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...

Eh, not sure we need or want PDJ, but in Connor we trust

A former England TH and an experienced prop who should be a bit cheaper than usual following an unfortunate spell at Saints.

Other rumours are:

Andy Goode Worcester - Dragons
Nicky Robinson Wasps - Dragons
Joe Carlisle Worcester - Wasps
Steffan Jones Dragons - Wasps/London Welsh

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/10192340.Dragons_chasing_ex_England_ace_Andy_Goode/

I could see the Nicky Robinson to the Dragons going well but I'd have thought Andy Goode would have had better offers in the AP.

I'd love Nicky Robinson to come to Dave. Argus reckon Goode is our preference though. I am not against that, but would prefer Robinson as he is Welsh.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I could see the Nicky Robinson to the Dragons going well but I'd have thought Andy Goode would have had better offers in the AP.

Let's be honest though who would realistically want to sign Andy Goode in the AP?

Perhaps Sale?

Re-sign for Leicester now it looks like Ford is leaving?

Maybe London Welsh but they have Tango Man and Gordon Ross.

Gloucester could do with a back up for Burns.


Why would Nicky Robinson leave Wasps?

Wasps have Jones and Bell on the books, Robinson is a definite second choice and signed on a costly contract from Glaws. He is set to be replaced by the younger and cheaper Carlisle from Worcester as well.

Goode might still sign a new deal at Wuss, back up 10 at Tigers, LW as Ross isn't so young anymore and Tango man has disappeared of late and let us not also forget Saints who are definitely in the market for a 10 with a reliable boot.

Good point about Robinson.

You think that Saints would seriously consider Andy Goode as their missing jigsaw piece 10?

You make good points though. I thought Worcester would want to re-sign to be honest.

I think Robinson would make a good second choice for most clubs, I guess the Dragons are one of the few that can promise him first team rugby. He will be a good signing for him. His goal kicking isn't great, but probably better than Robling or Jones.

Apparently Goode is on over £300k, so I think Wuss just want to get rid. Likeiwse, I'm aware that Robinson is the 3rd highest earner at Wasps (behind Jones and Haskell), so you do have to question whether a 2nd choice should be so expensive.

Beshocked you joke about Goode, but there has been a lot of speculation about him coming to Glaws. We do need a back up to Burns and it seems that Nigel Davies doesn't have the trust in Tim Taylor (who is now out for the season). The question is whether Ryan Mills or younger Burns are ready to take up that mantle. Personally I'd love to see Robinson come back to Glaws. The form he was showing in his last season for us was outstanding; the reason we got rid was due to his poor goal kicking, but now that we have the likes of Cook and 36 who can kick very well and don't occupy the 10 shirt we could take that pressure off him.

Over £300k for Andy Goode?

Nicky Robinson 3rd highest? Wow.

Sounds like fly halves are pretty highly paid then.

Andy Goode is very underrated. He has close to 20 international caps. He had bags of experience and has played for some very good clubs. Even at age 32 (same birthday, age, position and waist size as me) he would be a very decent sub to have imo.

GunsGerms wrote:Andy Goode is very underrated. He has close to 20 international caps. He had bags of experience and has played for some very good clubs. Even at age 32 (same birthday, age, position and waist size as me) he would be a very decent sub to have imo.

So you're a prop playing out of position too then?

beshocked wrote:Over £300k for Andy Goode?

Nicky Robinson 3rd highest? Wow.

Sounds like fly halves are pretty highly paid then.

Umm sounds a touch odd. he signed a three year deal when they were relegated, unless there was a clause in it that boosted his was to ridiculous proportions should they be promoted Id assume it was 300k over 3 years, if that figure hasnt been plucked out of thin air.
300k a year would make his pay the top marquee signings at the top Jeff clubs, like Castrogiovani...and it wouldnt put him much behind what Sextons been reportedly offered at Racing
I know he'd been playing in France but that does seem a touch OTT. Theres certainly no way Dragons could be looking at even coming close to that.

100k a year makes a lot more sense PSW.

I think a lot of teams could do worse than have Goode as their 2nd choice 10. He can control a game well and doesn't miss his kicks. Lets be honest Saints would do better with him at 10 than Myler or Lamb.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

beshocked wrote:Over £300k for Andy Goode?

Nicky Robinson 3rd highest? Wow.

Sounds like fly halves are pretty highly paid then.

Umm sounds a touch odd. he signed a three year deal when they were relegated, unless there was a clause in it that boosted his was to ridiculous proportions should they be promoted Id assume it was 300k over 3 years, if that figure hasnt been plucked out of thin air.
300k a year would make his pay the top marquee signings at the top Jeff clubs, like Castrogiovani...and it wouldnt put him much behind what Sextons been reportedly offered at Racing
I know he'd been playing in France but that does seem a touch OTT. Theres certainly no way Dragons could be looking at even coming close to that.

I've read that it was £300k a year in 2 sources. One was TRP and I can't for the life of me remember who the 2nd one was. There is no way he'd have only been on £100k a year as that's massively under the going rate for an experienced FH. Going back to the Wasps lot, I know that Jones is on c.£270k and Robinson c.£220k

Just read on a Glaws forum that the deal to sign Kennedy didn't happen after all.

But Kvesic has signed along with Myall from Sale. The most interesting bit though, which may rile a few Geordies, is that apparently James Hudson has signed too! I'd be amazed, but delighted if that's true.

So another ex Bath player joins Glaws...
Hudson is a very good player, although it seems a bit strange that he would leave just as Newcastle probably return to the premiership?

What??!!! Surely you jest!
Hudson gone?

That would leave us with Scott Macleod, Del Fava and Sean Tomes...oh and Frasier Wem currently at Tynedale i believe?

Very odd...but he hasnt actually played a huge number of games this season from my memory...with Macleod and Del Fava seemingly the prefered choice.....

Hudson is a spent force now , doesn't bring as much as he did

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Ink all but drying on the paper to keep Tom Johnson at Exeter, with an offer on the table for Scaysbrook which he is considering - all may become clearer after confirmation of the Kvesic move. Other players still out of contract include coach's brother Richie Baxter, scrum-half Kevin Barrett, ligind Budgie (356 yrs old), Gonzo Camacho, hooker Neil Clark, back-up playmaker Myles Dorrian, squad winger Mark Foster, bench loosehead prop Ben Moon, promising young no8 James Phillips, the ultimate squad man Junior Polu, Nic Sestaret, the conundrum that is Sireli Naqelevuki, the unluckiest man with injury in a Chiefs jersey Josh Tatupu, and ... I think that's it. Updates to follow!

Local lad Ben Moon and ball-carrying bruiser James Phillips have both agreed contract extensions - congrats lads

Interesting titbit on the RFU's England squad announcement:

http://www.rfu.com/news/2013/january/news-articles/310113_England_team_Scotland?utm_campaign=England+Team+to+play+Scotland&utm_groupid=1200009726&utm_source=email_LDH_241_0812

Replacements
16. Dylan Hartley (London Irish, 42 caps)
23. David Strettle (London Irish, 12 caps)

Brian Smith kept that one quiet!!!

No wonder, Strettle would be the biggest waste of money at LI one could imagine.

Summary of Tigers situation (thanks to Kornboy on the offy):

Rumoured Departures

Scott Hamilton Rob Andrew - to be replaced by Sebastien De Chaves Micky Young - possibly to Bath Martin Castrogiovanni - to Toulon. Transfer Fee negotiations ongoing. Geordan Murphy - retiring the likely move to Skills Coach Kieran Brookes - possibly to Bath George Ford - to Bath

Contracts Renewed

Graham Kitchener Steve Mafi Niall Morris Julian Salvi Ben Youngs Tom Youngs Geoff Parling

Rumoured Targets

David Mélé - Scrum Half/Fly Half - Perpignan. Mercury confirmed our interest. Likely to conclude the signing with departures of Ford and Young. Jamie Gibson - Back Row - London Irish. Mercury confirmed out interest. Matt Kvesic - Openside Flanker - Worcester Warriors. Believed to have signed for Gloucester. Anthony Watson - Full Back/Winger - London Irish. Believed to have signed for Bath. Alex Gray - No.8 - London Irish. John Barclay - Openside Flanker - Glasgow Warriors. Rumour been quiet for a while. Adam Thompson - Back Row - Otago Highlanders. Supposedly good friends with Craig Newby who has been pulling some strings - though would command substantial wage. Steffon Armitage - Openside Flanker - Toulon. Keen to gain a place in the England side for the home world cup, would need to return to England and would probably prefer a winning side looking for a 7. Mercury mentioned rumours. Jonathan Poff - Openside Flanker - London Wasps. Leigh Halfpenny - Fullback/Winger - Cardiff Blues. Mentioned as linked with many clubs. Tigers with likely departures of Murphy and Hamilton have funds available in the back 3 (especially with salary cap expansion). Stephen Myler - Fly Half - Northampton. Mentioned as possible target to replace Ford.

Signings Confirmed

Sebastien De Chaves - Believe he tweeted a 2 year contract before it being removed.

Bath have quashed the Louw rumours, which i assume means he has signed for a french club

Hopefully we haven't "quashed" them in the same way we quashed the signings of Ford and Joseph! If Frans goes, we're doomed

Tigers what is happening with micky young at tigers? how's he been doing?

Castro is off http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12509/8462749/Martin-Castrogiovanni-has-agreed-a-transfer-from-Leicester-to-Toulon

Beshocked it looks like Young is off to Bath he's ended up third choice and Tigers are set to sign a French 9/10 David Mele from Perpignan in the summer.

Does anybody know the Halfpenny contract situation? Someone told me a rumour was doing the rounds on Twitter he'll be wearing green, red and white next season. I don't use Twitter so I can't verify how good they are but they've made it to the Tigers offy as well.

Halfpenny would be the signing of the season if it was true. Gives Tigers everything that they need (and may be missing) in the backs and would mean that you can play who ever you want in the other positions.

It would be an unusual star signing giving us a big kicking presence at the back and two counter attacking fullbacks.

Not sure if it's all media/agent talk as Steffon Armitage rumours have even made the local paper and these type of signings aren't normally Tigers style.

Watson and Gibson are more Tigers style but it seems Watson is off to Bath (odd one given both Abendanon and Devoto have been playing well there) and the Gibson rumours are dying down making me think he's been pinched bt someone else.

Maybe theres finaly a recognition that they need genuinely top class players as well as damn good ones to kick on a gear in Europe. OK we (finally) made the knockouts again but the final still seems a hell of an ask. Players like Armitage and halfp would help that cause.
However if Castro has stayed that means no marquee signing. even if the cap does shift up a bit in line with the BT deal ( thats real right? I mean everyones sure it wont get challenged in court right?) if Tigers signed all 3 of those players it would surely push them into Saracens "no seriously, no-one is breaking the cap" terriotory

Castro is off, see the link above. That should free some 300k to 350k from the cap with a hefty transfer fee in the coffers to boot. Add whatever Murphy, Hamilton, Chuter, Thorpe and Brookes are on then knock off the cost of renewing the contracts listed above with Mele replacing Young and Chaves replacing Andrew. That should all mean we have some serious cash to spend this summer.

A 15 and a 7 must be on the list and investing in these areas along with some backup at tighthead (I wonder if Castro leaving means we can change Brookes mind). We've got a strong squad already we just need to fine tune. A really experienced 10/12 to help coach the backline ala Mauger or Howard (but older and cheaper) would be nice.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Castro is off http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12509/8462749/Martin-Castrogiovanni-has-agreed-a-transfer-from-Leicester-to-Toulon

Beshocked it looks like Young is off to Bath he's ended up third choice and Tigers are set to sign a French 9/10 David Mele from Perpignan in the summer.

Does anybody know the Halfpenny contract situation? Someone told me a rumour was doing the rounds on Twitter he'll be wearing green, red and white next season. I don't use Twitter so I can't verify how good they are but they've made it to the Tigers offy as well.

Halfpenny is out of contract.

But if you steal him, I will not be happy

I'd be well peed off (and I'm sure the whole of Wales would) if Halfpenny is next year running onto the pitch wearing green, red and white.

Morgannwg wrote:I'd be well peed off (and I'm sure the whole of Wales would) if Halfpenny is next year running onto the pitch wearing green, red and white.

I hate to tell you but ...

Spoiler:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:I'd be well peed off (and I'm sure the whole of Wales would) if Halfpenny is next year running onto the pitch wearing green, red and white.

I hate to tell you but ...

Spoiler:

wales606 wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:I'd be well peed off (and I'm sure the whole of Wales would) if Halfpenny is next year running onto the pitch wearing green, red and white.

I hate to tell you but ...

Spoiler:

Nooooooooooooo.

Very good PSW.

Would it be that bad if Halfpenny went to Tigers? He would be rotated with Tait and be playing in the HEC.

I'm not sure Sam, seeing as we're trying to improve a sinking regional ship I'd say yes. It will be a big loss for Blues, one of their best players.

I'm sure you have some new youngsters coming through at 15 though, there's seems to always be plenty of young talent in the regions.

Halfpenny and Steffon Armitage would be two amazing signings for Leicester, not sure if either will happen but they're just the sort of players needed for Tigers to do well in Europe and in the Prem.

We have certainly have lacked a little impact in the bigger games. Not sure it'll solve all our big game issues but it might help.

Agustin Creevy will join up with his Argentine colleagues, Leonardo Senatore and Ignacio Mieres, at Wuss next year, just as the Warriors have confirmed the loss of Matt Kvesic to Glaws. Slightly surprised that Mieres is leaving Exe with a year still on his contract, but have to believe that this will ultimately be a sound piece of business for Exe by Rob Baxter. Either there will be a replacement (hope it's not the rumoured Ryan Lamb) or else we'll see young Henry Slade fast-tracked thru. Mieres's departure has the benefit of freeing up a foreign player spot for Exe too

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Agustin Creevy will join up with his Argentine colleagues, Leonardo Senatore and Ignacio Mieres, at Wuss next year, just as the Warriors have confirmed the loss of Matt Kvesic to Glaws. Slightly surprised that Mieres is leaving Exe with a year still on his contract, but have to believe that this will ultimately be a sound piece of business for Exe by Rob Baxter. Either there will be a replacement (hope it's not the rumoured Ryan Lamb) or else we'll see young Henry Slade fast-tracked thru. Mieres's departure has the benefit of freeing up a foreign player spot for Exe too

Didn't see that coming ASBO, as a neutral (as much as anyone can be with The Chiefs, everyone second favourite club) i always rather liked watching Mieres play. Is there anything announced as to where he's going? or is the rumour mill in full swing?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/21348928

AlastairW wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Agustin Creevy will join up with his Argentine colleagues, Leonardo Senatore and Ignacio Mieres, at Wuss next year, just as the Warriors have confirmed the loss of Matt Kvesic to Glaws. Slightly surprised that Mieres is leaving Exe with a year still on his contract, but have to believe that this will ultimately be a sound piece of business for Exe by Rob Baxter. Either there will be a replacement (hope it's not the rumoured Ryan Lamb) or else we'll see young Henry Slade fast-tracked thru. Mieres's departure has the benefit of freeing up a foreign player spot for Exe too

Didn't see that coming ASBO, as a neutral (as much as anyone can be with The Chiefs, everyone second favourite club) i always rather liked watching Mieres play. Is there anything announced as to where he's going? or is the rumour mill in full swing?

He's off to Wuss where presumably he'll be competing with recently signed Paul Warwick. Does leave Andy Goode as surplus to requirements tho - at least the Warriors food bill should drop

Thanks gents. Yeah, that could spell the end of Andy Foode at Wuss, or atleast moved to second string.

Guy Armitage has signed for Irish for 2 years, after spending a season with us on loan from Toulon

Rumoured that Sale's Rob Miller is a potential candidate for Exe to replace Mieres

That's a cracking singing if it comes off. Could this see the end of Steenson though?

10.Miller
15.Arscott

22.Steeno/Slade