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...

red_stag wrote:LeinsterFan,

How could you be mad at Sexton.

I can understand being sad about him leaving but it is a no brainer.

He owes nothing more to Leinster. He won them 3 Heineken Cups and is now going to have new adventures and get some extra money.

Thats why I'm mad because he's going just for the money... The IRFU need to act quick or we could see more following. Fitz isn't even on a central contract...

red_stag wrote:Its a good thing we still have ROG now that Sexton is moving to France.

Means that we have an experienced first choice international while the others learn their trade.

You're looking for a dig in the snot at this stage.

And so what if he is?

He will be retired in about 5-6 years and thats his big earning done.

Honest to god, the begrudgery of some people.

I begrudge him fock all. He has given his all for Leinster and is off for a big payday. I will eventually be happy for him.

Doesn't make it any easier to take though.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I begrudge him fock all. He has given his all for Leinster and is off for a big payday. I will eventually be happy for him.

Doesn't make it any easier to take though.

Jennifer, I completely get that.

My remark was to the other lad who was saying he is angry at Sexton for moving.

Bye Bye gurney baby beak.

Actually I don't like it, that France are able to start attracting the best Irish players, hopefully its not a watershed.

red_stag wrote:And so what if he is?

He will be retired in about 5-6 years and thats his big earning done.

Honest to god, the begrudgery of some people.

Im just worried that more will follow. We dont want to see rugby get like soccer do we? Do you not realise the significance of this?

I'm struggling to think of a player that is as important to any Irish province as Sexton is to us.

Perhaps it's just the shock. Anyone got any suggestions?

red_stag wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I begrudge him fock all. He has given his all for Leinster and is off for a big payday. I will eventually be happy for him.

Doesn't make it any easier to take though.

Jennifer, I completely get that.

My remark was to the other lad who was saying he is angry at Sexton for moving.

He's young and passionate about his team. He'll come round.

Maybe thats why Conway is going to munster because we are swapping him for JJ... That wouldn't be too bad as JJ is being wasted at Munster

According to Shane Horgan he is Irelands best player. Defo one of them. I assume the contract has international release clauses and he will still play for Ireland. Im sure he will be injured a lot more though.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Maybe thats why Conway is going to munster because we are swapping him for JJ... That wouldn't be too bad as JJ is being wasted at Munster

We would be more likely to get Keatley back, no?

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:I'm struggling to think of a player that is as important to any Irish province as Sexton is to us.

Perhaps it's just the shock. Anyone got any suggestions?

Paddy Wallace?

You can feic off if you're going to take JJ.


Positives :

1.We still get him internationally, albeit with probably not as much time with all our camps and everything.

2. We see how good Madigan is or isn't.

3. WE still have ROG.............

Thomond wrote:You can feic off if you're going to take JJ.


Positives :

1.We still get him internationally, albeit with probably not as much time with all our camps and everything.

2. We see how good Madigan is or isn't.

3. WE still have ROG.............

What's this we sh1t paleface?

Now we will get the chance to see just how good Madigan really is.

And rodders:

Official now

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28190.php

Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said, "Naturally, I'm disappointed. I've really enjoyed Johnny's input over the last few years and he has added tremendous value to the Leinster environment both on and off the field. The offer he has received is exceptional, even by French standards, but I know that it was still a tough decision for him."

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

Thomond wrote:You can feic off if you're going to take JJ.


Positives :

1.We still get him internationally, albeit with probably not as much time with all our camps and everything.

2. We see how good Madigan is or isn't.

3. WE still have ROG.............

What's this we sh1t paleface?

A bit harsh, it was a joke, have you not seen my slamming of ROG in the last year and a bit?

Bout ye Rory!

Seriously though, the best player in Europe for me. Don't think the Irish management are getting the best out of him and although Leinster are they look like they're heading into a rebuilding phase which Sexton could do without at this stage of his career.

Hard on Leinster but I think a great move for all parties.

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Official now

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/28190.php

Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt said, "Naturally, I'm disappointed. I've really enjoyed Johnny's input over the last few years and he has added tremendous value to the Leinster environment both on and off the field. The offer he has received is exceptional, even by French standards, but I know that it was still a tough decision for him."

Why johnny why?!?!? Thank god Madigan signed a contract extension when he did or we'd be feiced

I wouldn't begrudge him a thing.

It just pisses me off to see all this being handled by the IRFU, i mean, he'll play for Ireland regardless, Leinster didn't have any input into this, we must have meritocracy payments coming out of our hole, but we don't get to compete with any offers.

Anyway, best of luck to him. Madigan will step up. No danger.

rodders wrote:Bout ye Rory!

Seriously though, the best player in Europe for me. Don't think the Irish management are getting the best out of him and although Leinster are they look like they're heading into a rebuilding phase which Sexton could do without at this stage of his career.

Hard on Leinster but I think a great move for all parties.

your beginning to sound like the welsh posters everytime someone leaves their club. When will people realise that when you lose your best players its not a good thing.

Do Leinster have in excess of a million to pay Johnny for two years? They would be limiting the rest of their budget to sign one player and that is insane

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Yep, what's most pleasing looking in as an outsider is that most of them seem to be home grown too. They are going to have a young core of lads who are from the local(ish) area:

2. Koree Britton
3. Shaun Knight
4. Elliott Stooke
7. Matt Kvesic (Worcestershire isn't that far away)
8. Ben Morgan

9. Dan Robson
10. Freddie Burns

11. Charle Sharples
13. Henry Trinder
14. Jonny May
15. Olly Morgan

Britton is from Torquay, Kvesic from Germany, Robson from Stoke, Burns from Bath (localish), Sharples from Hong Kong, Trinder and May from Swindon (localish), Morgan from London.
So whilst yes they have pretty much all come through the ranks in one way or another its pushing it a bit to call them all local loads.
Manu Tuillagi though is a proper Leicestershire boy

Agreed, Britton (birth), Kvesic (schooled at Blundells), and Mills (upbringing) are all Devon lads thru and thru

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

rodders wrote:Bout ye Rory!

Seriously though, the best player in Europe for me. Don't think the Irish management are getting the best out of him and although Leinster are they look like they're heading into a rebuilding phase which Sexton could do without at this stage of his career.

Hard on Leinster but I think a great move for all parties.

your beginning to sound like the welsh posters everytime someone leaves their club. When will people realise that when you lose your best players its not a good thing.

No I want to keep the best players but I think in this case Jonny and Ireland will benefit and Leinster will progress with Madigan at the helm. Bowes move to Ospreys was great for Irish rugby and Bowe and I think this could be the same. From an Ulster perspective I didn't like it at the time but sometimes you have to look at the big picture.

Sexton might be getting almost double what he gets paid in Ireland but he will probably play twice as many matches for a worse team. Cant see racing winning anything in the next two years.

Doesnt sound like a great deal to me. His choice though good luck to him.

There is an issue with older players getting central contracts but we need perspective here.

Paddy Wallace, ROG, O'Callaghan are all on central contracts and will/should be freed up. Sexton obviously will be another one.

I'm not sure when Ferris one is up (and this may be sacrilege for an Ulsterman) but should he be renewed given that he hasn't played for Ireland in over a year?

Luke fitz is only just back from a sustained period of injury and while he looks in good nick we can't be talking about a central contract for him yet.

The likes of O'Brien, Zebo, Luke Marshall, Murray, Henderson, O'Mahoney, Henshaw even possibly need to come into consideration. I'm not saying gives these lads the contract tomorrow but depending on who we are losing off the contracts we need to realise that two year deals will take us to the next RWC and we need to be ruthless when examine those that will not make it that far.

I don't know who is in what place in the pecking order and I suspect the whole process needs looked at with the fresh eyes of a new coaching set up but the central contracts need to be less about rewarding the old guard and more about ensuring the new are bound to the green shirt for a while

There are definitely negatives as well as positives Guns.

You're right there.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Agreed, Britton (birth), Kvesic (schooled at Blundells), and Mills (upbringing) are all Devon lads thru and thru

You definitely have a point with Britton and Mills, but I'm not going to give you Kvesic, otherwise I'll claim Britton and Mills to be Glaws through and through due to attending Hartpury!

Im not too worried about him leaving provided it can work in synch with his International career.

Im sure Madigan will step up to the mark. Its his time to shine. Lets not forget it wasnt too long ago that we couldnt produce any decent OHs. Dave holwell was considered a class act. I think Leinster should be ok.

Now all we need is to tempt JJ and Hendshaw to Leinster.

Strangely enough, french press stop talking about this Sexton potential move a couple of weeks ago when they mentionned that he had private talks with Jacky Lorenzetti (Racing Metro chairman). So am not really buying that rumour as French clubs are usually not good at keeping secrets.

The worrying thing on racing is that it is the chairman chosing the new players not the soon to be announced future coaches. So am not sure how it would go specially in the 1st season with half of the team brand new. Not a great team to join for an amitious player I would say and agree with Guns, nothing to win on short term there (bar €€€). Remember Toulon a couple of seasons ago when it wasnt really the coaches chosing players and they ended up signing players almost randomly (henson, the guy from rugby League etc).
At least now Bernard Laporte is pulling the strings and there is some sort of logic and it shows on the field.
Clermont would be a wiser move : with Skrela retiring , Sexton would be an interesting alternative to an ageing Brock James, the coaching and style of rugby would also be closer to what is done at Leinster (the problem is that ASM would offer half of what racing or toulon can afford).

Its already confirmed whocares.

Nail on the head whocares. Mind you I expect its the gliz, cosmopilitan, flaneur lifestyle on offer in Paris that is part of the draw for Sexton. Not sure how a young Rathgar lad would cope in the less densely populated region of Auvergne, beautiful though it may be.

rodders wrote:Its already confirmed whocares.

oops half of my post was useless cr*p then - guess Irish clubs are even worst at keeping secrets than the french ones!
not great for us as this is another fly-half postion that wont be held by a frenchman when we dont really have much depht there...

The lack of scrum halves probably isnt helped by having all your 10s play there.

At least with sexton the [place is going to a top european player, and hes replacing an Argie anyway.

Hernandez is only a full back that thinks he can play 10. wisniewski is the real Racing fly half (with olly barkley who might go back to bath).
dont think I have ever ever been worried about lack of quality scrum halves in France, all kids want to play there, it's just like that.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:Yep, what's most pleasing looking in as an outsider is that most of them seem to be home grown too. They are going to have a young core of lads who are from the local(ish) area:

2. Koree Britton
3. Shaun Knight
4. Elliott Stooke
7. Matt Kvesic (Worcestershire isn't that far away)
8. Ben Morgan

9. Dan Robson
10. Freddie Burns

11. Charle Sharples
13. Henry Trinder
14. Jonny May
15. Olly Morgan

Britton is from Torquay, Kvesic from Germany, Robson from Stoke, Burns from Bath (localish), Sharples from Hong Kong, Trinder and May from Swindon (localish), Morgan from London.
So whilst yes they have pretty much all come through the ranks in one way or another its pushing it a bit to call them all local loads.
Manu Tuillagi though is a proper Leicestershire boy

Agreed, Britton (birth), Kvesic (schooled at Blundells), and Mills (upbringing) are all Devon lads thru and thru

Kvesic went to Blundels? And is a '92 birth? Need to see if one of my best friends knows him then

Turns out they do. Small world

HongKongCherry wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Agreed, Britton (birth), Kvesic (schooled at Blundells), and Mills (upbringing) are all Devon lads thru and thru

You definitely have a point with Britton and Mills, but I'm not going to give you Kvesic, otherwise I'll claim Britton and Mills to be Glaws through and through due to attending Hartpury!

ok, how about they all played for Devon age-group sides?!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
Agreed, Britton (birth), Kvesic (schooled at Blundells), and Mills (upbringing) are all Devon lads thru and thru

You definitely have a point with Britton and Mills, but I'm not going to give you Kvesic, otherwise I'll claim Britton and Mills to be Glaws through and through due to attending Hartpury!

ok, how about they all played for Devon age-group sides?!

But then they stepped up from the 2nd XV...


On a serious note, what should be the point of measurement to gauge which area/club/country a player is deemed affiliated to? Is it birth, school or academy?

I've heard Toulon are sniffing around Francois Louw.
Not good news for Bath.

Can Toulon p!ss off please?

+1

It's a bit rum for the bathos to whinge about Toulon sniffing up their foreign mercenaries when they have tried to poach everything coming out of tigers except cockerills egghead

Whats worse is they want to throw money at the problem and sign him for the rest of the season!

I get why you would rather play in the south of France on the big bucks rather than a mid tier premiership team, but still, that seems cheeky seeing as he is under contract!

At leat Sexton signing for Racing means there'll be one less Top 14 team chasing Dan Carter for his sabbatical season. On the downside, he'll probably wind up taking it at Toulon when JW retires

If they're going for Louw and want him ASAP does this mean that Steffon is more likely to be coming back to England?

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:At leat Sexton signing for Racing means there'll be one less Top 14 team chasing Dan Carter for his sabbatical season. On the downside, he'll probably wind up taking it at Toulon when JW retires

I may be imagining things but I thought Carter was quoted as looking to go to Japan over Europe?

formerly known as Sam wrote:Latest Tigers rumours are. Stabiano as a replacement for Toulon bound Castro (short term option), Jamie Gibson (backrow versatility) and Steffon Armitage who is apparently keen on playing international rugby again.

Worryingly the Myler rumours continue but with Lamb set to leave Saints he might choose to stay.

First post, nice to see someone has picked this out from the Leicester Mercury.

Going by the article I doubt Steffon Armitage will join Tigers, as Julian Salvi has signed a new contract; however as Tigers have had a lot of injuries in that position in the past, they want good depth in that position, meaning Armitage and Gibson would be very good options.

yappysnap wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:At leat Sexton signing for Racing means there'll be one less Top 14 team chasing Dan Carter for his sabbatical season. On the downside, he'll probably wind up taking it at Toulon when JW retires

I may be imagining things but I thought Carter was quoted as looking to go to Japan over Europe?

Possibly - but that hasn't stopped the French from having a chat http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/8108403/French-clubs-chase-All-Blacks-first-five-Carter