Charteris to Perpignan???

Rumours have it that Luke Charteris may be off to Perpignan. A bit of talk about it on the Gwent Dragons fans forum:

http://draggedup.co.uk/chat/viewtopic.php?t=3532

That would be a huge blow for us. He played exceptionally well at the world cup, like never before in a Wales shirt, and that sort of experience is exactly what the Dragons need in a squad lacking any real depth.

If he does go though he'll get my blessing as he's been a good servant of the region and has had chances to leave in the past, but has chosen to stay. At his age (28) he's maybe thinking that this could be his last chance of a big contract and that he needs to seize it while his stock is high. But, will be sad to see him go.

Griff,

Agree with you wholeheartedly, if he goes this will be a huge blow but he will see it as his big chance to earn the bucks.

I know some of the young guns have signed new contracts but their performances in the WC will put teams on alert to them.

Wales might have to move their playing base to the Cote D'azur soon.....

roddersm wrote:Wales might have to move their playing base to the Cote D'azur soon.....

Hardly, the only player who HAS proved to France that we'll miss is Phillips.

I don't see Luke moving from the Dragons anytime soon - Faletau and lydiate have been head hunted but stayed at Dave parade.

Faletau and Lydiate along with few others have sigend new contracts but not sure what deal Luke is on.

One big adavantage that we may have over others is that we are in Wales .

Having been a fringe/bit part player for much of his carear Charteris is now probably seen as our 1st choice 2nd rower so maybe he won't be willing to risk that position with a move outside of Wales.

I would be very sad to see Charteris leave Wales. If he was to leave the Dragons I'd rather he head back home West to the Scarlets to be honest (we could do with a lovely lock like him see).

I thought he'd signed a new contract with the Dragons not long ago though?

roddersm wrote:Wales might have to move their playing base to the Cote D'azur soon.....

True Rodders, it's so hard to keep hold of these players. As there is no real rule that playing outside Wales will harm your international chances, the lure of the continent and its riches is obviously very tempting. All Gatland has said is that for two players in the same position and both in form, the home based player would be looked upon more favourably as Gatland would have better access to him. This is a bit of a wishy washy policy really as it then implies that if players are playing well abroad, and there are no better choice at home, then you're welcomed back with open arms, no quibbles! Not much of a deterrent really! That's why the likes of Hook aren't really that bothered. If they play well, they're in.

Unfortunately, we just can't compete with the wages. And if we could, then the lifestyle is certainly something we can't match! For Charteris, it's a toss up between something like £150,000 and a house in Newport/Cardiff or probably double that and a flat in the South of France. Not much choice.

I think a lot of your Irish players would be similarly tempted if it wasn't for the tax break thingy you have in place. That's a great move and really shows the players how highly you value them staying in the country. A reward for loyalty that the average man in the street is not entitled to. Good move. Wish we could offer the same.

To be fair, the Welsh players that have gone to France - Phillips, Hook, Byrne...were at the stage of their careers where they could do with heading abroad for a year or so. AWJ was offered a place at a French club last season, but he opted to stay with the O's. I don't think Charteris will go anywhere just yet to be honest.

Guys chillax I'm just yanking your chains.....

I do think its better to keep your better players in the country. It's also better for the Rabo to keep top players like Charteris but fair play he needs to get the best deal he can.

It will likely make him a better player which is good for Wales.

That's the only saving grace Rodders. If they were getting paid millions to go to the Russian or Spanish league, then I'd worry that they'd just deteriorate and go backwards. But, as probably the best league in the NH the top 14 should give them a chance to grow. It did wonders for Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas, et al. and Hook seems to be doing well so far too.

Also, if it's good enough for Dan Carter.....!

It would be a big shame for the Dragons to loose him (unless he came to going the revolution in the West ;p) but would make him a better player - but I don't really see him jepordising his int chances after working really hard over the past 3 years to oust the incumbent players (and this includes ex-captain Ryan Jones) to just risk it all before he's secured his place in the Wales team

Would be a massive loss, but I wouldn't blame him. To think this year there were still plenty of Welsh fans around the other regions who would have been happy to see him left home during the WC, now he is probably rated as one of the best locks in the world.

If he does leave, we are losing our youngest lock with no real up and coming youngsters ready to take over IMO. The most promising, Adam Brown and Sam Pailor, have moved on to pasteurs new. I guess seeing a back rower being picked ahead of them at lock last season when we had injuries made them think what's the point in sticking around.
Who else is there? Cadman? I like him but not regional standard yet.
Another option could be to tap up the likes of Matt Screech and other U20 players.

Either way Luke is our talisman and I really hope he stays, having world class players at the Dragons will surely attract other players and help our youngsters decide to stay on.

RuckingFlanker86 wrote:

If he does leave, we are losing our youngest lock with no real up and coming youngsters ready to take over IMO.

of the 3 regulars, he's the oldest.

I was talking about at the Dragons. Charteris is 28, the other three are all 32/33.

Please read more carefully in the future

yeah read the same - initially reported by perpignan local newpaper (l'independant) website - usual rumours - but one thing is for sure: usap would really need a competitive line out specialist such as charteris and next year a few of their players will be getting old and way past their best.

same article was reporting interest in also Alisona Taumalolo (tonga loosehead) and Antonie Claassen (SA backrow that plays for brive).

RuckingFlanker86 wrote:I was talking about at the Dragons. Charteris is 28, the other three are all 32/33.

Please read more carefully in the future

got to admit, I didn't really look at it from a Dragons point of view, mainly because I care as much for them as the average Dragons fan does for the Scarlets.

Hey, Scarlets are my second team! I care about you!

nice to know you're well above average then, the grief Scarlets supporters get from Dragons fans on other forums takes some believing.

he wants to stay

When I was younger I would have said stay - but now I've got mortages coming out of my ears if someone offered to double my salary I'd be gone like a shot.

It's 'come out' today that Gethin Jenkins could be heading to france after this season. His contract is up and he's said in the past that he would like to go to France at some point. With him being 31 and the service he's given both wales & the blues, i say he deserves it and no hard feelings on him moving. We have a few young props coming through and while they won't be at GJ's level, it is important we start getting youngsters in these positions some game time and experience so if they're called up for the next world cup, they've had a few years in the pro 12.

I think Charteris should sign a 2 year deal with the drags as a sign of loyalty to the region which made him the player he is today and then take the pay packet when he hits 30/31.

You have a point gcblues. He could even sign a 3 year deal for us then move onto France and still get a 2 - 3 year contract, when he may not be required by Wales at the latter stages of his career. Personally I'd like him to stay even if its for 1 more year.

I think the Dragons desperately needed to make a statement this year in retaining the services of our WC stars because we were getting close to becoming a development region. However the signings of Burns, Falateu, Brew and Lydiate has resolved this.

gcBlues wrote:
I think Charteris should sign a 2 year deal with the drags as a sign of loyalty to the region which made him the player he is today and then take the pay packet when he hits 30/31.

But from the players point of view, if he is getting say double the salary he is getting in Wales (or wherever he is based), its a massive gamble. Who is to say the big pay deal will still be there in 2 years? There are so many variables in Rugby, loss of form, gain the form of others, injuries etc that affect wither the same kind of deal he is getting offered now is what will be there in 48 months time.

I dunno, i guess i see it as he finally got the words attention..it would leave a sour taste if he just upped and left now. Him being there and increasing the Dragons' profile could help recruitment, ticket sales and all sorts.

gcBlues wrote:I dunno, i guess i see it as he finally got the words attention..it would leave a sour taste if he just upped and left now. Him being there and increasing the Dragons' profile could help recruitment, ticket sales and all sorts.

As a Glasgow fan, I fully understand the feeling of seeing good players leave, after the club has put so much into helping improve them as players.

However I can fully understand why the players make the move. My commments were more about players who find themeslves in similar positions rather just about him.

As DM points out, us Scots have just had to live with it.

Whilst I would love to think players would remain loyal to their clubs and that life would be about more than money for them, that just isn't realistic, and the fact is the Dragons cannot offer Charteris the money nor the prospects of career success he can get elsewhere.

I'm more bothered when young players come through the ranks and then up sticks without contributing to the club that nurtuered them (Mark Bennett, you know who you are), but for players like Charteris and Gray, the fact is that they have out grown their clubs.

It's true to say that players won't turn down the money because of loyalty ExiledScot - but at the same time the players know that if they loose form/get a long term injury then it is very unlikely that the club will keep paying them, or offer them a new contract once the current one has expired.

As such you can understand them wanting to make as much money as possible before their body gives out and they find they aren't getting any sort of pay check at all and are either watching from the touchlines or earning a £100 a week playing in the lower leagues.

I think he will stay. If he does go I would wish him well but he is the club captain and has proven himself to be first choice in the Welsh team so salary and maybe the weather are the only things that would be tempting. I'm sure that he loves playing in front the Dave crowd and it would take a lot for him to leave.

He was in the business suite at RP last night and told everyone he was staying put.