Transfers 2014/2015 Season

by Welshmushroom Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:42 am

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)

by GunsGerms Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:49 am

profitius wrote:Murray has signed a 2 year deal with Munster.

Great news.

by Impossible Standards Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:52 am

Are there going to be any French players in France next year???

by GunsGerms Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:58 am

Impossible Standards wrote:Are there going to be any French players in France next year???

Its fairly rare that the best French players move elsewhere. The whole france squad plays in France now whereas in the past there were a few abroad.

Betson - Wasps
Castagnede - Saracens
Michelak - Natal Sharks
Chabal - Sale
Dupuy - Leicester

In fact there is only one French player playing in the AP, David Mele SH at Leicester and Benoît Bourrust prop at Cardiff the only one in the Rabo.

by HammerofThunor Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:02 am

I wonder if it's similar to the issues in the Premiership of yester-year?

Their were often comments of increasing numbers of foriegn players joining the league, reducing chances for English players, etc. But the NEQ player numbers stayed roughly about 65% for years. Thing is you hear about the foreigners coming in (especially the big name ones, that's part of the point, to generate talk). You rarely hear about the foreigners who shuffle out, other than the really big names.

Somebody should crunch the numbers of over the last decade.

by yappysnap Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:14 am

Gloucester must be losing a lot of players to be able to pay Afoa £500k a season. Even if he's the marquee that's still only half covered!

by Impossible Standards Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:22 am

Rumour - Ryan Jones to the Dragons.

by Mickado Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:40 am

Conor Murray has just signed a new 2 year deal with Munster.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:47 am

Rumours
Sharples(Glous) ---> Leicester
Yarde (LIrish) ---> Bath

by geoff998rugby Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:48 am

Thats a biggy.

That leaves Ryan, SOB and Heaslip as players who may leave Ireland.
If we keep 2 of those I'll be happy as it would mean Irish players leaving would be a trickle rather than the flood leaving Wales

by Mickado Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:49 am

geoff998rugby wrote:Thats a biggy.

That leaves Ryan, SOB and Heaslip as players who may leave Ireland.
If we keep 2 of those I'll be happy as it would mean Irish players leaving would be a trickle rather than the flood leaving Wales

Well if it's all the same, then we'll keep SOB and Heaslip, we lost one Lion this year, and are losing another for next year.

by yappysnap Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:25 pm

Welly wrote: Rumours
Sharples(Glous) ---> Leicester
Yarde (LIrish) ---> Bath

Hhmmm I know Hamilton is leaving Tigers but Sharples seems an overly pricey replacement.

The Yarde rumour I can believe though, especially as Bath may have more money if Eastmond does go back to league.

by HongKongCherry Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:42 pm

yappysnap wrote:Gloucester must be losing a lot of players to be able to pay Afoa £500k a season. Even if he's the marquee that's still only half covered!

That figure has come out of NZ rather than anywhere else, so I really doubt it is true. Given Glaws' financial prudence it is unlikely we'd go to such extremes for one player. The figures I've heard on the grapevine are closer to £350k.

by stnick88 Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:53 pm

the Yarde to Bath rumours has been going around for ages. its lazy journalism as joseph and watson went there. he is most likely to re-sign at irish providing they get a couple of wins soon to pull further away from worcester.

by yappysnap Tue Dec 10, 2013 1:00 pm

£350k is still a neck of a lot, how good is Afoa really?

by Welshmushroom Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:56 pm

Updated the Murray link.

Also updated the Munster transfer for Copeland who has signed from the Blues.

by HongKongCherry Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:19 pm

yappysnap wrote:£350k is still a neck of a lot, how good is Afoa really?

He's a lot better than we have at the moment! Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay; given this was our major deficiency the salary is justifiable.

by Driver Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:27 pm

GunsGerms wrote:
Impossible Standards wrote:Are there going to be any French players in France next year???

Its fairly rare that the best French players move elsewhere. The whole france squad plays in France now whereas in the past there were a few abroad.

Betson - Wasps
Castagnede - Saracens
Michelak - Natal Sharks
Chabal - Sale
Dupuy - Leicester

In fact there is only one French player playing in the AP, David Mele SH at Leicester and Benoît Bourrust prop at Cardiff the only one in the Rabo.

Frank Montella at Newcastle Falcons

by GunsGerms Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:33 pm

Driver wrote:
GunsGerms wrote:
Impossible Standards wrote:Are there going to be any French players in France next year???

Its fairly rare that the best French players move elsewhere. The whole france squad plays in France now whereas in the past there were a few abroad.

Betson - Wasps
Castagnede - Saracens
Michelak - Natal Sharks
Chabal - Sale
Dupuy - Leicester

In fact there is only one French player playing in the AP, David Mele SH at Leicester and Benoît Bourrust prop at Cardiff the only one in the Rabo.

Frank Montella at Newcastle Falcons

Missed that one. Dont think there are many others. In anycase none are big names. Not sure too many people have heard of those guys.

by Artful_Dodger Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:39 pm

£350k is what Afoa was on at Ulster - Gloucester will be paying more than that.

by Comfort Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:57 pm

Afoa and Hibbard, thats 2/3's of a very physical/dynamic front row! Healy for loosehead maybe? Jheez Glos, jheez.

by Driver Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:59 pm

He hasn't played much for Falcons to be fair , he's on the physio bed for a while.

by BigTrevsbigmac Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:05 pm

Guns -

Ibanez at Wasps

by GunsGerms Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:15 pm

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Guns -

Ibanez at Wasps

Yeah he was a top name when at Wasps for sure.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:34 pm

yappysnap wrote:
Welly wrote: Rumours
Sharples(Glous) ---> Leicester
Yarde (LIrish) ---> Bath

Hhmmm I know Hamilton is leaving Tigers but Sharples seems an overly pricey replacement.

The Yarde rumour I can believe though, especially as Bath may have more money if Eastmond does go back to league.

Goneva and Hamilton maybe leaving.

by formerly known as Sam Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:38 pm

Kayser played for Tigers and as soon as we had him up to international standard the pesky French came calling and nicked him back.

We have the prop Jerome Schuster at Tigers, he's apparently struggling with his fitness and the new scrum laws so give it another couple of months for us to sort him out and he'll no doubt be a good player for us.

The Sharples rumour has come about because of Castres chasing Goneva with both Thompstone and Benjamin also needing new deals. Can't say I'm keen, he's pacey but not that elusive and not really very powerful. Would prefer Yarde or to save money and promote from the academy.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:40 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Kayser played for Tigers and as soon as we had him up to international standard the pesky French came calling and nicked him back.

We have the prop Jerome Schuster at Tigers, he's apparently struggling with his fitness and the new scrum laws so give it another couple of months for us to sort him out and he'll no doubt be a good player for us.

The Sharples rumour has come about because of Castres chasing Goneva with both Thompstone and Benjamin also needing new deals. Can't say I'm keen, he's pacey but not that elusive and not really very powerful. Would prefer Yarde or to save money and promote from the academy.

apparently Schuster is starting to gain confidence from what I have heard, just the fact that he isn't in the HC squad will mean limited if any 1XV game time.

Also David Mele is another Frenchman at tigs.

by Geordie Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:41 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Kayser played for Tigers and as soon as we had him up to international standard the pesky French came calling and nicked him back.

We have the prop Jerome Schuster at Tigers, he's apparently struggling with his fitness and the new scrum laws so give it another couple of months for us to sort him out and he'll no doubt be a good player for us.

The Sharples rumour has come about because of Castres chasing Goneva with both Thompstone and Benjamin also needing new deals. Can't say I'm keen, he's pacey but not that elusive and not really very powerful. Would prefer Yarde or to save money and promote from the academy.

Yeah the Falcons have some cracking young wings coming through...Kibirige seriously rapid or Penny a goal kicking winger with great ability...? Im sure the tigers have checked them out alread... Wink

by GunsGerms Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:41 pm

Damn it I missed him. He does have France caps too. Mentioned Mele already.

by stnick88 Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:50 pm

tigers shouldnt of let Lewington go. he is a class act.

by Geordie Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:51 pm

Was that Fh for Exeter not french...Meireles or something. Sounds Spanish but im sure he was french.
Is he in the RABO now?

by Comfort Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:51 pm

GF, hes argentinian I believe.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:52 pm

GeordieFalcon wrote:Was that Fh for Exeter not french...Meireles or something. Sounds Spanish but im sure he was french.
Is he in the RABO now?

Argie and plays for Worcs

by Geordie Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:52 pm

Ah sorry...

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:29 pm

We had Nic Sestaret at Chiefs for several seasons but he left in the summer - I believe that he's now with Saint-Médard-en-Jalles in French Fédérale II?

Chief

by Feckless Rogue Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:33 pm

Any news yet on the Leinster lads?

Was just reading an article on Sexton. He played something like 13 games in 12 weeks leading up to the AI's. Injures his hamstring (an injury associated with fatigue) and misses the Aus game. His hamstring tightens up again in the NZ match and he misses the crucual kick to seal a historical win. Also take into account Racings dismal display against Quins when Leinster played like potential Champions. He actually did some good stuff but the Racing players weren't on the same wavelengTH.

In terms of on the field stuff Sextons move has been a terrible one. Of course he gets more money and experiences a new life with his girlfriend in Paris. But in terms of rugby, his move has been a good example not to make the move. The IRFU simply can't match the money, but they offer the chance of silverware, player welfare and probably a longer international career.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:35 pm

not this week most likely as negotiations are at a delicate stage, but there are in advance stages I believe.

by thebandwagonsociety Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:06 pm

Out of SOB and Heaslip, I'd see Heaslip in somewhere like Japan with SOB staying at Leinster. Leinster could offer slightly less than a french club and keep SOB (not a lot less but a reasonable amount), he is a homebird and I'd doubt he would settle well in France, word is he finds it tough being too far away from Tullow for any length of time.

by formerly known as Sam Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:28 pm

Stnick, I spent the second half of last season calling for Lewington to get some games. He had a cracking season for Notts, I can only assume he told Cockers he was off early in the season. A guy with that pace, skill set, balance and ability to play wing as well as 15. Annoys me no end he's making his name at LI. Thankfully we seem to be less dim so far this season with a string of young players getting game time this season.

Welly, there's a max of what? Six more HEC games. There's plenty of AP and LV games including a number during the 6N so there's opportunities for him to stake a claim.

by thebandwagonsociety Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:33 pm

Sam, how is Morris going at Leicester? Will you be keeping hold of him or is he surplus to requirements?

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:36 pm

thebandwagonsociety wrote:Sam, how is Morris going at Leicester? Will you be keeping hold of him or is he surplus to requirements?

Going very well could be another Murphy hopes he stays for a long time.

by Jhamer25 Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:10 pm

I can't belie Afoa is being payed 500k, but then against it must be quite a lot to keep him away from New Zealand.
I think he is one of the most under rated international players and a super club player. Would i pay 500k for him, probably; also Gloucester need a better scrum so maybe they were desperate.

by formerly known as Sam Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:35 pm

Bandwagon, Morris has been going very well indeed. His kicking game was transformed last season, he has clearly worked hard at taking the high ball and he doesn't lack bravery. Great season last year and he started brightly this season but pulled his hamstring and has been out for a few weeks. He's under contract and won't be going anywhere. Not sure he'll be another Murphy as he just isn't the rugby magician tha Murphy was, more like a Scott Hamilton with a bigger boot and extra pace. That's no bad thing though and he's quite a favourite at Welford Rd.

by Welly Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:47 pm

formerly known as Sam wrote:Bandwagon, Morris has been going very well indeed. His kicking game was transformed last season, he has clearly worked hard at taking the high ball and he doesn't lack bravery. Great season last year and he started brightly this season but pulled his hamstring and has been out for a few weeks. He's under contract and won't be going anywhere. Not sure he'll be another Murphy as he just isn't the rugby magician tha Murphy was, more like a Scott Hamilton with a bigger boot and extra pace. That's no bad thing though and he's quite a favourite at Welford Rd.

I meant another Murphy as in hopefully he stays with us for a long time and not get lured back to Ireland, and he is a winger/ Full back.

by formerly known as Sam Tue Dec 10, 2013 9:48 pm

He turned down Leinster in order to sign a renewal at Tigers. That's a good sign he's staying. He's in the Wolfhounds squad and could have chased the full call up back in Ireland, especially with MOC at Leinster.

I'm more concerned that Goneva is going back to France. A back three of Goneva, Morris, Tait has a really nice balance to it and as good as Benjamin and Thompstone are they don't have that bit of magic about like them Goneva does. Explosive players that can change a game are must haves if we are to win the big games. Maybe Benjamin could develop that element of his game given confidence but we need to keep hold of Ben Youngs, Manu, Goneva and Tait as they are the guys that'll bring the fireworks.

by whocares Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:24 am

Jonathan Wisniewski (racing) is apparently in talks with Leicester as a possible replacement of Flood (in case the latter does end up leaving the midlands)

by Welshmushroom Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:00 am

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.

by Welshmushroom Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:06 am

I know Qera has slapped a transfer request in but my undertstanding is Gloucester have refused and are keeping him. Someone mentioned that Cowan is leaving but no source to where he might be heading. I've already put Burns on the board. Ideally a full list of players out of contract would be good.

I'm assuming if Burns goes they probably will go for Priestland as Nigel know him well. Could be a Welsh half back pairing for Gloucester next season. To be fair the area Gloucester look weakest to me is in the boilerhouse. They have a great front row next season but without a good pairing at 4/5, set piece problems wont be sorted.

by stnick88 Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:14 am

Donnacha Ryan linked with London Irish again

by Bathite Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:35 am

And extending JOC deal? Can we honestly see that happen? Rebels, Western Force, Irish...he loves his lower league teams doesn't he!

by stnick88 Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:39 am

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

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