The rumour mill

First topic message reminder :

Whilst unofficial negotiations will have been taking place for some time, it is only a few weeks until official approaches can be made and so the rumour mill is in full swing. Whilst ignoring what your mate's cousin's goldfish heard, what are the rumours you've heard coming and going from your club?


Rumours so far...
Geoff Parling to Glaws staying at Tigers
Matt Garvey to Quins, Saints, Glaws & Bath...
Nick Kennedy to everyone
Dave Attwood to Glaws
Sean Cronin to Connacht
Jonathan Joseph to Bath - confirmed
Matthew Rees to Cardiff confirmed
Stephen Shingler to a Welsh club confirmed to Scarlets
Adam Warren to Glaws and Cardiff
Kahn Fotuali'I to Toulouse - leaving but to Saints
Matt Kvesic to Tigers, Glaws, Saints and Sarries - confirmed to Glaws
Castro, John Smit and Claasens to Toulon - Castro & Claasens confirmed to Toulon
Alex Corbisiero to Saints confirmed
James Johnston to numerous French clubs & Sarries - confirmed to Sarries
Anthony Watson to Tigers & Bath
Tiny to Racing Metro
Sailosi Tagicakibau to Toulon
Toby Faletau to Bath
Billy Vunipola to Sarries - confirmed
Rhys Gill, Martin Roberts, Eiffion Lewis-Roberts, Gareth Delve, Dwayne Peel to Cardiff
Chris Cochrane to Connacht
Fionn Carr to Connacht confirmed
Newcastle starting XV to Tigers
George Ford to Saints or Bath confirmed he's leaving, but to who...
Stephen Donald to anyone who'll have him
Jonny Sexton to Racing confirmed he's leaving...
PDJ to Quins & Wasps - confirmed to Quins
BJ Botha to Toulon
Mike Ross to Munster signed a new contract
Richie Gray, Rob Miller & Kearnan Myall to Glaws - [b]Gray confirmed to Castres, Myall confirmed to Wasps, Miller staying at Sale (TRP not very accurate with these ones!!)
Stephen Myler to Tigers - staying at Saints
Matt Mulan to Wasps - confirmed
Ryan Lamb to France, Exeter or Wuss
Andy Saull to Exeter or Newcastle
James Scaysbrook to Tigers - staying at Exeter
Tom Johnson to Bath - re-signed with Exeter (how many Bath rumours are actually ever true??)
Mickey Young, Kieran Brookes to Bath - Brookes gone back to Newcastle on loan
Dan Carter, SBW, Dusatoir, McCaw to Sarries & under the salary cap too...
Gareth Maule to London Irish
Andy Goode to Newcastle, Dragons, Saints or KFC. - confirmed to Wasps
Steffan Jones to Wasps or London Welsh
Nick Robinson to Worcester or Dragons - going to Bristol
Joe Carlisle to Wasps - confirmed
James Hudson to Glaws - confirmed
Ian Nagle to Glaws
David Mele & Joel Kefi to Tigers
Sione Timani to Bath
Adam Ashley-Cooper to Leinster
Isa Nacewa to...

ChequeredJersey wrote:Not sure that was necessary Yappy

It was totally tongue in cheek.

Although difficult to get across text i'll admit.

Oh and HongKong if you're out there you can add the potential signing of Paul Doran Jones by Quins as one of your maybe's.

Not sure how much we'll want him after the weekends efforts though, he seems to be massively hot and cold. And is it just because Tonga'huia is huge that he looks very small?

L'Equipe reporting Toulon are chasing Munster prop BJ Botha.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9818_8421194,00.html

Be interesting which TH signs for Toulon - Castrogiovanni or Botha or both! Guessing Davit Kubriashvili be moving in the summer?

Dan Cole is two stone lighter than the big name props, doesn't stop him being one of the best going. PDJ has other issues namely that he looks like he doesn't understand or just disagrees with what's going on around him. I don't think he can wait to leave.

Sounds like Nick Kennedy to Glos is virtually a done deal. Also being linked to Sale's Rob Miller, according to TRP.

Would be very happy with both. Feel free to nick Kvesic as well, Nige!

There should be a huge clearout from Sale if they dont start picking up points soon.
Tigers need a new flyhalf, if not Myeler theres always another one they reportedly tried to sign previously..... (surely not!)

I think Tigers should go for Rob Miller actually! He's a full back/fly half.

David Seymour is a good seven too who someone should try and sign up IMO.

beshocked wrote:I think Tigers should go for Rob Miller actually! He's a full back/fly half.
.

He can compete with Dan Bowden to be the new Sam Vesty

Joking aside the Sale squad is stuffed with talent, some of which is undoutably overpaid for a second division side....but I also believe they are still well capable of turning the season around. If the gaps still there at the start of march though then the fire sale really has to kick in.

beshocked wrote:I think Tigers should go for Rob Miller actually! He's a full back/fly half.

That's why we need him! Back up for Freddie at FH, but starting ahead of Rob Cook at FB.

Rob Miller would be a great signing for Tigers. Failing that make Bowden the back up 10 and I'd love us to sign an experienced 12 ala Mauger, Gibson, Howard in the past.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Not a rumour really, but Setaimata Sa has finally got his visa and is ready to start for Irish!

When's the earliest we'll see him in action?

He joins up with the squad this week. Brian Smith says he'll be the best all round midfielder in the country:

http://london-irish.com/news/Irish90157.ink

Has there been any more news on Mike Ross to Munster or who Sean Cronin signed his new contract with?

Brian Smith says he'll be the best all round midfielder in the country:

He obviously hasnt seen Tane Tui'polotu play

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Brian Smith says he'll be the best all round midfielder in the country:

He obviously hasnt seen Tane Tui'polotu play

Good to see that Brian Smith is still living in a world of his own.

PS the genuine best all rounder is JTH (honest)

formerly known as Sam wrote:PDJ has other issues namely that he looks like he doesn't understand or just disagrees with what's going on around him. I don't think he can wait to leave.

I wonder if he's getting the cold shoulder treatment from West if Saints had planned for him to become first choice tight head for next season before he made his intentions to leave known. Unprofessional from both sides if that is the case but wouldn't put it past West who can be very old school in his methods

If he is going to Quins then he is not a very like for like replacement for JJ. Pretty good player at the breakdown for a prop but can be 50/50 at scrum time, his strength is certainly in the loose more than the tight.

Sean Henry is gone to Connacht from Munster.

JJ didn't use to be a scrummager, I'm sure we can fix PDJ

I'm a big fan of PDJ, he was a cracking scrummager at Gloucester. It can't be easy playing alongside Hartley who as soon as they get a shove on likes to pop up for a look around!

Sky highlighted that Brits does that as well for Saracens, very odd tactic but worked well for them too.

ChequeredJersey wrote:JJ didn't use to be a scrummager, I'm sure we can fix PDJ

I'm sure Saracens will be watching with interest. Couple of years down the line, PDV's scrummaging improved by the Quins coaching team, Stevens getting on a bit and winding down, everything falls nicely into place

Hartley's is due to poor technique rather than a tactic I suspect

Yeah Hartley does just fine when alongside Dan Cole for England.

Does that not just mean he's smart enough to manage two different tactics? Rather then being a horrible scrummager one week and fine the next?

B91212 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:JJ didn't use to be a scrummager, I'm sure we can fix PDJ

I'm sure Saracens will be watching with interest. Couple of years down the line, PDV's scrummaging improved by the Quins coaching team, Stevens getting on a bit and winding down, everything falls nicely into place

Kingston is good coach but I think even he would struggle to make Peter De'veliers in to a quality prop! Although he would meet Saracens SA criteria

yappysnap wrote:Kingston is good coach but I think even he would struggle to make Peter De'veliers in to a quality prop! Although he would meet Saracens SA criteria

Wow, I wonder where I managed to pull that from

The man has to earn a living somehow

http://www.rmcsport.fr/editorial/341390/transferts-fotualii-a-northampton-cest-fait/


So he has turned down Racing to sign for Northampton? A very good signing I think, up there with the best SH's in the world.

yappysnap wrote:

B91212 wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:JJ didn't use to be a scrummager, I'm sure we can fix PDJ

I'm sure Saracens will be watching with interest. Couple of years down the line, PDV's scrummaging improved by the Quins coaching team, Stevens getting on a bit and winding down, everything falls nicely into place

Kingston is good coach but I think even he would struggle to make Peter De'veliers in to a quality prop! Although he would meet Saracens SA criteria

Ah but Pieter de Villiers is probably still a better prop than PDJ, 5 years after retirement.

http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/player/13241.html

Bathman_in_London wrote:http://www.rmcsport.fr/editorial/341390/transferts-fotualii-a-northampton-cest-fait/


So he has turned down Racing to sign for Northampton? A very good signing I think, up there with the best SH's in the world.

Can he play fly half though?

Another quote from Brian Smith (he is really saying a lot at the moment!):

For those players leaving, it's a shame that this isn't the fight they want to fight and that's fine because it's not everybody's cup of tea.
"It will free up resources and we can get players who want to fight for London Irish.

"I know who is going and who is staying. Some of the clubs we're dealing with such as Leicester are outstandingly professional, Bath are very good, Gary Gold and Richard Cockerill have been very good. Other clubs handle their business differently.

"Life is a revolving door, this is a relatively small industry."People who manage themselves well in these situations normally do well in life. "Those people whose behaviour is questionable - by and large that's the way they carry on through life, and it normally catches up with them and bites them on the backside."

So reading into that Bath and Leicester are signing Irish players. Bath have already been linked with a couple but who is the Tiger's signing?

Also interesting that other clubs have been perceived to have acted in an underhand way.

Bathman_in_London wrote:Another quote from Brian Smith (he is really saying a lot at the moment!):

For those players leaving, it's a shame that this isn't the fight they want to fight and that's fine because it's not everybody's cup of tea.
"It will free up resources and we can get players who want to fight for London Irish.

"I know who is going and who is staying. Some of the clubs we're dealing with such as Leicester are outstandingly professional, Bath are very good, Gary Gold and Richard Cockerill have been very good. Other clubs handle their business differently.

"Life is a revolving door, this is a relatively small industry."People who manage themselves well in these situations normally do well in life. "Those people whose behaviour is questionable - by and large that's the way they carry on through life, and it normally catches up with them and bites them on the backside."

So reading into that Bath and Leicester are signing Irish players. Bath have already been linked with a couple but who is the Tiger's signing?

Also interesting that other clubs have been perceived to have acted in an underhand way.

Anthony Watson I presume is going to Tigers.

I can't take Brian Smith seriously.

beshocked wrote:

Bathman_in_London wrote:Another quote from Brian Smith (he is really saying a lot at the moment!):

For those players leaving, it's a shame that this isn't the fight they want to fight and that's fine because it's not everybody's cup of tea.
"It will free up resources and we can get players who want to fight for London Irish.

"I know who is going and who is staying. Some of the clubs we're dealing with such as Leicester are outstandingly professional, Bath are very good, Gary Gold and Richard Cockerill have been very good. Other clubs handle their business differently.

"Life is a revolving door, this is a relatively small industry."People who manage themselves well in these situations normally do well in life. "Those people whose behaviour is questionable - by and large that's the way they carry on through life, and it normally catches up with them and bites them on the backside."

So reading into that Bath and Leicester are signing Irish players. Bath have already been linked with a couple but who is the Tiger's signing?

Also interesting that other clubs have been perceived to have acted in an underhand way.

Anthony Watson I presume is going to Tigers.

I can't take Brian Smith seriously.

Jamie Gibson and/or Alex Gray apparently. Watson is going to either Bath or Leicester.

Maybe Smith's comment re Tigers were retrospective and he was referring to us signing Bowden and Thorpe and Skivington going the other way last season.

Alex Gray to Tigers would be a very interesting move...

Could pick him up very cheap i would think...and im sure they could finally get the talent out of him...

LondonTiger wrote:Ah but Pieter de Villiers is probably still a better prop than PDJ, 5 years after retirement.

Good signing for Saints, well pleased (think it said he has signed for 2 years but my French is crap and browsers translate function is misfiring). Rumors that Roberts is off to Cardiff have been circulating for a while but wonder if Dickson is staying, read somewhere that Bath were interested but think that was probably on here at some point.

Wonder if Brian Smith is referring to Saints regarding certain clubs conduct, especially seeing as the news about Corbs signing broke before the official date for talking to out of contract players. Even if it is or it isn't, I agree with Beshocked that Brian Smith has been spouting some rubbish recently. Maybe he should concentrate on trying to get things right on the pitch.

B91212 wrote:Good signing for Saints, well pleased (think it said he has signed for 2 years but my French is crap and browsers translate function is misfiring). Rumors that Roberts is off to Cardiff have been circulating for a while but wonder if Dickson is staying, read somewhere that Bath were interested but think that was probably on here at some point.

Wonder if Brian Smith is referring to Saints regarding certain clubs conduct, especially seeing as the news about Corbs signing broke before the official date for talking to out of contract players. Even if it is or it isn't, I agree with Beshocked that Brian Smith has been spouting some rubbish recently. Maybe he should concentrate on trying to get things right on the pitch.

it was two years with the option of a years extension.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Dan Cole is two stone lighter than the big name props, doesn't stop him being one of the best going. PDJ has other issues namely that he looks like he doesn't understand or just disagrees with what's going on around him. I don't think he can wait to leave.

I'm not sure where you got that dan cole was two stone lighter than anybody else but i'd say he is about the same weight as the best and the only players tipping the scales over 20 stone would benefit from losing a few pounds of chub.

Bearing in mind everyones height varies about 1-3 inches depending on the website and the weight around 5lbs but see below

Dan Cole -6ft 2, 18stone 2lbs
Carl Hayman - 6ft 4, 18stone 2lbs
Martin castrogiavianni- 6ft 2, 18stone 10
Adam Jones, 6ft, 18st 13,
Nicolas Mas, 5ft 11, 17st 5,
Owen Franks, 6ft 1, 18st 6
Cencus Johnstone, 6ft 3, 20st 3
Julian White 6ft1, 18st 8
Phil Vickery 6ft 3 19st 9.

Budgie - 4ft 9, 22st 3, 40yrs 1 month - ligind

AsLongAs But100ofUs:

Have you heard that Exeter are after Tom James from the Blues and Rhodri Williams from the Scarlets?

Ospreys are also looking at Aled Davies and Rhodri Williams the two young scarlets 9's.

Bath have also asked about Rhodri Williams availability.

pioden gorllewin wrote:AsLongAs But100ofUs:

Have you heard that Exeter are after Tom James from the Blues and Rhodri Williams from the Scarlets?

Ospreys are also looking at Aled Davies and Rhodri Williams the two young scarlets 9's.

Bath have also asked about Rhodri Williams availability.

No enquiries about Tavis Knoyle then? Everyone else must be laughing at you starting him over guys like Davies and Williams. Rhodri is on fire in the Prem, time for Scarlets to give the lad another opportunity.

the rhodri links to exeter, ospreys and bath are pretty concrete.....the tom james link is what i've heard on the grapevine. how long is his contract with the blues?

thing with easterby he doesn't seem to know his best 15. he is genuinely mr tinkerman (guess his 1st season as head coach) different team out each week! for what's it's worth the people within the region rate the 9's in this order of potential. 1) Aled 2) Rhodri 3) Cawdor 4) Tav but all need to work on their game. with easterby it's a lottery who he'll pick....one thing is for sure they probably won't all be there next season.

What I keep getting told on here (and I've been getting told this for years) is Tavis is the best 9 and everyone around Parc-y thinks so. What's the deal with Aled then? He came in and played and didn't impress. Why was he given the nod over Rhodri when Davies was injured?

Tom James would be a loss, he is a better player than Robinson at the moment, and we have lost Mustoe. O.Williams is a centre not a winger, so we will be a bit short at the Blues, especially when Cuthbert and 1/2p are away.

just the grapevine w606 not sure how much truth is in it.

Aled is a product of bro myrddin comp and does look like a class act....his service is usually faultless, and is technically sound. however he's young and inexperienced so needs to work on his game management. everyone down at parc y scarlets can see his potential, so thats why he's having the nod over players like tav & cawdor.

You guys must have a crystal ball:

http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/welsh-wing-joins-the-chiefs/

From a nuetral-ish English point of view, it is disappointing they are bringing in another NEQ winger ahead of the likes of Jack Arnott who has looked like a cracking young player in the games I have seen.

The mike ross to Munster rumour is over he has just signed a two year international deal with Leinster.

Cumbrian wrote:You guys must have a crystal ball:

http://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/news/welsh-wing-joins-the-chiefs/

From a nuetral-ish English point of view, it is disappointing they are bringing in another NEQ winger ahead of the likes of Jack Arnott who has looked like a cracking young player in the games I have seen.

jack Arnott's not going anywhere, so don't worry about that Cumbrian. He's not quite ready for a full-bloodied AP and Heino campaign, so we'll need squad experience on the wing, particularly so if Gonzo Camacho is off to France as is heavily rumoured. Jack Nowell is one who has already made the breakthru and is expect that to continue

Good Good.

BelfastDickVet wrote:The mike ross to Munster rumour is over he has just signed a two year international deal with Leinster.

Puts paid to that one so.