hooker but could be an explosive 7. Just my opinion of course.

by propdavid_london Tue 14 Nov 2017, 8:23 am

Jonno Kitto from Tigers to Quins as short term emergency cover.
Care is on international duty and backups - 2,3,4,5 are all crocked at the same time!

by formerly known as Sam Tue 14 Nov 2017, 8:52 am

I didn't realise Kitto was still on our books thought we'd released him by mutual consent. Our two development 9s were overtaking him.

Thacker has played well at hooker this season. He's not really fitting with the MOC game plan though. The problem with him converting to openside is that BOC has signed a new deal and then we have Evans and Reffel (Wales under 20) two extremely talented young opensides. Unless Reffel beefs up and starts playing 6 or BOC isn't intending to stay past next season the options are limited. I suspect McGuigan is more likely to leave though, he's been pushing for the starting berth and now finds himself third choice.

by propdavid_london Tue 14 Nov 2017, 11:53 am

You are quite right Sam - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41977215
Says former Tigers player - was on loan at Worcester.

What was the deal with Kitto for you guys then? I remember there being a bit of low level hype about him when first signed. And I thought I saw him starting a good number of games last season.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 14 Nov 2017, 3:52 pm

He's a decent scrum half, has got some good pace. We needed to free up some cap and he was very much in danger of slipping down the pecking order further. Youngs and Harrison have bags of experience and suit the team really well and are first and second choice. Then we've got Ben White who made his debut a fee years ago and who has been making the bench as third choice this season and is a general on the field at 19/20. Harry Simmons a very skillful player played 9 and 15 in his two AW games with equal authority. Four Leicester boys just left Kitto the odd man out.

by propdavid_london Wed 15 Nov 2017, 1:29 pm

Seems solid enough. I think its purely a numbers game at the moment for Quins, and we've run out of 9's.

by chris_501 Wed 15 Nov 2017, 2:21 pm

Barclay to Edinburgh. Perhaps opens the door for Moriarty to the Scarlets?

by munkian Wed 15 Nov 2017, 2:46 pm

chris_501 wrote:Barclay to Edinburgh. Perhaps opens the door for Moriarty to the ~~Scarlets~~ Dragons ?

Fixed

by mikey_dragon Wed 15 Nov 2017, 3:48 pm

Huge loss for Scarlets. Shingler, Barclay and Davies was one of the most menacing back-rows around. I’m not sure if Moriarty would be a good fit at Scarlets but it’s either them or Dragons he’ll be joining. I know which I would choose Wink

.

by chris_501 Wed 15 Nov 2017, 8:53 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Huge loss for Scarlets. Shingler, Barclay and Davies was one of the most menacing back-rows around. I’m not sure if Moriarty would be a good fit at Scarlets but it’s either them or Dragons he’ll be joining. I know which I would choose .

With Boyde and McCleod playing some good rugby, maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

I just cannot see Moriarty wanting to go to the Dragons, not in the top level European competition, and struggling for wins in the league. It's a catch 22, the results won't come until the players improve, but the players won't join until there is more success.

by mikey_dragon Thu 16 Nov 2017, 2:19 am

Yeah they’re both good players but Scarlets’ll need extra cover for sure and I just see them as being better off with two 7’s.

Moriarty is rumoured to be joining one of said teams and the other rumour was that there was more money involved in the Dragons offer.

by munkian Thu 16 Nov 2017, 7:49 am

Jack Dixon extends contract at the Dragons - good to see we are finally managing to keep our young home grown talent.

by mikey_dragon Thu 16 Nov 2017, 5:01 pm

Yes another one to add to our list of academy products who will be future Wales stars. He joins Amos, Dee and Brown.

by formerly known as Sam Thu 16 Nov 2017, 5:55 pm

Steve Mafi rumoured to want a move back to Tigers. Isn't happy at Castres. Left Leicester originally because of personal problems which saw him return to Australia.

by nathan Thu 16 Nov 2017, 6:39 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Steve Mafi rumoured to want a move back to Tigers. Isn't happy at Castres. Left Leicester originally because of personal problems which saw him return to Australia.

Do we need him?

by formerly known as Sam Thu 16 Nov 2017, 7:02 pm

nathan wrote:
formerly known as Sam wrote:Steve Mafi rumoured to want a move back to Tigers. Isn't happy at Castres. Left Leicester originally because of personal problems which saw him return to Australia.

Do we need him?

MOC seems to think so. I'm not so sure. He doesn't really fit with the pack we're building. We are going for big and abrasive with a natural 7. Squad depth is pretty good unless either Fitzgerald or Ryan are having complications with their returns from injuries. Having said that he's a good lineout option and wpuld offer us a more dynamic less bosh forward option. With the academy lads stepping up as well as they have I'm a little doubtful of our need to bring in additions.

Though Steve was always a great player to watch in Tigers colours.

by chris_501 Thu 16 Nov 2017, 7:54 pm

mikey_dragon wrote:Yes another one to add to our list of academy products who will be future Wales stars. He joins Amos, Dee and Brown.

Really great bunch of young players, hopefully they all thrive by being driven on by each other. I think Amos is a class act, looking forward to seeing him in the rest of the AIs, I just hope he remains injury free.

by mikey_dragon Fri 17 Nov 2017, 7:30 pm

Scarlets sign Steve Cummins from Melbourne Rebels. He must be the replacement for Beirne, although he's set to join for the Scarlets' SA tour. At 6'8 and a Super Rugby regular one would think he's pretty good. Great signing by Pivac again.

by boomeranga Sat 18 Nov 2017, 6:24 am

mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets sign Steve Cummins from Melbourne Rebels. He must be the replacement for Beirne, although he's set to join for the Scarlets' SA tour. At 6'8 and a Super Rugby regular one would think he's pretty good. Great signing by Pivac again.

He not one to get too excited about. He got game time at the Rebels but found the step up hard.

by formerly known as Sam Sat 18 Nov 2017, 7:13 pm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/11/18/blacks-fury-brad-shields-defects-england/

Heading to Wasps apparently.

by **George Carlin** Sun 19 Nov 2017, 5:50 am

Steve Diamond to the Naughty Step.

by **BigGee** Sun 19 Nov 2017, 2:22 pm

The Thistle podcast reporting that Finn Russell has signed for Racing to replace Dan Carter.

As it's a French signing, we won't get confirmation on this one for quite some time. Disappointing for Glasgow if true, but always likely that he would move on this year.

by Sgt_Pooly Sun 19 Nov 2017, 3:10 pm

Has Brussow to Saints in Jan been mentioned?

by Welly Sun 19 Nov 2017, 3:52 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Has Brussow to Saints in Jan been mentioned?

Think so.

by **George Carlin** Mon 20 Nov 2017, 7:26 am

BigGee wrote:The Thistle podcast reporting that Finn Russell has signed for Racing to replace Dan Carter.

As it's a French signing, we won't get confirmation on this one for quite some time. Disappointing for Glasgow if true, but always likely that he would move on this year.

Thank goodness - replacing that journeyman Carter with some real quality.

Run

by Fluxy Mon 20 Nov 2017, 9:31 am

Brad Shields -> Wasps

by munkian Mon 20 Nov 2017, 11:11 am

mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets sign Steve Cummins from Melbourne Rebels. He must be the replacement for Beirne, although he's set to join for the Scarlets' SA tour. At 6'8 and a Super Rugby regular one would think he's pretty good. Great signing by Pivac again.

WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM ? WHAT ABOUT THE REEJUNAL PATHWAYS etc Shocked

by mikey_dragon Mon 20 Nov 2017, 3:51 pm

boomeranga wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets sign Steve Cummins from Melbourne Rebels. He must be the replacement for Beirne, although he's set to join for the Scarlets' SA tour. At 6'8 and a Super Rugby regular one would think he's pretty good. Great signing by Pivac again.

He not one to get too excited about. He got game time at the Rebels but found the step up hard.

If he's a good carrier and lineout operative then he should do well. All he needs to do is slot into a well oiled machine.

by mikey_dragon Mon 20 Nov 2017, 3:57 pm

munkian wrote:
mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets sign Steve Cummins from Melbourne Rebels. He must be the replacement for Beirne, although he's set to join for the Scarlets' SA tour. At 6'8 and a Super Rugby regular one would think he's pretty good. Great signing by Pivac again.

WHERE DID THE MONEY COME FROM ? WHAT ABOUT THE REEJUNAL PATHWAYS etc

I guess with your entire first team out you'll need cover. Some Turks claiming we were about to snub them for Moriarty and block Keddie from getting game time did make me laugh though. They're clueless in West Wales.

by geoff999rugby Mon 20 Nov 2017, 5:41 pm

Marty Moore to Ulster seems to have traction

by formerly known as Sam Mon 20 Nov 2017, 6:32 pm

geoff999rugby wrote:Marty Moore to Ulster seems to have traction

It's been a surprise that he's not made much impact in the AP. Quality tightheads normally thrive in this league. Injuries haven't helped but he's not become a fixture in a fairly average Wasps front row. He wanted to back out of the move before he got here so maybe his heart has never been in it.

by carpet baboon Mon 20 Nov 2017, 8:13 pm

Itoje to Toulon. Big Jim Hamilton seems to think it's done. Whoops missed the first part. This seems to be a joke from his podcast.

by nathan Mon 20 Nov 2017, 8:27 pm

BigGee wrote:The Thistle podcast reporting that Finn Russell has signed for Racing to replace Dan Carter.

As it's a French signing, we won't get confirmation on this one for quite some time. Disappointing for Glasgow if true, but always likely that he would move on this year.

He's confirmed he's leaving...

https://twitter.com/finn_russell/status/932667964607823874

by formerly known as Sam Mon 20 Nov 2017, 8:45 pm

carpet baboon wrote:Itoje to Toulon. Big Jim Hamilton seems to think it's done. Whoops missed the first part. This seems to be a joke from his podcast.

He's under contract until 2019 anyway.

by geoff999rugby Mon 20 Nov 2017, 9:04 pm

Jim Hamilton is a well known joker

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