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...

That would be a great signing for Exe, although I heard Glaws were keen on him too.

Surprised that Mieres is leaving though, I guess Wuss just offered more.
Fits in with Richard Hill's new recruitment plan, apparently he is looking to focus less on the youngsters, make the team more successful so that the likes of Kvesic in the future would want to stay.

Mieres not interested in trying to play his way ahead of Steeno back into Exe's 10 shirt, so both he and club seem to reckon its better if he moves on - prefer committed players

Would be v happy with Rob Miller

Is Andy Goode really on 300k?

Sure that's not his weight?

Fair enough, I can't see Baxter having any time for that sort of attitude.

A future Miller vs Slade battle for the shirt would be interesting.

VictorU3 wrote:Is Andy Goode really on 300k?

Totally mis-read that as

VictorU3 wrote:Is Andy Goode really 300kg?

Andy Goode to Saints?

http://m.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/saints-linked-with-move-for-former-england-fly-half-goode-1-4765422

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Andy Goode to Saints?http://m.northantstelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/saints-linked-with-move-for-former-england-fly-half-goode-1-4765422

Thank you for ruining my day

I did say they could do worse. He has an impressive trophy collection and is Worcester's top points scorer.

True Sam

They could sign Cipriani. That would be worse.

Andy Goode would hardly solve Saints long term problems at 10 though.


Saints would do better to try and lure that proud Scotsman Heathcote to Franklins Gardens.

I dont think he would be a bad signing for Saints. The last thing they need is another flaky youngster. In a way its a shame he didnt move sooner, his kicking game combined with the now breaking up giant pack would surely have served them better than Lamb/ Gerharty?

McHeathcote has another year left at Bath thank you beshocked. Then the vultures, sorry fellow countrymen will be trying to lure him north I'm sure. Hopefully he will see that he can still play in his hometown and still play international rugby.

I heard something about Sione Timani (Scarlets & Tonga) to Bath? Not sure how true it is.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I heard something about Sione Timani (Scarlets & Tonga) to Bath? Not sure how true it is.

well he's out of contract this summer, and we are well stocked in that dept....seems that a lot of derwyn jones's (rugby agent) clients are linked with bath at the moment. guess he has previous dealing with the club having taken dominic day there last summer.

Pioden - I really hope that Timani stays where he is, because he has been the stand out forward for us in nearly every game he has played this season, especially at blindside. But I guess NWQ quotas and what not will probably have an influence in who stays and goes.

to be fair he's come a long way considering he was playing for carmarthen quins a few seasons ago. this summer was the 1st proper professional pre season under his belt. it's really showed with his performances, and he does offer us something nobody else does in the team. only really hard hitter and ball carrier we have at the moment.

http://m.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story.html?aid=18088838&category=sport

Tigers rule out big name signing as keeping the home grown talent has been expensive. Cockers also rules out bidding for young English talent as Tigers suffer enough call ups already.

Latest rumours are about us signing a chunky ball carrying French 7 from the French second division.

Joel Kofi is the French 7 and is mid twenties and a bit of a gamble but should be experienced but nothing certain yet. Jamie Gibson is apparently a done deal. Mele confirmed in the French press.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Joel Kofi is the French 7 and is mid twenties and a bit of a gamble but should be experienced but nothing certain yet. Jamie Gibson is apparently a done deal. Mele confirmed in the French press.

Who/what is Mele, Sam?? I'm behind the times

David Mele the Perpignan 9/10. A goal kicking scrum half that can also play 10. Was probably meant to be a quality foil for Ford but now will just be competition for Benny. I don't know why we don't use our 9s to kick more often as both Youngs and Harrison are both handy off the tee (both also played 10 at age grade). Obviously Cockers likes a certain type of 9.

Apparently Kennedy is definitely not going to Glaws after all, nor is Myall. We're apparently focusing on James Hudson and Ian Nagle

Hudson was quality a couple of seasons back, not sure if he's past his best now though. Kennedy may have been better...

Interesting the comments from Cockerill re the cost of paying for all his academy boys to stay, is part of it down to not winning as much as before so the players want more money instead as they're not getting the silverware like Tigers used to be able to offer? Disappointing to see Leicester signing more foreign players again.

HongKongCherry wrote:Apparently Kennedy is definitely not going to Glaws after all, nor is Myall. We're apparently focusing on James Hudson and Ian Nagle

Is there much substance to the Ian Nagle rumour? I know that he will almost certainly be leaving Munster this season. Would he see much gametime at glaws?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:Apparently Kennedy is definitely not going to Glaws after all, nor is Myall. We're apparently focusing on James Hudson and Ian Nagle

Is there much substance to the Ian Nagle rumour? I know that he will almost certainly be leaving Munster this season. Would he see much gametime at glaws?

I heard on a Glaws forum, which claimed to get it from a Munster forum. So probably just chinese whispers

yappysnap wrote:

Interesting the comments from Cockerill re the cost of paying for all his academy boys to stay, is part of it down to not winning as much as before so the players want more money instead as they're not getting the silverware like Tigers used to be able to offer? Disappointing to see Leicester signing more foreign players again.

That might be a factor but I think it's more a case of the number of players re-signing who will be on much more cash than they were before. For example the stock of Mafi, Parling, Ben Youngs and Tom Youngs has increased considerably since their last contracts, while Kitchener, Morris and Salvi have also improved. These figures are taken from TBTB (http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s103.htm?106,13746817,page=6) on the Tigers unoffy.

Back of an envelope guesstimates

Outbound
Scott Hamilton £150k
Rob Andrew £40k
Micky Young - £80k
Castro - £350k
Geordan Murphy - £200k
K Brookes - £60k
George Ford - £80k

Plus compo for Castro and GF maybe £300k?

= £1250k savings

New contracts:
Graham Kitchener +£50k
Steve Mafi +£150k
Niall Morris + £50k
Julian Salvi +£50k
Ben Youngs +£150k
Tom Youngs +£150k
Geoff Parling +£150k
Sebastien De Chaves +£40k

= £790k

Net £400k savings?

They are probably about right IMO. Given that Tigers need to sign:

A solid TH to be third choice (rumoured to be Staibano)
A 6/7/8 (Gibson has been unofficially confirmed)
A 7 (As Formerly known as Sam says Koffi has been mentioned)
A 9 (Mele)
And a solid 10

the cap is easily being filled. With other players potentially rising to the EPS it's understandable why Cockers doesn't want/ can't afford to bring in any internationals.

Interesting the comments from Cockerill re the cost of paying for all his academy boys to stay, is part of it down to not winning as much as before so the players want more money instead as they're not getting the silverware like Tigers used to be able to offer? Disappointing to see Leicester signing more foreign players again.

I don't think it's a trophy thing I think it is more that some players were on contracts well below their market value.

Tom Youngs signed his last contract as a Championship level hooker coming back to the prem. Is now first choice and an international.

Ben Youngs signed his last deal a while back I think shortly after his international debut. He's now the first choice for Tigers and England and the best 9 in the AP.

Mafi signed his contract at the end of his first season, before that first season he was only semi pro he is now a widely regarded player who reportedly turned down some tasty deals from France to stay.

Salvi went from Brumbies outcast to one of the APs top pilferers. At his Brumbies release most clubs had already filled their squads for the season so there wasn't that much demand. Different story this time as the only 7 at the club.

Kitchener is now a Saxons regular and seen as the long term replacement for Parling.

Parling has gone from solid AP player to being key to the lineout and first choice lineout merchant for England.

Morris is now a first team regular and had offers from Leinster and one other province before renewing.

That is all going to add up to some serious wage rises!

As for the foreigner thing we're in the market for a 7 (having unofficially got Gibson as well), a full back and a tighthead. I doubt any of those will be starters or threaten the players in those positions given that Cockers has said the budget is tight. Next seasons squad is looking like:

1. Ayerza*, Mulipola*, Stankovitch, Harris
2. T Youngs, Hawkins, Chuter, Stevens
3. Cole, +1, Balmain, Bower (I think Brookes is off)
4. Deacon, Slater, Cain, Wells
5. Parling, Kitchener, Chaves, Price
6. Croft, Mafi*, Deacon
7. Salvi*, Gibson, +1, Oliver (academy openside looks to have potential)
8. Crane, Waldrom, Noone*
9. B Youngs, Mele*, Harrison, Steele*
10. Flood, +1, Cornwall
11. Morris*, Benjamin, Goneva*
12. Allen, Bowden, Symonds
13. Manu, Smith, Forsyth
14. Thompstone, Lewington, Purdy
15. Tait, +1

Non EQ players are *. Tigers have provided 7 players for tomorrow and there's more options for England to pinch there. A couple of squad additions that will be there all year would help.

Interesting additions for the Glaws second row in Nagle and Hudson, should round out there pack nicely.

Morris and chaves are NEQ as well

Changed Morris but Chaves is eligible for Portugal, England and South Africa. Born in SA to an English mother and Portugese father.

http://m.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story.html?aid=17799536&category=sport

Ah, mea culpa

We've previously plundered the French second division and reserve teams as well as mid twenties one cap NZ wonders. Surely we can find a 10/15 from NZ if Miller opts for Chiefs. Kofi looks to be coming from the French league so just a tighthead to find. Has Mulipola got a brother?

I suspect hunting season will be on in a big way should either LI or Sale go down and the squad triming comes in.

3rd hand but Quins forum says Rugby paper was suggesting Clegg may be going back to Falcons or to Worcester

ChequeredJersey wrote:3rd hand but Quins forum says Rugby paper was suggesting Clegg may be going back to Falcons or to Worcester

That's what I'd read elsewhere too. I'm not sure if either move is right for him. He'd arguably be behind Mieres and Hodgson at Wuss and Falcons respectively and I feel he needs to go to a club where he'll be the clear 1st choice. The game time would allow him to develop into the player his potential showed. I don't think he'll benefit from being 2nd fiddle again. He could do a lot worse than spending a couple of seasons with the likes of Bristol, London Scottish or Bedford.

Clegg was really good a couple of seasons ago, he played most of the Amlin final where they beat Munster didn't he?

What's happened?

He'd be behind Goppereth and Hodgson at Falcons. Joel Hodgson looks a superstar.

Driver wrote:He'd be behind Goppereth and Hodgson at Falcons. Joel Hodgson looks a superstar.

Isn't Gopperth off to Japan?

Where did you hear that HKC?

And whats that in your OP Andy Goode to us? Or Rory Clegg...

Hodgson is developing nicely..but isnt 1st choice starter yet...with Deano bringing him through nicely...with Jimmy starting generally.

Maybe Deano is looking for another senior player to help bring Hodgson through as Jimmy is doing...and Goode is a quality premiership player and title winner. Who knows...but im not sure hes what i would want to see at 10 for us really.

In all honesty its all very quiet at KP...not much noise at all about players leaving or being brought in...

Edit:
Actually looks like Rory Clegg returning is almost done deal...with Jimmy off to Japan and Hudson leaving aswell - as good as off to Gloucester by all accounts
Not sure i want Clegg back...
Oh and Keiren Brookes to Bath is apparently as good as a done deal...

Meanwhile apparently we are also checking out Andy Saull and Adam Powell from Sarries...

With Will Welch do you need Andy Saull, or is Welch finally off to Tigers?

Cant see Welch going to Tigers actually..he's Captain of his home club...coming back to the prem..under a cracking coaching team...why leave?

We need competition at 7...we have fabulous strength in depth in the back row...but they are at 6 & 8...only have Welch at 7...and a young academy lad...who looks the biz..

I can dismiss the Andy Saull rumour as i'v heard Deano see's him as no better than Welch or Wilson.

Welch to tigers is total bull with them signing Jamie Gibson as a 7.

Glad to hear driver...havent heard Deanos interview about that...but i have to agree with him.....

Have the Tigers confirmed Gibson?

Unofficially.

Whoah, this is the first I've heard of Gibson. Any links Driver?

Don't worry, just read a few other posts on here regarding it. Interesting signing if it's true.

Gibson is Newby's replacement, meant to be cover for the entire backrow especially during the international period. There is supposedly another 7 on the way to replace Woods as well. Tigers have got some backrow squad reorganisation to do in the summer. Can't see us going after Welch after these comments though:

http://m.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story.html?aid=18088838&category=sport

That might cast some doubt over Gibson as well.

Heard that Sale might try and tempt Chuter into one more season with Tigers yet to offer a new deal with Tom Youngs, Hawkins, Stevens (ex England under 20) and England under 18s Harry Thacker.

http://www.rfu.com/squadsandplayers/englandunder18/harrythacker

read the george chuter link to sale this weekend.

also read that wasps, leicester, exeter , newcastle & scarlets are looking at american winger luke hume. he mainly plays on the 7's circuit, but did put in two MoM performances against Georgia and Italy last summer. has also played some league for the usa tomahawks.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Where did you hear that HKC?

And whats that in your OP Andy Goode to us? Or Rory Clegg...

Hodgson is developing nicely..but isnt 1st choice starter yet...with Deano bringing him through nicely...with Jimmy starting generally.

Maybe Deano is looking for another senior player to help bring Hodgson through as Jimmy is doing...and Goode is a quality premiership player and title winner. Who knows...but im not sure hes what i would want to see at 10 for us really.

In all honesty its all very quiet at KP...not much noise at all about players leaving or being brought in...

Edit:
Actually looks like Rory Clegg returning is almost done deal...with Jimmy off to Japan and Hudson leaving aswell - as good as off to Gloucester by all accounts
Not sure i want Clegg back...
Oh and Keiren Brookes to Bath is apparently as good as a done deal...

Meanwhile apparently we are also checking out Andy Saull and Adam Powell from Sarries...

Yes please, I always rated him as a player and if he could remain fit he would be a very good addition to our squad.

Jesus Sale must be desperate if they are chasing Chuter unless its in a player/coach/cipriani chaperone role

The relegation landscape has of course shifted over the last few weeks. Suddenly they are looking a lot less in the mire and LW are finding themselves back in a 3 way fight for the sh1tstick. That could have big implications for all threes ins and outs, makes it very hard for those clubs to commit to anything either way.

Actually i agree mate...when he first came on the scene he looked a very decent prospect...but seems to have lost his way a little.

I think Dean and Peter Russell could get him back on track...

I'm still holding out for Isreal Dagg.....


Seems a bit odd how we appoint Peter Russel who's all about attack in the backs but play a forwards based game plan?