Leicester Tigers Thread 2014/15 (+ Squad updates for 2015/16) Part 2

[Welly]

First topic message reminder :

Current Tables Positions:
AP: 3rd Losing SF to Bath
CC: Out (Group Stage)
LV: Out (Semi Final)
A League: 4th Northern Conference.
AP Sevens:
Academy AP U18 League: 2nd Northern Conference beating Bath on finals day to finish 3rd overall.

Next Game: V Argetnina (Welford road) 5th/6th September Time: TBD.

Senior Squad 2014/15: (Leaving), (Signed new deal) (Retiring)
Coaches: Cockerill (DOR), Blaze (Ass. Forwards), Blake (Defence + Skills Coach), Murphy (Ass.Backs)
1/3) Ayerza, Balmain, Bristow, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo
2) T.Youngs, Ghiraldini, Briggs, Thacker
4/5) Deacon, De Chaves, Kitchener, Parling, Peterson, Price, Slater, Thorn, Whetton
6/7/8) Barbieri, Crane, Croft, Gibson, Pearce, Salvi
9) Harrison, Mele, Youngs
10) Burns, Williams
12/13) Allen, Bai, Hepetema, Loamanu, Pohe, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi
11/14) Benjamin, Camacho, Goneva, Hamilton, Scully, Thompstone
15) Bell, Morris, Tait

2014/15 Development Squad: Oliver Bryant, George Catchpole, Jake Farnworth, Tom Hudson, Ed Milne, Will Owen, Aniseko Sio, George Tresidder, Rhys Williams.

2015/16 Senior Squad ATM: (New Signings)
Coaches: Cockerill (DOR), Mauger (HC), Hansen (Defence + Skills Coach), Blaze (Ass. Forwards), Murphy (Ass. Backs)
1/3) Ayerza, Balmain, Brugnara, Cole, Mulipola, Pasquali, Rizzo
2) Youngs, Ghiraldini, Bateman, Thacker
4/5) De Chaves, Fitzgerald, Kitchener, Slater
6/7/8) Crane, Croft, Fonua, McCaffrey, O'Connor, Pearce, Williams
9) Harrison, Kitto, Youngs
10) Burns, Williams
12/13) Allen, Bai, Loamanu, Roberts, Smith, Tuilagi
11/14) Benjamin, Betham, Camacho, Goneva, Thompstone
15) Bell, Morris, Tait

2015/16 Development Squad: N/A

New Deals 2014/14
Dan Cole (Long term)
Marcos Ayerza (3 years)
Tom Youngs (Long Term)
Owen Williams
Graham Kitchener
Fraser Balmain
Tiziano Pasquali
Harry Thacker
Riccardo Brugnara
Sam Harrison
Tom Croft
Niall Morris
Seb De Cheves
Mathew Tait
Niall Morris

Out Of Contract
Roberts
Camacho
Bell
Smith


Transfers in 2014/15:
Brad Thorn (Highlanders)
Tommy Bell (Jersey)
Jack Roberts (Rotherham Titans)
Aaron Mauger (Canterbury Crusaders)
Jack Whetton (ACT Brumbies)
Greg Peterson (Manly)

2015/16
Greg Bateman (Exeter)
Mike Williams (Warriors)
Mike Fitzgerald (Chiefs)
Opeti Fonua (Welsh)
Brendon O'Connor (Blues)
Peter Betham (NSW Waratahs)
Lachlan McCaffrey (London Welsh)
Jono Kitto (Bay of Plenty + Cheifs Development Squad)

Transfers Out 2014/15:
Paul Burke (N/A)
Phil Blake (N/A)
Neil McCarthy (N?A)
Mathew Tait (Bayonne)
Tom Price (Scarlets)
Geoff Parling (Exeter)
Neil Briggs (Sale)
Julien Salvi (Exeter)
Pohe (USC)
Brad Thorn (Retirement)
Peterson (Glasgow)
Hamilton (Coventry)
Bristow (Wasps)
R.Williams (?)
Whetton
Hepetema


Rumours:
IN
Matt Todd -------> Leicester
Francois Hougaard ----> Leicester, Exeter Chiefs.
Maxime Mermoz ------> Leicester
Burrow ----------------> Leicester

Out
Allen (Retirement)
Manu (Toulouse, Saracens, Racing)
 

[Geordie]

I thought Pohe and Hepetema were the future centres for the Tigers?

Are they not fulfilling their potential?

[Welly]

I thought Pohe and Hepetema were the future centres for the Tigers?

Are they not fulfilling their potential?

No.

Although not getting game time at centres.


but Roberts, Bryant and Catchpole have leaped frogged them.

I like Hepetema but his injuries have come at a very bad time.

If he was fit start of season he would of had a chance considering we were having to play Williams @ 12.

[Geordie]

I noticed Hepetema had some I jury issues...but Whats happened with Pohe...

[Welly]

He didn't really impress much preseason IMO.

I don't know how he is getting on at Nottingham though.

[formerly known as Sam]

Pohe is a beast ball in hand but goes missing around the park. I think he will move to the Championship in the summer or possibly abroad to a French second team.

Hempetma is just too good at getting himself injured. I think he'll move on in search of regular game time.

We've got plenty of centre options (when they're actually fit) and some good options coming through. Roberts and Catchpole forced their way into the first team based on LV performances. Thacker the even younger has made his under 20 debut whilst still qualifying for the under 18s. Bryant who won us the LV game against LI and who did a sterling job vs Sale has played 10 for England under 20s but will probably move to 12 and I think Mauger will make the most out of him as he has great hands and time on the ball (just no tactical game control for 10).

[Geordie]

Thacker the even younger

How many thackers is there? Is this one bigger than his brother? His brothers not very big.

[king_carlos]

Just been having a read of some threads from the fans forum which I don't check in on often enough.

Rumour has it that Hepetema was offered a contract but turned it down. If true can only assume he wants more guaranteed game time.

Another interesting point is that Mauger said on Radio Leicester that he's bringing over Scott Hansen, the current backs coach for the Canterbury ITM cup side. Sounds a bit like he'll be working with a mixture of the academy and senior squads in a skills related role.

I agree with fkas that I don't think Smith will be released and wouldn't want him to be either. His versatility, experience and commitment are such a useful asset to the squad. Especially going into a RWC year and with some big changes throughout the squad.

Whilst I like how the squad is coming along, I will still feel uneasy until the flanker situation is resolved I think. If Salvi and Croft move on then I'd hope for us to be signing a flanker, centre and full back all of starter quality with a bit of stardust hopefully thrown in amongst them - I wonder if Welford Road caught Francis Sailis eye during the Babaas game

[formerly known as Sam]

Saili impressed a lot of that Baabaas tour. He's got so much attacking talent at a young age that is being wasted in Auckland. I would have thought they'll be a lot of clubs eying him up and the NZRU looking to keep him in NZ for the post RWC rebuild. I'd love a player of his quality in the centre but I'd hate to see a player who isn't head and shoulders above what we already have come in and just restrict game time for our youngsters.

Geordie there's just the two sons of Troy Thacker (former Tigers hooker ). Harry who currently is a hooker but looks increasingly likely to be moved to open side. Then there's Charlie who is the lanky little brother and plays 12 with exactly the same tenacity Harry brings to the forwards.

[Welly]

Croft out for 6 months

Feel for him so much.

[formerly known as Sam]

Got to feel for Crofty. He can't catch a break. I think a season in Japan may be the best move for him. Give him the cash and enough time to get back to full fitness. He can then head back when back to his best.

[king_carlos]

That's him out of the RWC for certain then. It could well spell the end of his England career as well if Lancaster decides to look to 2019 after the world cup, which judging by the start of his tenure after the last world cup he probably will.

Such a shame what injuries have done to such a good player. It's happening all to often now in the game. I really do wonder what it will take for the IRB to have a proper look at injury issues in the game.

Agree with all that on the centres fkas. However, if a big name were to come in would there not be a chance of Loamanu being that man further down the pecking order taking up a place that would better go to Roberts, Catchpole, Bryant, Thacker, etc?

[Welly]

Loamanu in contract next season I believe

[formerly known as Sam]

Loamano is with us for next season hence my lack of enthusiasm for a signing of any centre that wouldn't be a massive talent. We've got decent options already.

Allen has two more years
Bai and Loamano have one more year each
Manu has a "long term contract" if I remember rightly
Smith, Catchpole, Roberts, Bryant and Thacker we assume are all under contract for next season. It's not leaving us short. Unless Allen is going to all it a day after all his injuries, I can't see that though.

[Welly]

Actually Smith, Catchpole, Roberts are all out of contract end of season I beileive.

[formerly known as Sam]

I thought Catchpole signed a two year at the end of last season? Probably not knowing Cohen. Smith should be a simple renewal. Roberts could be awkward if we didn't sign him to an 18 month deal initially as his stock will have risen and they'll be other clubs evaluating him as a signing.

[king_carlos]

I'm not sure if it is the badly timed injury or the general struggle of the backs all season which has caused it, however I just haven't been impressed enough with Loamanu on the occasion I've seen him to think he deserves that place ahead of the young guys coming through.

It's not something that concerns me hugely, I just like the trend of replacing quantity with quality and promoting young talent from within. I'd rather Loamanu didn't become a block on that young talent if he doesn't add that much in comparison to the youngsters.

[formerly known as Sam]

I can remember him being a beast when playing against us though so I'm willing to give him another season to prove that he's up to the task. He's certainly had no luck with injuries. He should be a useful player in an RWC year as he can play most of the back line and cover flanker.

Agree totally on the less quantity more quality signings route with youth providing squad depth.

[king_carlos]

He's a huge unit and has versatility. Given his injuries, the form of Roberts/Catchpole and talent of Bryant/Thacker I just hope he doesn't become a dud signing as I say.

Whenever Manu is out we lack go forward in the backs though that's for sure. If he can play a role replacing that power at 13 when Manu is away on international duty (or injured) he could add a lot to the squad. That would also allow us to keep Nikki Goneva out on the wing where he's best rather than shunting him to outside centre for half the season.

It's a point I definitely hope to be proved wrong on that's for sure.

[formerly known as Sam]

I was hopeful Loamano would be the Manu reserve. He's certainly got the physical attributes for it and that is the kind of option we need. I don't think he's a real option at 12 he just covered there during the LV game vs the chiefs. That should mean he doesn't hinder the big fight out between Bryant, Thacker and Roberts for game time there.

Feeling better about our flanker options with the performances of Beckett and Owen in the England under 20s tonight. Beckett is having a smashing game, literally. Owen Hills looks a decent prop option having come off the bench early doors as well.

[Welly]

Yep Beckett and Owen looking good. Hills also as you say one for the future very mobile as well.

As said I reckon Beckett will be moved up to a development contract next season.

In terms of Loamanu I like to keep him as said he is versatile but also he offers something different to all our current youngsters he is a hard runner more of Manu's style, whereas the youngsters coming up seem to be more creative they lack ATM his heavy running ability which is handy to have in certain games.

With his injuries I would give him benefit of the doubt ATM, as said for Treviso he caused plenty of problems.

[formerly known as Sam]

Roberts offers a hard running option at 12 which is a handy option to have. I'm intrigued to see what Mauger will do with our midfield. There's a host of options for him to work with and currently little shape so change should be easy enough.

I'd like to see a lot more of Beckett next season. He's a big horrible blind side with a great work rate. He needs that first team experience and needs to be playing A league or on loan in the Championship. The age grade rugby will allow him to rely on his physicality that won't be such a standard out come the seniors.

Beckett fits in with types of blindsides we've been signing as well.

[nathan]

i do wish Ford never left the tigers, him and youngs made a great partnership today

[formerly known as Sam]

Can't blame Ford. Bath were willing to build a team around him and he'd be working with his dad. It's certainly a great partnership but the midfield doesn't work.

I think the Youngs and Burns partnership is developing nicely and that could work well for us to the end of the season. To be fair when Youngs is on form like he was he makes everyone around him look good.

[yappysnap]

i do wish Ford never left the tigers, him and youngs made a great partnership today

Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be reunited when Bath purchase Youngs from you...

[Welly]

Salvi to Exeter

[formerly known as Sam]

Yappy you won't win friends with comments like that.

Where did you hear that rumour Welly? Haven't see that one. Exeter are being linked with half our squad at the minute. Only Parling confirmed though. I'd have thought Salvi would be looking at France or Japan and taking the big pay. Then again maybe he doesn't want to learn another language.

[Welly]

It was in TRP.

But heard from a good source that it is done.

[formerly known as Sam]

Great signing for Chiefs then. I'd have much preferred to be able to field both O'Connor and Salvi next season. Would have been great options for the club. This leaves us short in the back row and gives a rival a top quality player in their prime.

I hope Cohen has some deals lined up because at the minute we're a flanker and full back short. Unless of course we're going to back the kids in which case next season could be tough.

[formerly known as Sam]

Hempetema lasted only seven minutes for Donny on Friday night. Thacker came off the bench as a replacement hooker.

Pohe lined up at 12 for Nottingham with Price on the bench.

Would make me think that Hempetema will not be getting a new deal. If he's injured again he won't be convincing anybody that he needs to be kept on and given more game time.

[Welly]

Price is already off to Scarlets.

I reckon Pohe and Hepetema will both be off.

Unless Mauger likes either of them.

[formerly known as Sam]

If Pohe is showing he can add work rate to the big carries then maybe they'll offer him a new deal. Whether he'll want to accept it given his lack of game time is another matter. A year in the Championship might well get him a deal the year after at an AP club much further up the pecking order. He's a Cornish lad do he could sign for Exeter...

I wonder how much cap we've actually got left to play with. A number of squad contracts don't seem to be resolved.

[Welly]

Currently we have:

Re signed
Ayerza
Youngs
Cole
Balmain
Thacker
Pas
Brugnara
Kitchener
Williams

Signed
Bateman
Williams
Fonua
Fitzgerald
O'Connor

Leaving
Deacon
Parling
Price
Salvi
Gibson
Tait



Contract runs out:
Thorn
De Cheves
Peterson
Whetton
Croft
Barbieri
Harrison
Roberts
Pohe
Hepetema
Hamilton
Camacho
Scully
Morris
Bell
Smith

Can't see De Cheves, Harrison, Roberts, Morris, Bell going and most likely Smith.

Babrieri and Scully are off, Hamilton as well.

ATM we look like this
Bateman ----> Briggs (Maybe cheaper due to experience)
Williams -----> Gibson (Prob same price)
Fitzgerald ---> Deacon (Will be more)
O'Connor ----> Salvi (Maybe cheaper as Salvi was sought after when last signed his contract)
Fonua --------> Barbieri (Will be more due to Fonua is eye catching at time but not much more)

If Betham comes in it will be a replacement for Scully, Hamilton and likely another.

We will still have the cap for Parling and Tait to spend (Parling will be a big ticket price) and potentially Croft who will either go or take a big pay cut.

If we lose say
Parling
Croft
Tait
Hepetema
Camacho
Whetton/Peterson
Thorn

We should have enough cap space to sign a decent Full Back, Flanker as well as a project Lock and maybe Just maybe with the cap increase another Centre if needs be.

If Bryant and Catchpole and more come up they should be covered by the Academy free cap. get 8 spaces.

[formerly known as Sam]

I thought De Chaves had signed a new deal? Maybe it was another one of those close to agreeing a deal stories. Harrison is supposed to be close to agreeing a deal but after the season he's had he may suddenly warrant a bit more cash.

Re-signing that front row won't have been cheap.

[Welly]

De Cheves, Harrison and Morris all close to signing last I heard.

[SirBurger]

Where is Scully going?

[formerly known as Sam]

Annoyingly he's off to Cardiff. Being replaced by Betham the Aussie international winger who'll add a lot of pave and finishing ability but probably not Scully's awesome skills under the high ball.

[LondonTiger]

I don't follow SXV. Is Betham any good?

[king_carlos]

A big unit with a lot of pace and a nose for the tryline LT. Also a very balanced runner as well by the looks of things, which is nice given how many wingers seem to fall over whenever try to change direction these days - wearing blades instead of studs when conditions require the latter is a pet hate of mine!

I can't say I follow every SXV game by any means so others would be much better informed than me though. From what I've seen he's having a really strong season for the Waratahs.

Here's a try he scored a couple of weeks back on the counter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mAU2ShO89o

A lot of build up before Betham gets the ball but the end of the clip should be of interest to Tigers fans.

As fkas states he will offer more going forward than Scully. Whether he'll take to the early new year mud baths and high ball sagas with as much aplomb as Scully is very much to be seen though.

[Welly]

Tom price confirmed off to Scarlets.

[Welly]

Benjamin out of the season.

[Welly]

Sam Harrison has signed a new deal.

[LondonTiger]

With Andy Saull apparently not offered a new contract at Falcons, may he be someone worth looking at? Salvi and Gibson both prospered having arrived unheralded.

[formerly known as Sam]

Saull wouldn't be a bad option as a back up to O'Connor. A two year deal whilst Owen develops and maybe Thacker. He'd provide that inexpensive experience we need. Might free up enough cap to keep Croft on a smaller deal and still secure a top notch full back.

I thought we might have been looking at Barclay as I think he's out of contract and the Scarlets seem to prefer young Davies (he looks a serious prospect).

[HongKongCherry]

If any side could get Saull back on track it would be Tigers and I'd imagine he'd be cheap

[funnyExiledScot]

Barclay wouldn't be a bad signing, particularly given his falling out with the Scotland management. He'd be available all season and has bags of experience.

[king_carlos]

Rumours on the offy that we've signed Lachlan McCaffrey from London Welsh for next season.

He's been a rare bright spot for Welsh this year and I don't think he's a poor player but equally I really don't think he's what we need.

6.Croft, Williams, Fitzgerald + Beckett likely on a development contract
7.O'Connor, Thacker, Owen
8.Crane, Fonau, Pearce

Looking at that we really need another 7 not a 6/8. Feels a bit like a move back to quantity over quality, which many felt we were shaking.

Also an interesting Mercury exclusive in which Cockerill states we would spend big if they could find the right player to fit into our ethos. Worryingly it also says they've been in talks with a few players/agents in the £500,000 price bracket, which to me suggest we may have missed out on the players we felt did fit the Tigers way!

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leicester-Tigers-ready-splash-cash-marquee-player/story-26295921-detail/story.html

[formerly known as Sam]

Can MaCaffery cover 7? I was hoping he'd he a cover the backrow kind of player.

An extra body for depth isn't necessarily a bad thing but with the rumours that Croft is signing on for another year I'm not sure it's a great deal.

I presume we've been trying to bring in a real quality back a few there's a lot of competition from France, Japan and now the Irish clubs are throwing some serious Euro around.

[Welly]

I think Maccaffery is like Gibson i remember him playing 7 a couple of times but usually been used @ 6 + 8.

Don't think the quote 500K means we have missed out on players IMO.

Just teams like Ulster have inflated the market so much.

If a player like Piteau is worth 500K there how much is one like Le Roux worth?

It's good that we are willing to splash the cash.

I personally can't wait to see Savea in a Leicester shirt

Dagg will follow the season after.

[Welshmushroom]

We seem to be flooded with a wealth of openside flankers in wales. Maybe Leicester can take one of them on? Lewis from the Ospreys would have been a outstanding signing. Still cant believe he went to Worcester of all places especially given there is a good chance they wont even make it to the Aviva.

[formerly known as Sam]

Saili rumoured to have signed for a million euros over two years. That's huge. I doubt we'd spend that much on anything other than a prop. Shame a Saili and Manu midfield...

If McCaffery ends up more Gibson than Thorpe we'll have done a great bit of business.

Savea would be good but we have wingers and we really need a full back. Preferably one that can kick.

Mushroom we've got young talented opensides and we've got a good quality Kiwi coming over. The concern is that there's quite a gap between the Kiwi and the 19 and 20 year old alternatives.

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