Silly season transfer rumours III...

First topic message reminder :

Previous seasonal silliness:
https://www.606v2.com/t57129-silly-season-transfer-rumours
https://www.606v2.com/t58562-silly-season-transfer-rumours-continued


The place to confirm rumours, deny them, or viciously start new ones of your own.

Tigers confirm signing of JPP.

Welly wrote:Tigers confirm signing of JPP.

For this season or next?

Ozzy3213 wrote:

Welly wrote:Tigers confirm signing of JPP.

For this season or next?

Next

Looks like Tigers have been doing some decent business for next year then.

With tooma and him, seems like they are overturning their no superstar signing principle

Well, when you start an arms race...

Started long time ago with Saracens

Steve Mafi is heading to Castres according to rumours.

Corbisiero leaves Saints with immediate effect. At least we had the 3rd test for the Lions.

Why has he left, was it to with his injury record? I would imagine Quins or Toulon will be looking to sign him up...

Taking time out Mikey - he's struggled with injuries for years

So he's retiring from rugby? The press release doesn't give much away but wishes him well in whatever he does.

Good luck to him, hope the injuries heal properly now he's away from the game

I thought corbs had left Saints with immediate effect early last month - when he first announced this sabbatical.

He was hanging out til the end of the season, then a year out. Presumably this is him done. Real shame.

This may shock a few, apparently Martin Moore has signed for Wasps

Lozowski to Sarries. Is Hodgson retiring?

Yep, Hodgson retiring

Lozowski to Sarries was doing the rounds before Christmas. Hodgson is retiring and moving into a role behind the scenes, something to do with player identification and development. I thought Sarries would be looking for another experienced hand to steady the ship when Farrell isn't available or having an in game meltdown. Hodgson has been fantastic for Sarries.

Rumours Corbs has been released early to facilitate the signing of a short term signing until the end of the season.

Saracens announce signing of Fiji 7's star Savenaca Rawaca for next season

lostinwales wrote:Saracens announce signing of Fiji 7's star Savenaca Rawaca for next season

Interesting. Sevens players converting over is often hit and miss but Rawaca is very physical so he could make it.

I wonder what position he will play? He has an excellent step and acceleration but not the out and out raw speed of many sevens players. He is quick just not lightning. Perhaps my view of his speed is just due to perspective with how quick most sevens players are though!

In fifteens acceleration and step are normally more useful than outright top speed. Beating a man is the key. In sevens you need the top speed to ensure the try as getting caught is pretty much getting turned over unless your support is working hard.

lostinwales wrote:Saracens announce signing of Fiji 7's star Savenaca Rawaca for next season

That is for after the Olympics I take it?

Fluxy wrote:This may shock a few, apparently Martin Moore has signed for Wasps

Looks like that is now official. Good signing for Wasps. He is only turning 25 in a couple of months which is very young for a tighthead of his calibre.

Strange decision in a way I suppose, Mike Ross is into his last 1-2 seasons of playing. Moore the obvious heir apparent but Furlong has put him under a lot of pressure in the depth chart.

Leinster would always struggle to keep 3 arguable first choice tight heads considering the salary they can usually command. Nucifora didn't manage to take one of them and move them over to Munster.

formerly known as Sam wrote:In fifteens acceleration and step are normally more useful than outright top speed. Beating a man is the key. In sevens you need the top speed to ensure the try as getting caught is pretty much getting turned over unless your support is working hard.

Very true Sam. I'd guess wing or possibly outside centre will suit his skill set well.

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Fluxy wrote:This may shock a few, apparently Martin Moore has signed for Wasps

Looks like that is now official. Good signing for Wasps.  He is only turning 25 in a couple of months which is very young for a tighthead of his calibre.

Strange decision in a way I suppose, Mike Ross is into his last 1-2 seasons of playing.  Moore the obvious heir apparent but Furlong has put him under a lot of pressure in the depth chart.

Leinster would always struggle to keep 3 arguable first choice tight heads considering the salary they can usually command.  Nucifora didn't manage to take one of them and move them over to Munster.

Not confirmed at all yet. This could be just the agent looking for more money. This happened last time when he was linked to Castres last time his contract was up.

Wasps have already cleared room in their squad by releasing James Johnston so he could join Worcester.

Ospreys have signed the South African JJ Engelbrecht for the remainder of the season.

Heard this morning James Cronin to London Irish from Munster for next season.

staying with Munster 3 year deal.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

thebandwagonsociety wrote:

Fluxy wrote:This may shock a few, apparently Martin Moore has signed for Wasps

Looks like that is now official. Good signing for Wasps.  He is only turning 25 in a couple of months which is very young for a tighthead of his calibre.

Strange decision in a way I suppose, Mike Ross is into his last 1-2 seasons of playing.  Moore the obvious heir apparent but Furlong has put him under a lot of pressure in the depth chart.

Leinster would always struggle to keep 3 arguable first choice tight heads considering the salary they can usually command.  Nucifora didn't manage to take one of them and move them over to Munster.

Not confirmed at all yet. This could be just the agent looking for more money. This happened last time when he was linked to Castres last time his contract was up.

It'd be a good signing for Wasps as he's arguably Ireland's best TH.

Don't think so, Marty Moore's scrummaging is overrated imo and both Mike Ross and Nathan White are ahead of him in the pecking order. Also Furlong is probably a few months away from overtaking him at Leinster.

For his height and weight which is perfect for a TH these day, Moore should be a much better scrummager.

Ollie Devoto has signed for Exeter, great news for Chiefs. Let's hope they can rotate him and Hill regularly and keep them both happy.

Great for Exeter but ideally you'd want them both getting as much game time as possible.

Leicester would have been ideal, Burns, Devoto, Tuilagi in the midfield would be effective too

That could well mean Slade returning to 10 with Devoto and Hill in the centres together? Either way Exeter now have one of Jones first choice EPS centres (Slade) and two current injury replacements with a chance to impress (Hill and Devoto). It's an impressive side that Baxter is still building to be better and better.

yappysnap wrote:Leicester would have been ideal, Burns, Devoto, Tuilagi in the midfield would be effective too

Yeah but we have signed Matt Toomua to play 12.


Interestingly Eddie Jones has identified four players who can play at 12 for England, Slade and Manu initially named but then with Hill and Devoto in as injury cover. Three of those will be at the same club next season, and the other will be playing at 13.

Ah yes I'd forgotten about Toomua, what a quality signing for you guys.

That's a good point LT I guess Slade could go to 10 permanently then it's just the other two competing. Can't see Manu ever being a 12 at Tigers unless for injury cover.

If Slade moves permanently to 10, then he will be Englands 10....something I have hoped for on previous discussions on here.

He is the perfect balance of Ford and Farrell.

Gives Chiefs plenty of fly half cover as well.

The BBC (bless them) have Devoto down as "Bath Fly Half", when did Devoto last play regularly at 10?

I'm yet to be impressed by Devoto and feel there are many parallels with 36. He has great potential, has the attributes, but hasn't yet consistently put them together. He may well mature at Exeter, but I'd personally have either a Slade/Hill or Steenson/Slade 10/12 axis.

On a completely different note, there is continued speculation that Matt Scott and Tom Brown from Edinburgh will be joining Glaws. We also know that Stevie McColl will definitely be leaving Glaws.

I think quite a few would agree with that HKC, and im one.

He has shown glimpses but I want to see him controlling games and putting a string of consistency in.

Steve McColl the full back? He's played well though. Why is he going?

yappysnap wrote:Ah yes I'd forgotten about Toomua, what a quality signing for you guys.

That's a good point LT I guess Slade could go to 10 permanently then it's just the other two competing. Can't see Manu ever being a 12 at Tigers unless for injury cover.

Well he is starting there tomorrow

Highlanders tight head Josh Hohneck has turned down a move to France and is reportedly looking at a move to England.

As far as I can find he's contracted with the Highlanders for 2016 so it would be starting next season. If he has got a release to move immediately then Saints may well be the English club in question. Brookes injured and Hill also in the EPS they could do with a TH.

HongKongCherry wrote:

On a completely different note, there is continued speculation that Matt Scott and Tom Brown from Edinburgh will be joining Glaws. We also know that Stevie McColl will definitely be leaving Glaws.

That would be a real shame from an Edinburgh point of view as both guys are Edinburgh born and bred. How confirmed are they?

Scott would be an excellent signing for you, but he's best served at 12 where twelvetrees usually plays.

Brown would be a good squad player - not the biggest but a complete buzzbomb in attack and has the heart of a lion in defence.

yappysnap wrote:Leicester would have been ideal, Burns, Devoto, Tuilagi in the midfield would be effective too

Tigers don't seem that interested in signing English players at present.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I think quite a few would agree with that HKC, and im one.

He has shown glimpses but I want to see him controlling games and putting a string of consistency in.

Difficult to control the game from 12, and difficult to show consistency when you aren't first choice (Ford obviously prefers Eastmond). From what I've read from Bath fans he's played well when given the chance this season (in a side which has been struggling).

It will be interesting to see what Baxter does with Slade, Hill and Devoto. I reckon he'll get it right, whatever it is.

RDW_Scotland wrote:
That would be a real shame from an Edinburgh point of view as both guys are Edinburgh born and bred. How confirmed are they?

Scott would be an excellent signing for you, but he's best served at 12 where twelvetrees usually plays.

Brown would be a good squad player - not the biggest but a complete buzzbomb in attack and has the heart of a lion in defence.

Our local rag is now running a story that Scott is signed. They rarely run anything that isn't true so it probably is very likely. No mention though on Brown.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Steve McColl the full back? He's played well though. Why is he going?

Unfortunately he's had a couple of howlers and the coaches have clearly lost confidence in him. He now only appears as an emergency winger. He needs to be in a side where he plays regularly to recapture his form and he's seen as 3rd or 4th choice FB at present.

DaveM wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Leicester would have been ideal, Burns, Devoto, Tuilagi in the midfield would be effective too

Tigers don't seem that interested in signing English players at present.

Well we've gone for two big names in the backs for next season but are likely to lose Goneva and Bai. Last summer was all about the foreign born EQ players.