Silly Season Transfer Rumours 19/20

First topic message reminder :

New year, new thread, new scuttlebutt, rumour and misdirection.

Fluxy wrote:Luther Burrell considering a return to rugby league with Warrington Warriors.

Pretty sure I read Warrington, so guess it is Wolves (rather than Wigan Warriors)

Welly wrote:Warrington Warriors?

I meant Warrington Wolves, but mixed them up with Worcester 

Wasps announcing a signing this afternoon.

Teaser from their twitter:
"Our new signing was named in the 2018 @SixNationsRugby Team of the Tournament...."

So not English then  

Wasps signed Matteo Minozzi from Zebre.

With WLR off, it's a good signing for the 15 shirt next season, IMO. He's young, plays the way Wasps like to. Kept it quiet too, not heard any leaks or rumours on that front!

Fantastic signing for Wasps. Minozzi is a fantastic fullback but also a fun player to watch which is easily overlooked.

Very jealous of that as Tigers fan. I'd have taken Minozzi in a heartbeat with Veainu also a live wire on the wing.

Worcester sign Melani Nanai from Super Rugby’s Blues. Don’t know anything about him but show reel looks good. Unfortunately most Wuss supporters think this is confirmation that Bryce Heem is on his way - hope they’re wrong.

Ricardo74 wrote:Wasps signed Matteo Minozzi from Zebre.

With WLR off, it's a good signing for the 15 shirt next season, IMO. He's young, plays the way Wasps like to. Kept it quiet too, not heard any leaks or rumours on that front!

Interesting. He was very tentatively linked to Glasgow last year and with Hogg going he would have been a direct replacement.

stub wrote:Worcester sign Melani Nanai from Super Rugby’s Blues. Don’t know anything about him but show reel looks good. Unfortunately most Wuss supporters think this is confirmation that Bryce Heem is on his way - hope they’re wrong.

If they can keep Nanai fit he could be as good and better than Heem. Heem has been great of late though

Great to hear Fluxy - sounds very promising! Heem has so often found an extra gear for Worcester that has given us hope - he will be missed if he goes.

More Wasps action coming this afternoon, apparently.... they just teased another "signing video" on twitter. Hoping it's a winger...

With all the press around a Wasps exodus they are acting fast to ease the concern of fans. Minozzi and Fekitoa are good acquisitions for the backline and de Jongh has signed a new deal. Perhaps getting a little light on the British talent back there with losing both Daly and Wade this season.

Any rumours on those Waps signings?

Sione Vailanu from Sarries being name dropped a lot, plus apparently Alex Goode said something about "a bus" from Sarries to Wasps. Interpret that how you will! He'd fit as a Hughes replacement.

Savea is a name being bandied about, post bust up at Toulon, but I can't see it...

Well you're going to have plenty of cap to play with Hughes, Daly, Wade and WLR off the books. Presumably Fekitoa will replace WLR as a marquee signing. Combined wages of Daly and Wade could lure Savea. Vailanu must be cheaper than Hughes.

Can't see Alex Goode leaving Sarries though the number of quality options they have there is getting pretty large. They may have to make room for Max Mallins at some point.

It's Vailanu.

Another amusing video to announce the signing: https://twitter.com/i/status/1098220549896052737

Another decent signing, I think. Power and pace, and hopefully available for selection more often that Hughes!

We still need a winger, though.

Wingers aren't tough to find though. There's plenty in the age grade systems or the Championship waiting for a shot at prem rugby. Even more available in SH if you want to spend a bit.

Simon McIntyre was a very good re-signing for Wasps as well after he was rumoured to be among the exodus. The number of looseheads in English rugby means that he goes under the radar a bit but he's a very good Premiership prop.

If Wasps can get the likes of Taylor, Gopperth and Jack Willis fit then they are developing a strong squad.

Rumour coming out of Hazelwood apparently that the Mafi deal isn't necessarily off, so we will see what happens there. His ball-carrying, alongside his versatility would be really valuable for us, so I will be holding out hope that this is true.

He's a great lineout option as well. Part of me would really like to see him back in the league because he's the type of X factor player that's good to watch. Just not sure I want to see him back elsewhere, mind you the alleged price tag is pretty hefty.

So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

Russell, Zebo and Tuilagi all in the same regular side? Ooft, absolute carnage

Tramptastic wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

Russell, Zebo and Tuilagi all in the same regular side? Ooft, absolute carnage

Assuming they're all fit at the same time...

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

I'll wait for reliable confirmation but can't blame him if he has gone. That's a big chunk of certain cash. His employment options post rugby aren't great and he has only five or six years left to make his money. He's got a family in Leicestershire who I imagine will remain whilst he commutes. At roughly £735k a year that'll go a long way to making their lives very comfortable for a long time.

Tigers will be offering about half of that with England money needed for a top up, which would require him to stay fit.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

I'll wait for reliable confirmation but can't blame him if he has gone. That's a big chunk of certain cash. His employment options post rugby aren't great and he has only five or six years left to make his money. He's got a family in Leicestershire who I imagine will remain whilst he commutes. At roughly £735k a year that'll go a long way to making their lives very comfortable for a long time.

Tigers will be offering about half of that with England money needed for a top up, which would require him to stay fit.

Can't blame him. He has to be careful though. Zebo and Russell look chunkier after moving there and Tuilagi may end up looking like Bastaraud in 3 years.

If he has a good couple of years injury free, he comes back a year before the World Cup to push for a place at a high wedge. If he can't stay fit, he moves to Japan to play out the last 2-3 years of his career.

Hazel Sapling wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

I'll wait for reliable confirmation but can't blame him if he has gone. That's a big chunk of certain cash. His employment options post rugby aren't great and he has only five or six years left to make his money. He's got a family in Leicestershire who I imagine will remain whilst he commutes. At roughly £735k a year that'll go a long way to making their lives very comfortable for a long time.

Tigers will be offering about half of that with England money needed for a top up, which would require him to stay fit.

Can't blame him. He has to be careful though. Zebo and Russell look chunkier after moving there and Tuilagi may end up looking like Bastaraud in 3 years.

If he has a good couple of years injury free, he comes back a year before the World Cup to push for a place at a high wedge. If he can't stay fit, he moves to Japan to play out the last 2-3 years of his career.

They both could do with a few extra pounds so the French diet isn't too much of an issue, but Manu needs to keep the weight off!

Agreed on that. Manu has returned to fitness and form by getting lean and keeping the weight off.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Manu Tuilagi signed for Racing 92 after the world cup.

850k Euros a year

I'll wait for reliable confirmation but can't blame him if he has gone. That's a big chunk of certain cash. His employment options post rugby aren't great and he has only five or six years left to make his money. He's got a family in Leicestershire who I imagine will remain whilst he commutes. At roughly £735k a year that'll go a long way to making their lives very comfortable for a long time.

Tigers will be offering about half of that with England money needed for a top up, which would require him to stay fit.

My understanding was the 850k was sterling. Though with the way exchange rates are going he may prefer euros.

Reports are that Leicester had offered £560k with England money possible adding almost £200k. Of course he only gets the England money if he stays fit and in form. I hope such a move does work for him, but I can see him getting injured again quite seriously with Racing not having a great reputation for managing their players and spending most of his time in a foreign city with nothing to do.

Nothing to do in Paris?

With Manu heading to France, I'm hearing on twitter that Nehe Milner-Skudder might not be. Apparently unimpressed with the goings-on at Toulon he's considering the contract he's got with them for next season and looking at other options.

Who could possibly be interested in an AB World Cup winning winger? Hmm..

Might be nothing, might be something..

Scottrf wrote:Nothing to do in Paris?

Not sure wandering around museums would be high on an injured Manu's list of attractions. Certainly not during a long injury.

I wish him all the best and hope it works, but this move does not massively inflate his salary.

Scottrf wrote:Nothing to do in Paris?

Nothing constructive. I suspect that Paris is attractive because the commute would be easy from the family base in Leicestershire (by train or plane). Injured he'd be forced to stay in Paris in order to complete his rehab where as otherwise he'd likely spend his time half and half. Away from the family with no games to play I can imagine him eating the delicious food in all the wrong ways and piling on the pounds. If he is away from the family with other players then nights out in Paris may ensue and Manu is one best kept off the booze...

LT not massive inflate his salary? I heard Tigers weren't keen to match the current salary of 450k a year. The Racing deal would be massive in comparison.

Freddie Tuilagi has poured some cold water on the rumour by rugbypass so this isn't confirmed.

Seemed downright annoyed didn't he.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Seemed downright annoyed didn't he.

yep.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Nothing to do in Paris?

Nothing constructive. I suspect that Paris is attractive because the commute would be easy from the family base in Leicestershire (by train or plane). Injured he'd be forced to stay in Paris in order to complete his rehab where as otherwise he'd likely spend his time half and half. Away from the family with no games to play I can imagine him eating the delicious food in all the wrong ways and piling on the pounds. If he is away from the family with other players then nights out in Paris may ensue and Manu is one best kept off the booze...

LT not massive inflate his salary? I heard Tigers weren't keen to match the current salary of 450k a year. The Racing deal would be massive in comparison.

The Times claimed we have offered him £560k, which when you add in England money is the same ball park as the purported offer from Racing.

LondonTiger wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Nothing to do in Paris?

Nothing constructive. I suspect that Paris is attractive because the commute would be easy from the family base in Leicestershire (by train or plane). Injured he'd be forced to stay in Paris in order to complete his rehab where as otherwise he'd likely spend his time half and half. Away from the family with no games to play I can imagine him eating the delicious food in all the wrong ways and piling on the pounds. If he is away from the family with other players then nights out in Paris may ensue and Manu is one best kept off the booze...

LT not massive inflate his salary? I heard Tigers weren't keen to match the current salary of 450k a year. The Racing deal would be massive in comparison.

The Times claimed we have offered him £560k, which when you add in England money is the same ball park as the purported offer from Racing.

Plus potential testimonial and not spending money on moving out to Paris.

It's a big offer from Tigers.

That big offer is at odds to what was initially reported as being the offer in the table from Tigers. We know that Freddie and Simon Cohen had a meeting recently. Perhaps this is why Freddie is annoyed at the online media stirring the pot at a time when he has got the deal he and Manu want from Tigers (subject to legal niceties).

formerly known as Sam wrote:That big offer is at odds to what was initially reported as being the offer in the table from Tigers. We know that Freddie and Simon Cohen had a meeting recently. Perhaps this is why Freddie is annoyed at the online media stirring the pot at a time when he has got the deal he and Manu want from Tigers (subject to legal niceties).

There's been so much speculation around Manu tnat I don't think anyone knows what to believe! Rewind to his last contract and many fans 'in the know' were adamant he was leaving then. £560k is a huge wage but a replacement for Manu would come at a similar cost with the way that wages have increased in the last few years. I hope he stays.

It's natural that Tigers fans are getting impatient given how much recruitment needs to improve but how little has yet been announced. From the rumours it seems that Green, Reid and Taute are done deals and fans are just waiting on a 'popcorn day'.

Spending up to the cap plus two hefty marquee wages should mean a better squad than Tigers have. That's still about the most that can be said about recruitment currently.

I'm not impatient. I'll happily wait so long as at some point the club announce some quality recruitment. Taufua is an upgrade on Williams, Taute an upgrade on Owen, Green a good replacement for Kitch and Reid a cut price replacement for Toomua. With Toomua gone then there's a marquee spot available for a big nasty forward. Some other room for squad movement also.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'm not impatient. I'll happily wait so long as at some point the club announce some quality recruitment. Taufua is an upgrade on Williams, Taute an upgrade on Owen, Green a good replacement for Kitch and Reid a cut price replacement for Toomua. With Toomua gone then there's a marquee spot available for a big nasty forward. Some other room for squad movement also.

Exactly. Recruitment-wise we aren't in a bad position to be honest. Just need to hope there are some decent players who fill our need and are out of contract. A world cup is always a great opportunity to spot to decent talent that otherwise might have gone under the radar.

Especially from the smaller nations. A certain Tongan winger looked rapier sharp at the last one and turned out to be a live wire fullback for us.

Bath linked with Anscombe, to replace Priestland ahead of the start of next season.

Evan Olmstead brought back after all the fans questioned him being released in the first place.

Honestly what is going on in that flippin club!

Sale sign Rob du Preez and Akker van der Merwe from the Sharks. Both on three year contracts as well. Diamond is building a strong squad.

Akker van der Merwe is an excellent signing in a position where Sale need strengthening.

Both good signings for Sale. They needed more quality at hooker and they need a flyhalf that'll get that back line moving.

GF, you were saying all Falcons locks were off so Olmsted might stay in for next season. That it you can get him match fit for us, he can do a job until the young lads come through.

Lood de Jager along with Dan and Jean-Luc du Preez are apparently set to join them at Sale.

There's a hell of a South African contingent building up in Manchester.

These Sale signings show how much we're being left behind in the player stakes. We tend to sign numbers rather than quality and it's really came back to bite us this season.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:These Sale signings show how much we're being left behind in the player stakes. We tend to sign numbers rather than quality and it's really came back to bite us this season.

TBH I think the best teams balance it.
Too win the league you need a strong squad not a strong XV.

Saracens are a good example of this.
Even if you take out the big name signings of Koch, Burger, Tolofua, Williams, Skeleton.
They still have a very strong squad.
Look at them against a near full strength Glous away nearly beating them.

Teams need to learn to build a solid squad of around 30 players then add in some project signings and high class signings.

Sale should have that if they are adding these players mainly on top of the current squad. The alleged £2m underspend being used up in style.

Is Strauss staying there next season, I think he only signed a two year deal when he joined?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Both good signings for Sale. They needed more quality at hooker and they need a flyhalf that'll get that back line moving.

GF, you were saying all Falcons locks were off so Olmsted might stay in for next season. That it you can get him match fit for us, he can do a job until the young lads come through.

Davidson to Glasgow - Confirmed
Green to Tigers - Near enough confirmed
Cavubati - Woeful, linked with a few clubs apparently
Witty to Exeter - haven't heard much about that one recently
Young to Quins - Again haven't heard much since it came out.
Robinson - Never plays, im wondering if he may have to retire.

Olmstead should never have been allowed to leave, but there you.

Mata signs a 1 year extension at Edinburgh to keep him there until the end of 2020/21 season.

Great news for Edinburgh there. Cockers has got a very impressive stock of backrow options.