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/)

Bathite wrote:If anyone noticed, but Fasolitia (sp), the back rower we released after he was charged for assaulting a student in the town has been signed by Worcs. Shame, he is a great player, really abrasive and dynamic and we'll miss him

I think the courts agreed with that.

In all seriousness, he is an 8 though? Bath already have Faletau (basically indestructible) and Denton (who should only ever play 8 not 6). By the looks of wiki Garvey is your 8 during internationals and do you have any young guys coming through? May have decided after getting done for assault they did not want the distraction.

Garvey will probably cover lock/6 when the internationals are away, probably start to cover Charteris

Not a bad cover signing in the back row to cover Faletau and Denton being away

Charle Ewels recently of the Saxons covers 2nd and back row doesn't he?

Hazel Sapling wrote:

Bathite wrote:If anyone noticed, but Fasolitia (sp), the back rower we released after he was charged for assaulting a student in the town has been signed by Worcs. Shame, he is a great player, really abrasive and dynamic and we'll miss him

I think the courts agreed with that.

In all seriousness, he is an 8 though? Bath already have Faletau (basically indestructible) and Denton (who should only ever play 8 not 6). By the looks of wiki Garvey is your 8 during internationals and do you have any young guys coming through? May have decided after getting done for assault they did not want the distraction.

Not an 8 at all. Best played at 6, but covered Louw at 7 too, hence why we will miss him.

Oh he's left Bath, I thought he had joined!

Okay then I see your point Bathite. Probably more to do with the off field than the on field

Garvey at 8? Really?

Is Sisi not an 8? or has he left (ive been out the loop )

[quote="propdavid_london"]King_Carlos - Wasps appear to be doing a Saracens and Bath!  And dabbling with the grey areas of the salary cap........Financially Wasps if they aren't already are going to be one of the premiership powerhouses, gaining stadium revenue from football/rugby matchdays and other income generated at the Rioch Stadium.  There will be plenty of incentive to join them if they are building custom facilities for the team, playing an exciting brand of rugby and perhaps will subscribe to the Sarries model and take the guys away for team bonding trips and other benefits.

Oh a different note - I cant imagine that Cips was that highly paid at Sale.....he was in a significant slump when he moved there. And when he re-signed he wasn't quite pushing for international honours.
And guys like Beal and Le Roux would surely come under the marquee system which means unrestricted salary for those guys. [/quote]

Cips turned down a contract at Toulon when he re-singed for Sale, that will have pumped up negotiations nicely for him. It was 6 Nations time last year that he re-signed at which point he was just getting back onto the England radar as well.

Beale will be one marquee players, if Le Roux has signed he'd be the other. That still leaves:

Cipriani - See above
Haskell - has long held Marquee esque wages
Launchbury - When he re-signed he was an England starter, 'future captain' and Wasps battled to keep him for Sarries
Hughes - re-signed this season, one of the top performing club 8s in Europe
Gopperth - signed as a starting 10 and a very reliable goal kicker, not cheap regardless what many think of him as a 10
Eastmond - Given he left Bath as they couldn't agree on a smaller contract after their 'handshake agreement of a bigger one' I can't image he'd have taken a small contract at Wasps
Halai - All Black, reliable club try scorer, powerful strike runner

Plus Simpson and Wade who have been two of Wasps most vital players for several seasons. Johnson, Mullan, Daly and Robson. Marty Moore, Tommy Taylor and Matt Symons coming in for this season.

I'd assume Le Roux will be the Beale injury dispensation. Which will take up the entirety of Wasps allowance you'd have thought. No replacement for Smith though, he won't have been cheap and is an area they should have targeted before more backs. Unless of course the Brussow rumours are true in which case they really are taking the proverbial with the wage cap.

formerly known as sam I agree I do find it very strange that Wasps haven't replaced Smith. If I a Wasps fan, I would have wanted that being the priority.

Eastmond is Beale injury replacement young confirmed that when he signed.

Le Roux will join at the end of the Japanese season which won't be until Feb? So he won't be paid that much this season by Wasps. Beale and Haskell are still likely to miss the start of the season and no replacement for Smith. Might be difficult early doors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36959327 I think this guy has a lot of potential, and believe he would have been better off at a region, but I guess right now they need guys to step in immediately rather than develop a TH. I thought Sale might have snapped him back up before Perpignan, but hopefully he comes back a better player.

Formerly known Sam & Beshocked.

Tom Youngs (son of Dai) was outstanding as cover for Smith & will definitely be on the radar for Wales. We also have Guy Thompson and young Jack Willis (England u-20) as cover.
Recent reports on Wasps, Saints & Glaws showing interest in signing Sam Underhill from Brigend/Ospreys.
Maybe with Youngs going the other way might suit a few (not necessarily his Dad?)

Rumours of a bidding war between Wasps, Saints and Gloucester for Underhill. I imagine Gloucester is the only real option if he wishes to carrying on studying at Cardiff.

BigTrev Young has looked promising for a couple of years. Big ask for him to step up but I suppose he has to be given the chance sooner or later. I though Guy Thompson had moved on?

Underhill is out injured until the new year so a lot of those interested clubs might put a move on the back burner until they see how he recovers from this shoulder injury. I suspect he might do the three years in Wales before coming back to England. He'll be 21 and just in time for RWC consideration after three years of regular first team rugby for the Ospreys. The longer he stays in Wales the more his value will rise, of he comes back to early and joins a big team he might not get as much first team action and that could hamper his development and possible RWC selection.

Sam - Guy Thompson is still with us & is in the sevens finals at the Ricoh tomorrow.

formerly known as Sam wrote:BigTrev Young has looked promising for a couple of years. Big ask for him to step up but I suppose he has to be given the chance sooner or later. I though Guy Thompson had moved on?

Underhill is out injured until the new year so a lot of those interested clubs might put a move on the back burner until they see how he recovers from this shoulder injury. I suspect he might do the three years in Wales before coming back to England. He'll be 21 and just in time for RWC consideration after three years of regular first team rugby for the Ospreys. The longer he stays in Wales the more his value will rise, of he comes back to early and joins a big team he might not get as much first team action and that could hamper his development and possible RWC selection.

T

I don't know. In rugby you may only get one chance. Another 7 gets the slot, nails down the England spot for years to come and Underhill loses his one shot. I think staying is more of a risk than you imply, though other factors like Uni should also be important and may well be worth staying in Wales. Or he could opt to try to play for Wales

ChequeredJersey wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:BigTrev Young has looked promising for a couple of years. Big ask for him to step up but I suppose he has to be given the chance sooner or later. I though Guy Thompson had moved on?

Underhill is out injured until the new year so a lot of those interested clubs might put a move on the back burner until they see how he recovers from this shoulder injury. I suspect he might do the three years in Wales before coming back to England. He'll be 21 and just in time for RWC consideration after three years of regular first team rugby for the Ospreys. The longer he stays in Wales the more his value will rise, of he comes back to early and joins a big team he might not get as much first team action and that could hamper his development and possible RWC selection.

T

I don't know. In rugby you may only get one chance. Another 7 gets the slot, nails down the England spot for years to come and Underhill loses his one shot. I think staying is more of a risk than you imply, though other factors like Uni should also be important and may well be worth staying in Wales. Or he could opt to try to play for Wales

If he was 25 and not 19 if might be a risk staying. Whilst he's getting high level game time with the Ospreys there should be no real concern. If he's as good as last season suggests he could play 6 or 7 internationally and given that the flank positions are currently occupied by two players around the 30 mark opportunities won't be limited to "one shot".

He might want to avoid getting parachuted into the England team too early and ending up like Harrison, getting subbed before half time. Make sure he's ready to dominate when he finally arrives.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:Formerly known Sam & Beshocked.

Tom Youngs (son of Dai) was outstanding as cover for Smith & will definitely be on the radar for Wales. We also have Guy Thompson  and young Jack Willis (England u-20) as cover.
Recent reports on Wasps, Saints & Glaws showing interest in signing Sam Underhill from Brigend/Ospreys.
Maybe with Youngs going the other way might suit a few (not necessarily his Dad?)

Fair enough you have options but George Smith is a hugely influential player to replace. Plus with Haskell out for a while I think Wasps look a bit vulnerable in the backrow personally. Sure you'll still have Hughes but if he picks up an injury.....

Maybe one of your backrow options will have a breakthrough season but it's a risk.

Especially when you consider that Saints are bringing in Picamoles, Saracens are bringing in S.Burger, Bath - Faletau into their backrow options.

Can the big dude who moved to hooker not move back to back row for a bit?

The SA guy...is it Ashley Johnson?

Yes Geordiefalcon there's Ashley Johnson but surely he would just be cover, still doesn't fill the George Smith gap.

George Smith was the best 7 in Jeff last season by a distance ;-) & is probably irreplaceable.

I think we may struggle relatively to start with, however, with Gaskell & Launchbury both ex flankers at lock the balance of the back 5 is still pretty good.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Rumours of a bidding war between Wasps, Saints and Gloucester for Underhill. I imagine Gloucester is the only real option if he wishes to carrying on studying at Cardiff.

I would be surprised if Saints were in for him, they have an abundance of talent in the back row as it is. Underhill would be competing against Clark, Harrison and Wood for the 7 shirt.

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/george-smith-says-wasps-ready-11310082

George thinks he's ready!

Big Trevsbigmac you would have thought that Billy.V would have been irreplaceable and yet Wasps unearthed Hughes and he's been one of your best players. Robson seems to have taken over from Simpson.

Well Past it depends how good Underhill really is. If he's as good as some think then they wouldn't keep him out.

Might well be worth the punt.

beshocked wrote:Big Trevsbigmac you would have thought that Billy.V would have been irreplaceable and yet Wasps unearthed Hughes and he's been one of your best players. Robson seems to have taken over from Simpson.

Well Past it depends how good Underhill really is. If he's as good as some think then they wouldn't keep him out.

Might well be worth the punt.

If he is that good, he will cost plenty. We have other areas that need back up more than the back row.

Talk of us signing a big Islander....announced today.

Another big carrying backrower??? They do realise there's only 3 starting spots??

Seen Fonau mentioned but he's contracted to Tigers??

Nathan Hughes...? 

He's English Flux

I know, was just a joke. It's Fonua surely?

Yep
http://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/news/story/leicester-powerhouse-opeti-fonua-joins-newcastle-falcons

So it is Fonua! Id have preferred a centre!

We've signed a whole lot of ball carriers this season mind!!

Very happy with Fonua, I was hoping he'd joined last season. Certainly have some power in the pack now.

Role reversal now you have players leaving Leicester and moving to Newcastle now!

Goneva and Fonua for Barrow & McGuigan, I'm happy with that deal.

Not really disappointed to see Fonua go. He's a powerful ball carrier but tends to run into contact quite upright. Not particularly dynamic either. His work rate isn't bad but his base fitness is, Tigers ended up hiring him his own personal fitness coach but it didn't help much. He does know where the try line is though.

I think he'll suit us better than you Sam.

We have a lot of fit workhorses like Wilson, Welch, Green etc...our downfall last season was the complete lack of carriers. We ended up being a tackling team with no output for taking the ball to the opposition.

This summer we've acquired a lot of those ..Chisanga looks a cracking signing in that regards. So Fonua will be used correctly and hopefully become a very good acquisition.

Been told that this is part of a deal for Hammersley.

GF I think you're right. Our best backrow last season was when we had mobility and a back three that could all link with the back line. Fonua just doesn't fit that mold. New signing Hamilton and McCaffery were likely to keep him out of the team.

He was perhaps not suited to the big club environment. He was great in France and again at Welsh. Hopefully we can get him firing a bit like Beach as he's a real class act used in the right way.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He was perhaps not suited to the big club environment. He was great in France and again at Welsh. Hopefully we can get him firing a bit like Beach as he's a real class act used in  the right way.

Ermm no he wasn't he was great for Agen but drifted away in the later seasons.

In fact Bayonne was using him as Lock cover instead of 8 as such was his performances and where willing to release him early to Welsh.

@ Welsh he was mixed big lad but again zero fitness.

He has potential but @ 30 Dean will need to be at the top of his coaching game.

I thought he was great at Welsh. Similar when I seen him in France, he was a standout. I'm more than happy with his signing tbh.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He was perhaps not suited to the big club environment. He was great in France and again at Welsh. Hopefully we can get him firing a bit like Beach as he's a real class act used in  the right way.

Fitness is a real issue. Our change in game plan this season in no way suited him and only made his lack of mobility more apparent. It was the same for Crane as well. It makes sense for him to move on, especially to a team that are building a big pack and looking to bully teams up front.

Welly wrote: Been told that this is part of a deal for Hammersley.

If Saturdays game v Nottingham was anything to go by you can have him. Predictable and kick option first (he must have learnt that from Youngs!!)

Young Conon came on in for the second half and was a breath of fresh air.

The Falcons conveyor belt continues to rumble on

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He was perhaps not suited to the big club environment. He was great in France and again at Welsh. Hopefully we can get him firing a bit like Beach as he's a real class act used in  the right way.

Fitness is a real issue. Our change in game plan this season in no way suited him and only made his lack of mobility more apparent. It was the same for Crane as well. It makes sense for him to move on, especially to a team that are building a big pack and looking to bully teams up front.

And this is where I don't think it'll be the problem for us. Using him wisely for maybe 1 half or 30 mins, in rotation with Chisanga (who I think will be able to play 80 mins) Orr, Latu, Wilson, Welch, old Man Hogg and young Craggs will get the best out of him.

Telegraph has Tom Mitchell & Dan Bibby of GB Sevens looking at moves to the Premiership.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/08/19/rugby-digger---transfer-news-and-rumours-gbs-olympic-sevens-star/

Here's a transfer and a half:
https://www.606v2.com/t63818-chiefs-dave-rennie-appointed-new-glasgow-warriors-head-coach