Silly season transfer rumours III...

Aaron Jarvis has signed for Clermont (http://www.planetrugby.com/news/ospreys-prop-jarvis-to-join-clermont/). The Osprey's signed Rhodri Jones as a replacement I guess.

Steve Shingler (of is he eligible for Scotland or not fame) has gone to the Blues. Straight swap of Shingler for Patchell. Hope Cardiff are paying less as Scarlets got the better player (http://www.planetrugby.com/news/shingler-swaps-scarlets-for-blues/)

Welly wrote: Racing eyeing up Nakarawa, Glasgow apparently will release him from contract for €150,000 according to Mortimer's Twitter.

That would be good business all round for Glasgow, imo.

Aaron Jarvis has gone from bath 4th choice to Wales cap to clermont in about 5 years! Living the dream

Quins now down to 1 fit fly half for the remainder of the season. anyone know what the rules are on injury replacements if the player we want is already playing (eg in super rugby), would we have to buy them out of contract or get them loaned to us?

yappysnap wrote:Quins now down to 1 fit fly half for the remainder of the season. anyone know what the rules are on injury replacements if the player we want is already playing (eg in super rugby), would we have to buy them out of contract or get them loaned to us?

Depends you might have spent it already.

You have a 250K injury cap.
The player has to be of the same position and standard the injured player is.

Transfer fees are not counted I believe.

Leonardo Sarto (Zebra / Italy wing) to sign for Glasgow Warriors according to Italian sources quoted on the Glasgow fan website.

demosthenes wrote:Leonardo Sarto (Zebra / Italy wing) to sign for Glasgow Warriors according to Italian sources quoted on the Glasgow fan website.

The Guardian is reporting Kurtley Beale to Wasps on a two-year deal. Is that recognition of the fact they won't be keeping Piutau, or is it possible they could still hold on to him. Either way, Wasps backline is going to be ridiculous next season.

Wasps need a defensive lynchpin in there somewhere. Daly, Beale, Wade and Simpson are electric but poor defensive options. I wonder who they have lined up at 12???

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Wasps need a defensive lynchpin in there somewhere. Daly, Beale, Wade and Simpson are electric but poor defensive options. I wonder who they have lined up at 12???

Cipriani as their defensive lynchpin? I also wonder where Beale will be playing. As I understand it, he's been at IC for Waratahs. Will he continue there, or will he switch to fullback if Piutau leaves?

And as you say, while Simpson - Cipriani - Beale, Daly - Wade, Halai, Piutau(?), would be insanely good offensively, you'd worry what would happen if the forwards weren't dominant.

Cipriani

I've seen Beale at 10 & FB I think this season, I'd say FB was his best position.

Wasps would certainly need a bruising, uncomplicated 12 to settle things.

Robson is playing well enough, and is a more rounded player, to suggest that he may be first choice next season.

LondonTiger wrote:Robson is playing well enough, and is a more rounded player, to suggest that he may be first choice next season.

So much for your two week holiday then.

I said this before, but wouldn't it be better for moneybags Wasps just to try and hold onto Piatau by paying Ulster a fee? It would be better for all parties. Unless they see Beale as a utility player?

As for 12, it wouldn't surprise me to see Roberts move to Wasps once his contract with Quins is up (not sure when that is btw).

mikey_dragon wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Robson is playing well enough, and is a more rounded player, to suggest that he may be first choice next season.

So much for your two week holiday then.

STFU Mikey

If you bothered to read you'd see it was just from the International boards.

I was mean about him Yappy, so some petulance can be expected.

Didn't Beale play alongside Cips in Oz?

Yep for the Rebels (along with O'Connor and others).

Failed to get any winning form.

Really rate Beale, he just needs to settle though, too much skipping from one team to another. His best performances have always been for country so far, so it's a gamble form Wasps to see if he can bring it for a club side.

Beale has a lot of talent - but his achilles heal has always seemed to be alcohol. He gets drunk and then does something that tends to burn bridges. Coventry could be a major culture shock.

Beale and Cipriani in the same back line. Well it don't work previously and both are known for occasionally not showing up, though Diamond was brilliant at helping Cips get past this at Sale. That back line is potentially incredible but on an off day calamitous.

Is the ex-Hurricanes centre Levia staying at Wasps past this summer? He's a quality player that's never got going for them.

If Leiua goes then they seem to have found a very good replacement in Siale Piutau. He's been a rock in defence at 12 but also has good hands and runs strong lines, a very good Jeff inside centre to complement the rest of those backs.

James Downey will surely be off already from the centres so I guess they'd be keen to keep Leiua.

Andrea Masi is 34 now so might be heading elsewhere as well.

mikey_dragon wrote:I said this before, but wouldn't it be better for moneybags Wasps just to try and hold onto Piatau by paying Ulster a fee? It would be better for all parties. Unless they see Beale as a utility player?

As for 12, it wouldn't surprise me to see Roberts move to Wasps once his contract with Quins is up (not sure when that is btw).

Doubt it. Our season has fallen to pieces with internationals away, Evans et al injured and our DoR leaving, but before then we were doing well (better than Wasps even), Roberts clearly clicking with his team-mates and Wayne Smith being spoken about as a new DoR. Can't see Roberts leaving

Welly wrote: Yep for the Rebels (along with O'Connor and others).

Failed to get any winning form.

Wasn't their pack absolutely woeful though?

Didn't Jamie say his next destination is home to Cardiff? If Danny Wilson gets the blues playing well next year, it wouldn't surprise me to see Jamie come home with his final world cup in the horizon

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Welly wrote: Yep for the Rebels (along with O'Connor and others).

Failed to get any winning form.

Wasn't their pack absolutely woeful though?

A mix of vets and young prospects from memory. Sommerville, Pyle and Lipman were amongst the forwards.

No way Quins would release Roberts to join Wasps. He's such a good fit for them at 12 it'd be a massive blow.

They had Scott higginbotham also. He was a beast for them for 2/3 seasons, the standout 8 in oz rugby. Palu was always injured.

It was just supposition on my part, but even then I still can't see Roberts at 29 ever coming back to Wales. If Ulster could negotiate a hefty fee for Wasps to buy Piatau out of their contract with them then both parties would benefit. Wasps keep the player and continuity, Ulster get more money whilst they're already well stocked in the backs.

I can't see Wasps paying a big fee for Piatau when they can pick up a player like Beale for free.

Delve played for the rebels and was impressive.

Cips first season with rebels:

http://www.superxv.com/rebels-super-rugby/rebels-2011-super-rugby-squad/

And second (with Beale)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/17931/melbourne-rebels-name-their-2012-squad

Higginbottom only joined the rebels a few years ago, he was always a really good player for the Reds. As an aside the Rebels have signed the kiwi backrow Thompson for this season. I think he is very good, a bit of a surprise he hasn't been lured north.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I can't see Wasps paying a big fee for Piatau when they can pick up a player like Beale for free.

That's true, but there is more to be gained just by keeping Piatau who already fits into the team very well. It's something I would consider. Anyway, it certainly looks like they won't hold onto Piatau right now.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I can't see Wasps paying a big fee for Piatau when they can pick up a player like Beale for free.

That's true, but there is more to be gained just by keeping Piatau who already fits into the team very well. It's something I would consider. Anyway, it certainly looks like they won't hold onto Piatau right now.

Piatau is probably too expensive. He's on a massive wedge at Ulster next season and Wasps would have to buy out that contract before offering him the same again. Wasps are on a better financial footing now but they don't have unlimited funds.

Yeah that's true, wasn't he offered £600K a year at Ulster? How much did Wasps pay him for this season? He's going to be minted - and after he becomes an AB regular and then retires from international rugby, his stock could rise even higher... And I beg to differ, Wasps must have a LOT of money to be offering guys like Pocock that much.

As for Ulster, I don't see where Piatau fits in with them. They're very well loaded in the backs, and all of them quality players. They could do with some better cover for Paddy Jackson though.

Hougaard has signed a long term deal at Warriors which is great news for us Worcester supporters. His arrival seems to have started our mini revival in fortunes. There were rumours of him about to be snapped up by Saints too so much relief here.

mikey_dragon wrote:Yeah that's true, wasn't he offered £600K a year at Ulster? How much did Wasps pay him for this season? He's going to be minted - and after he becomes an AB regular and then retires from international rugby, his stock could rise even higher... And I beg to differ, Wasps must have a LOT of money to be offering guys like Pocock that much.

The difference is that they have good quality backs where as at the end of the season they are losing a world class openside with Smith retiring. The budget for a replacement openside will be far more significant than the budget for adding to an already ample back line. The cap is still in force and they are quickly running out of space.

Unless they go for another Marquee signing to replace Smith!

They'll have to. Currently they seem to have a big squad and an even bigger squad for next season. Unless they jettison a number of squad players I can't see how they have much space outside of the additional marquee player spot.

Does anyone know who is leaving Wasps other than the young 10 Alex L (can't remember how to spell his name)ki who's off to Sarries?

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I can't see Wasps paying a big fee for Piatau when they can pick up a player like Beale for free.

That's true, but there is more to be gained just by keeping Piatau who already fits into the team very well. It's something I would consider. Anyway, it certainly looks like they won't hold onto Piatau right now.

Piatau is probably too expensive. He's on a massive wedge at Ulster next season and Wasps would have to buy out that contract before offering him the same again. Wasps are on a better financial footing now but they don't have unlimited funds.

Apparently an offer was made to buy out his contract, but turned down by Ulster.

Brussow has signed for Wasps has he not?

I see comment on both Scarlets and Glasgow forums that DTH van der Merwe may be leaving Scarlets due to 'family issues'.

A lot of Glasgow fans want him back!

Hadn't heard the Brussow rumour. He'd be a fantastic signing if they could get him.

Guy Armitage to join Wasps from LW.

Brussow has gone a bit quiet on the SA front! Not seen much super rugby - is he a spent force or been injured for a while?

propdavid_london wrote:Brussow has gone a bit quiet on the SA front!  Not seen much super rugby - is he a spent force or been injured for a while?

He's full time in Japan.

As far as I'm aware, Brussow is a done deal.

Brussow played super 15 rugby last season. Don't think he is currently so he's in a good position to move to Europe.

Armitage joins Leiua, Piatau, Macken, Daly, Downey and Jacobs as potential options for next season. That's a lot of first team centres. I presume Downey and one other will move on.

Man I want Quins to sign someone.

I think every single Prem club has announced at least 1 except for us.

I suspect you won't see anyone signed until a new DOR is found Yappy. That poor bugger then has the unenviable task of trying to find a long term successor to Nev.

You can have Priestland!

I don't think they're that desperate. Would be surprised to see them offer Jackson and opportunity to leave Wasps and not be third choice next season though.