Silly Season Transfer Rumours 19/20

First topic message reminder :

Not a great position for Saints, captain and international level hooker looks likely so they've resorted to signing what is at best squad filler. Presumably Haywood and Fish will carry the bulk of the playing time.

LondonTiger wrote:As Sarries will be over the cap for this season (pending their appeal) they need to find savings now - I wonder if Williams and Goode, who are both out till late January at least and in the last year of their contracts, may be lodged as long term injuries and not used at all this season.

Am I right in thinking if they don't play in the league then their salaries don't count towards the salary cap? They could easily scrape by without Williams in the league as he's supposedly unlikely to make the start of the 6N so he could play the tail end of the European season if need be.

Japan winger Kotaro Matsushima has said today he would be interested in playing in Europe.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:As Sarries will be over the cap for this season (pending their appeal) they need to find savings now - I wonder if Williams and Goode, who are both out till late January at least and in the last year of their contracts, may be lodged as long term injuries and not used at all this season.

Am I right in thinking if they don't play in the league then their salaries don't count towards the salary cap? They could easily scrape by without Williams in the league as he's supposedly unlikely to make the start of the 6N so he could play the tail end of the European season if need be.

European and PRC games come under the noose. So they'd need to miss the entire season to be exempt.

Quins Marchant is off to Super rugby for 6 inths from January on loan.

Interesting

GeordieFalcon wrote:Quins Marchant is off to Super rugby for 6  inths from January on loan.

Interesting  

Could be a good learning experience for him, though I was hoping he would be in the 6Ns squad. Some suggestions in forums that Quins are having to shed players to stay under the cap.

How would that work?
You declare the cap start of season therefore his cap is already taken.
Players new contracts don't kick in till the start of a new next season unless they joined the club during it.

There is no way to just free up cap mid way through a season, unless the player retires, or you use injury cap (Which isn't freeing up cap)

The reality is Marchant most likely made a deal, signed a longer contract or slightly cheaper contract with the promise he can do a stint in NZ.
and this statement sort of reads like that too.
" I believe his genuine desire to play Super Rugby was so great we wanted to make sure he had this opportunity whilst he has also extended his contract with us, the club he loves and is hugely loved and respected at."

Yea the way I read it was he agreed to commit to a longer contract if he got this SR experience, perhaps he's also spoken to Eddie and knows he'll get a chance on the summer tour too. 6Ns may not see too many england changes.

Welly wrote:How would that work?
You declare the cap start of season therefore his cap is already taken.

Yes and no. In June they have to declare how much they will be paying in the following season. However this is not set in stone as in September they declare what was actually spent in the last season. So anyone who leaves (or joins) during a season will change the amounts.

I caught a snippet in a story about SBW that Leeds Rhinos want to take George Ford "back" to Rugby League.

Racing have released Leone Nakarawa due to his failure to return after the RWC. Decent option for any side needing a second row, and with cap space...

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/racing-92-have-finally-issued-a-statement-regarding-the-absent-leone-nakarawa

With Lood de Jager and Josh Beaumont both out with serious injuries, Sale may be interested.

LondonTiger wrote:I caught a snippet in a story about SBW that Leeds Rhinos want to take George Ford "back" to Rugby League.

That's taking "back" with a handful of salt. His dad played league and he played it as a kid, he's definitely one our own. Would have to be one of their marquee players and given Rhinos current issues it might not be the happiest of home comings. He might be better in his second home.

Sale would have to max their injury dispensation budget to get Nakawara in and even then who knows what shape he'll turn up in, if he turns up.

Diamond has shown he likes to rehabilitate players. Lood will not have been cheap and if Beaumont is out for the season that should release enough funds for a top notch replacement.

Not sure Nakarawa needs rehabilitating. He sounds like he was just exhausted after a very long season and not ready to resume the grind of French rugby.

They will probably make up at some stage in the future anyway, he is a very important player for them.

I would love to see him back st Glasgow but can't see it happening unless he is willing to put lifestyle over money.

Maybe he has earned enough now to set himself back up in Fiji and does not fancy it any more

If he fancies a go at a second Olympic gold medal then offering Nakarawa a contract that allows release for 2020 might help.

I'm sure Dragons or Cardiff wouldn't mind his signature... but I think Dragons will win the bidding war there.

king_carlos wrote:If he fancies a go at a second Olympic gold medal then offering Nakarawa a contract that allows release for 2020 might help.

Would suit the clubs with injury dispensation funds to use. Nine month contract at £300k job done. From his point of view it'll put him back out there for a big move post Olympics and keep the bank balance nice and big.

Meyer and De Villiers among others have been shown the door at Stade Francais. I imagine a few clubs and countries would be keen to have them on board.

"Meyer’s assistants at Stade, Pieter de Villiers, Dewald Senekal, John McFarland and Ricardo Loubscher are also expected to leave the club."

John McFarland will have some options you'd have thought, long term servant at the Bulls and coached the Boks defence.

Meyer should have many years of coaching at the top level ahead of him but he needs a success story really after a brief and indifferent spell at Tigers, a half decent spell with the Boks and now a mediocre spell with Stade. He could do with some silverware if he wants to kick back on and take a big job.

Think I saw a tweet last night that Edwards was 'officially' announced in the French coaching setup.

Also,
A rumour tweet that Toby Booth may be leaving Bath to sort out the Quins forwards.

LondonTiger wrote:

Welly wrote:How would that work?
You declare the cap start of season therefore his cap is already taken.

Yes and no. In June they have to declare how much they will be paying in the following season. However this is not set in stone as in September they declare what was actually spent in the last season. So anyone who leaves (or joins) during a season will change the amounts.

Yes but if the player has played a game then it will count even if he leaves mid way unless that opposition team agrees to take up the cap with them.
Hence why in the past some clubs paid other clubs to take a player so that they can free up the cap.

Whatever Blues pay Marchant/Quins is released against the cap.

Of course more interesting is to see if Liam Williams ever plays for Sarries again.

Cobus Wiese linked to Sarries on long term deal.

Presumably a replacement for Rhodes or Isiekwe.

How are they buying new players when they've just been caught breaching the salary cap...

They're £650k over the cap. Losing Williams alone will cover more than half of that. Plus the likes of Rhodes, Isiekwe, Wigglesworth and Barritt are out of contract.

They will lose players as they will have £650k less to play with during contract negotiations but it's not like they're under a transfer ban.

Kpoku has already signed for Saints apparently as well.

Of course if they breach the cap this season as well they'll be fined again next season. If Williams sits out the season that would lower the overspend significantly though. Maybe low enough to avoid a points deduction.

Sarries may opt to let a few go in the summer. Wigglesworth might step into a coaching role with Sarries knowing they could unretire him and bring him in as an injury dispensation signing if they needed to.

Rumours that Bristol bears want to bring in Justin Tipuric on a 500k per year deal, unofficial right now. How much cash do Bristol have exactly?

mikey_dragon wrote:Rumours that Bristol bears want to bring in Justin Tipuric on a 500k per year deal, unofficial right now. How much cash do Bristol have exactly?

Wealthy backer, so lots. Madigan is out of contract at the end of the season and is on allegedly big money so he could head out and Tipuric head in.

That plan would hinge on young Ioan Lloyd continuing to tear it up and look capable of backing up Calum Sheedy who in his mid twenties should be hitting his prime. Unless Madigan accepts a lower wage of course and stays on.

The recent signings seem to be based a lot round the pack, Attwood and Hughes last summer particularly of note. To go with Afoa and Luatua who are already there. Luatua, Tipuric and Hughes would be one hell of a backrow under that coaching staff.

Is it one of the Hargreaves-Lansdowne owners? 

I think the Irish will try and get Madigan back, possibly a move to Ulster or Connacht. It could work if he wants more Irish caps and will accept a pay cut. 



In other news, CoS has moved on from Italy.

Lansdown owns Bristol and he's worth a couple of Billion. I think Bruce Craig is about £400m and Nigel Wray around £500m, so that puts it into perspective of how much cash Bristol have! Not that matters at all, because we all have the same cap, of course.

I suppose that doesn't stop the marquee players though and hence why Piatau rumoured on £1m.

I'd love to see Tips in the prem, he's world class and brilliant to watch.

Connor O'Shea rumoured to be accepting a role with the RFU shortly.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Connor O'Shea rumoured to be accepting a role with the RFU shortly.

I thought the job was already agreed, Director of Rugby, and was just waiting on him finalising the Italian exit.

Tipuric would be a big loss for both Wales and the Spreys. Could have a Faletau situation where he's injured when we need him due to the attritional league. Would much rather he stayed tbh, but the Ospreys are an absolute shower, so can't complain if he goes.

Yeah CoS joining up with England is old news. Interesting move. Could be the next England coach. It's not out of the question.

Exeter interested in Ross Moriarty apparently.

LondonTiger wrote:Exeter interested in Ross Moriarty apparently.

His Dragons deal is enormous. Are they rumoured to not be renewing?

Given the strength of the Chiefs back row it's not a signing I'd really understand. I'd have thought they'd be better off targeting a top lock to partner Hill and keeping Skinner at blindside. Particularly with Simmonds looking back to his best at 8.

Moriarty only on a two year deal. No way can Dragons afford the same again. I agree that back row not a massive area of weakness, but maybe Armand and or Ewers are off.

T14 also touted as an option for Moriarty. He will be under the 60 cap rule (though 5his rule rumoured to be changing) so French money may win out.

Be an odd signing. Chiefs were by their own admission struggling to get under the salary cap and had to let Cordero and Lawday go to manage it at the end of last season. Armand is 31, Ewers 28, Dennis 33 and Kvesic 27 apart from Simmons that's pretty much all their backrow getting on a bit. Kvesic and Ewers should have years left but Dennis is about ready to retire and Armand one more contract so could be some long term succession planning.

Having said that Skinner and Vermulen are both lock/6s and both only 24. So they aren't that short.

Carlos they picked up the SA lock Kirsten in the summer and Witty from Falcons. Should be a good stop game in the South African and then a Baxter development job on Witty.

Ewers is 28!
Crazy feels like yesterday he was the young up and comer.

Wonder if he might move to try and get a nailed down starting shirt somewhere?

Moriarty would be a big improvement on their current 8's and allow Simmonds to go and focus on 7 though.

Ewers has so many injuries the Exeter rotation strategy is ideal for him. He'll probably start the big games or at least be on the bench.

Is the Simmons to 7 still a thing? I thought that it was now excepted that physicality was better than size and mobility key. Exeter seem more than happy enough with him at 8 and Kvesic or Armand at 7.

Moriarty would slot into that backrow really well though and would love being there as well. The uncompromising forward dominating style of rugby would be right up his street.

Kieran Marmion signs on for Connacht for another three years, so the touted move to Sarries not happening.

Whether the salary cap fine has anything to do with that or it was just his agent talking it up to push Connacht into a better deal, who knows?

Bathite wrote:Lansdown owns Bristol and he's worth a couple of Billion. I think Bruce Craig is about £400m and Nigel Wray around £500m, so that puts it into perspective of how much cash Bristol have! Not that matters at all, because we all have the same cap, of course.

I suppose that doesn't stop the marquee players though and hence why Piatau rumoured on £1m.

I'd love to see Tips in the prem, he's world class and brilliant to watch.

Oh it's probably him I've seen driving an Audi R8 up Park Street then.

That's quite a back-row Bristol would have. Ospreys needed to recruit a No.7 anyway and they're apparently broke. It would be better for Tips to move on from that shower too. Perhaps 'spreys could recruit one of Reffell, Thomas or Lewis from the prem if they're cheap. Alternatively they could look at pinching one of the many open-sides at the other regions. I think they should have moved for Boyde last season.

Not sure Reffell would go back to Ospreys.
Speaking to people I doubt he will move from leicester for a while.

Welly wrote:Not sure Reffell would go back to Ospreys.
Speaking to people I doubt he will move from leicester for a while.

Especially as he is getting game time. Murphy has him rotating in at 7 so there's some obvious succession planning there with Thompson not getting any younger. The Tigers academy is throwing out a few decent opensides though.

Enrique Pieretto joins Exeter until the end of the season as injury dispensation for Francis/Holmes.

Marty McKenzie to Ospreys for the rest of the season as cover. Surprised that nobody else is snapping him up, unless his intention is to put himself into the limelight in front of the big spending French teams. Ospreys are grouped with Racing Metro I think?

ESPN think Rennie to Wallabies is a done deal.

Rennie to Australia confirmed. Danny Wilson to succeed him at Glasgow.

Marty is Damian's older not quite as good brother. Handy short term signing given the injury to Anscombe. Has been rumoured with a move north before. At 27 now is his time to move really, he's not going to hit the big time in NZ and has given it a good to. Five years in Europe to inflate the bank balance before heading home or to Japan.

Bit of movement from JT in the prem. Currently forwards coach with high-flying Bristol, joined from Worcester. Heading back to Worcester at the end of the season. It's not clear whether he's being replaced or choosing to leave.

mikey_dragon wrote:Bit of movement from JT in the prem. Currently forwards coach with high-flying Bristol, joined from Worcester. Heading back to Worcester at the end of the season. It's not clear whether he's being replaced or choosing to leave.

Bristol defence coach is stepping across to coach the forwards. Unsure if this means there'll be a new defence coach or he'll double up.

ruck.co.uk pushing:

Reinach to Montpelier
Moriarty to Exeter
Laidlaw to Edinburgh.
Sinckler to Bristol
Liam Williams to Toulon

Other sources suggest Genge back to Bristol still possible. I would definitely pay money to see a Genge, Thacker, Sinckler front row.