London Irish look set to lose out as the French Invasion continues...

Well Reports in France are that both players (Kennedy & Armitage) will be heading to Toloun in the Summer.

Its been suggested Servat will be joining them there too as well.

I'm not suprised Franch clubs raiding the UK as a lot of their Superstars are getting on now and they will need replacing.

Can't see this being positive for London Irish. Kennedy has been a cornerstone in the team. I guess Delon was always going to follow his brother at some point but good full backs are hard to find. Should have some money though in the budget to sign a couple of good replacements though I would have thought.


Guess we all have to get used to this over the next couple of seasons.

I wonder at this point if Ashton will really commit to an English club or if he is also going to chance his arm?


So far the Rumours are:-

Charteris - Perpignan (unconfirmed)
Armitage - Toloun (unconfirmed)
Adam Jones - France (Club Unconfirmed)
Gethin Jenkins - France (Club Unconfirmed)
Ashton - Unknown

Feel free to add some of your own

Delon Armitage's position in the LI team is under serious threat. Tom Homer is younger, as good in defence and has a far superior kicking game (including the best points scoring boot in the AP currently). He needs to up his attacking input but he is young.

Armitage will probably head to France where his brother is doing well if he is left out of the next EPS. He isn't getting any younger and moments of stupidity on pitch aren't helping his image in the eyes of the England selectors. A move to Toulon would secure him a nice financial package to fall back on.

I doubt Ashton will go abroad, he has offers in the AP and his England career is flourishing. Kennedy might go though, his chances of an England call up are slim and a meaty financial package plus a Palmersque revitalisation might tempt him.

From the rugby paper:

Nick Abendanon possibly Western force or Brumbies

Gloucester chasing Jimmy Gopperth with London Irish and French teams interested

Exeter want Darren Dawiduk

Updated

So far the Rumours are:-

Charteris - Perpignan (unconfirmed)
Armitage - Toloun (unconfirmed)
Adam Jones - France (Club Unconfirmed)
Gethin Jenkins - France (Club Unconfirmed)
Ashton - Unknown
Abendanon - Asutralia (unconfirmed)
Dawiduk - Exeter (unconfirmed)
Gopperth - Gloucester (unconfirmed)
Benjamin - Leicester (unconfirmed)
Garvey - France (Club unconfirmed)
Tuilagi - Japan (Club unconfirmed)
Agulla - Unknown (International Release may cause the move)
Lamont - Glasgow
Huw Bennett - France (Club unconfirmed)
Richie Gray - Sale (confirmed)
Vainikolo - La Rochelle, France Div 2 (confirmed)

Who is Darren Dawiduk

Matt Mullan is being chased by Saints, Sarries and Tigers is you believe the rumours.

Gloucester have approached Allen and Saints are monitoring Twelvetrees contract talks but both look likely to re-sign for Tigers.

rosbif wrote:Who is Darren Dawiduk

A fantastic young hooker that Glaws do not want to lose!! As he is a Devonian we are all slightly concerned!

I know Glaws are also chasing Dwayne Peel & Sione Kalamafoni from Nottingham.

As for the Welsh guys on the list despite it being a blow if they went I can undersatnd it as all coming to back end of carears so they will be set up financially after a stint in France.

Thought I would update the transfer news:-

S. Lamont to Glasgow
D. Day to Bath
B. Morgan to Gloucester
L. Charteris to Perpignan (unconfirmed)
A. Brew to Biarritz
J. Tovey to Cardiff Blues
C. Laulala to Munster
M. Williams retiring
G. Jenkins to Toloun
D. Parks to Connacht
R. Thomas to Wasps
R. Rees to Perpignan (unconfirmed)
S. Williams retiring
T. Smith to London Irish
H. Bennett to Lyon
N. Walker to Worcester
T. Bowe to Ulster
T. O'Leary to London Irish
R. O'Gara to France (unconfirmed)
L. Mafi to Perpignan (unconfirmed)
J. Hayes retiring
N. White to Connacht
I. Whitten to Exeter
WP Nel to Edinburgh
Viliami Ma'afu to Glasgow
A. Macdonald to Glasgow
R. Gray to Sale
D. Lemi to Worcester
J. Beattie to Monpellier
J. Andress to Worcester
M. Tindall to Stade (unconfirmed)
E. Fuimaono-Sapolu going abroad (unconfirmed destination)
S. Lawson to London Irish
L. Narraway to Perpignan
A. Tuilagi to Japan (unconfirmed)
B. Twelvetrees to Gloucester
G. Skivington to London Irish
H. Agulla released (destination unknown)
J. White retiring
J. Grindal to Bristol
D. Armitage to Toloun (unconfirmed)
N. Kennedy to Toloun (unconfirmed)
A. Thompstone to Leicester
D. Bowden to Leicester (unconfirmed)
P. Hodgson to Worcester
G. Armitage to Toloun
H. Aulika to London Irish
S. Kalamafoni to Gloucester
H. Edmonds to Gloucester
R. Webber to Bath
T. Palmer to Wasps
J. Haskell to Wasps
L. Thomas to Wasps
A. Balding to Newcastle
L. Eves to Bristol
T. Swinson to Glasgow
R. Wilson to Ulster
C. Ashton to Saracens
J. Downey to Munster
G. Tonks to Edinburgh
J. Clarke to Worcester
S. Dickinson to Northampton
G. Jan van Velze to Northampton
D. Cipriani to Sale
E. Lewis-Roberts to Sale
A. Sheridan to Toloun
M. Garvey to Castres
M. Benjamin to Leicester (unconfirmed)
S. Taulava to Worcester
R. O'Donnell to Worcester
D. Schofield to Worcester

Connacht about to sign Richie Rees from the Cardiff Blues according to the Guardian.

Looks like J. Yapp is linked with Edinburgh as well.

That leaves the Loosehead Prop a bit light at the Blues with only Hobbs there.

I had heard that it was Guy Armitage - Steffon and Delon's younger brother that had signed for Toulon.

Although, I am sure that with both his brothers there that Delon would be happy to follow.

Quins dont look like they are drafting in anyone!

gowales wrote:From the rugby paper:

Nick Abendanon possibly Western force or Brumbies

Gloucester chasing Jimmy Gopperth with London Irish and French teams interested

Exeter want Darren Dawiduk

Sadly he has already signed a new 3 year deal. He's going nowhere..much to my annoyance!!

and Daffy has signed a 2 year deal to stay at Glaws

for a moment I thought it was LI's Matt Garvey who was off to Castres. That would have been a real shame for England and a massive blow for Irish. Turns out it's Marcel Garvey of Worcester, phew...