Transfers 2014/2015 Season

First topic message reminder :

Well silly season is almost upon us so thought I would keep tabs on the comings and goings.  Will put the confirmed transfers, unconfirmed transfers (rumours) and out of contract players into various columns.  Please post any news or rumours and I will keep the original post updated.

Confirmed
Jon Davies (Scarlets) to Clermont
Regan King (Clermont) to Scarlets
Ian Evans (Ospreys) to Toulon
John Afoa (Ulster) to Gloucester
Rory Kockott (Castres) to Toulon (reportedly trying to cancel deal to stay at Castres)
Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) to Gloucester
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) to Toulon
Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan) to Clermont
Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan) to Toulon
Robin Copeland (Blues) to Munster
Armitev (Northampton) to Russia (unconfirmed club)
Qera (Gloucester) to Toulouse
Casey Laulala (Munster to France (Club unconfirmed but thought to be Racing Metro)
Tom Court (Ulster) to London Irish
Andre Pretorius (Blues) to Worcester
Zac Guildford (New Zealand) to Clermont
Sivivatu (Clermont) to Castres
Aled Brew (Biarritz) to Dragons
Lee Byrne (Clermont) to Dragons
Dwayne Peel (Sale) to Bristol
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester) to Exeter
Dan Evans (Dragons) to Ospreys
Ieuan Jones (Dragons) to Blues
Jean-Philippe Genevois (Biarritz) to Perpignan
Benoit Cabello (Clermont) to Perpignan
Sakiusa Matadigo (Racing) to Perpignan
Jonathan Wisniewski (Racing) to Grenoble
Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) to Toulon
Josh Turnbull (Scarlets) to Blues
Nick Abendanon (Bath) to Clermont
Anthony Perenise (Bath) to Bristol
Craig Mitchell (Exeter) to Blues
Hoani Tui (Exeter) to Lyon
Tavis Knoyle (Gloucester) to Blues
Marland Yarde (London Irish) to Harlequins
Neil Cochrane (Wasps) to Edinburgh
Henry Thomas (Sale) to Bath
Josh Matavesi (Worcester) to Ospreys
Nick Auterac (Saracens) to Bath
Boris Stankovich (Leicester) to Dragons
Bradley Davies (Blues) to London Wasps
Moray Low (Glasgow) to Exeter
Chris Cussiter (Glasgow) to Sale
Matt Stevens (Saracens) to Sharks
Sam Smith (Harlequins) to Worcester
James Gaskell (Sale) to Wasps


Unconfirmed
Martin Moore (Leinster) to France
Freddie Burns (Gloucester) to Leicester
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys) to Leicester/Northampton/Dragons
Toby Flood (Leicester) to Toulon/Toulouse
Niki Genova (Leicester) to Castres
Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) to Japan
Anthony Allen (Leicester) to Leinster
Lote Tuquiri (Leinster) to Connacht
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) to Castres
Brice Dulin (Castres) to Racing Metro
Antonie Claassen (Castres) to Racing Metro
Eion Griffin (Connacht) to London Irish
Gavin Henson (Bath) to Dragons



Out of Contract
Adam Jones (Ospreys)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Rob Hawkins (Leicester)
Louis Deacon (Leicester)
Daniel Bowden (Leicester)
Scott Hamilton (Leicester)



Retiring
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Andrew Sheridan (Toulon - unconfirmed)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) - might be playing on for another season.
Sebastien Bruno (Toulon)
George Chuter (Leicester) moving to Worcester coaching
Johann Muller (Ulster)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester - unconfirmed)
Ian Gough (London Irish - unconfirmed)
Will James (Gloucester)

Surely Hudson will be moved on from Glos aswell. Tindall must be due for retirement, The Full back Morgan retired so that will free quite substantial funds.

News in recent hours suggest Halfpenny to Clermont is a done deal now.

Additionally Wasps are looking at Peel from Sale. Clearly Young is looking to bringing in a Welsh element at Wasps.

stnick88 wrote:Can't see JOC extending no. Can definitely see Yarde extending and some decent players coming in. Wonder whether Delon might return.

I am also wondering about Delo…there was an interesting twitter comment from him when Topsy renewed. Said something along the lines of 'hope there's some cash left for me!' It could have been hinting at something else, but it wouldn't surprise me. He said he could return before he had even left to join Toulon. I attended the interview with him in the lounge after his last game for the club and he said that if he had known BS was returning earlier he would never have agreed to leave.

i saw that twitter convo. thats what made me think of it originally.

Welshmushroom wrote:Any Gloucester fans shed some light on people out of contract.  I'm assuming Tindall is on his way to retirment but with the signings they have made already they must have to axe a few off the payroll to afford them.

Here you are:

Out of contract:
Dawiduik
Edmonds
George
Harden
Knight
James
Lokotui
Stooke
Cox
Hazell
Qera
Cowan
Burns
Bentley
Taylor
Mills
Tindall
Sharples
Simpson-Daniel
Thomas

Lots of players there HKC, who do you want to stay from that list?

HongKongCherry wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Any Gloucester fans shed some light on people out of contract.  I'm assuming Tindall is on his way to retirment but with the signings they have made already they must have to axe a few off the payroll to afford them.

Here you are:

Out of contract:
Dawiduik
Edmonds
George
Harden
Knight
James
Lokotui
Stooke
Cox
Hazell
Qera
Cowan
Burns
Bentley
Taylor
Mills
Tindall
Sharples
Simpson-Daniel
Thomas

Thanks thats a massive help - will add these to out of contract players later. BTW is that Martyn Thomas the full back or Yann Thomas the Prop?

Would have thought some of those will be retiring from rugby. Sharples, SD, Stooke & Cowan look like the noteable players on that list. Cowan though is rumoured to be on his way out. Is that money related or because of his performances for Gloucester?

If most of those are being cut loose that should give Gloucester some serious dosh to spend.

I think Cowan is money related - not worth it basically.

Tindall to coach woudl take him off the payroll

When was the Hibbard signing confirmed?

It's Martyn Thomas the fullback - he's been far better this year and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him retained.

I'd expect James and Hazell to retire. Tindall may, but he still adds something so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets one more year.

Cowan is down to money and performance, but mostly money. With Robson and Knoyle in competition I think Cowan has served his purpose and as he is very likely to be our marquee signing he could only stay if he dropped his salary significantly to allow for Afoa.

I should have added Olly Morgan to the list as he is officially off the payroll and his salary should add a fair chunk to sign someone.

Hibbard hasn't been confirmed by the club despite several papers doing so. I believe the contract is sown up, it is just a question of agreeing compensation with the Ospreys.

There was a report (I think it might have been in the BBC article saying Hibbard was leaving) that the Ospreys were willing to wave the contract breach to get rid. I'll see if I can find it. There were no quotes saying that from memory.

Welsh Magician wrote:When was the Hibbard signing confirmed?

They haven't

HongKongCherry wrote:It's Martyn Thomas the fullback - he's been far better this year and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him retained.

I'd expect James and Hazell to retire.  Tindall may, but he still adds something so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets one more year.

Cowan is down to money and performance, but mostly money.  With Robson and Knoyle in competition I think Cowan has served his purpose and as he is very likely to be our marquee signing he could only stay if he dropped his salary significantly to allow for Afoa.

I should have added Olly Morgan to the list as he is officially off the payroll and his salary should add a fair chunk to sign someone.

Hibbard hasn't been confirmed by the club despite several papers doing so.  I believe the contract is sown up, it is just a question of agreeing compensation with the Ospreys.

what about the rumours of Q to Wuss? do you think it may happen?

Didn't he get annoyed he wasn't in the HC squad?

Turnbull has been linked with the Blues today to cover the impending exit of both Warburton & Copeland. That will be a big loss for Scarlets if he goes.

Garry Gold to coach at London Irish??????

CJ Van der Linde confirmed to London Irish.

Welly wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:It's Martyn Thomas the fullback - he's been far better this year and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him retained.

I'd expect James and Hazell to retire.  Tindall may, but he still adds something so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets one more year.

Cowan is down to money and performance, but mostly money.  With Robson and Knoyle in competition I think Cowan has served his purpose and as he is very likely to be our marquee signing he could only stay if he dropped his salary significantly to allow for Afoa.

I should have added Olly Morgan to the list as he is officially off the payroll and his salary should add a fair chunk to sign someone.

Hibbard hasn't been confirmed by the club despite several papers doing so.  I believe the contract is sown up, it is just a question of agreeing compensation with the Ospreys.

what about the rumours of Q to Wuss? do you think it may happen?

Didn't he get annoyed he wasn't in the HC squad?

I'm 100% certain Q will leave, but not until the end of the season. We have a plethora of backrow players and despite the fact he is an outstanding player his departure would still leave us with Savage, Kalamafoni, Morgan, Kvesic, Moriarty, Evans, possibly Cox and the young England backrower Lewis Ludlow. His salary will no doubt go to fund the arrival of the likes of Hibbard. I'm sure he is disappointed by his omission from the recent HC game, as was I, but given our current plight in the league we're not likely to release a player to a team below us.

Brian smith is to talk to ewan mkenzie to work out a way JOC can stay at irish and play for australia and maybe play some super rugby too. Yarde also offered the contract he asked forr and smith hopeful he will sign soon. Great news for irish future looks bright

So Irish have signed Van der Linde.

Hopes to keep J'OC and Yarde

and are likely to be signing Tom Court and Donnacha Ryan.

Apprently been spending below £1.5million below the cap in recent years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10512479/London-Irish-hope-to-keep-Marland-Yarde-and-James-OConnor-as-takeover-edges-closer.html

Good luck to them.

From the BBC Re Burns renewing his contract dilema...

"At the minute it's one of those decisions I'm really struggling to make," Burns told BBC Gloucestershire.

Freddie Burns kicked two penalties on his England debut against New Zealand, a 38-21 win, and has 37 points from his three caps

"There's no doubt about it, it's affecting my performances slightly, which is why I want to get an answer from myself sooner rather than later.

"I'd go as far to say the last couple of months have probably been the toughest for me rugby wise."

Sorry, but why is this affecting him? What an absolutely rubbish excuse for having poor form. If anything it should be spurring him on to perform better...the possiblility of a contract with Tigers or renewing with Glos...if he keeps playing badly he might get neither!

GeordieFalcon wrote:From the BBC Re Burns renewing his contract dilema...

"At the minute it's one of those decisions I'm really struggling to make," Burns told BBC Gloucestershire.

Freddie Burns kicked two penalties on his England debut against New Zealand, a 38-21 win, and has 37 points from his three caps

"There's no doubt about it, it's affecting my performances slightly, which is why I want to get an answer from myself sooner rather than later.

"I'd go as far to say the last couple of months have probably been the toughest for me rugby wise."

Sorry, but why is this affecting him? What an absolutely rubbish excuse for having poor form. If anything it should be spurring him on to perform better...the possiblility of a contract with Tigers or renewing with Glos...if he keeps playing badly he might get neither!

So if you were in danger of loosing your job, or, say, you had a nice job offer somewhere new. Are you saying that it would not have an effect on your performance in your current job? Some people might get spurred on in those circumstances, but its easy to get unsettled and have it affect your job. Ultimately It doesnt help him either way though

But he's not in danger of losing his job!!...He's bound to get offered a new contract at Glos, thats a no brainer and may have the perk of a contract offer from Tigers.

Besides he's playing rugby, most peoples dream...get out on the pitch and play your game...top players can do that.

It certainly affected the form of one or two Irish players last season who were in the same boat. Having said that, Garvey and Lahiff were clearly spurred on either way. I guess different people react in different ways.

Does anyone have any links to reports of Warburton moving to Saints, saw it at the top and was a little surpried to say the least.

Quera to Toulouse as a medical joker for Llamboley is being rumoured.

Cowan to a French club

Casey Laulala is leaving Munster at the end of the season. Guess which club is being linked... Yep thats right Racing Metro of course. Who else?

Hasn't O'Ryan signed a new contract with the IRFU

Ryan* has indeed just signed a 3 year contract with Munster.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Casey Laulala is leaving Munster at the end of the season. Guess which club is being linked... Yep thats right Racing Metro of course. Who else?

Grenoble too.

South West Saint wrote:Does anyone have any links to reports of Warburton moving to Saints, saw it at the top and was a little surpried to say the least.

I heard that rumoured, but it is hard to believe. Back row is an area of strength for Saints. I would rather see them going for front row cover or an outside centre.

Are Pisi, Wilson and Waldouck not adequate OC cover doc? Personally I'd have thought a 10 would be high on the list again. Currently there is no real alternative to Myler, if he gets injured then there's no real cover.

Sam,
I think Waldouck will never get back to the level he played at Wasps. Too many injuries. In fact, he is injured again. Wilson is also injured. Pisi is a good player, but not sure how long he will remain at Saints.

Good point about backup to Myler. That was supposed to be Glen Dickson, but he can't get into any games. Mallinder and King are not very comfortable with him. Problem is where to go for a Fly Half? The academy has some talent, but a few years away. By the way, the Slade kid down at Exeter looks very solid and composed.....

doctor_grey wrote:Sam,
That was supposed to be Glen Dickson, but he can't get into any games.  Mallinder and King are not very comfortable with him.  Problem is where to go for a Fly Half?  The academy has some talent, but a few years away.  

What is happening with Dickson? Seemed a fair solid all rounder in the ITM but not trusted at all by the saints management.....

HongKongCherry wrote:

Welly wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:It's Martyn Thomas the fullback - he's been far better this year and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him retained.

I'd expect James and Hazell to retire.  Tindall may, but he still adds something so I wouldn't be surprised if he gets one more year.

Cowan is down to money and performance, but mostly money.  With Robson and Knoyle in competition I think Cowan has served his purpose and as he is very likely to be our marquee signing he could only stay if he dropped his salary significantly to allow for Afoa.

I should have added Olly Morgan to the list as he is officially off the payroll and his salary should add a fair chunk to sign someone.

Hibbard hasn't been confirmed by the club despite several papers doing so.  I believe the contract is sown up, it is just a question of agreeing compensation with the Ospreys.

what about the rumours of Q to Wuss? do you think it may happen?

Didn't he get annoyed he wasn't in the HC squad?

I'm 100% certain Q will leave, but not until the end of the season.  We have a plethora of backrow players and despite the fact he is an outstanding player his departure would still leave us with Savage, Kalamafoni, Morgan, Kvesic, Moriarty, Evans, possibly Cox and the young England backrower Lewis Ludlow.  His salary will no doubt go to fund the arrival of the likes of Hibbard.  I'm sure he is disappointed by his omission from the recent HC game, as was I, but given our current plight in the league we're not likely to release a player to a team below us.

Hmm, looking again I'm not sure that backrow has the embarrassment of riches it seems to. Savage I simply do not see the fuss about, Moriarty is very young, Evans and Cox so-so, Kvesic off-form etc. Wise to get a better hooker in but you'll need Morgan, Kalamafoni and Kvesic to stay fit I think.

Welly wrote:So Irish have signed Van der Linde.

Hopes to keep J'OC and Yarde

and are likely to be signing Tom Court and Donnacha Ryan.

Apprently been spending below £1.5million below the cap in recent years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10512479/London-Irish-hope-to-keep-Marland-Yarde-and-James-OConnor-as-takeover-edges-closer.html

Good luck to them.

I'm really not thrilled at Irish being turned into an extra province. Hope they keep bringing through English talent, they've been great in recent years.

Why not? Is the whole point of London Irish not to be a club for Irish players in London? Thats why it was founded and it has a history of some really great Irish players such as Mike Gibson, Tony O'Reilly and Simon Geoghegan.

If it was for nurturing English players it would be called London English. I jest of course but from my point of view it could be useful to have another province in another league.

I can see both Hood and Guns points.
London Irish, despite the name is an English club playing in the English premiership, with support from English institutions (RFU/PRL).
It was set up originally as you say for Irish or English players with an Irish ancestry. But now its a fully professional team that has opened its doors to all - which it had to do to survive in the pro era.
Its now a team with an Irish flavour so to speak - with more talent arriving from Ireland but I'm not sure it will ever be an extra region!

I'm not sure but does anyone know what the NEQ player quota is for the Prem teams/squads?
Does that include EU players or is there some law restricting that? I know there was some agreement about KOLPAK that didn't for example include saffers?

Qera & Armitev have both left with immediate effect from Gloucester and Northampton confirmed today and updated.

South West Saint wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:Sam,
That was supposed to be Glen Dickson, but he can't get into any games.  Mallinder and King are not very comfortable with him.  Problem is where to go for a Fly Half?  The academy has some talent, but a few years away.  

What is happening with Dickson? Seemed a fair solid all rounder in the ITM but not trusted at all by the saints management.....

Yes but the rumour doing the rouns is that Saints are also looking at Morgan at the Ospreys. Kid's got serious gas, can kick 50 metres and silky skills to boot. The only real thing holding him back is he's about 5ft so will be usless in defence. That said given his sheer attacking brilliance he could easily be the best signing Saints have made in the last 5 years if that turns out to be true.

To be honest hearing this news, part of me hoped the Dragons would come in for him if the Ospreys cut him loose.

Regarding Warburton, I hear Northampton are only outside contenders. They will accept his international release clauses for training and matches. Toulon ruled themselves out today for his signature as they wouldnt agree this part of his package. Warburton wont sign for them. So the real contenders emerging for Warburton are Clermont at this stage. Northampton probably only have a chance if Sam wants to play in the UK and avoid moving abroad.

Forgot about Armitev, he was quality for a while at Saints. Elliott took his spot though and they've never looked back.

Anyone else hear anything linking Johnny Beattie with Leicester?

Funny, but I haven't heard the Morgan rumour from my Saints mafia. They are usually pretty good but might be getting lazy before the holidays. I will have to make them an offer they can't refuse.

As I said, I don't think Saints need Warburton. Have plenty of quality in the back row. Shame Glen Dickson did not work out.

That's a new one on me George. We are certainly looking at 8s and he has played three times against Leicester in 5 months so the management will have seen what he can do. Crane and Waldrom are both out of contract in the summer and we have already been linked with Denton, Ewers (though he's staying at Exeter) and a big lump at Rotherham.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if we replaced both 8s as Crane has never reached his pre injury form and Waldrom just can't control the ball at the base and doesn't put in enough defensive graft.

PropDavid there are no defined NEQ quotas there are, however, RFU funded initiatives that offer funding in exchange for meeting certain EQ criteria. The EPS funding is also smoothed not completely shared out so there are financial advantages to keeping an EQ core and developing EQ players.

formerly known as Sam wrote:That's a new one on me George. We are certainly looking at 8s and he has played three times against Leicester in 5 months so the management will have seen what he can do. Crane and Waldrom are both out of contract in the summer and we have already been linked with Denton, Ewers (though he's staying at Exeter) and a big lump at Rotherham.

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if we replaced both 8s as Crane has never reached his pre injury form and Waldrom just can't control the ball at the base and doesn't put in enough defensive graft.

I think that Denton would be a good buy for you Sam. He will fit the Tigers ethos and his skills and technique will improve with the coaching staff you have. Having 17 Scotland caps at 23 isn't bad going - plenty to come from him yet. If you want to see some good stuff, watch the footage of him smashing through South Africans in the Quadrangular this past summer.

yappysnap wrote:Forgot about Armitev, he was quality for a while at Saints.

Decent and threatening enough going forward but poor to shocking in defense. Was nicknamed Vaseline on the old Saints forum due to his tackling ability.

I'm not wholly sold on Denton yet. He tends to play his best when with a hard 6 (Brown or Strockosh) and come in on his big carries off the 10s shoulder or amongst the centres. That's just not how Tigers operate. The 8 tends to carry far more off the 9 and is required to plough through traffic and make the hard yards, in defence It's all about the tight, rucking and mauling hard all game. There's no hard edged 6, the 6 is out in the wide channels targeting the oppositions strike runners and supporting the backs attacks (Croft and Mafi are our 1st and 2nd choice). He might well be a success but there's going to be some adapting required and he'll miss a third of every season with Scotland call ups.

I heard a rumour that Leicester Tigers might be signing the Newcastle Falcons academy after the successful signing of half of the Falcons academy already.

 

doctor_grey wrote:

South West Saint wrote:Does anyone have any links to reports of Warburton moving to Saints, saw it at the top and was a little surpried to say the least.

I heard that rumoured, but it is hard to believe.  Back row is an area of strength for Saints.  I would rather see them going for front row cover or an outside centre.  

I read about this too, seems every agent in Wales likes to link their client to Saints during contract negotiations.

I hope it's not true, agree with the stated reasons why Toulon didn't peruse him and if it is actually true then it must mean one of the current backrow is off in the summer. Not 100% sure but think all of Wood, Clark, Manoa, Dickinson, Van Velze & Dowson are out of contract at the end of this season. I know some are more squad players and that hopefully Wood & Clark would stay due to their international aspirations but imagine that Manoa could claim a very nice contract elsewhere, especially in France. Powerful ball carrying forward, compared to other NH players not many international commitments and coming to an age where he could be looking for a big long term contract (think he's 29 in March) to give him a good pension. Hope I'm worrying for no reason as he proved his value yet again in Dublin on Saturday.

Foden is also out of contract this year, hope he is not tempted by his celeb wife/friends to move to the big smoke. Hopefully he will look at Chris Ashton's fortunes since leaving FG and think better of it. He is however a bit of a wannabe tabloid celeb so you never know I guess.

Artful_Dodger wrote:I heard a rumour that Leicester Tigers might be signing the Newcastle Falcons academy after the successful signing of half of the Falcons academy already.

 

Think in Ally Hogg that for once the Falcons have a player that they can be confident that Tigers won't pinch for the number 8 position .