Silly Season Transfer Rumours 19/20

First topic message reminder :

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

With Daly going to Sarries and Wade to NFL Wasps were always going to be looking for wingers.

Marcus Watson has been a good signing for them as well after a couple of years with Deano so suppose they are shaking the same tree.

Falcons have several good wingers on the books. Not the end of the world of Wasps poach another one. Going to be a big summer for Wasps as they've got a lot of business to do and then a new squad to gel in amongst the RWC.

Interesting, Wasps lose a host of star players and seem to have mostly replaced them with star players. If there's no silverware soon then surely it's curtains for Dai Young, been there years and has one final appearance to show for it.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Falcons have several good wingers on the books. Not the end of the world of Wasps poach another one. Going to be a big summer for Wasps as they've got a lot of business to do and then a new squad to gel in amongst the RWC.

Well the problem is Sam...that Sinoti is 33 and probably not got much left with us.
Goneva is 35 next month.

After that we have Kibirgie who is 24
Radwan who is 20

Then a few other younger academy lads of huge potential but very young. One lad looks good he's more a power winger with pace. One for the future..

SO really we cant afford to lose Zac in my opinion. But im sure Dean has it planned.

Edit
And Arscott who is a solid wing / FB cover and ALex Tait who is a FB and a poor winger.

Players In

New Zealand Malakai Fekitoa from France Toulon[63]
New Zealand Jeffery Toomaga-Allen from New Zealand Hurricanes[64]
Scotland Jack Owlett from England Exeter Chiefs[65]
Scotland Ben Vellacott from England Gloucester[66]
Italy Matteo Minozzi from Italy Zebre[67]
Tonga Sione Vailanu from England Saracens[68]
England Mike Daniels from England Nottingham[69]
England Biyi Alo from England Coventry[70]

Players Out

England Jake Cooper-Woolley to England Sale Sharks[71]
New Zealand Ambrose Curtis to France Vannes[72]
England Nathan Hughes to England Bristol Bears[73]
England Will Stuart to England Bath[74]
England Elliot Daly to England Saracens[75]
England Joe Simpson to England Gloucester[76]
South Africa Willie le Roux to Japan Toyota Verblitz[77]
England Matt Mullan released[78]

They've done pretty well so far. With the big names going out the door they will have had cap to play with.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Falcons have several good wingers on the books. Not the end of the world of Wasps poach another one. Going to be a big summer for Wasps as they've got a lot of business to do and then a new squad to gel in amongst the RWC.

Well the problem is Sam...that Sinoti is 33 and probably not got much left with us.
Goneva is 35 next month.

After that we have Kibirgie who is 24
Radwan who is 20

Then a few other younger academy lads of huge potential but very young. One lad looks good he's more a power winger with pace. One for the future..

SO really we cant afford to lose Zac in my opinion. But im sure Dean has it planned.

Edit
And Arscott who is a solid wing / FB cover and ALex Tait who is a FB and a poor winger.

Hmm they are getting on a bit. There's some decent wingers knocking about, it's not that hard to recruit out wide. We picked up Sarto mid season this year, international winger who'd previously shown up well at Glasgow. Tough to lose a player with that potential who offers academy squad credits for the salary cap though I agree.

Yeah it just frustrates the falcon fans that Zac is one of our own through the academy, who admittedly has had a few issues (the insane broken leg and the court case) but is now starting to show genuine premiership ability and then we may be losing him! especially when Adam Radwan has set games on fire, and he's another one that has barely been seen since!

I have no doubt Dean will bring in some excellent replacements (if we stay up) but as a Tigers fan you will be well aware, its nice (and important) to have home grown players in the 1st team.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Players In

New Zealand Malakai Fekitoa from France Toulon[63]
New Zealand Jeffery Toomaga-Allen from New Zealand Hurricanes[64]
Scotland Jack Owlett from England Exeter Chiefs[65]
Scotland Ben Vellacott from England Gloucester[66]
Italy Matteo Minozzi from Italy Zebre[67]
Tonga Sione Vailanu from England Saracens[68]
England Mike Daniels from England Nottingham[69]
England Biyi Alo from England Coventry[70]

Players Out

England Jake Cooper-Woolley to England Sale Sharks[71]
New Zealand Ambrose Curtis to France Vannes[72]
England Nathan Hughes to England Bristol Bears[73]
England Will Stuart to England Bath[74]
England Elliot Daly to England Saracens[75]
England Joe Simpson to England Gloucester[76]
South Africa Willie le Roux to Japan Toyota Verblitz[77]
England Matt Mullan released[78]

They've done pretty well so far. With the big names going out the door they will have had cap to play with.

Yeah, pretty pleased with our business thus far for next season. Hoping that Fekitoa outside Sopoaga sparks him to life and we get the replacement for Cips we thought we were getting!

Watson is great when he's fit, but as Dai pointed out recently that's not frequently enough for us to count on him. His contract is up in the Summer, so that may be another factor in the wing replacement talk.

I like Kibirgie, he seems to have gas and has taken his chances well when I've seen him. Honestly, i'd prefer someone a bit bigger - when we were linked with Naholo I was hoping we might go for someone similar (and when Savea was unsettled there was some mention of him) - but neither Wadey nor Daly are big lads, and Josh Bassett on the other wing is reasonably sizeable.

Wasps have let go loads of EQ players and brought in nigh on all foreigners...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Wasps have let go loads of EQ players and brought in nigh on all foreigners...

It's 50:50 in terms of Brits to non-Brits (I'm assuming you're not counting Scots as "foreign"?).

I think in terms of Premiership regs, only Toomaga-Allen will be considered "foreign", as the rest qualify to play by dint of being EU citizens or under the Cotonou agreement (Fekitoa being Tongan born).

I see your point though.

Edit: Oh, and with the political situation being what it is, who the f**k knows what happens next?

Another one to add to the Wasps "players out" list: Joe Atkinson (flanker) leaving Wasps to go to Bedford Blues.

Looks like Dean has put out assurances that Zac is not going anywhere...

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne signs with Quins on loan from Scarlets for the rest of the season.

I really hope SHC recaptures his form. There's a fantastic player in there when he fires.

Luke Whitelock joins the NZ exodus after the RWC, signing a three year deal with Pau.

Fluxy wrote:Luke Whitelock joins the NZ exodus after the RWC, signing a three year deal with Pau.

Is Conrad Smith on the staff there? Colin Slade his former Canterbury team mate is the flyhalf there.

king_carlos wrote:Sam Hidalgo-Clyne signs with Quins on loan from Scarlets for the rest of the season.

I really hope SHC recaptures his form. There's a fantastic player in there when he fires.

He was meant to be pretty good when on form wasnt he?

He's a terrific player on form, yappy.

A good playmaker and goal kicker who runs the ball well. He'd suit Quins well if he fires. I hope he recaptures the form that got many in Edinburgh excited about him a few seasons ago.

Will Witty confirmed to Exeter.

How good is Witty?

king_carlos wrote:He's a terrific player on form, yappy.

A good playmaker and goal kicker who runs the ball well. He'd suit Quins well if he fires. I hope he recaptures the form that got many in Edinburgh excited about him a few seasons ago.

That sounds great because after Care we have pretty mediocre replacements apart from the potentially very good Saunders, but he's still very young. I remember the Scots fans banging on about SHC seasons ago but hadn't heard anything for a while. Hopefully he'll kick on under Gussy.

rosbif wrote:How good is Witty?

Hes a big powerful lad. I think he needs to understand how use his power more...and really become an enforcer, and dominate the tight exchanges.
With Exeter I think they'll get that out of him.

Im gutted hes going.

On another subject GF does Wilison have captain potential ,thinking about England as he looks like a motivated gnarled rugged forward.

yappysnap wrote:

king_carlos wrote:He's a terrific player on form, yappy.

A good playmaker and goal kicker who runs the ball well. He'd suit Quins well if he fires. I hope he recaptures the form that got many in Edinburgh excited about him a few seasons ago.

That sounds great because after Care we have pretty mediocre replacements apart from the potentially very good Saunders, but he's still very young. I remember the Scots fans banging on about SHC seasons ago but hadn't heard anything for a while. Hopefully he'll kick on under Gussy.

You've also just signed Martin Landajo, that's a very good scrum half stable

rosbif wrote:On another subject GF does Wilison have captain potential  ,thinking about England as he looks like a motivated  gnarled rugged forward.

He would...IF he was viewed as a long term option in the side. He is regularly the Falcons captain. However Im not sure if he will be considered a long term option.

I suspect post world cup players like Dombrandt, Hill, Underhill may move ahead for that 6 spot...and your captain needs to be one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Quins have also signed Argentine prop Santiago Garcia Botta for next season

Landajo and Botta are strong internationals but that is a lot of money invested into loosehead and scrum half by Quins. Great for depth to have Marler/Botta and Care/Landajo though.

We have announced lock Greg Peterson from Bordeaux Begles for next season.

Australian who has played for USA through grandparents rule.

HHmmm hardly an inspiring signing...however we shall see. He may be good in the championship

GeordieFalcon wrote:We have announced lock Greg Peterson from Bordeaux Begles for next season.

Australian who has played for USA through grandparents rule.

HHmmm hardly an inspiring signing...however we shall see. He may be good in the championship

He had a completely forgettable spell with us. Big bloke but couldn't get in the side and disappeared fairly quickly.

Yeah that seems to be the trend at all of his clubs Sam. He's barely played a game for Begles.

I just hope we re-sign Olmstead on a 2 year contract. Don't have a clue why Dean let him go in the first place!

king_carlos wrote:Landajo and Botta are strong internationals but that is a lot of money invested into loosehead and scrum half by Quins. Great for depth to have Marler/Botta and Care/Landajo though.

Yea and tbf it's probably unfair but they aren't going to demand as much as say a kiwi player would, while they're still very good Int players (I hope).

Scrum half has been a big weakness for us since Dickson retired. It's literally lost us games at times with just how laughably bad the back ups have been, especially when Care goes through one of his poor spells.

Props are always good to have, and I can see us getting rid of one or two at the end of the season. We're also pretty well stocked in most other places. I can see us getting another backrower, as it's mentioned in the comedy video the club posted, and we're losing Wallace and potentially Bothma/Luamanu.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:We have announced lock Greg Peterson from Bordeaux Begles for next season.

Australian who has played for USA through grandparents rule.

HHmmm hardly an inspiring signing...however we shall see. He may be good in the championship

He had a completely forgettable spell with us. Big bloke but couldn't get in the side and disappeared fairly quickly.

Was with glasgow for 2 and a half years, we sent him off to Bordeuax during this season.

A really big guy who never really punches his weight, a decent enough squad player, but that is about it. I am very happy to swap him for Andrew Davidson.

Campagnaro from Wasps to Quins too.

Another decent signing for Quins, and another one out of the door at Wasps (although to be fair he did a job for half a season after Wade walked).

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:We have announced lock Greg Peterson from Bordeaux Begles for next season.

Australian who has played for USA through grandparents rule.

HHmmm hardly an inspiring signing...however we shall see. He may be good in the championship

He had a completely forgettable spell with us. Big bloke but couldn't get in the side and disappeared fairly quickly.

Was with glasgow for 2 and a half years, we sent him off to Bordeuax during this season.

A really big guy who never really punches his weight, a decent enough squad player, but that is about it. I am very happy to swap him for Andrew Davidson.

Im most certainly not!!

yappysnap wrote:

king_carlos wrote:He's a terrific player on form, yappy.

A good playmaker and goal kicker who runs the ball well. He'd suit Quins well if he fires. I hope he recaptures the form that got many in Edinburgh excited about him a few seasons ago.

That sounds great because after Care we have pretty mediocre replacements apart from the potentially very good Saunders, but he's still very young. I remember the Scots fans banging on about SHC seasons ago but hadn't heard anything for a while. Hopefully he'll kick on under Gussy.

Do you not rate Mulchrone Yappy? I thought he's looks really sharp when he was fit - unfortunately now got a long term injury (Hence Hidalgo-Clyne coming in).

Campagnaro is an interesting one. Bit of a mercurial player at times - but struck me as a bit of an individual.
I might be completely off base - but was there some attitude issues about not being selected for more Chiefs games?
Correct me if I am wrong but he also offers versatility to cover wing and centre.

Latest signings for Quins are 2 Argentinians and an Italian (all good players) but I am still wondering what the Quins 'Special Deal' is with the AB's!

I do not know if it has been discussed on here but Bristol have signed Toby Fricker from Ebbw Vale in the Welsh Prem.

He has been setting the league alight this season, and I am very surprised none of the regions took a gamble.

propdavid_london wrote:Campagnaro is an interesting one.  Bit of a mercurial player at times - but struck me as a bit of an individual.  
I might be completely off base - but was there some attitude issues about not being selected for more Chiefs games?
Correct me if I am wrong but he also offers versatility to cover wing and centre.

Not aware of any attitude issues; injury restricted his chances at Chiefs, but he slotted in well at Wasps, to the best of my knowledge. Versatility-wise, he definitely played both centre and wing for Wasps.

Did he not captain Italy at least once in this 6N? Implies there is a team ethos in him! [Edit - just checked this, and looks like I made it up]

Shamelessly borrowed from SA sporting website:

"Afrikaans newspaper Rapport indicated on Sunday that about 55 of the country's top rugby players have yet to sign deals with their Super Rugby franchises.

Fourteen of them are reported to have already signed deals with overseas teams.

The 14 players are Stormers trio Eben Etzebeth (Toulon, France), EW Viljoen (Leicester Tigers, England) and Dillyn Leyds (Wasps, England); Bulls quartet RG Snyman (Honda Heat, Japan), Eli Snyman (Treviso, Italy), Hendre Stassen (Stade Francais, France) and Duane Vermeulen (Kubota Spears, Japan); Sharks quintet Jacques Vermeulen (Exeter Chiefs, England), Akker van der Merwe, Jean-Luc du Preez, Dan du Preez and Robert du Preez (all Sale Sharks, England); and Lions duo Stephan Lewies (Harlequins) and Nic Groom (Edinburgh, Scotland)."

I think you are right Ricardo - although I think it was one of the Nov tests he captained.

Stephan Lewies - Big SA Lock would be just the ticket for Quins

Am I dreaming, or were we discussing what Snyman would bring to Quins recently? Was that just rumours and wishful thinking

BamBam wrote:Am I dreaming, or were we discussing what Snyman would bring to Quins recently? Was that just rumours and wishful thinking

I heard something similar. Scott Baldwin of 'lion biting hand fame' as also signed for Quins next season.

BamBam wrote:Am I dreaming, or were we discussing what Snyman would bring to Quins recently? Was that just rumours and wishful thinking

Might have been agent work or it might have been crossed wires as according to that article they've signed a different SA lock.

Hadnt heard about Scott Baldwin....
Just seen on the Beeb
I thought with Elia, Crumpton and Ward we were well stocked at hooker - perhaps one of those chaps are off.

propdavid_london wrote:Hadnt heard about Scott Baldwin....
Just seen on the Beeb
I thought with Elia, Crumpton and Ward we were well stocked at hooker - perhaps one of those chaps are off.

Dave I sent you a PM on the 6th of February giving you that information that Baldwin had signed for you, it's in my outbox perhaps you haven't seen it.

Don't you mean Scott had signed for Quins, Baldwin seems so impersonal

Ha, so you did wayne.
Thank you - I've just seen it.

propdavid_london wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

king_carlos wrote:He's a terrific player on form, yappy.

A good playmaker and goal kicker who runs the ball well. He'd suit Quins well if he fires. I hope he recaptures the form that got many in Edinburgh excited about him a few seasons ago.

That sounds great because after Care we have pretty mediocre replacements apart from the potentially very good Saunders, but he's still very young. I remember the Scots fans banging on about SHC seasons ago but hadn't heard anything for a while. Hopefully he'll kick on under Gussy.

Do you not rate Mulchrone Yappy? I thought he's looks really sharp when he was fit - unfortunately now got a long term injury (Hence Hidalgo-Clyne coming in).

I'd forgotten about Mulchrone! He was very good but out for a long time as you say.

Josh Adams has signed for Cardiff Blues.

The Oracle wrote:Josh Adams has signed for Cardiff Blues.

Good signing for Blues, hope the move does not stunt Adams development.