The rumour mill

by nathan Fri 08 Mar 2013, 10:57 am

First topic message reminder :

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?

by formerly known as Sam Thu 02 May 2013, 4:22 pm

Combined with Fluffy that's a 42 stone front row of Samoan carnage. If It's not a fake rumour.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu 02 May 2013, 5:40 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Combined with Fluffy that's a 42 stone front row of Samoan carnage. If It's not a fake rumour.

All I will say, Sam, is Tom Smith & Paul Wallace Wink

by formerly known as Sam Thu 02 May 2013, 6:01 pm

Are they your Devon giant second rows?

We've got our own 6 foot 9 lock coming through and in the England under 20s. Don't think he'll ever be a heavy weight though he seems likely to be one hell of a lineout operator. Having said that the England website has him at 17 stone 8 and at just 20 he could add another half a stone as he finishes his physical development.

We also have 20 stone Balmain as a front row option.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu 02 May 2013, 6:52 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Are they your Devon giant second rows?

We've got our own 6 foot 9 lock coming through and in the England under 20s. Don't think he'll ever be a heavy weight though he seems likely to be one hell of a lineout operator. Having said that the England website has him at 17 stone 8 and at just 20 he could add another half a stone as he finishes his physical development.

We also have 20 stone Balmain as a front row option.

No, the relatively small prop pairing for the Lions in 97 who outdid their much-vaunted, much larger South African opposition

by formerly known as Sam Thu 02 May 2013, 7:45 pm

by **LondonTiger** Fri 03 May 2013, 11:34 am

London Wasps Squad Update
3 May 2013 11:24am

London Wasps can confirm a group of departing and arriving players following the end of the season.
The Club can also confirm today, a new signing at hooker with Neil Cochrane joining next season from Bedford. The former Scotland Under-21 international has previously played for Doncaster and Rotherham and has been a key part of the Bedford challenge in the RFU Championship this season.

The following players are confirmed as departing the Club

Tinus Du Plessis
Stephen Jones (retiring)
Chris Mayor
T Rhys Thomas
Jonathan Poff
Nick Robinson
Zak Taulafo
Lewis Thiede
Alex Rae
Lorenzo Romano
Billy Vunipola
Stuart Commins

The following players are so far confirmed as joining the Club

Matt Mullen (Worcester)
Andy Goode (Worcester)
Joe Carlisle (Worcester)
Jake Cooper-Woolley (Cardiff)
Nathan Hughes (Auckland)
Rory Pitman (Rotherham)
Josh Bassett (Bedford)
Neil Cochrane (Bedford)
Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks)
Jack Moates (London Irish)
Ed Jackson (London Welsh)

by formerly known as Sam Fri 03 May 2013, 2:49 pm

Nice recruitment by Wasps. Should give Dai Young a lot to work with next season.

by **profitius** Fri 03 May 2013, 4:13 pm

NZ U20 captain Jake Heenan is rumoured to be heading to Connacht. He plays openside.

I don't know if its as a non Irish player or if he is Irish qualified.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri 03 May 2013, 4:19 pm

Exe confirmed departures:

Si Alcott - retiring
Kevin Barrett - retiring
Richie Baxter - retiring
Chris Budgen - retiring
Junior Poluleuligaga - retiring

Gonzalo Camacho - ?
Neil Clark - Oyonnax
Myles Dorrian - London Irish
Mark Foster - ?
Ignacio Mieres - Wuss
Aly Muldowney - Connacht
Nic Sestaret - ?
Josh Tatupu - ?
Watisoni Votu - Perpignan

Confirmed joining for next season:

Dave Lewis - Glaws
Tom James - Cardiff Blues
Ceri Sweeney - Cardiff Blues

Still looking for a tighthead prop, a hooker, a gnarly second row/blindside flanker type, and a winger apparently. The rest of the gaps are filled by the academy lads coming thru

Chief

by formerly known as Sam Fri 03 May 2013, 4:42 pm

Camacho is at Tigers, to fill on a gap for you. No idea why we've signed him but we have.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri 03 May 2013, 5:07 pm

I saw that in the paper, Sam, so has it now formerly been announced by the club?

by Bathman_in_London Fri 03 May 2013, 5:18 pm

I thought you let Agulla go was because he was missing part of the season with Argentina Sam? Seems odd to replace like with like.

by LeinsterFan4life Fri 03 May 2013, 5:19 pm

I hear Fetu Vainikolo is joining Exeter.

by **LondonTiger** Fri 03 May 2013, 5:33 pm

Bathman_in_London wrote:I thought you let Agulla go was because he was missing part of the season with Argentina Sam? Seems odd to replace like with like.

We did, in part because Agulla wanted the same money for less time - but also because of the disruption. Camacho will only be cover rather than a starter so less disruption, still disagree with the signing though, and must have been cheap.

by jeffwinger Fri 03 May 2013, 6:40 pm

Will he be cheap? Good business for you if so but he's a full 4N international. When it was first announced he'd be leaving Exeter the talk was that he was looking for a big French deal. Can't see him settling for premiership squad player gametime and salary if those rumours were true.

by formerly known as Sam Fri 03 May 2013, 7:43 pm

Can't see us splashing out much on a winger to be honest we've got Benjamin, Thompstone, Morris, Goneva and Smith can also cover as wing options. We aren't short and have academy players who could and in my view should be used next season.

I think he looked towards France saw the Top 14 teams like Montpellier shedding a few Argentinean internationals and had to change his tune.

No signings are likely to be confirmed officially until after the season as that is how Tigers roll. Occasionally Cockers discusses one early but not that often.

by yappysnap Thu 09 May 2013, 12:15 pm

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet or not but the French are carrying on their trend of buying any Int wing known to man with Stade Francais securing Digby Ioane for two seasons. Because France have always struggled to produce talented French wings haven't they?!

Wallabies winger Digby Ioane will leave the Queensland Reds and Australian rugby later this year after signing a massive two-year contract with French glamour club Stade Francais.

It's understood Ioane will reap almost $2.5 million but the deal will severely endanger his chances of playing in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

by HammerofThunor Thu 09 May 2013, 12:16 pm

So that's about £830k

by yappysnap Thu 09 May 2013, 12:40 pm

Ah didnt realise it was as low a conversion as that

by aitchw Thu 09 May 2013, 12:57 pm

Hammer, I think it's more like £1.38m assuming it's Aussie dollars. 66p to a dollar.

by nathan Thu 09 May 2013, 1:18 pm

well to be precise it's £1,641,639.72

by aitchw Thu 09 May 2013, 1:49 pm

Think one of us needs a new calculator.

by Geordie Thu 09 May 2013, 1:53 pm

Well its more than im feckin getting!!! Erm

by **LondonTiger** Thu 09 May 2013, 2:03 pm

nathan wrote:well to be precise it's £1,641,639.72

at A$1.52 to the £1 I make it slightly more - but even so a lot of money.

I also estimate it is just under the 1M Euro a year mark that may (or may not) trigger the new higher rate tax in France.

by formerly known as Sam Thu 09 May 2013, 2:25 pm

Does that make him the highest paid player in France (like the tax knowledge by the way LT)? That seems and excessive amount of cash for a winger, albeit a good one. Surely their were home grown options at a small fraction of the cost available for the Morne Steyn kick chase.

by yappysnap Thu 09 May 2013, 2:26 pm

After all that it's still quite a lot!!

And to be honest I really don't rate Ione now, he's looked average this season and I don't really remember much from him last season either. Sure there are other wings as good as him in France already or Stade could try some academy boys (do French clubs have academies like the English teams?) All Digby can seem to do now is take contact badly, fail to offload and then pull a few silly/angry faces. The Ozzy commentators love him though.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu 09 May 2013, 2:39 pm

Confirmation of Fetu'u Vainikolo's move from Connact to Exe

Chief

by yappysnap Thu 09 May 2013, 3:27 pm

He is a quality wing, it'll be great to see him in the Prem and HC. Congrats Exeter on a good signing!

by HammerofThunor Thu 09 May 2013, 6:03 pm

I meant per year

by nathan Thu 09 May 2013, 8:53 pm

LondonTiger wrote:
nathan wrote:well to be precise it's £1,641,639.72

at A$1.52 to the £1 I make it slightly more - but even so a lot of money.

I also estimate it is just under the 1M Euro a year mark that may (or may not) trigger the new higher rate tax in France.

i used xe.com so i presume its correct.

by aitchw Thu 09 May 2013, 9:08 pm

Nathan, not really bothered but try multiplying £1,641,639.72 by 1.52. You won't get close to the A$2.1 m.

As others have said it's a hell of a pay packet in any case.

by nathan Thu 09 May 2013, 11:13 pm

aitchw wrote:Nathan, not really bothered but try multiplying £1,641,639.72 by 1.52. You won't get close to the A$2.1 m.

As others have said it's a hell of a pay packet in any case.

i thought he was being paid $2.5m not $2.1m (mentioned above)

by aitchw Fri 10 May 2013, 4:48 pm

Nathan, you're right! Put it down to a senior moment that went on a bit long. Eggs and faces, foot in mouth etc. Apologies.

by nathan Fri 10 May 2013, 5:26 pm

aitchw wrote:Nathan, you're right! Put it down to a senior moment that went on a bit long. Eggs and faces, foot in mouth etc. Apologies.

wouldn't worry about it, either way it will be more than i ever earn!!

by formerly known as Sam Sat 11 May 2013, 5:23 pm

Castro confirmed as going. No club named in his twitter statement though.

by formerly known as Sam Mon 13 May 2013, 9:28 am

Joe Ford signing on at Sale next season. At 22 he's young but has had plenty of first team exposure in his two spells at Leeds. Where does this leave Cipriani though?

by aitchw Mon 13 May 2013, 12:04 pm

Sorry Sam. Posted new thread as I didn't think to look in 'Rumours' thread 1st. Anyways, not exactly a rumour.

by Geordie Mon 13 May 2013, 12:08 pm

Aitch,
I really hope this isnt the start of Leeds breaking up...so many young players and an exciting brand of rugby. As i mentioned on the Falcons thread, if they can keep their players they will do seriously well next season.

by aitchw Mon 13 May 2013, 12:14 pm

Falcons know all about losing young talent. Bloody annoying isn't it?

by Geordie Mon 13 May 2013, 12:36 pm

Certainly is mate...

by formerly known as Sam Mon 13 May 2013, 1:46 pm

Leeds aren't the only team being harvested. Notts are losing two permanent and two DRs players they had offered contracts to, to LI. Duffey and the 10 are off to NZ and the outside centre Streather to Sarries. That's an awful lot of players to look to replace (6 starters and one regular bench option) and Tigers will send out some loanees but they will be guys 20 or under plus Bower if he signs on again.

Haag has a tough job this summer. Leeds will be hoping this isn't indicative as to what a good showing in the Championship means.

by aitchw Mon 13 May 2013, 2:00 pm

Whilst I have some sympathy for Notts it's not much. Notts have gone out on a limb to win promotion and it's backfired. It's debateable if they could have sustained it to be competitive in the Prem. We're trying to build a squad from young players from a number of sources because we have to have a sustainable model to work to. We'll get there but losing important squad members just makes it a harder and slower process.

by Fluxy Mon 13 May 2013, 3:07 pm

Jersey and Plymouth have both lost a number of players already for next year.

by formerly known as Sam Mon 13 May 2013, 3:15 pm

Have Notts gone out on a limb? Their squad appears to be paper thin, most of their players have been there for some time, have gone from Tigers on loan then stayed or moved away to have a shot at the prem then come back. Notts are just in no position to make money and despite then cutting loses the financial backer has decided It's not quick enough and he wants to share the burden with other investors.

It's not like they've gone for big money signings.

Leeds focus on youth is very positive but considering the pillaging of talented prospects Worcester has experienced in recent years is a touch risky. Interesting to see Worcester investing in experience this off season.

by ChequeredJersey Mon 13 May 2013, 5:29 pm

Are we signing anyone yet? Even with the youngsters we don't have a big enough squad to stay fresh for a 2 pronged attack especially with players (albeit not that many) on England duty

by formerly known as Sam Tue 14 May 2013, 12:50 pm

Camacho deal not done according to the man himself and his interview on the beeb. Can't say I'm disappointed we don't need him at Tigers really. Maybe Quins will take him back.

Elsewhere the rumours around Schuster continue as do the rumours linking Davit Kubriashvilli from Toulon to Tigers. We certainly have looked to France for a couple of signings recently so that may be in line.

Rumours are that Hamilton may sign on for one more year though I don't see the point in that despite him being a great servant previously.

by broadlandboy Tue 14 May 2013, 1:38 pm

Sam, I think Hamilton would be as cover, to me it seems that Leicester like to play with 2 15's,Tait/Morris.An injury or call up & IMHO Hamilton would be a good replacement. At the end it comes down to the £'s & whether he is considered value for money

by formerly known as Sam Tue 14 May 2013, 2:07 pm

We've got several free scoring wingers in the academy plus Thompstone, Benjamin and Goneva in the first team. Tait and Morris can play.15 as well as wing with Smith able to cover all. We don't need a 30 something 15 who can't challenge for a spot. I'd like to see us invest in a younger option.

by HongKongCherry Tue 14 May 2013, 4:32 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Camacho deal not done according to the man himself and his interview on the beeb. Can't say I'm disappointed we don't need him at Tigers really. Maybe Quins will take him back.

Elsewhere the rumours around Schuster continue as do the rumours linking Davit Kubriashvilli from Toulon to Tigers. We certainly have looked to France for a couple of signings recently so that may be in line.

Rumours are that Hamilton may sign on for one more year though I don't see the point in that despite him being a great servant previously.

Schuster is the prop I mentioned a while back that Glaws are also in for. I think its basically a case of if you don't sign him we will

by formerly known as Sam Tue 14 May 2013, 4:55 pm

Primarily a loosehead but can cover tighthead, has a couple of caps but needs to give his career a boost. Sounds a good option for either side HKC. You may well nip in first and get him as we'll need a new head coach before we round off our summer shopping. Whoever comes into look after the backs will no doubt have a few people in mind.

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