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)

Benji Marshall is going to play 10 mate. Talked about 15 at first, but now very much the Blues first choice FH.

Agreed Ozzy, Eastmond took a while to adjust and has still got plenty to learn. At least he had the pace and footwork to start on the wing and gradually move inside. You're right, I can't see Burgess having that luxury and I worry a lot. But I guess having Kyle their to help him and Mike Ford, you couldn't really ask for a better set up for a league convert. I'm just not convinced he's got the right skill set for a 12. Yeah he's a big bloke and he can smash it up, but you're right, he's nothing like Eastmond, Robinson, Folau, maybe even SBW and this is without even mentioning his more than questionable tackling technique and discipline record.

Jesus - I am behind. Agree that 12 is a very difficult position for someone not used to the code. Alan Tait (who brilliantly played 13 for Scotland and the B&I Lions) gave a number of interviews saying how much work he had to do to understand multiple phase play and which zones he was responsible for covering in defence.

Just seen on twitter that there are already arguments between the RFU and Bath over Burgess. The RFU want him developed as a 12 and apparently Bath want to play him at 6. Huge amount to learn in either position to be honest.

I seem to recall there being similar disagreements when Andy Farrell made the switch about where he should play and who's decision was final.

There is no doubt that having a player of Burgess' talent in union is a positive thing. But it does raise an awful lot of questions: if Bath have covered this fee themselves, how on Earth have they done so and remained within the cap? If the RFU have part funded this what compensation will be offered to the other clubs? Why were only some of the clubs contacted by the RFU in the first place? If the RFU have funded this, have they given any consideration to the message this sends out to the rest of the EPS?

I guess that technically bath would have final say as the rfu didn't pay up in the end?

I thought the RFU didn't pay as other clubs complained it would be unfair (rightly so), but if you believe what you read they certainly have had some involvement in his switch.

I did also hear that Leicester made him an offer, if it comes out that the RFU effectively 'offered' him to a few clubs there will be some serious questions to be answered.

HKC, I'd guess he will be our marquee player? The cap goes up by c.500k next season too doesn't it so I'd guess there will be space. Whether its a sensible use of resources is another matter, it doesn't matter how hard working he is, its going to take him at least a season to get up to speed and that's if he isn't carrying a knock from the NRL season.

Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Scrumpy wrote:Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Oh well, if Tw4tBruce said so...

Bath should move Eastmond to 9, Burgess to 12. Job done. It makes sense - Bath need a new 9 - Geordiefalcon,Scrumpy and myself think Eastmond at 9 could work.

England are obviously looking to go down the big centre route so I don't see Burgess's size as a problem. Burrell has been another success story for big England centres so far in the 6 nations.

Obviously Care at 9 is giving pacy and sniping scrum halves a good name again so Eastmond could fit in there. Physically I still think Eastmond is too small for 12 - certainly the route England are going down.

A backline of

9.Eastmond
10.Ford
11.Agulla
12.Burgess
13.Joseph
14.Rokodiguini
15.Watson

Looks very good potentially.

Except Eastmond isn't a 9, he is a promising 12.

Question marks about the cap and rightly so. But if the 500k release fee is split over 3 years and also there is a big Abendanon transfer fee coming in to help pay for it, with the extra 500k next year in the cap all means it is feasible

Bathite in my opinion Eastmond has more potential for England as a 9 than a 12.

Physically he's not a big man - 5,7 and 13st. I would worry about him getting run over by big men

I was not impressed with him for the Saxons. Doubts whether he could cut it at international level as a 12.

Especially with England looking at big centres. Eastmond does not fit in.

He just doesn't look a 12 for me.

He's slow and has poor distribution.

He's a beast of a carrier and makes huge hits, 6 seems his natural position.

Agree with you Pooly and so do the club apparently.

No one played well in the Saxons beshocked. Eastmond looked ok against Argentina at 12 and he's been very good for us all season. Not ready for international yet, he's not even played there for a season yet, but there's absolutely no point in changing his position again, certainly not to 9, which is a technically very difficult position, very instinctive. Eastmond hasn't had any issues with his physicality so far, you should watch him, rather than quote weight and height off wikipedia!

Eastmond has never looked weak in defence to me, yes he isn't going to knock back forwards but he is technically very sound.

If we were to look at the centres as a pair like England seem to be, rather than inside/outside, then Burgess and Eastmond could be a decent combo.

Burgess with the big hits and strong carrying, Eastmond to add the magic

Disagree Bathite. I thought some of the pack, noticeably Kruis played well for the Saxons.

Being okay against a 2nd string Argentina doesn't really tell us much does it?

Sgt Pooly is not the breakdown a very technical area in your opinion? I think it's one of the most difficult aspects of union. I could see Burgess being a penalty machine as he tries to get to grips with it.

At least at centre he could be used very effective on the crash ball. I think his direct style could be effective. The direct style of Manu and Burrell seem to have been successful so far for England and their clubs.

Would Burgess get ahead of Devoto even if Eastmond moved?

beshocked wrote:Disagree Bathite. I thought some of the pack, noticeably Kruis played well for the Saxons.

Being okay against a 2nd string Argentina doesn't really tell us much does it?

Sgt Pooly is not the breakdown a very technical area in your opinion? I think it's one of the most difficult aspects of union. I could see Burgess being a penalty machine as he tries to get to grips with it.

At least at centre he could be used very effective on the crash ball. I think his direct style could be effective. The direct style of Manu and Burrell seem to have been successful so far for England and their clubs.

You thought Kruis played well, that surprises me! 

I'd say playing well against a 2nd string Argie team tells you about as much as not standing out when playing for the Saxons. Either way, my point remains that he isn't yet ready for international rugby, he has only played a season at 12, so why throw all that away? Give him time, don't sack it all in and play him at 9 because you think he's the right sort of height to do so!

Bathite do Bath have more space in the cap to sign a top quality 9? I would say that if they don't, and they might not now - a solution would be Eastmond at 9 and Burgess at 12.

Is it throwing it away? Was Foden throwing things away when he changed from 9 to 15? Was T.Youngs throwing things away when he changed from centre to hooker?

The obvious solution of where to fit him in...

4. Garvey
5. Attwood
6. Burgess
12. Eastmond

He's going to play 8

Sgt_Pooly wrote:The obvious solution of where to fit him in...

4. Garvey
5. Attwood
6. Burgess
12. Eastmond

Totally agree. Interchanging between 6 and 8 not that tricky either.

beshocked wrote:Bathite do Bath have more space in the cap to sign a top quality 9? I would say that if they don't, and they might not now - a solution would be Eastmond at 9 and Burgess at 12.

Is it throwing it away? Was Foden throwing things away when he changed from 9 to 15? Was T.Youngs throwing things away when he changed from centre to hooker?

Yeah Tom Youngs threw it away. It was not in the direction he planned though and rarely straight!

8 obviously a bit more technical with the scrum but I think 6 would be the easiest position to master.

It's basically carrying, tackling and smashing rucks.

beshocked wrote:Bathite do Bath have more space in the cap to sign a top quality 9? I would say that if they don't, and they might not now - a solution would be Eastmond at 9 and Burgess at 12.

Is it throwing it away? Was Foden throwing things away when he changed from 9 to 15? Was T.Youngs throwing things away when he changed from centre to hooker?

Dunno about the cap now, but we've got solid, not spectacular 9 options.

Tom Youngs was never going to make it as a 12 at club level, never mind international and the jury is out whether he actually has.

Moving from 9 to 15 is much easier than vice versa. 9 is a very specialist position. There are very few players who play 9 and another position, compared to outside backs that cover OC, wing fullback quite regularly. So that proves how tricky it is. Moving from league to 9 has got to be one of the toughest moves and would make no sense whatsoever.

But 8 would give him time to carry etc. 6 puts more direct pressure on him to be good at the breakdown and Union style fringe defence, both entirely alien concepts to him that I think he will struggle at. SBW failed spectacularly as a 6, at top level it's not an easy position to play despite the freedom in how you approach it. I don't think it will be easier for him to learn the things we routinely expect from our flankers than how to control at the base

Bathite what are your solid 9 options? Remember Stringer is 36 now.

I am not saying it is easy to move to 9. I am saying that I am not sure Eastmond will make it as an international 12 for England. Surely that's his goal?

At Bath there is now a necessity for a 9 and to some extent there is necessity for England too.

Sgt Pooly it's not just that. It's about getting your body in the right position and making the right decisions at the breakdown.

If 6 were easy to master, then Lawes wouldn't have looked so abysmal playing at 6. Lots of good players move from 6 to positions like hooker etc not vice versa and lots of flankers have played whole matches as backs or locks or 8s at no notice. It's not as easy at the top level as most people think, obviously

Scrumpy wrote:Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Probably more to do with Ernst Blofeld threatening death by laser beam!

On a side note, why is Bruce Craig the only chairman ever to be featured on TV during games? You don't see anyone else, yet Brucey gets shown 5+ times a match. Is this again something to do with SPECTRE and world domination?

Nobody in rugby lies...

Not Ford about staying at Tigers, not Lancaster about the RFu approaching Burgess and making stupid subs and certainly not Bruce...

HongKongCherry wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Probably more to do with Ernst Blofeld threatening death by laser beam!

On a side note, why is Bruce Craig the only chairman ever to be featured on TV during games?  You don't see anyone else, yet Brucey gets shown 5+ times a match.  Is this again something to do with SPECTRE and world domination?

Does anyone think that Bruce Craig looks like Louis Walsh from the X Factor?

Do transfer fees count if they are to non union clubs?

HongKongCherry wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Probably more to do with Ernst Blofeld threatening death by laser beam!

On a side note, why is Bruce Craig the only chairman ever to be featured on TV during games?  You don't see anyone else, yet Brucey gets shown 5+ times a match.  Is this again something to do with SPECTRE and world domination?

  Probably.

Blofeld is a great name for a CEO.  

To be honest I think Bruce Craig gets more screen time because he's one of the most outspoken and richest chairman's in the AP plus Bath is seen as his club. Like it's Cipriani's Sale,Jonny's Toulon, it is Bruce's Bath.

Don't know why Nigel Wray isn't shown more.

I can't tell you who most of the chairman's in the AP are unless I use wikipedia.

I know there is Tony Rowe at Exeter, there used to be the Barwells at Saints, don't know who is at Saints now. As for the rest? I don't know.

beshocked wrote:Bathite what are your solid 9 options? Remember Stringer is 36 now.

I am not saying it is easy to move to 9. I am saying that I am not sure Eastmond will make it as an international 12 for England. Surely that's his goal?

At Bath there is now a necessity for a 9 and to some extent there is necessity for England too.

Sgt Pooly it's not just that. It's about getting your body in the right position and making the right decisions at the breakdown.

Eastmond is in the EPS after playing 12 for a season, that's pretty good going so far. There's nothing to suggest he won't play 12 for England in the future. There's only Barritt and 36 ahead of him. Barritt has his strengths, but also his weaknesses and Eastmond is a totally different option. 36 has flattered to deceive thus far. Eastmond is definitely 3rd choice, but he wouldn't even get a game at 9 at Bath, because we've got 3 good club players in Roberts, Young and Stringer and maybe another coming in. If Eastmond wanted to play for England, why on earth would he move to 9? Ben Youngs is a twice Lion and can't get in the squad! Come on mate, use your head.

There's no neccessity for a 9, we've done fine there all season, no dramas at all. There's no fantasy rugby manager signing there that you crave in your dreamland, but the squad would be considerably worse moving Kyle out of first choice 12 and into a new position. Its stupid.

Bathite do you really rate your current 9s that highly? I wouldn't say any of them would get into any other top 6 side

Ben Youngs isn't in the squad because he's low on confidence and form. There aren't any standout 9s except for Care at the moment.

My dreamland? You said that Burgess going to Bath was a dream. You said there's no way Bath can sign Burgess because of the cap etc.

Bruce's Bath have plenty of financial muscle hence the upturn in fortunes.

beshocked wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Bath are way under the cap.

Bruce said so, so don't worry about it HKC.

Probably more to do with Ernst Blofeld threatening death by laser beam!

On a side note, why is Bruce Craig the only chairman ever to be featured on TV during games?  You don't see anyone else, yet Brucey gets shown 5+ times a match.  Is this again something to do with SPECTRE and world domination?

  Probably.

Blofeld is a great name for a CEO.  

To be honest I think Bruce Craig gets more screen time because he's one of the most outspoken and richest chairman's in the AP plus Bath is seen as his club. Like it's Cipriani's Sale,Jonny's Toulon, it is Bruce's Bath.

Don't know why Nigel Wray isn't shown more.

I can't tell you who most of the chairman's in the AP are unless I use wikipedia.

I know there is Tony Rowe at Exeter, there used to be the Barwells at Saints, don't know who is at Saints now. As for the rest? I don't know.

Still a Barwell, a son, I think.

beshocked wrote:Bathite do you really rate your current 9s that highly? I wouldn't say any of them would get into any other top 6 side

Ben Youngs isn't in the squad because he's low on confidence and form. There aren't any standout 9s except for Care at the moment.

My dreamland? You said that Burgess going to Bath was a dream. You said there's no way Bath can sign Burgess because of the cap etc.

Bruce's Bath have plenty of financial muscle hence the upturn in fortunes.

Please read what I said. I said that they were solid club players and that 9 hasn't been a weakness all season.

Did admit that Burgess was a big surprise earlier in this thread in a message to you

Stringer has been one of the top 9's in the AP

Thanks Pooly, needed another voice of reason

Sgt Pooly how many more seasons do you expect Stringer to play at Bath?

I am talking about needing a 9 for next season.

Maybe 2 Beshocked? Who knows

However long Stringer stays, Eastmond won't become the 9 solution by next October will he?

What's the plan then Bathite? Think you can fit in a high profile 9 in at Bath under the cap or are you going to stick with the 9s you have?

Personally I were working for Bath I would sign up Laidlaw and in exchange give Edinburgh Mcheathcote.

I think even Edinsaffas might realise that they've been shafted with that deal! But I agree, he would be a very good 9 to bring in, although if he wants to leave Scotland I'm sure there will be French clubs who can/will offer more

Isn't Laidlaw going to Sale next season replacing Peel?

Ruaidhri Murphy from ACT Brumbies to Ulster confirmed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/irish/

Stringer shows no signs of slowing down, if anything he is at the same level if not better than he was 5 years ago.

What ever he does, eats etc.. I want some.

He is tee total, but i don't you'd want to go that far?

Two things; I believe the 500k quoted for Burgess is in Aus $ and Bath have a perfectly good option at SH in Cook, who has all the attributes, he just needs some game time.

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

I'm lead to believe this is a done deal. Am pretty happy with getting him as we only have 4 senior centres and injuries hurt us in that position.

He will certainly make a good partner for Sheridan in the midfield Ozzy. I wonder what other Irish players will be heading your way, I know Michael Keating is a near done deal?