The rumour mill

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ScarletSpiderman wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:Leicester Mercury reporter Martin Crowson stating in todays paper that Tigers are after Owen Williams as stand off for next season. Gutted if true, thought he'd push priestland for the starting spot for next season.

The Scarlets are going to have to pull out of the LV= Cup from now on as it is getting to be a bit of a joke now, we have a kid play well for us in it, and then before the season even finishes they get poached by the Jeff side that they helped beat.

That said I wonder how much game time Owen would have got at PYS next season, as we have Priestland as exepected first choice, and then Jordan Williams, Gareth Owen and now Steve Shingler to cover (plus Aled Thomas, if he stays, and Dan Newton too).

How many times has it happened now?

Knoyle to Glaws has left me bemused. I guess that Nige is a fan, but having spent a fortune to sign up Cowan and then Robson making good progress, signing up a NEQ SH does not make a whole lot of sense.

LondonTiger wrote:Knoyle to Glaws has left me bemused. I guess that Nige is a fan, but having spent a fortune to sign up Cowan and then Robson making good progress, signing up a NEQ SH does not make a whole lot of sense.

I have to agree LT. Knoyle is a good player and under normal circumstances I'd be delighted, but Robson has huge potential and needs to be given game time and Cowan brings a level of experience our side desperately needs at times. Nigel Davies has spoken in the past about having 3 top players competing for a spot and he's certainly got it here, but as long as it is not at the detriment of Robson's development. Furthermore, whilst we needed another 9 with Dave Lewis heading to Exeter, I just hope the salary Knoyle is on is not eating into our budget too much. I'd far rather the money be spent on a front 5 forward; there is some talk that we're in for a decent TH - apparently its one of the ones Tigers are in for to replace Castro, we'll get the one you don't get! There are some even more ludicrous stories linking us to Adam Jones! But I can't see any of that happening, as we just need a 3rd choice TH top replace the departing Chistolini.

Well HKC Tigers are in for two props who can play both sides according to the rumours, one is Schuster from Perpignan the other is an unnamed monster supposedly bigger than Mulipola but rather raw. I suspect we're in for the unnamed monster whether Castro stays or goes but Schuster may be the one that is seen as a replacement (albeit a cheaper one).

probably old news but understand that castro has bought back himself his last contract year with Leicester to allow him to move to Toulon? any truth in that?

whocares wrote:probably old news but understand that castro has bought back himself his last contract year with Leicester to allow him to move to Toulon? any truth in that?

i've heard nothing along those lines.

It would be an option for Castro. Tigers have refused to release him and Toulon have complained about paying the transfer fee and Castro's wages so Castro would take a hit in the first season for gains in the latter years. Given that I've heard figures as high as 600k a year thrown around and his Tigers contract is around 350k a season he would not be too badly off and a 3 year deal at Toulon would see his bank balance alright in the end.

This whole affair has dragged on for a while now and looks almost dead, it would need something like this to speed things up again.

Bath to announce signings of Sisi and Watson from Irish today, with more young England age group players on the way apparently

Still think Watson would have been better served staying at LI where he would actually have had significant game-time.

has saints martin Roberts announced who he's signing for yet? heard that he is heading to bath. possibly a replacement for claassens?

Hearing a lot of rumours this morning about a Leeds player who is generating a lot of interest from both French and English clubs. Known only as Bus, he is rumoured to be a master of big hits (ask Cipriani) and is a typical pick up and go No.8.

Bloomin hell Bath have gone a little OTT with their signings!

Although they're probably quite cheap at the moment, I can't see them managing to retain the likes of Sisi, Watson, Ford, Heathcote, Banahan, Edmonds etc if they all start getting Int recognition or carry on improving at the rate that they are, they'll want pay rises and Bath must be right at the cap now.

Especially as they have other Internationals like Louw, Wilson, P James, Webber and Attwood in there as well. Not to mention potentials in Catt, Mercer and Fearns.

There are a few young Leeds forwards who would interest more senior clubs - most notably Jacob Rowan and Dom Barrow

LondonTiger wrote:There are a few young Leeds forwards who would interest more senior clubs - most notably Jacob Rowan and Dom Barrow

think coleman alluding to this:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22290900

Aye, I had not seen that story till now. Egg on my face

LondonTiger wrote:Aye, I had not seen that story till now. Egg on my face

To be fair LT I fell for it too - only when I googled "Leeds rugby Bus" that the article came up.

Don't know why they'd be in Leeds for a night out unless off course it was on Danny Care's recommendation.

LT, please don't go giving the AP clubs ideas about our youngsters, we need them for next season.

LondonTiger wrote:Aye, I had not seen that story till now. Egg on my face

Better than bus on your face, LT

Wasps have confirmed the signing of no.8 Ed Jackson (poorly kept secret). When I used to watch him for Bath United, there seem to be the feeling that he would go on to challenge for Saxon/ England honours. If he has a good season with Wasps who knows?

http://www.wasps.co.uk/news/wasps33824.ink

Bath are gonna have an interesting side next season.

Sisi's LI's no.8 isnt he. So Taylor and Skirving could be on their way.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Bath are gonna have an interesting side next season.

Sisi's LI's no.8 isnt he. So Taylor and Skirving could be on their way.

Departure of both Taylor and Skirving already announced I think

Sisi has played all across the back-row, I reckon he'll end up splitting his time between no.8. The kid is massive, 6ft 4in and 19 stone. Even with the departures I worry that he will not be able to get as much game time at Bath as he would have at Irish though.

I reckon Bath United matches might be good fun next season! I go anyway, but I would go just to see Watson in action.

Sisi played about 2 games for Irish. has been injured a lot but i doubt would have played anyway even if fit.

he was struggling for game time at irish so will probably struggle even more at Bath.

I know he's had a significant time out injure but Irish are losing Jamie Gibson, Alex Gray and Matt Garvey and I expected (before I knew he was leaving Irish) that Sisi would get a lot more game time next season (even if it was off the bench).

Personally losing Garvey is the biggest blow there. Followed by losing both Corbs AND his replacement Lahiff.

Attwood and Garvey in the engine room is gonna be some serious power!

LondonTiger wrote:There are a few young Leeds forwards who would interest more senior clubs - most notably Jacob Rowan and Dom Barrow

I know you missed the point LT, but I am amazed no one came in for Rowan. He's signed a 2 year extension at Leeds this year, but I'd have thought he'd have been an excellent understudy for Salvi.

Tigers were after a direct replacement for Newby, the ability to cover 6 and 8 as well as jump in the lineout made Gibson the ideal choice in that respect.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers were after a direct replacement for Newby, the ability to cover 6 and 8 as well as jump in the lineout made Gibson the ideal choice in that respect.

Of course Rowan is currently playing N08 for Leeds, even if he is really a 7. Not seen enough of Gibson to know either way how he is.

I didn't realise Rowan was that versatile, I had heard he was a key player up at Leeds. Gibson seems to be Newby minus the experience, give him a season under the tutelage of Cockers, Salvi and Louis Deacon and I think he will start to be a really good younger player. He's tall, strong and mobile he just needs to develop his rugby skill set. At 6 foot 5 ish he's a tad tall for 7 so he's going to need to work his body positions just like Newby did after he joined.

Because of really tight financial restrictions Carnegie are doing their best to hang on to the youngsters, it's the only way we can hope to build a squad for the AP. Lads like Rowan and Barrow are key to that.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I didn't realise Rowan was that versatile, I had heard he was a key player up at Leeds. Gibson seems to be Newby minus the experience, give him a season under the tutelage of Cockers, Salvi and Louis Deacon and I think he will start to be a really good younger player. He's tall, strong and mobile he just needs to develop his rugby skill set. At 6 foot 5 ish he's a tad tall for 7 so he's going to need to work his body positions just like Newby did after he joined.

I really don't see the potential in Gibson, looks a poor man's Croft - willowy, similar frame but very few of his positive attributes. He's not great at carrying, not great on the deck, not brilliant defensively but probably a good lineout option. I'm sure he'll improve at Tigers but I'm not confident he'll be a regular starter at any point.

Oh and I really cannot see Gibson covering 8.

Hood83 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:I didn't realise Rowan was that versatile, I had heard he was a key player up at Leeds. Gibson seems to be Newby minus the experience, give him a season under the tutelage of Cockers, Salvi and Louis Deacon and I think he will start to be a really good younger player. He's tall, strong and mobile he just needs to develop his rugby skill set. At 6 foot 5 ish he's a tad tall for 7 so he's going to need to work his body positions just like Newby did after he joined.

I really don't see the potential in Gibson, looks a poor man's Croft - willowy, similar frame but very few of his positive attributes. He's not great at carrying, not great on the deck, not brilliant defensively but probably a good lineout option. I'm sure he'll improve at Tigers but I'm not confident he'll be a regular starter at any point.

His best attributes certainly are in the air. Lineouts are a strength, but charging down kicks and winning restarts are his forte. He is a decent ball-winner on the floor for a man of his size, but certainly not outstanding. If he can work on his carrying and defensive work-rate then you have a fine player. Currently I think that is a bit of an IF though.

Croft, Mafi and Gibson together would be amazing in the lineout but potentially the lightest forwards in the AP

yappysnap wrote:Croft, Mafi and Gibson together would be amazing in the lineout but potentially the lightest forwards in the AP

They could then play Deacon & Slater as a bruising second row combo but I think Dan Cole would have to up his breakdown work even more to compensate .

We've become quite good at taking players that have seen their abilities plateau and then pushing them on to improve. Thompstone, Morris and Allen all came as decent players and are now very good players. Mafi and Slater arrived as semi pro level players and are now internationals. I hope we can do a job with Gibson he has potential.

First choice/second choice

1. Ayerza/ Mulipola
2. T Youngs/Briggs
3. Cole/Castro?
4. Slater/Deacon
5. Parling/Kitchener
6. Croft/Mafi
7. Salvi/Gibson
8. Crane/Waldrom

Not bad that.

HKC looks like the TH you're chasing is Scarlets youngster Samson Lee:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

formerly known as Sam wrote:We've become quite good at taking players that have seen their abilities plateau and then pushing them on to improve. Thompstone, Morris and Allen all came as decent players and are now very good players. Mafi and Slater arrived as semi pro level players and are now internationals. I hope we can do a job with Gibson he has potential.

First choice/second choice

1. Ayerza/ Mulipola
2. T Youngs/Briggs
3. Cole/Castro?
4. Slater/Deacon
5. Parling/Kitchener
6. Croft/Mafi
7. Salvi/Gibson
8. Crane/Waldrom

Not bad that.

That's true, players do often kick on at Tigers, but Thompstone was very good at Irish and Allen, although more rounded and better defensively, I don't think has the attacking spark he had at Glos. I definitely think improvements are seen more in forwards so maybe Gibson will kick on massively.

pioden gorllewin wrote:HKC looks like the TH you're chasing is Scarlets youngster Samson Lee:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

Wouldn't like to see Knight and Harden pushed down the list, both EQ. Knight still looks a mixed bad to me - sometimes v good, sometimes awful, and he looks poorly conditioned as well. But is this Lee guy any better?

Digby Ioane is apparently very close to sign for a french club according to the Australian .

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/digby-ioane-to-sign-deal-with-french-club-within-days/story-e6frg7o6-1226629599708

It is understood Ioane would have considered offers from other Australian Super Rugby teams but he has a separate agreement with the Reds that if he played in Australia next year, it would be with Queensland.
However, relations between Ioane and the Reds have deteriorated to such an extent over the handling of a dispute about a third-party payment and the player's conduct that there is believed to be no chance he would reconsider his decision to leave.

whocares wrote:Digby Ioane is apparently very close to sign for a french club according to the Australian .

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/digby-ioane-to-sign-deal-with-french-club-within-days/story-e6frg7o6-1226629599708

It is understood Ioane would have considered offers from other Australian Super Rugby teams but he has a separate agreement with the Reds that if he played in Australia next year, it would be with Queensland.
However, relations between Ioane and the Reds have deteriorated to such an extent over the handling of a dispute about a third-party payment and the player's conduct that there is believed to be no chance he would reconsider his decision to leave.

I've read rumours that it's Stade Francais, would LOVE if he came to Leinster...

he would be wasted at Stade Français having to wait for Morne Steyne to pass him the ball...
wonder if Leinster could have waited a bit more before signing Zak Kirchner.

Digby Ioane seems to be a bit of a maverick, not sure how he would cope with Paris or Dublin nightlife though...

Hood83 wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:HKC looks like the TH you're chasing is Scarlets youngster Samson Lee:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

Wouldn't like to see Knight and Harden pushed down the list, both EQ. Knight still looks a mixed bad to me - sometimes v good, sometimes awful, and he looks poorly conditioned as well. But is this Lee guy any better?

Promising EQ prospects like Robson, Harden and Knight are potentially having their development stunted by Nigel Davies raiding his former team.

LondonTiger wrote:

Hood83 wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:HKC looks like the TH you're chasing is Scarlets youngster Samson Lee:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

Wouldn't like to see Knight and Harden pushed down the list, both EQ. Knight still looks a mixed bad to me - sometimes v good, sometimes awful, and he looks poorly conditioned as well. But is this Lee guy any better?

Promising EQ prospects like Robson, Harden and Knight are potentially having their development stunted by Nigel Davies raiding his former team.

Lee was impressive in under 20 world championship, took the Baby All Blacks front row apart. Pretty much has carried that on for the Scarlets this season (apart from one bad game) He's from a travelling back ground and with red hair and a fiery temperament. Prides himself on his scrimmaging but also carries well, next in line to Adam Jones throne for the Welsh TH jersey in my opinion. Signed a 5 year contract with us last season, so it would take a huge sum to buy him out of his contract.

LondonTiger wrote:

Hood83 wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:HKC looks like the TH you're chasing is Scarlets youngster Samson Lee:

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

Wouldn't like to see Knight and Harden pushed down the list, both EQ. Knight still looks a mixed bad to me - sometimes v good, sometimes awful, and he looks poorly conditioned as well. But is this Lee guy any better?

Promising EQ prospects like Robson, Harden and Knight are potentially having their development stunted by Nigel Davies raiding his former team.

I was asking the question on a Glaws forum recently about had we been linked to Lee, so I'm not surprised by this. Personally I don't feel having Lee will stunt Harden or Knight's progression. The very nature of prop forwards mean the subs will always come on and there will be a fair amount of rotation, so they should all get decent game time. Tigers have shown the value of strength in depth at prop. I feel slightly different about SH, as there isn't as much rotation here and substitutions can affect the momentum of the game. Having said all of that, one of Glaws' problems in recent years since we decided to stick to the salary cap is that we lacked strength in depth, so Knoyle's arrival and hopefully Lee's too will give us the SID we need.

Richie Gray to Castres

Sale fans won't be mourning his departure, he was not value for money and they might have been able to get a bit of a transfer fee for him.

Tweet on the BBC rugby site
'Sale Sharks sign Michael Paterson, Kirill Kulemin and Charlie Walker-Blair'

Paterson departure confirmed by the Blues, gutted.

The BBC call Paterson a no8 because he played there for the first ever time last week - their journalists know nothing about rugby.

The Blues press release even states he is a lock/6