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)

?????????????????????????????????????????????

Did he tell Lancaster that he makes stupid, predictable, pointless, predetermined substitutions?

Brand Haskell probs doesn't fit in with SL ideas.

Truth is we are stacked for options at 6, wood at the moment is undropable, croft when fit is world class, I would prefer to see vunipola at 6 and Morgan at 8 if both of the above were injured. I rate haskell above Johnson and Clark but Lancaster After 2011 is as much about attitude as talent and haskell is a bit of a plank isn't he. Haskell has had 50 caps and tbh he never really made the shirt his own, he's had some blinders but he's had lots of caps of being invisible or a one dimensional penalty machine. Garvey is immense for bath but I reckon SL worries about his pace for international rugby, he's a big big lump for a 6, and again the position is stacked.

sirtidychris wrote:Truth is we are stacked for options at 6, wood at the moment is undropable, croft when fit is world class, I would prefer to see vunipola at 6 and Morgan at 8 if both of the above were injured. I rate haskell above Johnson and Clark but Lancaster After 2011 is as much about attitude as talent and haskell is a bit of a plank isn't he. Haskell has had 50 caps and tbh he never really made the shirt his own, he's had some blinders but he's had lots of caps of being invisible or a one dimensional penalty machine. Garvey is immense for bath but I reckon SL worries about his pace for international rugby, he's a big big lump for a 6, and again the position is stacked.

That's a little unfair.

When he first started for England he was a fore arm swinging card magnet. But after a while seemed to grow out of this. In the 2011 6N's when he got an extended run he was brilliant, fast and powerful while working hard at the breakdown, just like Wood and Robshaw... He was then snubbed by Johnson for one of his old mates (the out of form and half broken Moody). Once Lancaster came into the England fold he quickly dropped Haskell in favour of Dowson and the prodigal son Clark. Haskell has never really had a chance since then.

yappysnap wrote:

sirtidychris wrote:Truth is we are stacked for options at 6, wood at the moment is undropable, croft when fit is world class, I would prefer to see vunipola at 6 and Morgan at 8 if both of the above were injured. I rate haskell above Johnson and Clark but Lancaster After 2011 is as much about attitude as talent and haskell is a bit of a plank isn't he. Haskell has had 50 caps and tbh he never really made the shirt his own, he's had some blinders but he's had lots of caps of being invisible or a one dimensional penalty machine. Garvey is immense for bath but I reckon SL worries about his pace for international rugby, he's a big big lump for a 6, and again the position is stacked.

That's a little unfair.

When he first started for England he was a fore arm swinging card magnet. But after a while seemed to grow out of this. In the 2011 6N's when he got an extended run he was brilliant, fast and powerful while working hard at the breakdown, just like Wood and Robshaw... He was then snubbed by Johnson for one of his old mates (the out of form and half broken Moody). Once Lancaster came into the England fold he quickly dropped Haskell in favour of Dowson and the prodigal son Clark. Haskell has never really had a chance since then.

He was the bench forward till last summer.

Is it possible that Lancaster thinks Garvey plays on the wing for Castres now?

Updated some of the latest ones - might not have caught them all though

Rumours of Haydn Thomas leaving Exe for Wuss, and potentially being replaced by Greig Laidlaw from Edinbokke - nothing concrete

Romana Graham on his way to La Rochelle in the summer from Sandy Park

Any good FH's going spare...send them up to the north east will you please....we're in dire need!!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Any good FH's going spare...send them up to the north east will you please....we're in dire need!!

McHeathcote could be looking for more gametime...

Carlo del Fava has retired and we have signed second row Ian Nagel from Munster.

Is he any good?

Oh and we have signed Lee Smith from Wakefield rugby league team. TOTALLY underwhelmed by THAT signing!!!! He flopped at Wasps and has dropped from Leeds to Wakefield...wow great signing!! What the f&&k is going at this club!!!!

Why not just give the quality young Kibirige gametime!

Lee Smith looked such a big prospect before he bombed at Wasps. Scored a decent number of tries at Wakefield. He has pace and knows how to finish. Should do a job and score some tries if you can get him up to speed. Agree that Kibrigie should be getting game time though.

Ian Nagle was being talked up a while ago but seems to have dropped off the grid a bit. Could be a great signing for you guys if he has as much potential as was mooted.

Nagle is a good signing. I can see him flourishing at Newcastle where he will get more regular game time than he did at Munster.

Deleted

yappysnap wrote:

sirtidychris wrote:Truth is we are stacked for options at 6, wood at the moment is undropable, croft when fit is world class, I would prefer to see vunipola at 6 and Morgan at 8 if both of the above were injured. I rate haskell above Johnson and Clark but Lancaster After 2011 is as much about attitude as talent and haskell is a bit of a plank isn't he. Haskell has had 50 caps and tbh he never really made the shirt his own, he's had some blinders but he's had lots of caps of being invisible or a one dimensional penalty machine. Garvey is immense for bath but I reckon SL worries about his pace for international rugby, he's a big big lump for a 6, and again the position is stacked.

That's a little unfair.

When he first started for England he was a fore arm swinging card magnet. But after a while seemed to grow out of this. In the 2011 6N's when he got an extended run he was brilliant, fast and powerful while working hard at the breakdown, just like Wood and Robshaw... He was then snubbed by Johnson for one of his old mates (the out of form and half broken Moody). Once Lancaster came into the England fold he quickly dropped Haskell in favour of Dowson and the prodigal son Clark. Haskell has never really had a chance since then.

100% agree, it's a shame his form then dropped as he's not really knocking on the door now. I still feel he has a lot to offer.

Stephen Brett (Bayonne kiwi fly half) reported to be on his way to either gloucester or london irish

Brett and guest both joining irish. Narraway close too but couple other clubs interested. Rumours that ihumph is returning to ulster too.

stnick88 wrote:Brett and guest both joining irish. Narraway close too but couple other clubs interested. Rumours that ihumph is returning to ulster too.

That would be interesting - would make sense if Brett arrives. I have been a fan of Humph's in the past and would be sad to see him go in a way. He seemed to have really settled at the club and looked more delighted than anyone when we got the win on Saturday. I think Brett would be an upgrade though.

Would be a real shame if Guest went but he's never been able to nail down a spot at 8 or 6 for Quins. That's no slight on him though as the guys he's been up against have been some of the best in the Prem. Brilliant club player and i'll wish him all the best.

Guest now confirmed.

Good luck to him at Irish, can understand why he moved but still sad to see him go

Should Guest have left earlier than now? Or is he leaving at the right time?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Should Guest have left earlier than now? Or is he leaving at the right time?

Really depends on what he wants and what his priorities are. If he wants to play International rugby, he's left way too late, I assume if he had wanted to be sole starting 8 he would have left earlier. I've heard a rumour about why he wants to leave but that's for him, or LI or Quins, to discuss if they want to

Would be a big loss for the Ospreys, but two descent signings if they can pull it off
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/newport-gwent-dragons-set-swoop-6707748

I think it would be Gavin's last shot for redemption and end his career on a high, would be a center primarily.
But still need at least two TIGHTHEADS

If Morgan is off its a huge loss for the Ospreys

Haskell's been injured a lot hasn't he?

On Guest, hopefully it'll mean Clifford will be brought on quicker. Especially since will be gone soon.

Guest should have moved about 7 years ago, could have replaced LoL at wasps or Corry at tiggers. He had all the skills to make it for england with blistering pace for an 8 but never made it out of Easters shadow, you can only develop so far as a bench man and people like twelvetrees, Ford etc understand that sometimes you have to move club to get that chance. Now with easter on the wane and robshaw always away he decides to move clubs ? perhaps they said next year is cliffords chance. Great servant to quins but i always thought he could achieve more.

Maybe he was fulfilling what he wanted?

Don't believe the rumours on Henson and Morgan to Dragons. We tend to get linked with them a lot, especially by the Fail/Wail. I'll believe them when I see them.

Would you even need Henson?

Morgan, maybe as cover for fly half and full back but Henson?

All rumoured to tigers

De Marchi   ---------> Replacement for Stanko
Campagnaro --------> Replacement For Bowden (Rumoured to be going, Bath looks more of an option if Henson goes)
Seremaia Bai  (apparently already signed) -------------> Replacement for Lamb.

 Would be happy with all 3 of them, Bai even at 35 would be a great 3rd choice 10/12. and wouldn't mind limited game time.
  De Marchi was very good against France, but feel he may go wto a French club.
  Campagnaro would be a good replacement for Bowden.

 Leicester Tigers chief scout, very secretive in terms of showing his face. was on Radio Leicester Thurs, was saying a lot of Italian agents were contact him asking for him to have a look at there players and sign them, supporters De Marchi and Campagnaro.


 Also Rumoured that Goneva may be re-signing on a 2 year deal. (no Source)

Bai is still a really, really good player. He was brilliant against us in our away game against Castres in the HC. He made huge ground nearly everytime we had the ball and I'm surprised Castres would let him go.

Risca Rev wrote:Don't believe the rumours on Henson and Morgan to Dragons. We tend to get linked with them a lot, especially by the Fail/Wail. I'll believe them when I see them.

Robin Davey tweeted that Adam Jones could be the tighthead that the Dragons are looking to sign too. To be blunt seeing how poor he has been this season so far, I wouldn't be surprised if he does make a move to Dave Parade, pretty much cert. to be first choice.

Haha. I don't believe that either. Thought one of the players hinted towards a surprise tighthead, but can't remember now. Really can't see it though.

Really,highly doubt Adam would leave the Ospreys for another region. I think he would sign a central contract before switching to the Dragons. It would be the biggest signing they could ever make if they did but it wont happen.
I'm pretty sure he will stay in Wales but i'm not sure how yet  

The two game Nicky Thomas has been in for the U20's he has phenominal great at the scrum and around the fringes and breakdown. Either he or Rhodri Jones would be at the top of my list of players to sign

I used to tease snowmonkey on the old 606 all the time that Glaws would nab Jacob Rowan; it finally appears that's true! He'll be a wonderful addition and real competition to Kvesic if this move goes through.

Poor Leeds...

Strange move for Rowan. Kvesic is established and an EPS member but isn't experienced enough to mentor him. Why move for a bench spot behind a player that is unlikely to develop you. Now a move to Saints to play behind Wood initially or LI who don't have a player of his skill set and so could gain immediate game time. Great piece of business for Glaws if they've pulled that one off.

Rumour of the Connacht threads is Eoin Griffin is joining London Irish.

It's now official, Burgess has joined Bath! Can't believe it to be honest, really not sure what I think. Appears we've spunked our £500k extra cap on one bloke.

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/world-class-burgess-chooses-bath-rugby-for-cross-code-switch

formerly known as Sam wrote:Strange move for Rowan. Kvesic is established and an EPS member but isn't experienced enough to mentor him. Why move for a bench spot behind a player that is unlikely to develop you. Now a move to Saints to play behind Wood initially or LI who don't have a player of his skill set and so could gain immediate game time. Great piece of business for Glaws if they've pulled that one off.

Whilst Rowan is a cracking young player, he would have a job removing Cowan from the 7 jersery, and we've already signed Tom Guest at 8, so not sure he would fit in with us.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Rumour of the Connacht threads is Eoin Griffin is joining London Irish.

I've not seen a lot of him, but has looked decent enough when I have watched him. I would be happy to have him at Irish.

Moray Low to the Chiefs from Glasgow has now been confirmed.

Johnny Beattie to Castrs has now been confirmed.

Glasgow have also signed Folau Niua from the US 7s team.

Bathite wrote:It's now official, Burgess has joined Bath! Can't believe it to be honest, really not sure what I think. Appears we've spunked our £500k extra cap on one bloke.

http://www.bathrugby.com/news/team-news/world-class-burgess-chooses-bath-rugby-for-cross-code-switch

I'll be interested to see how this pans out. He is undoubtedly a top talent in league, but given that the stated aim has been for him to make the world cup in 2015, he has less than 12 months to become international standard in union. I just don't see it happening myself. I would imagine it will be 2 years minimum before he is ready to wear an England jersey.

I am also not overly happy with the RFU financing the deal, or any part of it, if that is what has happened.

I worry we'll see him rushed into the Saxons on his name alone, and unless he has an utter mare he'll then be rushed into the full England side for the RWC wether he's ready or not.

Mind you, if anyone is likely to be able to make the code switch quickly, it's a guy like Burgess. I'm not sure if anyone has watched much of him, but the man is a force of nature - an incredibly natural athlete in a way that a lot guys in the Jeff/Rabo are not. Comparisons with Israel Folau are genuinely justified.

You need to be seriously good to be the rock star that he is in Australia and what must also be true is that he is committed to trying to do well in the code. He is leaving adoring fans, his mum, a good salary, the Aussie girls and his three brothers in Sydney to smash tackle bags at the Rec. I think that we can assume his intentions are good.

There is definitely a danger of that yappy. I will pretty narked if he gets picked and it's clear that he is not ready.

Whilst most of what you say is true George, I don't see much in the way of comparisons with Folau. Folau is a very different player to Burgess, and Burgess is apparently going to be asked to do a different job in union. Playing in the back 3 is fairly similar in both codes, making Folau's switch a pretty natural one. However Burgess is going to play 12, and he is a prop or loose forward in league. Other than trucking the ball up, there are no similarities in the positions. If you look at Kyle Eastmond, it took some time for him to settle at 12 in union, and I can see this being similar.

Woah. That's interesting - I hadn't really been into this press cycle and I had no idea he was being signed as a 12. I assumed he would do what the Blues are doing with Benji Marshall and assign him a roving role covering any of the back three positions.

He's really going to have to study the position carefully then or he'll be found out defensively.