Transfers 2014/2015 Continued

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
Eoin Griffin (Connacht) to London Irish
Sam Burgess (Rugby League) to Bath
Adam Hughes (Dragons) to Bristol
Sam Parry (Dragons) to Ospreys
Joe Rees (Ospreys) to Worcester
Ian Nagle (Munster) to Newcastle
Tom Guest (Halrequins) to London Irish
Luke Narraway (Perpignan) to London Irish
Freddie Burns (Gloucester) to Leicester
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys) to Bristol
Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) to Saracens
Toby Flood (Leicester) to Toulouse
Lote Tuquiri (Leinster) to NPC
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) to Castres
Ryan Jones (Ospreys) to Bristol
Greg Laidlaw (Edinburgh) to Gloucester
Brice Dulin (Castres) to Racing Metro
Antonie Claassen (Castres) to Racing Metro
Gio Aplon (South Africa) to Grenoble
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso) to Leicester
Robert Barbieri (Treviso) to Leicester
Loamanu (Treviso) to Leicester
Rob Hawkins (Leicester) to Newcastle
Ian Gough (London Irish) to Dragons



Unconfirmed
Michele Rizzo (Treviso) to Leicester



Out of Contract
Adam Jones (Ospreys) - Looks like he is signing for Ospreys/WRU as indicated in press
Keith Earls (Munster)
Daniel Bowden (Leicester)
Scott Hamilton (Leicester)



Retiring
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Andrew Sheridan (Toulon - unconfirmed)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon)
Sebastien Bruno (Toulon)
George Chuter (Leicester) moving to Worcester coaching
Johann Muller (Ulster)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester - unconfirmed)
Will James (Gloucester)

Surely Gopperth was signed up for more than 2 years? Seems off with him been MOCs favourite.

Driver wrote:Just named 4 hooker , 2 uncapped ahead of him today.

Yes, Nathan Harris and Liam Coltman were youngfellers named instead of Flynn.
Clearly Hansen doesn't rate him and at 33, feels that he needs to blood some youngsters which is probably correct.

I think we'll see a fair number of SH players who know they won't get a shot at the RWC move this summer. They'll get a better deal now than if they wait a year.

Golden wrote:Surely Gopperth was signed up for more than 2 years? Seems off with him been MOCs favourite.

It's tied in with the rumours of Sexton coming back to Leinster

No way are Racing going to let Sexton leave after his performance against Toulouse.

Cost a feck load to buy out his contract. Might be worth it to the IRFU with the world cup next year though.

Have you no heard the rumours that his wife hasn't settled?

It's very much rumours at this stage but I wouldn't be completley surprised.

We need a good FH but im not sure id want Gopperth. He's better than what we have (Hodgson for me still needs to be signed and worked with ) but many of us complained about him when he was here...he's too reliant on his boot...and though he was a good runner...didnt back himself enough.

Id like to see another quality 10 come in. With Joel as back up learning his game management.

Totally agree GF, I'd prefer somebody else to Gopperth. I've still got my fingers crossed for Colin Slade but his recent call up to the NZ training squad may have scuppered that.

Problem for Racing is that there's not too many quality 10s looking to move before the RWC. Colin Slade could have been an option but he's now back in All Black contention.

There must be one or two experienced quality South Africans (not in Springbok contention) who we could look at, to help with Hodgsons development also.

MInd we have to be careful with our Non English qualified now...every signing so far just about, has been Non English.

Are there any decent SA 10's though?

If we're looking I'd hope it would be Aus/NZ

Well i would have thought 1 or 2 that is ideally want we were looking for. But yes i could cope with an Aussie or Kiwi....in all honesty i wouldnt care if he was Kenyan, German, Polish or Madagascan...if he was the ideal player we were looking for.

Until then however Hodgson would be my choice of our 3...but im under the impression he isnt re-signing...or being re-signed maybe he's already signed elsewhere.

I just hope its not another prem team and he goes on to fulfill his potential....

Elton Jantes seems to have fallen from grace a bit with the Boks. He'd be a great signing for Falcons and plays a similar style to young Joel.

I don't think he'd be an improvement tbh Sam, I'm not a fan of Jantes.

Was thinking the same thing Sam. Noticed that he was the bench option for the Lions when I saw them at the weekend and thought how far he had fallen. Wasn't Goosen also mooted as an option for Gloucester, but it fell through?

Goosen is a sick note though. Jantes is a good player who just hasn't kicked on ALA Cipriani a couple of years ago. With the right coaches I think he'd offer a lot. Can't very worse than Godman has been this season.

How the feck would you tempt Jantes from SA, the sunshine and being close(ish) to a Int call up; to Newcastle, the horrific weather and far removed from Internationals?

Not to mention there are other teams wanting 10's, other teams that probably won't be close to the bottom of their leagues every season.

Janjtes isn't close to an int call up and not a massive improvement on what we have imo.

Money talks Yappy, do you think Evans came to Quins because of his love of London?

Top players will move anywhere of the cash is right.....Hayman, Burke?

How would he not be better than your current crop? You have two experienced 10s that can't hit the broad side of a barn and a prospect who is easily pressured out of games.

He won't be in line for a call up whilst Meyer is in charge. He likes a kicker first and a playmaker second.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Janjtes isn't close to an int call up and not a massive improvement on what we have imo.

Money talks Yappy, do you think Evans came to Quins because of his love of London?

Top players will move anywhere of the cash is right.....Hayman, Burke?

It was said sort of tongue in cheek to be honest. Difficult to get across in text though.

To answer your question I think Janjtes is an injury or two off an Int call up so not far off. Evans was offered a heck of a lot, but also he's stated moving to London played a big part as well as the ethos of the team he moved too.

Just can't see it myself mate.

Evans isn't exactly going to say London is a dump and he's only moved for the cash is he??

Hayman was the best TH in the world when he came to Falcons and I think he still has a place here.

Money is often the main drive, Janjtes is a pretty average flakey fly half. I'd rather keep hold of Hodgson tbh

We have signed Italian international lock Josh Furno.

Cracking signing but another lock?

How many NEQ players is that for Falcons now? You'll start missing out on the bounty payments soon.

Can't Furno also play in the back row?

He plays 6 too, quality addition.

4 out of 7 signings have been EQ

Well we now have - Furno, McLeod (probably last season 36?) Nagle poised to sign. Dom Barrow, Calum Green, McKensie, and Glen Young in the academy / A team.

Some of these will be playing 6 i guess.

Wheres the 10 though Dean!!!! Cant cope if it Clegg and Godman again this season.

Furno is a good signing for you guys - better at 6 than lock though to be honest, where he does look a little bit lightweight.

I think we were interested earlier in the summer but were priced out.

Just a top up on the Quins front:

Out
Kennedy - London Irish as a coach
Maurie Fa'Asavalu - Oynnax
Tom Guest - London Irish
Tim Molenaar - Retiring? Back to Glaws?
Sam Smith - Worcester
Nick Mayhew - Retiring, Eashing?

In
Marland Yarde- London Irish

We do like to make life hard for ourselves...

Top up on the Falcons front:

Out:
James Fitzpatrick - Leeds
Chris Pilgrim - Leeds
Carlo Del Fava - Retired to injury
Tui Tui'lopu - Retired to injury
Andy Higgins - Retired to injury
Alex Crockett - Released

In:
Calum Green - Leeds
Josh Furno - Italy
Juan Pablo Socino - Rotherham
Semisi Taluava - Worcester
Alex Tuilagi - Japan
Andy Tuilagi - Newport Dragons?
Sinotti Sinotti - Permanent Deal
Riki Tipuna - Bristol
Eric Fry - London Scottish
Rob Hawkins - Leicester

Lots of Non -Eq players coming in. But we have quite a few talented academy players who i think will get more time this season, mixed with some cracking players coming in.

Chiefs summary so far:

Out:
Tommy Hayes, Retired
Hoani Tui, Lyon
Craig Mitchell, Cardiff Blues
Romana Graham, La Rochelle
Jason Shoemark, Hawke's Bay
Chris Whitehead, Retired
Justin Blanchett, Bedford Blues (academy)
Tom Cowan-Dickie, Plymouth Albion (academy)
James Hanks, Retired
Lloyd Fairbrother, Newport Gwent Dragons (academy)
James Phillips, London Scottish

Will we ever see him again:
Sireli Naqelevuki, two crocked knees

In:
Moray Low, Glasgow Warriors
Thomas Waldrom, Leicester Tigers
Tomas Francis, London Scottish
Mitch Lees, London Welsh
Elvis Taoine, Jersey


Underwhelmed doesn't even begin to describe it   

Rumours -

Grant Shiells to Bath and Joel Hodgson to Northampton are done deals apprently.

You can tell Bath are lacking a decent backs coach and have a tonne of forward coaches when we are looking likely to sign 3 props and a player who could be a world class centre but is going to get stuck in the back row. Oi Ford, develop burgess at centre, sign a decent squad replacement for bendy and potentially heathcote, and get an international scrum half...Andy Ellis from Crusaders please !

I'd pick Tom Heathcote up on my pedal bike and croggy him to Falcons.

 London Irish summary  

Out
Declan Danaher (retiring and becoming academy forwards coach)
Ian Gough (Dragons)
Chris Hala'ufia (Scarlets)
Ian Humphreys (Ulster)
James O'Connor (Toulon)
Setaimata Sa (Hull FC)
John Yapp (returning to Edinburgh at end of loan)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Rumours that Bryn Evans will be returning to New Zealand, and that Sailosi Tagicakibau will not return from the Stormers.

In
Tom Court (Ulster)
Geoff Cross (Edinburgh)
Sean Cox (Edinburgh)
Dan Leo (Perpignan)
Conor Gilsnenan (Leinster)
Tom Guest (Harlequins)
Luke Narraway (Perpignan)
Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Noakes (Auckland Blues)
Eoin Griffin (Connacht)
James Short (Saracens)
Paul Hodgson (to become academy backs coach)
Nick Kennedy (to become academy coach)
Steve Walsh (Toulon - Strength and Conditions)
Andre Quins ( Harlequins - Nutritionist)
Brian O'Leary (Ospreys - Physio)


Despite losing the quality of Yarde and O'Connor, I genuinely think we will be in a lot better shape for next season.

We've not competed for years because we haven't had a competitive pack. Gold, Ford and Hatley have done a brilliant job getting us there with signing James, Houston, Garvey. 

In the last season or so we've signed

Young/Roberts
Ford
Eastmond
Joseph/Henson
Agulla
Watson
Roko

That's a whole backline. It needs work and blending together, that will come next year. I think it is pretty harsh to criticise their backs recruitment!

Ozzy - do you think that we are done or still looking to add further options? I wouldn't mind Grant Shiells as competition for Tom Court - although the above suggests he is off to Bath.

Haven't Bath just brought in a new backs coach from the Dragons?

I've not heard that we are looking to add anyone SB.  Shiells is off to Bath isn't he?  I think BS is happy with the loosehead options which will be Court, Parr, Harris and Smallbone.  Smallbone is off to New Zealand for 3 months and will be doing some work with Mike Cron I believe, so could well come back and leapfrog Harris to be honest.

fkas, Bath have brought in Darren Edwards I believe.

Yea - am excited about Smallbone and agree - he should leap-frog Harris who has been a bit of a disappointment to be honest.

Bathite wrote:We've not competed for years because we haven't had a competitive pack. Gold, Ford and Hatley have done a brilliant job getting us there with signing James, Houston, Garvey. 

In the last season or so we've signed

Young/Roberts
Ford
Eastmond
Joseph/Henson
Agulla
Watson
Roko

That's a whole backline. It needs work and blending together, that will come next year. I think it is pretty harsh to criticise their backs recruitment!

Im a harsh man bathite ! As you point out we have recruited lots of backs as we have forwards in previous seasons....however for next year we continue to sign forwards Auterac, Thomas, Shells ? and Burgess and i want to continue to sign backs as well ! This season we will lose bendy (our star player in the latter half of the season) and probably lose heathcote too. On top of this Ford and agulla will be gone for large parts of the season, as may be watson.  I think we need a world class scrum half to replace the void left by claasens and squad flyhalf/full back cover, i would also bring Burgess through at 12/13 to keep eastmond, devoto and Joesph honest...simples

formerly known as Sam wrote:Haven't Bath just brought in a new backs coach from the Dragons?

Yep

Saracens summary

Out

Steve Borthwick - retiring
Nick Auterac - Bath Rugby
Matt Stevens - Natal Sharks
James Short - London Irish
Max Crumpton - Bristol Rugby
Tom Jubb - Plymouth Albion


In

Any rumoured to be coming in beshocked? I thought you were signing Jim Hamilton?

Well yes the Jim Hamilton rumour has been going round for a long time but nothing has happened on that front yet. Who knows?

As for other players I have heard nothing.

To be honest all I want is a replacement for Stevens - a top quality TH.

Hopefully the Saracens coaches give Maro Itoje opportunities. Sounds like he made a positive impact vs Leicester on his premiership debut.

I genuinely wouldnt bother with Hamilton...focus on the cracking kids you have coming through like kruis and Itoje.

If you need to invest elsewhere in the team squad. Though your academy seems to be immensely strong that investment maybe isnt needed.

Interesting...it appears the Hodgson to Saints rumours are now not true...

Where is Euan Murray going?

Murray is out of contract isn't he? I'd Imagine he'll go to a lower tier French side.

I thought the Joel Hodgson to Saints rumour seemed odd. The young ten they have from their academy Hooley is a good fit for the current team and a decent prospect. The kid can certainly pass and tackle, just needs to sort his kicking game and get some more experience.

beshocked wrote:Saracens summary

Out

Steve Borthwick - retiring
Nick Auterac - Bath Rugby
Matt Stevens - Natal Sharks
James Short - London Irish
Max Crumpton - Bristol Rugby
Tom Jubb - Plymouth Albion


In

Next season could potentially be a big shock with Borthwick and Stevens out, two pretty experienced guys. The rest are no real loss.