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.

Wasps are ambitious...

not more of those RWC commentators getting somewhat overexcited shouting PoCOCK!

Absolutely terrific and insanely brave player though

True Raven wrote:Telegraph reporting that wasps want to make pocock the highest paid player.  It seems wasps must have also bought Saracens accountants

Well the cap is increasing again - not that it makes any difference either way as apparently its voluntary 

Second marquee player spot us up for grabs at Wasps so Pocock would slot into there. They are likely be George Smith at the end of the season so that'll free up some cap as will the mid season offloading of Johnston to Wuss (will cover the acquisition of Moore from Leinster next season at any rate).

Wasps are getting much bigger attendances at Coventry. They should be making considerably more money after the move so it makes sense that they'll want to spend right up to the newly raised cap next season.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mid_gen wrote:

yappysnap wrote:And just reported that Nick Evans may be out for the season with a broken leg.

Eek :/ Could be the end of his playing career tbh.

At least Botica has been better recently....would have loved to have signed Cips though. Any other 10s around? What's up with old Toby Flood these days?

Flood is at misfiring Tolouse and is carrying some extra timbre. Keatley is on the market, Jackson at Wasps could be available and there's the youngster Wilis at Falcons. Quade Cooper is desperate to leave Toulon.

Excuse me, can you stop touting out our players please!

Saracens in talks with Mark Wilson and Sean Robinson.

Ha really?! Think we're about to hear how good they are after all then.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mid_gen wrote:

yappysnap wrote:And just reported that Nick Evans may be out for the season with a broken leg.

Eek :/ Could be the end of his playing career tbh.

At least Botica has been better recently....would have loved to have signed Cips though. Any other 10s around? What's up with old Toby Flood these days?

Flood is at misfiring Tolouse and is carrying some extra timbre. Keatley is on the market, Jackson at Wasps could be available and there's the youngster Wilis at Falcons. Quade Cooper is desperate to leave Toulon.

Excuse me, can you stop touting out our players please!

I'll consider it if you put in a good word with your back row Wilson, mention how lovely Leicestershire is. That sort of thing.

Is it too late in the season to bring in medical jokers for Quins?
I mean if its that serious with Evans...
Botica with Swiel covering doesnt fill me with dread.....but its not likely to keep Quins in a top 4 spor either.

If a player is out for more than 3 months a player if similar experience and playing position can be brought in to cover. There is a limit as to how much can be spent on injury dispensation signing over the course of a season, think it's something like 400k and I'd assume most top clubs find a way to eat into at least some of that from the start of the season.

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens in talks with Mark Wilson and Sean Robinson.

Now I know your winding me up there......

I should have read the post above LT's clearly. A picture of me next to gullible in the dictionary.

Well I think Quins already have Beau Robinson as injury cover in the back row....even though he hasnt played for the 1st team yet.
Perhaps there is enough in the whip to bring in a bit more experience, although perhaps this is finally the chance that Botica needs to get some consistency and form...........sink or swim time. Clegg sunk when he was given the oportunity.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mid_gen wrote:

yappysnap wrote:And just reported that Nick Evans may be out for the season with a broken leg.

Eek :/ Could be the end of his playing career tbh.

At least Botica has been better recently....would have loved to have signed Cips though. Any other 10s around? What's up with old Toby Flood these days?

Flood is at misfiring Tolouse and is carrying some extra timbre. Keatley is on the market, Jackson at Wasps could be available and there's the youngster Wilis at Falcons. Quade Cooper is desperate to leave Toulon.

Excuse me, can you stop touting out our players please!

I'll consider it if you put in a good word with your back row Wilson, mention how lovely Leicestershire is. That sort of thing.

Its not like Northumberland though is it, and so close to his Cumbrian home

propdavid_london wrote:Is it too late in the season to bring in medical jokers for Quins?  
I mean if its that serious with Evans...
Botica with Swiel covering doesnt fill me with dread.....but its not likely to keep Quins in a top 4 spor either.

Just read that we've signed the scrum half from Leeds as injury cover for Karl Dickson. So I assume we could get cover for Evans. Connor sounds pretty set on Botica and Sweil being our 10s though which fills me with fear.

I can see our season disintegrating sadly.

yappysnap wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Is it too late in the season to bring in medical jokers for Quins?  
I mean if its that serious with Evans...
Botica with Swiel covering doesnt fill me with dread.....but its not likely to keep Quins in a top 4 spor either.

Just read that we've signed the scrum half from Leeds as injury cover for Karl Dickson. So I assume we could get cover for Evans. Connor sounds pretty set on Botica and Sweil being our 10s though which fills me with fear.

I can see our season disintegrating sadly.

Evans has not been firing this season anyway, I don't think he'll be that missed. Care, Robshaw and Clifford being away on England duty are our main problems.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens in talks with Mark Wilson and Sean Robinson.

Now I know your winding me up there......

I hardly think you're the target of the wind up.....

Pockock being offered £1.4M

As we talk of injury cover -
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12546/10170850/sam-egerton-joins-harlequins-as-cover-for-karl-dickson

Telling Wilson Leicestershire is nice would be a real hard sell

beshocked wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Saracens in talks with Mark Wilson and Sean Robinson.

Now I know your winding me up there......

I hardly think you're the target of the wind up.....

Of course he was, that was right after a post where GF called for people to stop touting Falcon's.


Not everything is about you.

Londontiger I agree not everything is about me but you did say Saracens, not any other club.

Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway will be interesting if Wasps do sign Pocock.

Would be another famous backrower moving to the AP just as Faletau, Schalk Burger and Picamoles will.

Some fascinating backrow battles in wait next season.

Surely Leicester and Quins will need to join the party with big backrow names of their own?

Not quite a transfer but wilkinshaw has now sold Gloucester. Could be intresting.

Dunno if its been mentioned above but BBC reporting Tommy Bell Leics -> LI next season

beshocked wrote:Londontiger I agree not everything is about me but you did say Saracens, not any other club.

Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway will be interesting if Wasps do sign Pocock.

Would be another famous backrower moving to the AP just as Faletau, Schalk Burger and Picamoles will.

Some fascinating backrow battles in wait next season.

Surely Leicester and Quins will need to join the party with big backrow names of their own?

Ah they don't have the same fear factor as ...Wilson, Welch and Latu

Beshocked, Tigers have signed big in the backs. Toomua and JP Pieterson have both signed on. We need a hooked and at least one prop so they'll take priority.

We also signed new backrow options last summer. We just need them to be fit. O'Connor should be in better condition next season after he's had a summer off and Williams was pulling up trees before his broken arm.

lostinwales wrote:Dunno if its been mentioned above but BBC reporting Tommy Bell Leics -> LI next season

He's been confirmed as leaving Tigers for a while now with LI the leading rumour.

He's a better player than 3rd/4th choice fly half and full back so it isn't surprising that he wants to look for more regular rugby elsewhere. If he wants to be a regular Prem starter at 10 then he may need to kick on again but with Geraghty and Noakes his competition at Exiles he has chosen a good destination to challenge.

With Saracens losing:

Hamilton, Brown, Burger(J) & Joubert to retirement
Kruis and Itoje to England
And quite possibly Hargreaves to an injury enforced retirement

They need more than just Burger(S) coming in to bolster second and back row.

That's a lot of cap to fill LT. The weighty Sarries cheque book is no doubt going to brought out a fair bit this summer. What puts them in a good position is how they've managed to develop a number of players over the last few years that should be the basis for their pack going forward. Barrington, Vunipola, George, Saunders, Itoje, Kruis, Fraser, Vunipola and Wray will all be there long term and Sarries know they just need to mix and match external squad players with a big name or two and they'll keep the ethos and style of play.

Is Brown retiring?

Vunisa seems to be the Joubert replacement. Although not a like for like replacement his sheer bulk means he can slot into Billy's role well without much change of game plan.

Second row is the big one given Kruis and Itoje will likely be with England.

Schalk is Jaques replacement and can slip in at 8 as well. Michael Rhodes fitting into their squad so well should also aid the transition with those guys leaving, he has played second row in the past as well as flanker so offers depth in both.

Matt Hankin will need game time soon as well if Sarries want to keep developing him.

Would have thought Conlon might get some game time next year too

Apparently Tigers are looking at Sale wing Brady and former SA (and more recently Montpellier) prop Pat Cilliers.

beshocked wrote:

Surely Leicester and Quins will need to join the party with big backrow names of their own?

Robshaw, Luamanu, Clifford, Wallace, Easter...quins back row is fine.

Goneva to Falcons.

Another winger? Can't we just use the academy. Props are required. I've heard we're casting our gaze to France for reinforcements. As long as it's not another Schuster.

Sarries might be after a seven if both Brown and Burger are going. Only leaves Fraser as a natural openside unless I'm forgetting someone.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Another winger? Can't we just use the academy. Props are required. I've heard we're casting our gaze to France for reinforcements. As long as it's not another Schuster.

That's what I thought as well Sam. It could mean that Goneva, Camacho and Benjamin are all off.

Goneva ----> JPP
Camacho ---> Brady?
Benjamin ----> Odogwu

Loamanu is probably off as well but given how little he has featured in plans this season that may not be as much of a loss.

Welly wrote: Goneva to Falcons.

I'd heard that whisper as well Welly!

I've got to say that it would be a bit upsetting watching Niki running out for another AP club. I've been resigned to him leaving for a while but mainly due to thinking he'd be heading to France for a pay day. I hadn't considered the possibility of him running out against us in the Jeff.

He'd be a good replacement for Alesana at Falcons given that Niki is still fit enough to run.

He is still getting a big pay day it seems.

king_carlos wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Another winger? Can't we just use the academy. Props are required. I've heard we're casting our gaze to France for reinforcements. As long as it's not another Schuster.

That's what I thought as well Sam. It could mean that Goneva, Camacho and Benjamin are all off.

Goneva ----> JPP
Camacho ---> Brady?
Benjamin ----> Odogwu

Loamanu is probably off as well but given how little he has featured in plans this season that may not be as much of a loss.

Bizarrely we're in contract talks with Camacho. We have plenty of wingers already I'd rather not sign more for squad depth. It's one area where academy options can slot in easily. Plus Odowgu is electric and Catchpole can also cover there.

Thompstone, JPP, Tait, TV, Betham, Smith, Catchpole and Owodgu all back three options ready to be called upon. A specialist fullback would be a better call.

Odogwu isn't AP rugby ready and wont for another 2 or so seasons IMO.

Also Smith isn't an option anymore on the wing IMO and has Tait played Wing?

You did forget Morris.

You could still have
Goneva --> JPP
Loamanu -> Brady
Benjamin -> Odowgu

though and would work out cheaper in terms of cap space.

I said back three. I think Smith could do a job and Odwugu could step in and given some experience around him do a good job. We don't want to be in the Hamilton/Lewington situation again.

I still think a fullback with good footballing skills similar to Morris would be a better investment. Tait isn't getting any younger and neither Betham nor TV offer any real kicking game. I was more interested in the Rory Scholes rumours.

I'll head to the Tigers page to chat about the possibility that our players can cover wing as I don't want to take over this!!

Scholes rumours a no go.

Goneva? Really?

Is that a definite or just a suggestion.

Would that be a part swap with McGuigan

Welly wrote: Goneva to Falcons.

I'd be a little disappointed with that one tbh A few seasons ago Goneva was untouchable, pure magic. I don't really think he's been getting close to those levels recently and he wouldn't be cheap.

Welly wrote: Scholes rumours a no go.

Most Ulster fans seem to think hes going somewhere - Edinburgh, Saracens and Leicester Tigers all mentioned.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Goneva? Really?

Is that a definite or just a suggestion.

Would that be a part swap with McGuigan

It's being 'strongly rumoured'. I seems to have come from a few different places so could well be something in it, on the other hand it could just be agents trying to fluff up a nicer offer in France. Oh the joys of silly season...

Niki is still capable of the same magic he was a couple of seasons ago, he just needs to be managed very carefully and likely wont do it as often. He's much more destructive at certain times in the season - i.e. when the pitches are hard and games faster.

At 31 he is probably looking for a 3 year contract to get him a pay day and it won't be a cheap one. Tigers are letting him go as they feel that they can't justify the length and size of contact he wants given his age and injury history. Niki is such a likeable player that it's a difficult one to admit but I tend to agree with them.

Wait until the end of the season when he'll likely be scoring great tries in key matches and I'll probably feel differently though...

As for a part swap with McGuigan I don't know. Tigers have known they needed a hooker for a while and have been courting McGuigan for it so it will likely be seperate deals.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Welly wrote: Scholes rumours a no go.

Most Ulster fans seem to think hes going somewhere - Edinburgh, Saracens and Leicester Tigers all mentioned.

Edinburgh do not need back 3 or 13 unless they are a top prospect. If Ulster has a good 12 spare though, preferably not tied to Ireland, send him over

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

Welly wrote: Scholes rumours a no go.

Most Ulster fans seem to think hes going somewhere - Edinburgh, Saracens and Leicester Tigers all mentioned.

Edinburgh do not need back 3 or 13 unless they are a top prospect. If Ulster has a good 12 spare though, preferably not tied to Ireland, send him over

We already gave you Michael Allen, you are just getting greedy now