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)

That could be handy. Our usual first choice 13 - George Lowe - is out until next season and Matt Hopper is erratic. Greenwood reckons he should be playing for England but I really can't see why at all.

yappysnap wrote:Lowe, hopper and Walker all cover 13. Lowe is injury prone though. Very injury prone

 Suppose Tikoirotuma offers more of a strong gain runner 13 cover than walker would offer.

Been hearing that Kai Horstman has signed for the Blues or has been very highly rumored he is moving.
Any news in this because he is a good strong 8. Seeing as Waldom has signed for Exeter and Ewer has renewed his contract he must be leaving. Anyone know anything about it?

Fonua could certainly be what the Tigers need!

Wilkinson what a legend ! Just got that one a bit high!

that guy is a tank. rolls the toulon 8 over like a domino. he looked quite apologetic at having smooshed wilko.

He's something ridiculous like 23 stone and 6 foot 6. Exactly what Tigers need off the back of the scrum.

Jaysus - that feller is an entire back row by himself.

I see we're still being linked to Rotherham's Argentinian 12 Socino. Hes the top scorer in the championship.

I think we need to be looking at a new 10, 11,13,14,15 aswell !!

Amazing how much Fonua's stock has risen in 12 months, the Scarlets were after him last season, and narrowly missed out on him. But to be the Tigers to be after him goes to show how his stock has risen greatly, full credit to the bloke.

So it looks like Leicester are wanting to add in some more Tongan blood with Fonua (apparently all but confirmed) and Christian Loamanu (New Rumour) he plays, wing, centre, Fullback and Number 8 (also flanker), he has a life long ban from playing for Japan (his national team) due to smoking weed in 2009.

 Moved to Toulon got 51 caps and 80 points in 3 season and then move to Treviso. Looks like another player who if he can get back to his best is a very handy option. add in Teddy Thomas and we could be looking to have some very handy depth.

Christian Loamanu looks like a useful player, and no international rugby to be worried about as he was banned for life from Japan for testing positive for pot (according to Wikipedia)

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Christian Loamanu looks like a useful player, and no international rugby to be worried about as he was banned for life from Japan for testing positive for pot (according to Wikipedia)

Well, I suppose it is a gamble to pick a player who got into trouble.  But I have this feeling Leicester are the kind of club which can straighten out folk.  If he was in real trouble, there are probably few places which are better for a player to be.  

Is pot really a ban-for-life drug in Rugby?  If so, then as the Americans say:  "That's why they call it dope".  His ban is for nothing else?

Japan are really strict on the rules, I suppose if Leicester wanted to sign Caucau, but he didn't turn up for the medical then I guess they are not worried about previous behaviour.

doctor_grey wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Christian Loamanu looks like a useful player, and no international rugby to be worried about as he was banned for life from Japan for testing positive for pot (according to Wikipedia)

Well, I suppose it is a gamble to pick a player who got into trouble.  But I have this feeling Leicester are the kind of club which can straighten out folk.  If he was in real trouble, there are probably few places which are better for a player to be.  

Is pot really a ban-for-life drug in Rugby?  If so, then as the Americans say:  "That's why they call it dope".  His ban is for nothing else?

Here is where I got it from (also looks like other issues didn't help)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Loamanu wrote:Loamanu left his native Tonga at the age of 15 to move to Japan on a scholarship. He made his debut for the Japan national rugby union team against Uruguay in April 2005 aged 18 years and 338 days old and became the youngest player of all time to play for Japan (a record since broken by Yoshikazu Fujita).A few days after his second cap against Hong Kong, Loamanu was banned for a year from the Japan team after getting embroiled in a fight involving female professional wrestler Mika Akino in Tokyo's Roppongi nightspot district.

He was recalled in 2007 and scored a hat trick on his return to the side against Korea and he played at the Rugby World Cup later that year.

He joined Toshiba Brave Lupus in 2008 and won the Top League with them, but in February 2009 Loamanu tested positive for marijuana and was banned for life from playing rugby in Japan by the JRFU whilst his club Toshiba Brave Lupus withdrew from the All Japan Championship after the incident In 2011 Japan coach John Kirwan appealed for the ban to be withdrawn before the Rugby World Cup but the request was turned down by the JRFU who said Loamanu "was not suitable to represent Japan"..

I wouldn't see these as issues that would put me off signing him personally, they were a few years ago now, so looks like it could have been a kick up the jacksee for him.

Ive said it before...but if i was a Scottish team id be putting a bid in for Grant Shiels our LH. He's class and just not getting any gametime. I suspect he will be gone in the summer...and that'll be bad management by Dean Richards.

According to the rugby paper, Glaws have raided the championship signing Mark Atkinson from Bedford, Stevie McColl from Leeds and Callum Braley from Bristol. Apparently we're also looking at Calum Green, which I'd be very pleased about as I was rather hopeful we were going to sign him when he was looking to leave Tigers. The rumour mill in Glaws is also really building pace that Jim Hamilton is set to return subject to a transfer fee being agreed...

Im surprised noone has raided Leeds for their captain and 7/8 Jacob Rowan...he's a class act.

Though id prefer to see Leeds back up at the expense of Wuss. They play good rugby and are northern.

I was amazed when he re-signed for them last year as there were plenty of teams looking for a 7. I know he has a year to run on his contract, but with transfer fees more common place perhaps he'll still be in demand. Personally I'd love Rowan at Glaws fighting it out with Kvesic.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Im surprised noone has raided Leeds for their captain and 7/8 Jacob Rowan...he's a class act.

Though id prefer to see Leeds back up at the expense of Wuss. They play good rugby and are northern.

I've thought that at this time for the last three years pal. It can only be a matter of time.

Well we're stocked well for 7's but he's quality.

You're going to have quite a pack at the start of next sason....might allow the backs to shine...

Don't think its been mentioned on this thread as of yet, so...

Robbie Robinson from Waikito Chiefs to Ulster
Keegan Daniel from Natal Sharks to Ulster
Ruaidhri Murphy ACT Brumbies to Ulster

None confirmed thus far.

Daniel is a interesting one for Ulster.

Cumbrian wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Im surprised noone has raided Leeds for their captain and 7/8 Jacob Rowan...he's a class act.

Though id prefer to see Leeds back up at the expense of Wuss. They play good rugby and are northern.

I've thought that at this time for the last three years pal.  It can only be a matter of time.

Agree with this, I was also surprised that it took a few years for anyone to move for Dom Barrow.

Its only a matter of time before he is playing premiership rugby I think, one way or another.

Are you being sarcastic there Bathman....

Dom Barrow IS playing premiership rugby...despite the fact the rest of his team might still be playing championship standard rugby.

And as he's only 20 now as it is...

Just thinking about correctness, I guess the OP should be updated to include

Sam Warburton (Blues) to Welsh Rugby Union (destination possibly Blues)

GeordieFalcon wrote:Are you being sarcastic there Bathman....

Dom Barrow IS playing premiership rugby...despite the fact the rest of his team might still be playing championship standard rugby.

And as he's only 20 now as it is...

Think he may have been talking about Rowan.

thomh wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Are you being sarcastic there Bathman....

Dom Barrow IS playing premiership rugby...despite the fact the rest of his team might still be playing championship standard rugby.

And as he's only 20 now as it is...

Think he may have been talking about Rowan.

Geordie I meant Rowan will probably be playing premiership rugby soon, either through a transfer or Leeds being promoted. Geech is supposed to be putting into place a sustainable business plan for them to get back into the top flight.

On Barrow, it just seemed to me that his name was mentioned a fair bit at U18 level (did he play for them early maybe?) so I was surprised the Leicester vultures didn't come circling. Still, good for you that they didn't!

Tigers have lots of locks. Personally I'm disappointed we went for de Chaves last summer. Cain is just as good and is only being held back by his knee issues we've also got two JWC winners in Wells and Price developing nicely.

Three NIQ for Ulster? That's surprising or is there a project in amongst that lot? Keegan Daniel would be a perfect signing for them.

Didn't Rowan stay at Leeds because it was better to captain his local team than play second fiddle to an experienced AP 7 and get loaned back to the Championship anyway? Certainly think his stock will be sufficiently high by the end of his next contract to be able to claim a starting shirt at an AP club.

Is Robinson moving to Ulster to play for a great team but ultimately play for Scotland? He's SQ I think.

Oh and Neil Cochrane has joined Edinburgh

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers have lots of locks. Personally I'm disappointed we went for de Chaves last summer. Cain is just as good and is only being held back by his knee issues we've also got two JWC winners in Wells and Price developing nicely.

Three NIQ for Ulster? That's surprising or is there a project in amongst that lot? Keegan Daniel would be a perfect signing for them.

Didn't Rowan stay at Leeds because it was better to captain his local team than play second fiddle to an experienced AP 7 and get loaned back to the Championship anyway? Certainly think his stock will be sufficiently high by the end of his next contract to be able to claim a starting shirt at an AP club.

I'm going to take a punt that Ruaidhri Murphy isn't NIQ!!!!

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Three NIQ for Ulster? That's surprising or is there a project in amongst that lot? Keegan Daniel would be a perfect signing for them.

We are losing 2 NIQ - Muller and Afoa, plus Payne becomes Irish qualified.  So we have room for 3 NIQ, which is looking like Robinson, Daniel and a big name lock at this stage.  Murphy from Brumbies is IQ as he was born in Dublin and actually played underage rugby in Ireland. You are right on Keegan Daniel, he would be perfect for us, particularly as he covers 6 and 7.

Good business for Ulster. Will Payne play for Ireland or is that just for the convenience of the Ulster squad make up?

Scotty Hamilton is apparently staying at Tigers as he signed a two year deal last season, making his agent one of greatest negotiators in the game. A full back with hamstring issues and reducing speed, no worries here's a two year deal at a top side...

formerly known as Sam wrote:Good business for Ulster. Will Payne play for Ireland or is that just for the convenience of the Ulster squad make up?

Scotty Hamilton is apparently staying at Tigers as he signed a two year deal last season, making his agent one of greatest negotiators in the game. A full back with hamstring issues and reducing speed, no worries here's a two year deal at a top side...

He played all his rugby for Auckland Blues at 13, so a lot of people think he is going to be O'Driscoll's replacement for Ireland at 13.  In fact its starting to look like a certainty.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Three NIQ for Ulster? That's surprising or is there a project in amongst that lot? Keegan Daniel would be a perfect signing for them.

Ruaidhri Murphy is from Dublin originally, and Afoa and Muller are leaving so there's two slots open.

I don't know about these rumours, but I hope we also sign a lock.

Sorry see thats already all been said!   

formerly known as Sam wrote:
Scotty Hamilton is apparently staying at Tigers as he signed a two year deal last season, making his agent one of greatest negotiators in the game. A full back with hamstring issues and reducing speed, no worries here's a two year deal at a top side...

Hey he will be the perfect like for like cover for Tait then

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well we're stocked well for 7's but he's quality.

You're going to have quite a pack at the start of next sason....might allow the backs to shine...

After this season I'm not taking anything for granted!

PSW, only after Morris has had a go as well. Must be great news for the young 15s Humphreys and Williams etc. Fourth choice or further down for any youngster.

Where's Muller going I thought he was a fully adopted Ulster boy?

What the hells going on with Burns though HK...id say his confidence must be absolute rock bottom now.

We'll sort him out GF. By November next year he'll be back on top.

formerly known as Sam wrote:PSW, only after Morris has had a go as well. Must be great news for the young 15s Humphreys and Williams etc. Fourth choice or further down for any youngster.

Where's Muller going I thought he was a fully adopted Ulster boy?

To be fair Sam vesty was 4th choice full back and somehow managed to translate that into an England cap at centet and a big contract with bath. It's not all doom and gloom!

Fairly sure Muller is retiring. Vesty was actually ok for us to be fair, but definitely over priced!

formerly known as Sam wrote:PSW, only after Morris has had a go as well. Must be great news for the young 15s Humphreys and Williams etc. Fourth choice or further down for any youngster.

 
 Disagree there it will be Hamiltons last year neither Humphreys or Williams are quite ready for the step up, and Hamilton has step up for us this year. All clubs need players likes Hamilton.

On Ulster:

Murphy is indeed IQ

Robinson is not tied to NZ and as such could become IQ, in 3 years.
Someone mentioned Scotland - no chance - it will be a condition of his contract he remains, ultimately, available for Ireland.

So only Daniels would be NIQ which means a slot remains (given Muller and Afoa leaving)

Payne has an Irish Central Contract from next season and is very much seen as part of the Irish set up

Very interested to see Payne at 13 for Ireland. I've been waiting for that day for a long time! Might come to regret that comment in the 6Ns next year though!

geoff998rugby wrote:On Ulster:

Robinson is not tied to NZ and as such could become IQ, in 3 years.
Someone mentioned Scotland - no chance - it will be a condition of his contract he remains, ultimately, available for Ireland.

Hope not, we could really use him and have apparently been chatting him up for a while about playing for us.

Surely he would have to join one of your regions ?

If he joins Ulster the Scotland door will be firmly shut for the reason I mentioned

Warburton to London Welsh   

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Warburton to London Welsh   

He doesn't seem to have many options does he!