SILLY SEASON TRANSFER RUMOURS 20/21

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GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:I think Schoeman has been injured for nearly all his time at Bath. Can play 10 and 15 though.

Chiefs look set to sign Leinster second row Dunne a 6ft8 122kg 21 year old for next season. Hasn't played this season yet due to an ankle injury. Replacement for one of the outgoing internationals it seems.

Just what we need!

At least your youngsters will get lots of game time.

Not denying the talent I just dont see any of them being good game managers, at least at the present moment in their careers

geoff999rugby wrote:Not denying the talent I just dont see any of them being good game managers, at least at the present moment in their careers

I think Atkinson could very much develop that. Matthews to early to say, Umaga though seems like another Cipriani.

Agree with that assessment.
Unlike the other two I have not seen enough of Matthews

Matthews is an odd one. He got released from his academy contract whilst playing for the England under 20s ended up playing in the Championship before getting the call for Wasps.

Dolly, Porter, Heyes and Scott all confirmed as signing new deals at Tigers.

Green, Potter and Liebenburg have also been confirmed as signing new deals.

All good news on Tigers re-signing. Hanro being absolutely brilliant news, he should be skipper next season IMO.

To be honest I'd have liked an upgrade on Green. He's solid in the tight but frequently disappears in the loose against more physical packs. The second half against Sale was a perfect example of that.

Chris Ashton been visiting Leicester. Sounds like Borthwick may be giving him a shot.

KC I suspect salary cap reduction has meant we're hoping the young guys develop and push Green out as opposed to being able to replace with a signing.

7&1/2 Ashton visited but unless we've got a serious injury that's not been announced I can't see us needing him. Borthwick goes for the moneyball style signing mentality but taking a punt on Ashton might be pushing that.

Well there's been some issue with him these last few years. Hadd to know if he's still good or not. Free agent already so it'll probably be sooner than later.

Munster confirm new signing Malakai Fekitoa.

It is being reported that Braley is leaving Treviso and wants to go back to the Premiership with Northampton being a possibility.

Treviso looking to replace him with Exeter's Hidalgo-Clyne.

Connacht looking to bring in an IQ prop from Australia. Rumoured Robertson-McCoy will be let go, and possibly Tuimauga not have his 1-year contract renewed and a Leinster prop persuaded to move down the road.

Huw Jones back to Glasgow according to the Rugby Paper.

Big clear out at Leinster being rumoured

Props: Dooley, Abdalazde
Hooker: Cronin
Locks: Toner, Dunne, Ryan
Backrow: Leavy, Deegan.
Fly Half: Ross Bryne

Josh Murphy is already confirmed
Toner and Cronin are probably retirements

From an Ulster perspective only Deegan would interest me.
The props would add nothing in quality
At lock we have 5 signed up, 1 rumoured to be coming (Bradshaw 6' 9 from Nevers D2 in France) and two others who are probably going to be released. Again add nothing to add in quality
Ross Bryne is rumoured to be away to France somewhere
Leavy is really unfortunate outstanding player plagued with injury. For Ulster would not want Timoney being denied game time to give Leavy matches.
Plus we will have Murphy back next year

So Cips and Joseph leaving Bath at end of Season...and apparently we're linked with one of them.

No thanks to Cips.
Joseph one of my favorite players in recent times but again no thanks.

That's it for Cips surely, time to hang up his boots.

Surely no-one is going to pay him any serious money now

GeordieFalcon wrote:So Cips and Joseph leaving Bath at end of Season...and apparently we're linked with one of them.

No thanks to Cips.
Joseph one of my favorite players in recent times but again no thanks.

I'd 100% take JJ ,not so keen on Cips. I've heard Worcester are going in for Cips, which would make more sense as it's not that far and Diamond is a big fan.

Is that James Ryan leaving Leinster? Can't see that happening.

The players who are relatively interesting there are Abdalazde (still quite young for a prop), Deegan and Bryne. All three could probably find slots elsewhere as 2nd/3rd choices.

Joseph and Leavy are still good player but injury prone. You would think they would look to go to Japan.

Cipriani should probably call it a day at top club level though someone might think that he has been the victim of his reputation and a terrible Bath side.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So Cips and Joseph leaving Bath at end of Season...and apparently we're linked with one of them.

No thanks to Cips.
Joseph one of my favorite players in recent times but again no thanks.

I'd 100% take JJ ,not so keen on Cips. I've heard Worcester are going in for Cips, which would make more sense as it's not that far and Diamond is a big fan.

Sgt
Im just fed up of us taking on old injury prone players and trying to rehab them. We dont have a great success record.

Id rather give Orlando a new contract and move Stevenson to 13 as out two options there.

Leinter will surely be keeping hold of James Ryan, even with the addition of Jason Jenkins. A few teams will probably be interested in having Abdalazde on their books.

Should have clarified thats another lock called Ryan, James is going nowhere

What it does mean is they all go the Leinster full professional squad will be down to 38, assuming noone else comes in.
By comparison Ulster next year will be 40, albeit with two guys who have played less than 80 mins between them at this level.
I think the view is Abdalazde isn't going to make it

Is that view that he won't make it as a pro, as a Leinster second choice or as a potential Ireland cap? The first seems a touch harsh from initial impressions but not being able to make the Leinster bench or get an Ireland cap is no shame considering the alternatives.

Abdaladze just turned 26 (6th Feb) and has looked like a punishing carrier in the loose. His scrummaging I can't comment on. Seems like a good buy low candidate for an English side or for Connacht.

formerly known as Sam wrote:KC I suspect salary cap reduction has meant we're hoping the young guys develop and push Green out as opposed to being able to replace with a signing.

7&1/2 Ashton visited but unless we've got a serious injury that's not been announced I can't see us needing him. Borthwick goes for the moneyball style signing mentality but taking a punt on Ashton might be pushing that.

You signed him then.

Scott Baldwin rejoins Opsreys. With all things considered that is a good signing for them.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:KC I suspect salary cap reduction has meant we're hoping the young guys develop and push Green out as opposed to being able to replace with a signing.

7&1/2 Ashton visited but unless we've got a serious injury that's not been announced I can't see us needing him. Borthwick goes for the moneyball style signing mentality but taking a punt on Ashton might be pushing that.

You signed him then.

On the off chance they can tease out of him what the last 2 clubs failed to? Odd signing, they’d have been better off taking another look around Australian universities if they wanted another cheap winger surely?

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:KC I suspect salary cap reduction has meant we're hoping the young guys develop and push Green out as opposed to being able to replace with a signing.

7&1/2 Ashton visited but unless we've got a serious injury that's not been announced I can't see us needing him. Borthwick goes for the moneyball style signing mentality but taking a punt on Ashton might be pushing that.

You signed him then.

On the off chance they can tease out of him what the last 2 clubs failed to? Odd signing, they’d have been better off taking another look around Australian universities if they wanted another cheap winger surely?

Borthwick does like a mix of experience and youth. Someone has suggested under the moneyball signing system Tigers seem to be using that the best return on investment is for players at the start and end of their careers as the perceived worth is lower.

That being said I'm still assuming we've got injuries, no sign of Murimurivalu for a couple of games and Nadolo is back training but has had a few weeks out. Potter and Porter have been playing a lot of games whilst Kobus van Wyk seems a waste of money.

In Borthwick we trust I guess.

Is Ashton trying to play for every Premiership team before retirement? He's done Saints, Sarries, Quins, Sale, Wuss and now Leicester. He's turning into Andy Goode!!

Mr Bounce wrote:Is Ashton trying to play for every Premiership team before retirement? He's done Saints, Sarries, Quins,  Sale, Wuss and now Leicester. He's turning into Andy Goode!!

Well Dean will be waiting in line when hes been round the rest....

Just read that Brock James is leaving Ospreys coaching team due to personal reasons. I didn’t even know he was there!

JJ Hanrahan to Dragons confirmed on Twitter. Good signing (for us).

The Oracle wrote:JJ Hanrahan to Dragons confirmed on Twitter. Good signing (for us).

Dragons showing some good ambition. Is a big revamp planned for the summer?

Bailey and Ojomoh sign new two year deals with Bath.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

The Oracle wrote:JJ Hanrahan to Dragons confirmed on Twitter. Good signing (for us).

Dragons showing some good ambition. Is a big revamp planned for the summer?

Not sure. We’ve significantly strengthened our pack over the past few years to a point where our (arguably) first choice pack are now all current internationals (albeit some of them a bit fringe still):

Doge (current Fiji international)
Dee (Wales, but 2nd or maybe 3rd choice for Wales now)
Brown (Wales fringe player but with lots of promise)
Rowlands (Wales current with AWJ sidelined but probably the future no.1 pairing with Beard as AWJ fades)
Carter (just broken through to Wales squad)
Moriarty, Basham and Wainwright - all very much current for Wales but the returning Faletau, Tipuric and Navidi might bump them aside.

So a much improved forward pack offering compared to previous years. The next major investment, apart from keeping the pack up to scratch, is backs investment. Lots of very average backs. Sam Davies not able to make them tick from 10. Only a couple of youngsters coming through, and the likes of Jamie Roberts leaving, so we really need to buy in. Hanrahan is a good start. Not sure what budget we’ll have though. The regions have been landed with a big loan taken out by the WRU to cover the shortfall in union funding so that might mean we have less than last year. Not sure budgets have been finalised so difficult for them to plan and invest.

And Groves goes to Sale.

No 7&1/2 wrote:And Groves goes to Sale.

First Barrow and now Groves. Two cheap but big locks with promise. Good squad filler with the cap reducing and a couple costly South Africans heading out the door.

Ma'afu Fia to Bath from Ospreys on loan.

No 7&1/2 wrote:And Groves goes to Sale.

Seems like a shrewd signing by Sale, he's got the tools to go a long way. A bit surprised that Bristol have let him though (maybe Sale came in with a good offer). I guess they've got decent incumbents, but there does seem like there might have been room for him somewhere in the squad.

Cumbrian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And Groves goes to Sale.

Seems like a shrewd signing by Sale, he's got the tools to go a long way.   A bit surprised that Bristol have let him though (maybe Sale came in with a good offer).  I guess they've got decent incumbents, but there does seem like there might have been room for him somewhere in the squad.  

One of the articles I read seemed to suggest that there were offers on the table at Bristol and they had to decide one way or another. They seem to rate a couple of the younger guys higher, but looking at Groves I can't help thinking its going to take another year or two (or more) for him to properly fill out even though he's already huge.

Cumbrian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And Groves goes to Sale.

Seems like a shrewd signing by Sale, he's got the tools to go a long way.   A bit surprised that Bristol have let him though (maybe Sale came in with a good offer).  I guess they've got decent incumbents, but there does seem like there might have been room for him somewhere in the squad.  

Bristol terminated his contract early after leaving him playing Championship rugby all season. Sounds like Lam doesn't rate him, heard he's been talking about the next lock off the rank as being more like what he's looking for. Bristol do play a very definite style of rugby that requires a certain skill set, Sale play pretty much the opposite brand of rugby. If he's a big power lad that maybe doesn't have good hands and the pace to keep up with Bristol's attack then a move to Sale and their power game makes lots of sense.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:And Groves goes to Sale.

Seems like a shrewd signing by Sale, he's got the tools to go a long way.   A bit surprised that Bristol have let him though (maybe Sale came in with a good offer).  I guess they've got decent incumbents, but there does seem like there might have been room for him somewhere in the squad.  

Bristol terminated his contract early after leaving him playing Championship rugby all season. Sounds like Lam doesn't rate him, heard he's been talking about the next lock off the rank as being more like what he's looking for. Bristol do play a very definite style of rugby that requires a certain skill set, Sale play pretty much the opposite brand of rugby. If he's a big power lad that maybe doesn't have good hands and the pace to keep up with Bristol's attack then a move to Sale and their power game makes lots of sense.

I have only seen him in the U20's but actually consider that his set piece dominance, particularly in the line out, was one of the most important parts of the jigsaw that made that team so good.

Charlie Rice? He does look more a 'Bristol' player in the Pat Lam sense of things. Still, I like to think that there is always a place for a big lump somewhere in the front five. Having watched him, I didn't get the impression that Groves lacked skill/ was simply a massive bonehead either, seemed to be able to shift for a big guy.

Cumbrian wrote:Charlie Rice?  He does look more a 'Bristol' player in the Pat Lam sense of things.   Still, I like to think that there is always a place for a big lump somewhere in the front five.  Having watched him, I didn't get the impression that Groves lacked skill/ was simply a massive bonehead either, seemed to be able to shift for a big guy.  

I was talking of Groves. JVP was the headline player but Groves seemed to me to be as important.

As far as the U20's go what a difference a few months make.

lostinwales wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Charlie Rice?  He does look more a 'Bristol' player in the Pat Lam sense of things.   Still, I like to think that there is always a place for a big lump somewhere in the front five.  Having watched him, I didn't get the impression that Groves lacked skill/ was simply a massive bonehead either, seemed to be able to shift for a big guy.  

I was talking of Groves. JVP was the headline player but Groves seemed to me to be as important.

As far as the U20's go what a difference a few months make.

Apologies, was replying to Sam, should have quoted him!

I did watch the under 20s and I remember being impressed by Groves but can't remember the specifics to be honest. It's a good scoop for Sale, I was just assuming that Bristol's unique game plan was a detracting factor and hence why he's been at Hartbury all season. Could be wrong, could be Bristol were having trouble with the cap and he wanted more than they were willing to give.

Cumbrian wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Charlie Rice?  He does look more a 'Bristol' player in the Pat Lam sense of things.   Still, I like to think that there is always a place for a big lump somewhere in the front five.  Having watched him, I didn't get the impression that Groves lacked skill/ was simply a massive bonehead either, seemed to be able to shift for a big guy.  

I was talking of Groves. JVP was the headline player but Groves seemed to me to be as important.

As far as the U20's go what a difference a few months make.

Apologies, was replying to Sam, should have quoted him!

From the article I saw

Bristol are currently well-stocked at second row, with Samoan international captain Chris Vui, now regular Bears captain Joe Joyce, former England international Dave Attwood, athletic first team regular Ed Holmes and emerging talent John Hawkins as options, while Sam Jeffries can also play in the engine room, however much was hoped of Groves.

“Someone else will be keen for us to come through, when we compared him to Charlie Rice, a homegrown player, Charlie is the player we have gone for.”

And

Lam said: “We made the call now because some players are getting approaches.

So has Groves actually joined Sale?

GeordieFalcon wrote:So has Groves actually joined Sale?

yep

Wow...thats a good signing. Along with Johnny Hill...two towers.

Which locks are Sale losing.

Glasgow have already signed JP du Preez for next season. Phillips is probably reaching the end of his run and Beaumont seems either crocked or playing in the back-row most of the time. You would imagine Lood de Jager will be off too, I'm not sure what he is getting paid, but I don't think his number of performances will have justified it, in the end.