Silly Season Transfer Rumours 16/17

First topic message reminder :

Nit before the Lions tour. Don't think any of the All Black internationals will end their career pre tour.

nathan wrote:Yeah just reading that in the rugby paper.

Also Jake white door director of rugby at leicester and glen Ella to saints

I'd rather not have White. His sides are mercenary based with local talent shunted out the door and young talent ignored. I'd rather Meyer who likes to develop what he has but plays a tough forwards game which should sharpen us up a bit. Last time the rugby wasn't pretty but he laid some good foundations for future development (promotion of Ben and conversion of Tom for instance).

I wouldn't want White for the same reasons.

He's also jumped ship (or been pushed) after a brief time during his most recent coaching jobs. He's good at employing his game plan but the game has moved on from a time when that game plan could dominate - similar to several 'top' coaches around at the moment.

Meyer I'd be happier with. Johann van Graan would be an interesting option as well.

I'd be happiest with Deano from the names that have been thrown around. Many fans want a former Tiger in charge but fresh ideas are needed. Deano is obviously familiar with the club but given the circumstances he left in last time he wouldn't be shy about what needs to change either.

The bad smell coming from Tigers starts in the suits though with what's happening on the pitch just the most evident consequence of it as always. The changes need to come from the top down.

What I likes about Meyer was that he developed home grown coaches around him. Cockers and Back were still utilised by him. I'd quite like to see Meyer come in as DOR with Mauger retained as co'head coach with Van Graan. Looking after backs and forwards respectively. You'd have Murphy and Blaze as their understudies whilst we move Brett back to academy coaching to continue gaining experience. Stanko could be kept on his part time scrum coach basis.

If Mauger doesn't like that then so be it and we keep the same setup,  Van Graan looked after the attack play for the Boks and we have Murphy to assist.

Deano has distanced himself from Tigers, I'd be surprised if he went back just as things are clicking at Falcons.

I think Deano would probably douse what's left of his hair in lighter fluid and set it alight before going back. He took his sacking very badly, if I remember rightly he told the club not to use his likeness in any way (including in promo photos with the winning teams).

formerly known as Sam wrote:

nathan wrote:Yeah just reading that in the rugby paper.

Also Jake white door director of rugby at leicester and glen Ella to saints

I'd rather not have White. His sides are mercenary based with local talent shunted out the door and young talent ignored. I'd rather Meyer who likes to develop what he has but plays a tough forwards game which should sharpen us up a bit. Last time the rugby wasn't pretty but he laid some good foundations for future development (promotion of Ben and conversion of Tom for instance).

Brumbies and sharks where not mercenary based. So instead of sides you mean the one side.

Re Deano doubt he will be approached and doubt he would ever consider coming back.

The fallout between him and Tigers was 1000000000000x worse than Cockers.

But what if There was a change of board?

True at the Brumbies he merely replaced their youngsters with talented SA players.

formerly known as Sam wrote:True at the Brumbies he merely replaced their youngsters with talented SA players.

Like?

He brought in 2 saffas one of which was already in aus playing rugby.
And how many of the players he let go names for themselves?
Hooper (who he swapped for Pocock so on paper fine).

Dean has spent 4/5 years working on his long term plan at the falcons...and now that theres finally chinks of light that the plans are slowly coming together hes hardly likely to up sticks and go back to Tigers.

I think if he had left Tigers on good terms he would.

BUT he didn't do it dosent matter.

I believe we have signed the fantastically named Lovejoy Chawatama from London Welsh.

Im just not sure he would Welly.

He's got Kingston Park buzzing, some potentially cracking signings coming in next season (if any of the rumours are to be believed) the current side is starting to click a little (still a work in progress) why rush off with a job half done...to the pressure cooker of Welford Road.

Ozzy3213 wrote:I believe we have signed the fantastically named Lovejoy Chawatama from London Welsh.

Oh my word...THATS a fantastic name!!!

I see the silly season rumour merry go round has began.

Bennett --> Falcons rumours bubbling

Mermoz --> Leicester till the end of the season confirmed.
However there seems to be a lot of dispute about the next 3 years. Rumours say he's signed for Leicester for 3 years, or Newcastle or Racing!

Josh Strauss -->Exeter, Bristol, Falcons to name a few after him...Exeter leading the race comfortably apparently.

Gary Gold (Coach) --> Worcester

Marcus Watson --> Wasps apparently looking like a done deal.

Gavin Henson --> Newport Dragons

Tom Arscott - Switching Codes to Salford city reds

Ruan Pienaar --> Saracens

Paul Hill --> Sale

GeordieFalcon wrote:I see the silly season rumour merry go round has began.

Bennett --> Falcons rumours bubbling

Mermoz --> Leicester till the end of the season confirmed.
However there seems to be a lot of dispute about the next 3 years. Rumours say he's signed for Leicester for 3 years, or Newcastle or Racing!

Josh Strauss -->Exeter, Bristol, Falcons to name a few after him...Exeter leading the race comfortably apparently.

Gary Gold (Coach) --> Worcester

Marcus Watson --> Wasps apparently looking like a done deal.

Gavin Henson --> Newport Dragons

Tom Arscott - Switching Codes to Salford city reds

Ruan Pienaar --> Saracens

Paul Hill --> Sale

Hill would be daft to go to Sale, especially next year with a change likely at the Gardens and the prospect of a new start where he might be preferred to Brookes and certainly more chance of been seen in a successful club

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:I see the silly season rumour merry go round has began.

Bennett --> Falcons rumours bubbling

Mermoz --> Leicester till the end of the season confirmed.
However there seems to be a lot of dispute about the next 3 years. Rumours say he's signed for Leicester for 3 years, or Newcastle or Racing!

Josh Strauss -->Exeter, Bristol, Falcons to name a few after him...Exeter leading the race comfortably apparently.

Gary Gold (Coach) --> Worcester

Marcus Watson --> Wasps apparently looking like a done deal.

Gavin Henson --> Newport Dragons

Tom Arscott - Switching Codes to Salford city reds

Ruan Pienaar --> Saracens

Paul Hill --> Sale

Hill would be daft to go to Sale, especially next year with a change likely at the Gardens and the prospect of a new start where he might be preferred to Brookes and certainly more chance of been seen in a successful club

Depends. Sale ran Toulon close the other weekend and then beat Scarlets. There's good cohesion in the squad and their bright young talents have committed to long term deals. They need some quality injected because at the minute they are struggling but there's a good squad with a combative mentality there. Beaumont, Haley, James and Harrison are all likely to be around the Saxons or higher and there's others there catching the eye.

If Steve Diamond is telling Hill he'd be in prime position to start and here's a list of other good players that are joining as well then it could be a tempting deal. Might be a case of Sale being in the verge of signing a few good players but all of them are waiting for the others to sign before committing. Sale sign a good 9 and 10, reinforce the second row and then that team will look very appealing to Hill.

Add in the Curry's Sam...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Add in the Curry's Sam...

They'll be in the England age group sides with Odogwu and one or two others. It's a conveyor belt at Sale. Look at the team that started against Toulon that back line was EQ other than Phillips and 10, 12, 13 and 15 all came through from the academy. They've got a good reputation for developing players.

Gavin Henson still plays rugby? Seriously I mean?

whocares wrote:Gavin Henson still plays rugby? Seriously I mean?

Occasionally when he can drag himself away from the physio room.

Facundo Isa --> Toulouse

So that's him out of the Argentina side for a while.

Impressive signing by Tolouse buy a real blow to Argentina Rugby. The Puma's can't utilise him or they'll lose key players wholesale from the Jaguares. They have a lot of backrow depth though so maybe it is best of one or two get experience in Europe.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Facundo Isa --> Toulouse

So that's him out of the Argentina side for a while.

What I would give to have him at Tigers.

Matera was linked to us earlier in the season I think.

Matera in for BOC? That would be an interesting call, I don't think Matera was ever that happy here though, he struggled being in a foreign country and in a professional environment. That all may have changed with his time playing the Super 15 and he was good friends with Ayerza. He'd bring plenty of physicality. 

Wish Isa was coming to Tigers as well Welly. Great talent, probably be wasted on us at present.

He has said that he wants to come back to Europe.

Think he would of stayed if the jags team hadn't formed.

Jim Hamilton confirmed on the Rugby Pod that he won't be at Saracens next season because they don't want to offer him another contract (he would have signed for another year if offered)

Given Skelton was only a short term loan, and Kruis/Itoje are regular internationals, he knows that Saracens will want another lock. He said the rumour mill is throwing up Geoff Parling.

Parling to Sarries....ah surely not.
I was never the biggest Parling fan but even less so now.

Id keep Hamilton and work on that lad from the academy...very similar to itoje apparently.

Mind they witnessed Robinson have Itoje in his pocket last season so maybe they're after him....

Yeh I like Parling but would be very worried about his head issues.

Parling would offer them a lot of input to their lineout off the field as well as on it. Possibly looking at him in the short term as a player then longer term as a coach.

Welly, as I understood it Matera had agreed to terms to come back to Tigers but opted to sign with the Jags instead to further his international ambitions. I'd be interested to see him come back.

That's what I heard to.

would be very handy to have can play 6,7 and 8 but up another two levels compared to the current options. Also extremely agressive player.

He'd be ideal in that he wouldn't block Evans and possibly Thacker playing 7 but if we were facing an experienced team where he want more physicality then he's a good option. As you say he's equally happy at 6 and 8 so it'd give us a physical option whenever we need it.

Hart, JJ Hanrahan and Farrell (not that one, the one at Grenoble) all sign for Munster for next season.

That's Saints and Tigers looking for a flyhalf for next season then. Unless Olver and Mallinder are going to get more game time at Saints.

And bath too! Although there's a rumor that a 3 year extension could be on the table. I'd be amazed though.

Matt Giteau may be heading to Japan next year. If so, that would be Toulon in the hunt for a 10/12 at a time when Tigers, Bath and Saints may also be looking.

Rugby Fan wrote:Matt Giteau may be heading to Japan next year. If so, that would be Toulon in the hunt for a  10/12 at a time when Tigers, Bath and Saints may also be looking.

Be interesting to see who they go for. They have the reliable club option Bernard and the brilliant in attack but tactically average and currently injured Trunh-Duc at the minute. If they turn up with cash then none of Bath, Saints or Tigers will be able to compete. Cruden is already off the market and other than Ford I don't think any other top flyhalfs are potentially available.

Did the Boks flyhalf that fell out with the union over his medical bills get brought back into the fold? Sensational move for Goosen?

Can't see a French team chasing Goosen would be a legal Poopie.

Russell could well be a target for them though.
Maybe Foley for Aus?

BBC reporting Mermoz to Tigers until the end of the season subject to the French Rugby Federations approval.

BBC also reporting Ryan Grant to Worcs with immediate effect.

king_carlos wrote:BBC reporting Mermoz to Tigers until the end of the season subject to the French Rugby Federations approval.

BBC also reporting Ryan Grant to Worcs with immediate effect.

Mermaid news is confirmed by Cohen himself.

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/leicester-tigers/story-30083396-detail/story.html

Hehe, I do love autocorrect so I'm going to leave that untouched

But where is the mermaid going after that.....?

Welly wrote: Can't see a French team chasing Goosen would be a legal Poopie.

Russell could well be a target for them though.
Maybe Foley for Aus?

Foley doesn't get the Giteau exemption and didn't he have a Japan sabatical as a wealth top up? Probably makes that one unlikely. Russell possibly could happen, Glasgow surely haven't let his contract run down that far though? Half the AP will have a contract with his agent if they have.

GeordieFalcon wrote:But where is the mermaid going after that.....?

The Tyne is awfully cold for a mermaid that's been living on the Cote-d'Azur 

Ah I wont hold my breath about him coming to us. I think the Bennett signing would be more realistic.

Exeter have signed Lock Toby Salmon from Rotherham and winger Tom O'Flaherty from Ospreys/ Brigend

GeordieFalcon wrote:Ah I wont hold my breath about him coming to us. I think the Bennett signing would be more realistic.

Exeter have signed Lock Toby Salmon from Rotherham and winger Tom O'Flaherty from Ospreys/ Brigend

FFS I hope thats not true.

Guy was a try scoring machine for Bridgend and in the few games he played this year for the O's, managed to get over the try line a few times. (edit - 4 trys in 3 games)

A superb runner with ball in hand

Its confirmed Raven.

Hes an English lad at uni in Wales...sounds like another Underhill.

Baxter has huge hopes for him...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Its confirmed Raven.

Hes an English lad at uni in Wales...sounds like another Underhill.

Baxter has huge hopes for him...

Yeah hes got talent.  He isn't contracted to the O's so a professional contract with Exeter is not something to turn down to stay at the Ravens.

good luck to him and probably the right club having seen Woodburn and Short play well since joining Exeter

GeordieFalcon wrote:Facundo Isa --> Toulouse

So that's him out of the Argentina side for a while.

Rumour is Toulon have stepped in with a better offer and Toulouse are unlikely to renegotiate to match it.

Toulon who already have Vermuelen, Manoa and Gorgodze to cover 8 but are still 5th in the Top 14. It wouldn't surprise anyone though if Isa was added to the list.

Yep, reinforcement at the back of the scrum really seems the ticket Mr Boudjellal.

AAC contract not renewed by Bordeaux-Begles so expect him to sign to an AP team soonish.

king_carlos wrote:Toulon who already have Vermuelen, Manoa and Gorgodze to cover 8 but are still 5th in the Top 14. It wouldn't surprise anyone though if Isa was added to the list.

Yep, reinforcement at the back of the scrum really seems the ticket Mr Boudjellal.

Toulon do like an 8. If Gorgodze needs to move on I'd hope Tigers would have a contract ready.