Silly Season Transfer Rumours 19/20

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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.

Looks like Mulipola and Josh Matavesi are leaving at the end of the season.

Neither a huge loss....matavesi in particular doesnt use his ability and size consistently enough to dominate games like he should.

Josh Matevesi I've never seen really have much impact on a game. I'd imagine when fit Williams will have the 12 shirt at Falcons. Logo is a bit different, knee injuries have limited his bullocking runs but there aren't many props of his size that are as consistent and can play both sides.

Matavesi is such a frustration much in the same way Twlvetrees was.

Ive seen Josh play games where is he unplayable...huge carrying, fly half esque handling skills...and a cultured boot.
Sadly its a rare occurance...which is why he's moved around abit.

LondonTiger wrote:Sale apparently priced out of any move for Nakawara. Toulon favourites to add him to their stable of aging forwards, while Glasgow also holding talks with their former player.

The problem is that would be a signing for the fans rather than actually what's best for the club.

Glasgow's problems aren't really at lock at the moment. Rennie would have to sign him with a view to playing him at 6 or 8 which would take a bit of getting used to.

Matawalu is a very good friend of his and his associations with Glasgow are very happy so maybe that would be enough to swing it. His current club would surely also be happier that he isn't going to a direct competitor.

Am not sure his current club have sny say in the matter now having sacked him!

I not sure we are overstocked at lock, outside of JG, who we still need to sign again as well and Cummings, it gets a lot thiner quite quickly and those 2 will be off with Scotland a lot.

Rumors resurfacing that Cobus Reinach may be off to Montpellier, next year and not home. Reported £.5M + salary on offer.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Rumors resurfacing that Cobus Reinach may be off to Montpellier, next year and not home. Reported £.5M + salary on offer.

Boyd has rubbished the Ben Youngs to Tigers rumours. Last time Youngs re-signed with Tigers he was offered a lot by Saints to move.

The Times have reported that Tigers have offered:

Ford a new deal with a wage increase up to circa £600k a year
Genge a two year deal
Ben Youngs a two year deal
May a wage cut but he has been offered an extension

I'd rather that Genge were offered a longer term deal, even if it were at the expense of Youngs being offered less.

Ford and Genge are the key players to re-sign from those internationals.

That would be a blow to saints - although their youngsters look pretty handy too.

Seems that Sinckler to Bristol is nearing a confirmation

Bristol should have space in the cap when you look at their squad for next season.

With Madigan coming out of contract their only highly paid backs will be Charles Piutau and Radrada. In the forwards Luatau and Hughes are on big money with Afoa and Attwood also on big contracts. After that their highest paid forward will be someone such as Harry Thacker or Chris Vui though.

There's a core of very highly paid players but the rest of the squad won't be on big bucks.

Fluxy wrote:Seems that Sinckler to Bristol is nearing a confirmation

Likely to at least wait until January 1st, given they aren't actually aloud to talk to him yet.

Imagine if Bristol got their way and managed to get Genge and Sinckler. That would give them a front row of Genge, Thacker and Sinckler. It would be the most mobile front row in Europe.

Agree with Carlos re Tigers we have to keep hold of Genge and Ford first. Youngs and May are a secondary concern though it would be nice to keep all four. Youngs age would see him start to step back just as White and Simmonds really come into their own so would make a nice natural succession from Youngs and Harrison to White and Simmonds. From two academy products to two academy products (with another one or two on their way behind them).

formerly known as Sam wrote:Imagine if Bristol got their way and managed to get Genge and Sinckler. That would give them a front row of Genge, Thacker and Sinckler. It would be the most mobile front row in Europe.

And an awfully powerful, aggressive one...with huge carrying ability.

As a Quins supporter, it would be a massive blow to see Sinks leave - but business is business.
Right now is a great time for Sinks to negotiate a contract. His stock has never been higher - I hope he stays, fully understand if he goes after the big bucks.

Liam Williams reportedly on his way back to the Scarlets. Halfpenny, out of contract at the end of the season, is potentially not going to be offered a renewal.

miaow wrote:Liam Williams reportedly on his way back to the Scarlets. Halfpenny, out of contract at the end of the season, is potentially not going to be offered a renewal.

How come Halfpenny is out in the cold? He's not that old yet he should have a few years left. Is it a case of making room for Williams?

formerly known as Sam wrote:

miaow wrote:Liam Williams reportedly on his way back to the Scarlets. Halfpenny, out of contract at the end of the season, is potentially not going to be offered a renewal.

How come Halfpenny is out in the cold? He's not that old yet he should have a few years left. Is it a case of making room for Williams?

Probably, although when I mentioned the exact same thing last week I was informed that Halfpenny wasn’t going anywhere. So this comment seems weird now. 

Halfpenny would be wanted at two other regions at least, or if he wanted to maximise his earnings he might go to a premiership team, so Bristol in other words. Scarlets would look light at full-back assuming McNicholl is also away with team Wales which I hope he is.

Bristol wouldn't be interested in Halfpenny they have Charles Piatau. Gloucester might be an option as they are losing Marshall and a place kicker would be useful. Possibly Quins if Brown decides to retire.

Rob Baxter and his coaches sign an extended deal to the end of 2022/23 season

Coventry full back James Stokes to London Irish.

https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/2019/12/20/stokes-leaves-for-london-irish/

If Mooar leaves to take up an ABs role, Scarlets are due a compensation claim (200K). Glenn Delaney will probably step in and fill the void if he leaves before the season ends. Delaney is currently the defence coach but isn't exactly a Shaun Edwards... It will be interesting to see how Scarlets go about it, do they stick with Delaney or bring in someone with a high profile when they have the extra cash. Still a shame as Mooar has taken to the role and fans really well.

I think the Welsh Regions are hoping to get the extra money next season and recruit forwards but are awaiting confirmation; Mulvihill has said as such but I would assume it's the same for all bar Ospreys and Scarlets. One of them will at least be targeting Webb. Scarlets apparently still on the hunt for Liam Williams.

Any news on Moriarty? Are Exeter willing to pay him 450K?

Unsure if Chiefs can sort out Moriarty for £450k given the salary cap. They had to cut Cordero and Lawday last season in order to fit everyone under for this year. Moriarty should want to head that way though, be a perfect team for him to move to in that they'd suit his physical style and they rotate their squad well to keep people fit.

I think it would be a good move for him, but the 60 cap rule is still in as far as I know and he has less than 60.

Not likely to reach 60 next season either. Bit of a roll of the dice. Unless he signs a one year deal with a region and then heads off to Exeter afterwards.

Liam Williams leaves Saracens as expected. Amid speculation of joining Toulon and Ospreys, he rejoins Scarlets

" I understand Green was part of a hugely successful lineout at Falcons, but ours at the weekend was appalling. Perhaps that's more to do with Youngs' throwing, perhaps not"

This brings back memories.....

Not heard much from the Falcons side of the rumour mill. You would hope recruitment is up and under way with us pretty much walking the league. A few of those mentioned, especially Halfpenny (a top kicker and safe pair of hands would be ideal) sound interesting. Thing is, we're more than likely to be shopping at the bargain bucket again and dreaming of getting within 2 million of the salary cap.

Fly half should be number one priority.

Going to be a struggle for Falcons with every other team spending to the cap and beyond.

Haha....I like the beyond.

We're going to get nowhere near tbh, I'd expect us to be at least 1.5-2m off our next competitor. Not that money is everything as we can see with Irish, but it does help to get that bit of quality in.

See i dont mind the bargain bucket approach...its been very successful for us...its the coaching that is the problem for me.

Anyway...apparently Gary Graham is on his way to Clermont or Glasgow...and Josh Matavesi is on his way to Japan.

Gary Graham will be a huge blow...however flanker is one position that we do have an abundance of classy players coming through. And not to mention Guy Graham...Garys young brother who is an identikit player! Bruising and confrontational.

Hopefully we'll get to see some of the Championship up and comers first hand and make our move on a few of those.

i think we have some cracking players of our own coming through aswell. However Im beginning to think its pointless with our coachig team though SGt.

What concerns me is that so many fans are delighted with the way things are...??! Are they blind?

Greig Laidlaw to Newcastle is being mentioned, if he does not stay on at Clermont, which seems to be his preferred choice, but is dependant on whether or not Parra stays.

Geographically such a move could well be good for him and his family, but does he fancy a relegation dogfight at this stage in his career.

I don't think he will be cheap either, still a decent amount of life in the old dog and he won't be having any international breaks now. I would imagine he will have a few suiters.

Brad Mooar accepts offer to become ABs assistant coach.

I'd take Laidlaw at Falcons...we're not in a relegation dog fight, we're top of the league!

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/34620/jonny-may-is-latest-leicester-tigers-star-to-be-targetted/

By Saracens supposedly.

That would certainly chuck some petrol onto the bonfire!

He'd be a great addition for them with his kick chase ability. A 30 year old winger who will miss a third of every season on international duty isn't the best investment on a big wage. I suspect this is agent work to try and facilitate a better contract for May elsewhere.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/greig-laidlaw-clermont-auvergne/

Greig Laidlaw officially in the market place now!

Scrum half is not a position we need to be looking...we have bigger issues elsewhere particualrly in the pack where we vitally need a big beast of a tight head to back up Ah you!

Id also like to see a monstrous second row come in...a beast of a scrummagin lock. Thats something we have missed for so long.

Praying Tigers don't revert to type and sign him as a handy development block to the homegrown talent. Thankfully that's something Murphy has corrected.

Not sure there's many in the Prem that would be interested.

If Newcastle are looking at Laidlaw then presumably Takulua is moving on - believe he's coming out of contract.

Takulua would be a big loss for Falcons. He's improved so much there over the last 5 seasons. He's a top scrum-half now with a good running and kicking game. Plus he's a solid goal kicker.

Takalua would be a great signing for most clubs now.

But we still have Michael Young, sam stuart and a host of genuinely exciting youngsters being led by Kelemteti...

I also think we have other positions that are more urgent to fix and Our budget is tight.

Tom penny has been released by us and signed for Quins until the end of the season.
Real hopeful young centre some years ago but just blighted by injury

Ospreys sign Darryl Marfo until the end of the season to help cope with their ongoing injury crisis.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50945024 - he has good experience but it seems he was ruthlessly cut by Cockers, and that wouldn't have been without reason. It's his chance to impress which if he does then they should hand him a new contract as they look to add to their squad for next season. They could do with another overseas LH and lock, half-back and back 3 cover. A new CEO and coaching team first though.

Marfo was the great enigma of Scottish rugby. He got an international chance due to injuries to other LHs and then, much to everyone's surprise, played well and really looked the part. He got injured in his last game and since then has hardly ever featured for Edinburgh. He seemed to fall out with Cockers and thetre were questions about his attitude.

There does seem to be a decent player in there if anyone is able to harness it. Plenty have tried though and it never really seems to have worked for him in all the clubs he has played at.

Surely the last chance saloon for him now though and maybe that might concentrate his mind!

I remember watching Marfo getting folded in half at scrum time during a Scottish Premiership game when he was out on loan from Edinburgh. Given the last I'd seen of him was playing well against Australia and New Zealand it was a bit of a shock to say the least.

Rhys Webb to Ospreys seems pretty imminent.

Wow quite a statement for Ospreys. I had hoped Webb would join Dragons . Good news in that it keeps Aled out of their starting team and even further away from the Wales team.

The way I saw tweets at first, I thought he would be being released early, as in next few weeks. But it’s the end of the season. Still good for them to have him back, as you say.

BigGee wrote:Marfo was the great enigma of Scottish rugby. He got an international chance due to injuries to other LHs and then, much to everyone's surprise, played well and really looked the part. He got injured in his last game and since then has hardly ever featured for Edinburgh. He seemed to fall out with Cockers and thetre were questions about his attitude.

There does seem to be a decent player in there if anyone is able to harness it. Plenty have tried though and it never really seems to have worked for him in all the clubs he has played at.

Surely the last chance saloon for him now though and maybe that might concentrate his mind!

He was always another solid prop from the JK conveyor belt at Quins. He's a good squad player and had some good games for us

Rhys Webb signs for Ospreys, oh my.