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/)

Come on GF! Lol

Wilson is one of the best scrummaging TH's in rugby when firing. He'll be a fantastic coup when fit. Slot Welsh in at LH and that's a formidable front row with Vea, Lockwood and Vickers to come in.

A local Int with 40+ caps, I'll take that.

mikey_dragon wrote:We (Dragons) were pretty close to signing Mike Ford. Guess he fancied a bit of sun. His loss. And ours too I guess as we're going nowhere fast.

A bit of sun and an extra zero on the end of this salary.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:We (Dragons) were pretty close to signing Mike Ford. Guess he fancied a bit of sun. His loss. And ours too I guess as we're going nowhere fast.

A bit of sun and an extra zero on the end of this salary.

Just one extra zero? Harsh times at Toulon in 2016...

formerly known as Sam wrote:Bathite I was wondering that maybe Blackadder was going to use his Crusaders connections and contact a certain LI prop.

Seems a few AP teams are eying up late deals for SH players.

I'd be surprised if Franks went to Bath.  I appreciate that it was under a different DoR, but he spoke to Bath in the summer when they were after him and he decided against going there.  He may have a relationship with Blackadder, but his family is very settled in London and he is also studying here.

Sorry gents I normally bow,to your knowledge but I have to disagree with you this time.

Not happy at all.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Sorry gents I normally bow,to your knowledge but I have to disagree with you this time.

Not happy at all.

Well I suppose you're in a win/win position GF. If he doesn't make an impact then you can say "told you". If he does then it's a great result for your team.

OK Ozzy, didn't realise he'd already turned them down.

Do you remember our tour of NZ a few years back GF? Wilson was starting TH for that tour and destroyed the opposition. If he can get back to that level we've got some player.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Bathite I was wondering that maybe Blackadder was going to use his Crusaders connections and contact a certain LI prop.

Seems a few AP teams are eying up late deals for SH players.

I'd be surprised if Franks went to Bath.  I appreciate that it was under a different DoR, but he spoke to Bath in the summer when they were after him and he decided against going there.  He may have a relationship with Blackadder, but his family is very settled in London and he is also studying here.

It could also be a blessing in disguise for extending his career if he wishes. He gets to keep playing, in touch with the game and a decent wage (I'm guessing he won't have taken that big a cut) whilst playing at a level of physicality below what he is accustomed to. The Franks brothers are also competitive Olympic Weight lifters so keeping his body in a shape to keep doing that after rugby will probably be high in his priorities.

When combined with a settle family and studying in London a year in the Championship may not be the worst thing for him.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Do you remember our tour of NZ a few years back GF? Wilson was starting TH for that tour and destroyed the opposition. If he can get back to that level we've got some player.

that player is long gone

Yeah I'm not convinced that player is still there...but if They can get him going fair enough.

Next season, Worcester and Quins in for Aaron Cruden

Wow. Where did that come from. Still one of the worlds best fhs, can't believe a French team wouldn't be in for him

What a waste of Cruden if he goes to Worcester.

Exactly Sam.... He needs to go somewhere he'll be appreciated...

Where have these rumours come from? Also, why would he leave NZ while there is the potential for many more AB caps?
Only really BB infront of him!

propdavid_london wrote:Where have these rumours come from? Also, why would he leave NZ while there is the potential for many more AB caps?
Only really BB infront of him!

He's 27, there new talent coming through and by the next RWC he's going to be on the wrong side of 30 for someone with his history if knee injuries. I'd imagine he'll stay for the Lions and then head abroad. BB has signed a new long term deal to stay in NZ.

propdavid_london wrote:Where have these rumours come from? Also, why would he leave NZ while there is the potential for many more AB caps?
Only really BB infront of him! 

Looks like at least McKenzie set to overtake him though.

Well if Quins could get hold of him then I would be very happy. Could be the new NEv for us - Just have to secure his services.

ChequeredJersey wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Where have these rumours come from? Also, why would he leave NZ while there is the potential for many more AB caps?
Only really BB infront of him! 

Looks like at least McKenzie set to overtake him though.

There's also Lima there playing well for the Highlanders and Richie Mo'unga coming in really quickly at the Crusaders. Ihia West might eventually reach his potential for the Blues but if not they've probably got someone else to turn to. The conveyor belt of playmakers just keeps on going.

Personally I'd have thought a player with his track record of injuries would go to Japan. Top up his pension, easy trip home and less games to tax the body.

Are AP clubs still enquiring about Berrick Barnes? The last time my agents contacted him he was injured, but was eyeing a lucrative move overseas to south Wales and possibly south France.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Where have these rumours come from? Also, why would he leave NZ while there is the potential for many more AB caps?
Only really BB infront of him! 

Looks like at least McKenzie set to overtake him though.

There's also Lima there playing well for the Highlanders and Richie Mo'unga coming in really quickly at the Crusaders. Ihia West might eventually reach his potential for the Blues but if not they've probably got someone else to turn to. The conveyor belt of playmakers just keeps on going.

Personally I'd have thought a player with his track record of injuries would go to Japan. Top up his pension, easy trip home and less games to tax the body.

Might fancy giving doing the Thorn though and winning everything in Euro rugby too

The Lure of London is strong for many antipodean's! Especially those that are still quite young.

mikey_dragon wrote:Are AP clubs still enquiring about Berrick Barnes? The last time my agents contacted him he was injured, but was eyeing a lucrative move overseas to south Wales and possibly south France.

Bath were supposedly enquiring, considering they only really have one or two centres.

Off topic, but what's happened to Campagnaro? Thought he'd be a great signing for Exeter, could really see a Slade-Camp midfield having pretty much everything, but he hasn't had a game!

I think he's injured. He got some game time last season but not a lot. It probably doesn't help that Exeter have so many centres available. Whitten has become a winger to get a game after being a midfield regular last season.

Robbie Freuan confirmed to Bath at the end of the Mitre10 Cup.

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/fruean-confirmed-as-joining-bath-rugby/

Just pipped

INB4 he gets injured in the final Mitre 10 game.

Good signing though on his day a excellent player but he is fairly injury prone.

10) Ford
12) Fruean
13) JJ

Has a nice look to it.

He's a 13 really. Not sure we will see him at 12 much. More likely to be JJ cover for autumn ints and 6n

Well until you name a 12 I fully suspect he will go there ATM.

Although I like Clark.

Personally I hope Tigers try and sign a Clark or Sloan or something if Manu injury problems are not sorted by end of season.

Clark has been strong and Bowden is a half decent player. Fruean would be third choice 12 but only second choice 13

There's no way Fruean would be Bath's third choice 12. By far the first choice 12 and by far the second choice 13, with JJ not covering 13 and Fruean covering 12, it's going to be the midfield Welly predicted above. He's just a better player than Bowden or Clark can be

Shaun Knight on loan to Barf till the end of the season

Seems the Dragons are now their official feeder club.

ChequeredJersey wrote:There's no way Fruean would be Bath's third choice 12. By far the first choice 12 and by far the second choice 13, with JJ not covering 13 and Fruean covering 12, it's going to be the midfield Welly predicted above. He's just a better player than Bowden or Clark can be

Have you ever seen him play 12?

Nope but have seen him play in that position in the backs before.

Majority of NZ centers play 12/13 role and rotate during the game.
I would be amazed if Blackadder started Clark or Bowden ahead of him TBH starting wise.

Don't know if it's been mentioned but TRP has linked Quins with signing Cruden as a replacement for Nev. He wants £700,000 though.

yappysnap wrote:Don't know if it's been mentioned but TRP has linked Quins with signing Cruden as a replacement for Nev. He wants £700,000 though.

No player in England is on that much though, right? There a couple in France though I'm sure. Giteau, Carter and Halfpenny are some I think.

Beale is on £750k I blieve according to reports.

Think it was reported he was earning 1.5 million over 2 seasons.

Beale is one exception, then. Quins don't come across as a team who have that much money to spend on one player, or do they?

£700k would seriously break Quins salary structure, and I cannot see them viewing it as a sustainable or sensible "investment". He would probably be a good player for Quins, but there are no guarantees.

mikey_dragon wrote:Beale is one exception, then. Quins don't come across as a team who have that much money to spend on one player, or do they?

They have more money than you might think.


LT it depends if the ownership believe they need a player like Cruden to bring up the quality let's face it since Evans has gotten to that age Quins have not been a factor in the top 4 and they will want to get there.

While that is a huge salary, is it percentage wise a greater chunk of the salary cap than Nev would have been years ago when the cap was much lower? Quins bet big on a star player and it worked well, so why not again?

Welly wrote:Nope but have seen him play in that position in the backs before.

Majority of NZ centers play 12/13 role and rotate during the game.
I would be amazed if Blackadder started Clark or Bowden ahead of him TBH starting wise.

Fair point. I'm just not sure that he will realistically play that much alongside JJ at 13. If he arrives in October, then he'll need some time to get upto speed and then we are into Autumn ints.

So most likely that it will be 12. Clark/Bowden and 13. Fruean

Would love there to be a 12. Fruean 13. Joseph lineup, but can't see how many games that will happen with the England commitments

Welly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Beale is one exception, then. Quins don't come across as a team who have that much money to spend on one player, or do they?

They have more money than you might think.


LT it depends if the ownership believe they need a player like Cruden to bring up the quality let's face it since Evans has gotten to that age Quins have not been a factor in the top 4 and they will want to get there.

They splashed a lot of cash on Evans and again to keep him in England. When they consider it worth spending big Quins do. I doubt Jamie Roberts is on peanuts.

Jamie Roberts will be their highest paid player, but probably on no more than £500k (Manu's new contract was described s the highest for a domestic player - such value ).

Problem with bringing in one player on significantly more than the rest is that it makes salary negotiations harder for the club and drives the overall wage bill up. The owners may think it is all a risk worth taking (and there are no guarantees that big money signings will work) but it would drive expenditure up.

LondonTiger wrote:Jamie Roberts will be their highest paid player, but probably on no more than £500k (Manu's new contract was described s the highest for a domestic player - such value ).

Problem with bringing in one player on significantly more than the rest is that it makes salary negotiations harder for the club and drives the overall wage bill up. The owners may think it is all a risk worth taking (and there are no guarantees that big money signings will work) but it would drive expenditure up.

Guess having the AB starting 10 from last season could bring more bums on seats.

Quins apparently pay Robshaw, Brown and Care £320K (More than what North was on at the time @ Saints), Roberts is apparently on £340K although i suspect he could have gotten more if not for his Uni commitments as well.

ChequeredJersey wrote:There's no way Fruean would be Bath's third choice 12. By far the first choice 12 and by far the second choice 13, with JJ not covering 13 and Fruean covering 12, it's going to be the midfield Welly predicted above. He's just a better player than Bowden or Clark can be

Agreed. If fit, I think that RF is better than any other centre Bath has. I think that's an amazing signing, frankly.

George Carlin wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:There's no way Fruean would be Bath's third choice 12. By far the first choice 12 and by far the second choice 13, with JJ not covering 13 and Fruean covering 12, it's going to be the midfield Welly predicted above. He's just a better player than Bowden or Clark can be

Agreed. If fit, I think that RF is better than any other centre Bath has. I think that's an amazing signing, frankly.

He was always explosive ball in hand but I do remember him being less keen to do the defensive shift. Potentially a great signing but he's not without his flaws.