Silly season transfer rumours III...

First topic message reminder :

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/)

Well if either can scrummage and hit his lineouts we'll take him

Niall Annett has just re-signed with Worcs so wont be him.

My guess would be Jaba Bregvadze, the Georgian International. He is very solid at set-piece and a big/aggressive unit around the park. As with most forwards who do well under Dean Ryan he also seems a tough bugger. I reckon that'd be an excellent signing for Falcons if the case and wouldn't be surprised to see him quickly become a fan favourite - especially for yourself and Sarge!

It would be a blow for Worcs going into next season though. Having two hookers who are so reliable at set-piece has been a big asset for them this year. Being able to rotate Annett and Bregvadze has kept them fresh so that I don't think I can remember a poor performance from either.

That would be a perfect signing if that's the case Carlos.

Alongside Welsh at TH we would finally start to build a proper front row to be respected!

GF - How's Hatekeyama done for you at TH?

I was really impressed with him in the RWC and thought it was a very shrewd signing given the injury to Welsh. Looked like a rock at set-piece who was capable of scrummaging very low which is always an asset an easy fix to try to shore up a struggling front row.

Harlequins now strongly linked with Glasgows Gregor Townsend for the DoR role.

Is this a good thing? Would he fit the Quins mould??

yappysnap wrote:Harlequins now strongly linked with Glasgows Gregor Townsend for the DoR role.

Is this a good thing? Would he fit the Quins mould??

More importantly: is Russell out of contract and could he come with him?

Hatekeyama has just been used as a sub. I might be wrong but I cant remember him actually starting a game.

Sometimes I really wonder about Dean Richards.

king_carlos wrote:GF - How's Hatekeyama done for you at TH?

I was really impressed with him in the RWC and thought it was a very shrewd signing given the injury to Welsh. Looked like a rock at set-piece who was capable of scrummaging very low which is always an asset an easy fix to try to shore up a struggling front row.

He's been anything but a rock tbh.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Harlequins now strongly linked with Glasgows Gregor Townsend for the DoR role.

Is this a good thing? Would he fit the Quins mould??

More importantly: is Russell out of contract and could he come with him?

Russell would be good, and Hogg.

We have signed Worcester Warriors hooker Ben Sowrey. Just announced.

I know nothing about him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36053840
Gregor....he says no

Hmph. I hope we don't settle for someone...rather have a season with a stand-in that just take whoever's available.

GeordieFalcon wrote:We have signed Worcester Warriors hooker Ben Sowrey. Just announced.

I know nothing about him.

Afraid I can't help with Sowrey, GF.

I presumed that if you were signing a hooker it would be a replacement for McGuigan and ideally a starter, that's why I presumed Bregvadze as he'd fit the bill.

It seems strange for Deano to pick up another project hooker given you've already got guys coming through.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

king_carlos wrote:GF - How's Hatekeyama done for you at TH?

I was really impressed with him in the RWC and thought it was a very shrewd signing given the injury to Welsh. Looked like a rock at set-piece who was capable of scrummaging very low which is always an asset an easy fix to try to shore up a struggling front row.

He's been anything but a rock tbh.

That's a surprise given how solid he looked with Japan. I guess that with Shota Horie being under 6' at hooker and actually striking for the ball they were scrummaging in a very particular way though.

I'm sick of lamenting the disappearance of 'route 1' scrum ball though and try not to get into it these days!

Heyneke Meyer linked with the Quins job

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/04/15/harlequins-target-heyneke-meyer-to-replace-conor-oshea-after-gre/

Meyer was a good coach for Tigers but his methods were not ones that produced huge differences very quickly. They were subtle changes, his vision has proved beneficial in the years since but at the time some of the rugby was pretty dull and there purely to get a result in the short term whilst he was rebuilding. I think long term he'd have been a popular appointment but family problems didn't allow it. He will definitely offer Quins a more pragmatic edge.

Didn't he fall out massively with a lot of players and shareholders/board members Sam?

Meyer could be interesting if his methods could be brought into the modern decade and out of '07

Meyer left due to family illness. Loffreda left after a player revolt that was back by the majority of the fans. He was not ready for Tigers, Meyer on the other hand was a good fit and in time could have become a fan favourite.

propdavid_london wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36053840
Gregor....he says no

Isn't saying no publicly basically the surest sign of a coach signing for that club within 2 weeks?

Can we have Russell anyway?

Yeah Meyer brought Hougaard with him to Tigers...

This might have been discussed elsewhere but haven't seen it...

Apparently commentators yesterday were talking about Rowntree heading to Quins as if it's a done deal.

That would be an interesting one. If COS is taking staff with him to Italy then several replacements will be required. Unless Rowntree is taking the top job?

Sam - I don't think it was elaborated on other than Rowntree heading to Quins. I've once again been away for the weekend so only just catching up on the games now and didn't hear it myself.

The speculation I've heard is that Kingston would be promoted to take over from O'Shea and Wig would come in as forwards coach.

I heard today that Neal Hatley is being considered as the new England scrum coach. He did wonders with our scrum last year and before, but this year it has been pretty terrible.

TBh having Thomas and Lahiff starting it was never going to be good.

Wilson has dropped off a fair bit too and Auterac been injured for so long, with Attwood and Day also missing from the row

Welly wrote: TBh having Thomas and Lahiff starting it was never going to be good.

You not rate either of them as scrummagers Welly? I rate Thomas and Lahiff has impressed me when I've seen him play.

Ben Franks to Exeter is doing the rounds.

We have an announcement tomorrow morning of a signing. Probably Sowery the Worcester Hooker.

Thoroughly unconvinced by that one!

Franks at Exeter is a frightening prospect. They have a good scrum and with two international class tight heads to call on can rotate and offer a lot of threat.

As for Thomas and Lahiff they both look better out of the scrum than they do in it. I like their mobility and work rate but when it comes to the shoving they are only a bit above average.

Apparently we're announcing a back!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Apparently we're announcing a back!

Jordan Crane isn't a back.

I'm curious who it could be.

Hopefully a sh or a fh!

Or a centre....

So basically a back who isn't in the back 3.

It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

Just seen it Sgt.

Really uninspiring. However Marcus Watson came from the 7's and I'm more than impressed by him, so I guess we'll give him a chance.

He must be better than Mickey Young!

formerly known as Sam wrote:Franks at Exeter is a frightening prospect. They have a good scrum and with two international class tight heads to call on can rotate and offer a lot of threat.

As for Thomas and Lahiff they both look better out of the scrum than they do in it. I like their mobility and work rate but when it comes to the shoving they are only a bit above average.

Lahiff's scrimmaging when he came through into the senior set up for us was poor, but he was incredibly strong so got away with it a bit, and his work in the loose was excellent. In his last season for us his scrummaging really improved as whoever was working with him got him to alter his initial body position. His time at the Rebels however appears to have seen his scrimmaging regress, and he now looks back to where he was when he first came through with us, poor body position and technique and relying on brute strength, which is always going to see him struggle against a good technician.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

That the guy who's had a short spell at Quins? Looked like he had something about him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

That the guy who's had a short spell at Quins? Looked like he had something about him.

I am sure that's what Newcastle thought when they signed Rory Clegg..

Ben Franks to Dragons is what I heard.

mikey_dragon wrote:Ben Franks to Dragons is what I heard.

And then you woke up? Be a statement of intent by the Dragons to bring him in.

beshocked wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

That the guy who's had a short spell at Quins? Looked like he had something about him.

I am sure that's what Newcastle thought when they signed Rory Clegg..

He was another who left us to go to another club then was brought back...who should never have been brought back.

Ala Brookes, and Micky Young.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Ben Franks to Dragons is what I heard.

And then you woke up? Be a statement of intent by the Dragons to bring him in.

And then I woke up. But yeah, new dawn and all that...

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

That the guy who's had a short spell at Quins? Looked like he had something about him.

Blimey I'm impressed you could tell with the 5 mins we have him!

Had to double check to make sure it was him.

Apparently he's only in the 7's academy whatever that is?

Well if he has the impact Watson has...then ill be happy. Surely he's got to be quicker than Young!!

Michael Van Vurren to Bath for next year is being rumoured.

He's the Saffa hooker who has been at Tigers this season first on trial and then signed until the end of the season as injury cover. He's a big unit and seems to have shored up the scrum a couple of times when he's come on. Although his line-out throwing seems as iffy as most hookers these days.

I'd rather keep him at Tigers and allow Thacker to try his hand at 7 more often but Tigers are well stocked at hooker and Bath currently aren't for next year so it would make sense as a signing.

yappysnap wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:It's Sam Egerton, a scrum half from 7's. Real inspiring signing that will be a huge improvement on what we already have......

That the guy who's had a short spell at Quins? Looked like he had something about him.

Blimey I'm impressed you could tell with the 5 mins we have him!

Had to double check to make sure it was him.

I remember being impressed by the try he scores for you against Sale. That's all I remember.

Well just watching youtube...doesn't always tell the story, but the one thing that does appear obvious is that the plays the game at pace, and varies nicely between passing, kicking and making a break  - at the right times.

I'll be curious to see how he goes.

"I would say I'm more of a running No 9, and I like to be a threat around the fringes. I will be working hard on my skill set moving back to 15s after a year in sevens, because the role of the scrum-half is different between the two, but I will try and bring a high-tempo game with me. I can't wait to get started."

Happy days.