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)

Not sure why I quoted that...

There is no doubt that Yarde would be an expensive purchase for any club.
At this stage of his career though I wouldn't expect him to move to France/Japan ext. so his expectations should be limited to a realistic figure for English clubs.
The assumption is that he will join a club that has a lot of departing high profile players or join a club that sits well below the salary cap.

Gloucest might be able to afford if say Cowan is off but they have good back 3 cover anyway.
Quins would need a big name to leave as I believe they are spending up to the cap anyway - I wonder if Faasavalou retiring or PDJ going would free up the wedge.

Gut feeling is that London Irish would be offering the best deal with new investors and I believe running a squad well below the cap. The question is if he wants to leave Sunbury for a change of scenery or not.

Beshocked how much do you think Ashtons on? I guess it's between him and North as the highest paid wings in the league. Still can't see it being loads though. So many other positions demand more.

Yappysnap don't have a clue though I do think you're right.

If Yarde is going to cost a lot then he's not worth it. Focus your efforts on luring Adam Jones to Quins.

Exeter perhaps should look at him in my opinion. Wasps too.

My gut feeling having heard some of what is going on behind the scenes, is that Marland wants to stay at Irish.

beshocked wrote:Yappysnap don't have a clue though I do think you're right.

If Yarde is going to cost a lot then he's not worth it. Focus your efforts on luring Adam Jones to Quins.

Exeter perhaps should look at him in my opinion. Wasps too.

Yarde or Adam Jones, beshocked?

  Hoani Tui confirmed as leaving for Lyon at the end of the season. Good luck to the big man   

So Exeter may be in the market for a tighthead.

I guess thats why Exeter were looking at Martin Moore.

Ozzy3213 wrote:My gut feeling having heard some of what is going on behind the scenes, is that Marland wants to stay at Irish.

Hope you're right - my only worry is that if this was the case and we are offering good money, why isn't a deal already concluded?

SirBurger wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:My gut feeling having heard some of what is going on behind the scenes, is that Marland wants to stay at Irish.

Hope you're right - my only worry is that if this was the case and we are offering good money, why isn't a deal already concluded?

Have sent you a PM.   

Can you send me a PM too Ozzy if you can spill some beans please?

Mowen to France somewhere is the latest. Montpellier allegedly

I wonder if someday everyone will be playing the french league.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I wonder if someday everyone will be playing the french league.

It does seem to be heading that way, L4L, but one assumes that at some point that will squeeze native French players to such an extent that their national performances suffer, and then there will be a reversal/revolution

Guildford to Clermont almost done apparently

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/ben-mowen-to-quit-australian-rugby-20140109-30inm.html

Another test player moving to France in their prime.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I wonder if someday everyone will be playing the french league.

It does seem to be heading that way, L4L, but one assumes that at some point that will squeeze native French players to such an extent that their national performances suffer, and then there will be a reversal/revolution

To be fair most clubs are starting about 9 french players in any given week. Thats well over 100 between the 14 clubs and the second tier is of a reasonable quality too. The smattering of ancients like Dean Schofield still filling their pension books is more of a problem than the likes of Halfpenny going.

Frances problem really seems to be the same as Englands : getting the good players to step up another level. Do they have any kind of elite pathways system similar to the EPS? As far as Im aware its still an old fashioned pick a squad then they train together for a couple of weeks approach rather than the national team having a degree of control of players whilst at their clubs and no real integration between senior and age grade set ups.

I think the French have got a new EPS type agreement giving the French team more access to the players.

Bathman_in_London wrote:http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/ben-mowen-to-quit-australian-rugby-20140109-30inm.html

Another test player moving to France in their prime.

Well after reading the article I do have some sympathy. 7 months is a long time to spend away from your family with a kid that age, especially when there is a very well paid alternative

David Moffett to Wales.

Cardiff Blues wish to keep hold of some players and sign some new players.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25646696

and;

CARDIFF Blues are lining up a move for Newport Gwent Dragons back row forward Ieuan Jones, writes Chris Kirwan.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/10928331.Cardiff_Blues_look_to_snap_up_Dragons_forward_Ieuan_Jones/

sh*t off Kerrdiff.

munkian wrote:sh*t off Kerrdiff.

Charming.
Aren't called the cheque book charlies for nothing though.

There must be a no8 in training for them or amongst their feeder clubs ?

munkian wrote:There must be a no8 in training for them or amongst their feeder clubs ?

Depends on what they classify as a feeder club.....

Us, apparently

munkian wrote:There must be a no8 in training for them or amongst their feeder clubs ?

You said the "f" word.

That would be a really good signing, i've always said that the junior players need more game time. He wont get much next season at the dragons and Blues are in desperate need of an 8. Good on both side i would say.

Jhamer25 wrote:That would be a really good signing, i've always said that the junior players need more game time. He wont get much next season at the dragons and Blues are in desperate need of an 8. Good on both side i would say.

Agreed and Rhys Gill (Saracens) and Darren Allinson (London Irish) are a couple of Cardiff examples. Both have done well too.

Could be a successor / back up to Toby in the Wales team one day, if he gets regular game time. Regions are supposed to develop welsh talent, not have them gathering splinters on the bench. And as Toby never gets injured, Ieaun will hardly play at the Dragons. Even when Toby gets stretchered off in a brace he play the following week.

Good move for Wales and rugby in wales.

Of course its currently a step down to a lower team for Ieaun !

beshocked wrote:
If Yarde is going to cost a lot then he's not worth it. Focus your efforts on luring Adam Jones to Quins.

Absolutely not. We have two recent England u20 tightheads in Collier and Sinkler who need gametime. As good as Jones is/has been, he would be far too expensive for us to have just blocking two academy players who could both be exceptional, when he's not got long left

Everyone knows that Yarde won't be moving to France or Japan, which will mean that even Premiership clubs won't be under such pressure to raise their bids to compete. Monye and Williams don't have long left at their current level, and Yarde is probably better than both of them right now anyway - as much as I like Williams in particular. I would love to see a Yarde/Walker/Brown back three contracted for the next few years.

Adam Jones has on a number of occasions said he will not leave wales unless he's forced as he and his family are settled in Merthyr with his daughter in school and his wife setttled in her job as a deputy head or head master of a school and if he was forced to leave it would have to be in driving range of getting home to his family everyday

Iuean & Dan - gone

Waldrom is going to Exeter Chiefs.

Laurence Pearce the massive (20 stone) Rotherham 8 is being fought over by LI and Tigers. The Rotherham fan who posted in the offy forum described him as having more potential than other pre-Roth players Copeland, Dickinson and Dougall. He must be highly rated by their fans for that sort of fan fare.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Waldrom is going to Exeter Chiefs.

Laurence Pearce the massive (20 stone) Rotherham 8 is being fought over by LI and Tigers. The Rotherham fan who posted in the offy forum described him as having more potential than other pre-Roth players Copeland, Dickinson and Dougall. He must be highly rated by their fans for that sort of fan fare.

Waldrum is IMHO a huge loss for Tigers as of late he has added some oomph & go into our game when it has been flattening out. A personal favourite of mine and much prefered to Route 1 Crane who has done & offered little this season.

The issue I have with our 8s MT is that they both look better off the bench. Waldrom was pretty awful and showed no composure. His running game is certainly going to be missed though.

I'm not surprised that we are in for Pearce. Hala'ufia is on his last legs and we need a big ball carrier. Having got Eamonn Sheridan and Fergus Mulchrone from Rotherham in the summer we are also looking at winger/full back Michael Keating (who began with Leinster) and Charlie Mulchrone (scrum half) to join brother Fergus.

Cardiff Dave wrote:Cardiff Blues wish to keep hold of some players and sign some new players.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25646696

and;

CARDIFF Blues are lining up a move for Newport Gwent Dragons back row forward Ieuan Jones, writes Chris Kirwan.
http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/10928331.Cardiff_Blues_look_to_snap_up_Dragons_forward_Ieuan_Jones/

I was home for weekend and went to the game yesterday I did hear few mutterings on the terrace saying Blues were after him.

Dragon999
who dan evans?

Dragon999
who dan evans?

Jhamer25 wrote:Dragon999
who dan evans?

Correct - going to destination unknown at this time - Iuean - Blues

Dan evans would be a great signing for any team (ospreys should have looked at him) and makes more sense in regards to the byrne signing. Would be a huge loss though to the dragons and welsh rugby as he is still relatively young.

It is likely Dan Evans will go to the Blues.
I am sure there are a number of players who have been with the Dragons for a while with their contract ending this season that will want to leave the Dragons and make a fresh start. It's been a difficult few years and although better this season , the pack is still isn't up to it.

Don't think anyone apart from Iuean "wants" to leave Welshie - don't think they have a choice!

I am sure There are a number of players ready to leave for pastures new and will just have to wait and see what the next few months bring.  
I am sure It works both ways.  Those with their contract ending may want to leave and those are the players Lyn can easily release and use the money to build a stronger pack. Especially in those positions where there is more depth in the squad.

Thats a shame, maybe the blues or ospreys might b the better option. I wouldn't mind him back cause we only have 1 descent full back. Who knows, the ospreys might b the best destination

Lyn Jones has confirmed that Dan Evans will be released at the end of this season with Amos and Byrne as the fullbacks for next season

With Brew coming i have feeling some wingers will also be released

Johnnie Beattie to Castres

I'm pleased that we (Irish) are looking at Pearce, although it sounds like it is almost a done deal with Tigers. I'm very interested to see what the back five of our pack will look like next season. There are only two definites in there at the moment: Skivington and Cowan. With some top recruitment there is scope to make it a real area of strength.