Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

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New season, new thread.

KUATB

propdavid_london wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Symmonds to Quins and Charlie Matthews leaving to Bristol

There's some speculation that Matthews could be coming to Glaws. This really is enough, we took PDJ off your hands as an act of friendship, we are not taking another God awful player from you!

Ah PDJ - the perennial bench warmer (at best).  
Currently with Wasps isn't he?
Not sure you can blame us for him HongKong - He was bad enough at Saints for 3 years and you chaps had him for 3seasons before that.  Plenty of time to see what you were getting!

Yappy - is this the Symmonds from Wasps that came from NZ with the intention of getting into the EPS?

Yep that's the guy, came with a big rep but has been meh so far

Guy Thompson to tigers
Will Spencer to tigers

Matthews isn’t awful. Just awful at carrying

nathan wrote:Guy Thompson to tigers
Will Spencer to tigers

Is that your wish...or a genuine possibility. If its true..thats some goods signings!

https://twitter.com/EsportifIntel/status/950309560602030080?ref_src=twcamp%5Eshare%7Ctwsrc%5Em5%7Ctwgr%5Eemail%7Ctwcon%5E7046%7Ctwterm%5E3

GeordieFalcon wrote:

nathan wrote:Guy Thompson to tigers
Will Spencer to tigers

Is that your wish...or a genuine possibility. If its true..thats some goods signings!

Done deal from what I heard a bit ago.

Gigena ---> Tigers is done as well, apparently he's been pictured at Oval Park in Tigers kit

Hopefully Cordero comes through as well sooner rather than later as a injury dispensation.

From current rumours I'd happily see the following happen between now and the start of next season:

Traynor/Baumann ----> Facundo Gigena
Fitzgerald -----> Will Spencer
Croft ----> Steve Mafi
Hamilton (I fear he'll head North) ----> Guy Thompson
Any combination of Tait/Brady/Pakalani/Ravai Fataiki (me neither) ----> Santiago Cordero

Even after that there would still big questions in the front row - will Logo/Cillier/Thacker/McGuigan need replacing?

If a high class line-out lock can be fitted into the cap then I wouldn't blink about seeing Kitchener give way currently either.

Kitch's from has been improving this season, with a bit of luck he'll get back to where he was. Having said that if Mostert is heading to Europe as is being reported then I'd hm take someone like him, a proven international lineout option with Wells as the other lineout option alongside Spencer and Barrow as enforcer options.

Lol

Yeah saw that. I presume Tigers were waiting for an announcement to officially welcome him to the club and post that picture.

Tapaui and Auterac both confirmed to Quins. Auterac not a loss with Catt, Obano, Paz and Lahiff in the LH stable. He was great two seasons ago and now really tailed off and become 4th choice. Obano has leapfrogged him.

Tapaui is a massive loss. He’s a great player in defense and attack. With him and banners gone we’ve got two massive holes to fill in the squad.

Sounds like Jackson Willison and Joe Cokanasiga are our top targets

Yep - another one from the LI academy off to Bath ...

Bathite wrote:Sounds like Jackson Willison and Joe Cokanasiga are our top targets

Willison would add depth in the midfield with Tapuai leaving.

Cokanasiga would add a powerful winger, not to mention a hell of a talent, with Banahan leaving.

I'd wager that Blackadder still has his sights on a big backline signing with Tapuai and Banahan relieving some cap space.

He has said that there’s a winger and a Centre almost announced.

Not seen Tapaui or Auterac moves confirmed....
Not sure Quins need another centre, unless someone's injury is worse than thought!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42656400

Sopoaga confirmed at Wasps for 18/19 season. No mention of Cipriani going or staying yet...

Mr Bounce wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/42656400

Sopoaga confirmed at Wasps for 18/19 season. No mention of Cipriani going or staying yet...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/15/danny-cipriani-talks-french-club-wasps-rugby-union

Interview in the guardian today. Offers in AP, in France or to stay with Wasps. He has not made up his mind yet.

propdavid_london wrote:Not seen Tapaui or Auterac moves confirmed....
Not sure Quins need another centre, unless someone's injury is worse than thought!

Not officially confirmed by clubs but the bath rugby journalist has confirmed. It’s happening 100%.

Bathite wrote:Sounds like Jackson Willison and Joe Cokanasiga are our top targets

Jackson Willison confirmed today

Lewington to Saracens for next season, has been confirmed.

It will be interesting to see how Lewington kicks on at Sarries.

Opinion is split on him with some fans (often bitter Tigers fans in my experience) thinking he's just shining in a weak LI side and others thinking he's got the potential to be one of the top prem wingers.

I'm interested to see how his defence, high ball and kicking stack up in the Sarries back three. His attacking play I rate really highly and think he'll score a lot of tries there.

I wonder if this means Nathan Earle will leave.

Earle I think has real potential. If another club picks him and develops him they could unearth a real gem.

Madness if earle leaves surely? Lewiston is good but he's not international quality whereas earle could easily and should go on to be an England player. That along with wyles being 34.
Is it more earle pushing to be away for more chances?

There was also talk on the rugby pod of Strettle returning to Saracens.

For all Sarries positives at bringing on forwards, their backs development leaves a lot to be desired. Spencer, Earle, Tompkins etc could be pushing for Int honours if at another club, they seem to held back at Sarries.

Fissler seems certain that strettle is on his ay back to Sarries. Will be good to see him in the AP again.

yappysnap wrote:Fissler seems certain that strettle is on his ay back to Sarries. Will be good to see him in the AP again.

Bit of a backward signing. Wyles and Strettle are the wrong side of 30 and comfortably so. Lewington and Earle should be the focus, get Earle game time and experience and work on Lewington's defence. There's at least three more two year deals to be had from each of those. Clever clubs plan their succession and Sarries are normally good at that.

Strettle has also been linked to Bristol.

Earle was linked with Quin's too

Bristol would be more believable tbh

I am not sure that Quins need another wing!
I guess we never replaced Yarde.

But with Visser and Charlie Walker they are good starters at the moment.

Alofa Alofa and Chisholm can cover on the wing.
So too could A.Morris at a push.

Then we have good kids coming through in Ibitoye and Mikalcus (if he gets a chance).


I guess I have talked myself into suggesting that an additional specialist frontline wing would be useful.

We have no idea who may leave or be binned by JK. Lots of talk that there are players who don't gel well and I'd question the determination of some players.

Yards was obviously a big one but there are sure to be a few others. If we don't do well this season JK could be ruthless.

Bath have signed Cooper Vuna, until the end of the season.

king_carlos wrote:It will be interesting to see how Lewington kicks on at Sarries.

Opinion is split on him with some fans (often bitter Tigers fans in my experience) thinking he's just shining in a weak LI side and others thinking he's got the potential to be one of the top prem wingers.

I'm interested to see how his defence, high ball and kicking stack up in the Sarries back three. His attacking play I rate really highly and think he'll score a lot of tries there.

Not really bitter fans, his defence is pretty poor, and whilst he is a good attacking winger he isn't that remarkable.
At 26 he is only a year and a half younger than May.

Welly wrote:

king_carlos wrote:It will be interesting to see how Lewington kicks on at Sarries.

Opinion is split on him with some fans (often bitter Tigers fans in my experience) thinking he's just shining in a weak LI side and others thinking he's got the potential to be one of the top prem wingers.

I'm interested to see how his defence, high ball and kicking stack up in the Sarries back three. His attacking play I rate really highly and think he'll score a lot of tries there.

Not really bitter fans, his defence is pretty poor, and whilst he is a good attacking winger he isn't that remarkable.
At 26 he is only a year and a half younger than May.

I find him a good example of some Tigers fans changing tune depending on the point they want to make (or whine about).

When complaining about Tigers not bringing through academy graduates he's often the first name brought up. Then when he re-signed with LI and now Sarries, he is a terrible defender, already reached his potential, etc.

I'm not saying that's the case for you Welly, the opposite actually as I think we've discussed Lewington in the past and your views were the same! Just a frustration I have with certain fans who jump from, 'we have to give our academy grads more opportunities', seamlessly to 'our academy prospects are rubbish, we can deal with X/Y/Z moving elsewhere'.

Personally I rate Lewington highly. Quick, physical and scores tries. His kicking and high ball work will be under scrutiny at Sarries though so I'm interested to see how he progresses there.

Lewington has always looked ok under the high ball and can kick when he wants to. The weakness is his one on one tackling. He's not the only one because Watson isn't exactly hot in that department either. His ability to find away to the try line is not to be sniffed at and I was annoyed he was dumped to the Championship after our semi final LV won against Bath which effectively forced him out of the club. One that got away for me, could have been a very useful player, maybe not international level bit he'll score tries in the AP all day. Sarries will improve him.

This 'Lewington can't defend' is a relatively recent thing that started this season with a few BT graphics showing him at the top of a missed tackle chart. Before then his defence really wasn't talked about at all as it's been perfectly serviceable. His total tackles missed has suffered this year as he's played pretty much every minute of every AP game (he's also made more tackles than any wing in the league apart from Nick Malouf). He's been used heavily on the blitz this season and has been hung out to dry plenty of times in a poor defensive team.

He's an exceptional player for me. Scored a hat full of brilliant solo tries in a the worst team in the league where the wings get very few opportunities in the red zone. Wish him all the best at Sarries

John Kingston, Mark Mapletoft and Rowntree have all signed contract extensions for Quins............Hmmmm.

Faletau likely back to Wales at the end of his contract in 18 months time. Not next season as that deluded Scarlets poster on here suggested. Obviously a big loss for us, but he’s injured a lot, away with Wales a lot and we’ve got Mercer right behind him. 18m is enough time for Mercer to really kick on. Our back row will have a really different feel to it by then, as Louw will probably be 34 by then and either retired or collecting Yen i guess. Lucky we’ve got Underhill! But also our two marquee signings cash to spend

I think he was a Dragons fan Bathite

Mercer seems to be coming along well, has he put on some beef?

propdavid_london wrote:John Kingston, Mark Mapletoft and Rowntree have all signed contract extensions for Quins............Hmmmm.

Bizarre right?! Even if JK stayed I was seriously expecting s shake up in his coaching team, Easter is a club legend but he's in way over his head and I can't see what Tofty actually does to justify his position. Rowntree too is seriously under performing for s guy with his experience.

Only coach looking good at the moment is Never, our attack is sweeeet (when we don't drop it)

Bathite wrote:Faletau likely back to Wales at the end of his contract in 18 months time. Not next season as that deluded Scarlets poster on here suggested. Obviously a big loss for us, but he’s injured a lot, away with Wales a lot and we’ve got Mercer right behind him. 18m is enough time for Mercer to really kick on. Our back row will have a really different feel to it by then, as Louw will probably be 34 by then and either retired or collecting Yen i guess. Lucky we’ve got Underhill! But also our two marquee signings cash to spend

Do you forsee Mercer staying at 8 and becoming the star player he looks like becoming or will he move to 6?

Not sure at this stage. He’s a 8 first and foremost, but the athletic mobile build, not the destructive type, so it depends on the make up of the rest of the back row around him.

Wow Nathan Earle to Quins confirmed....

GeordieFalcon wrote:Wow Nathan Earle to Quins confirmed....

Bit if a coup, he has bags of potential. Saracens doing a Leicester and not bringing through their youngster......only to see them leave.

Earles has his chances and didn’t impress IMO.

Welly wrote: Earles has his chances and didn’t impress IMO.

Eddie disagrees somewhat....