Silly Season Transfer Rumours 16/17

First topic message reminder :

Gordon Reid is off to Irish.

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

Good player. Scored again today against us. Best position is on the wing but would be a decent addition to any Premiership squad. I had hoped we might pick him up if we get promoted.

Ozzy3213 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

Good player.  Scored again today against us.  Best position is on the wing but would be a decent addition to any Premiership squad.  I had hoped we might pick him up if we get promoted.

Does he have the skills to cover 15 as that's the more crucial need Ozzy. A try scoring winger is always handy but with only TV and young utility back Worth as fullback option for next season I was hoping Holmes would be handy under the high ball and have a decent boot as well as his eye for the try line.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

Good player.  Scored again today against us.  Best position is on the wing but would be a decent addition to any Premiership squad.  I had hoped we might pick him up if we get promoted.

Does he have the skills to cover 15 as that's the more crucial need Ozzy. A try scoring winger is always handy but with only TV and young utility back Worth as fullback option for next season I was hoping Holmes would be handy under the high ball and have a decent boot as well as his eye for the try line.

Talking to a Leeds fan he says he can play 15 too and is good under the high ball. Not sure on the boot though.

Having seen him a couple of times I'd say decent under the high ball and looks to read the game pretty well so 15 shouldn't be a huge problem for him.

Following this weekends match (Worces v Bristol) it becomes increasingly likely that Brizzle will be the team to drop.
They appear to be recruiting well for next season with quality players and coaches coming in. But how many of the existing squad have relegation clauses? Are there any that are likely to move?
The really stand out player for me is that 15...Woodward. If released I am sure there are plenty of AP clubs that would look to add him to their squad.

Pretty sure every prem club would tak Woodward considering he plays 10/13/15.

Be interesting to see if he stays with them or not.

Lam and money is a big plus and the fact the players coming in are pretty great signings. A season down wouldn't be the end for him international wise.

Yup pretty much Bristol are going down. 3 of their remaining 5 games are vs the top 3 - Wasps,Exeter, Sarries - ouch.....

beshocked wrote:Yup pretty much Bristol are going down. 3 of their remaining 5 games are vs the top 3 - Wasps,Exeter, Sarries - ouch.....

Saints run in; Tigers, Wasps, Saracens, Exeter, Quins.

Eggchasers podcast touting possible Danny Care move to Bath, and Mike Brown move to Exeter.

That would be a massive blow for Quins.....Probably leaving because of Kingston.

Does anyone think there is any truth to the eggchasers podcast?

beshocked wrote:Yup pretty much Bristol are going down. 3 of their remaining 5 games are vs the top 3 - Wasps,Exeter, Sarries - ouch.....

With the signings they have made they will only be down for a year with the abolition of the play offs. They might as well ring fence the Premiership now as I can only see the relegated team finishing top and coming back up year on year with the way things are at the moment.

Welly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

Good player.  Scored again today against us.  Best position is on the wing but would be a decent addition to any Premiership squad.  I had hoped we might pick him up if we get promoted.

Does he have the skills to cover 15 as that's the more crucial need Ozzy. A try scoring winger is always handy but with only TV and young utility back Worth as fullback option for next season I was hoping Holmes would be handy under the high ball and have a decent boot as well as his eye for the try line.

Talking to a Leeds fan he says he can play 15 too and is good under the high ball. Not sure on the boot though.

He used to play 9 so there should be some kicking ability in his locker.

Never mind Woodward at Bristol I'd prefer for us to target Hurrell. Good confrontational centre that will carry hard and straight all day and certainly knows how to tackle.

Madigan signs 3 year deal at Bristol......has this been posted yet?

Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

Fluxy wrote:Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

It's always very difficult for the Irish teams to source good back three players what with the GAA grounding players get at school.

Are you saying that anyone with that skill set is already playing GAA?
If the skills are similar I would have thought that the selection pool is that wider.

Can't see Hurrell coming back to Tigers it wasn't the cleanest of ends that one.

Wonder if Munster might lose Taute end of season?

propdavid_london wrote:Are you saying that anyone with that skill set is already playing GAA?  
If the skills are similar I would have thought that the selection pool is that wider.

Sarcasm. The Irish have an enviable pool of back three players who are generally excellent under the high ball and have good footballing skills.

Welly, I heard Hurrell left because he was a young man who liked a good time more than he liked training. Life experiences gave him a different perception. Be a different player coming back to the one that left.

Sarcasm......Dow

formerly known as Sam wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Are you saying that anyone with that skill set is already playing GAA?  
If the skills are similar I would have thought that the selection pool is that wider.

Sarcasm. The Irish have an enviable pool of back three players who are generally excellent under the high ball and have good footballing skills.

Welly, I heard Hurrell left because he was a young man who liked a good time more than he liked training. Life experiences gave him a different perception. Be a different player coming back to the one that left.

From what I have heard and been told, was a young man who had a huge ego that didn't match his ability, that didn't gel with the team.

He might of matured but I don't see there being a new chapter in the Hurrell Tigers book.

Fluxy wrote:Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

Very good buy - he is still young too - must be early 20s.

I know that he has played for the Maori All Blacks so I guess that renders him ineligible as a cap project player.

George Carlin wrote:

Fluxy wrote:Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

Very good buy - he is still young too - must be early 20s.

I know that he has played for the Maori All Blacks so I guess that renders him ineligible as a cap project player.

 Lowe is of Ngapuhi heritage. hardly Irish i'd have thought.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Fluxy wrote:Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

Very good buy - he is still young too - must be early 20s.

I know that he has played for the Maori All Blacks so I guess that renders him ineligible as a cap project player.

 Lowe is of Ngapuhi heritage. hardly Irish i'd have thought.

Hence the mention as a project player Laurie.

Also you'd be surprised who has Irish heritage. We've been sowing wild oats far and wide for centuries. Che Guevara for example boasts Irish heritage although it's a bit late to sign him.

Laurie Fisher is looking for a new Head Coach job....

aucklandlaurie wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Fluxy wrote:Chiefs (Waikato) winger James Lowe has signed for Leinster next season

Very good buy - he is still young too - must be early 20s.

I know that he has played for the Maori All Blacks so I guess that renders him ineligible as a cap project player.

 Lowe is of Ngapuhi heritage. hardly Irish i'd have thought.

George. NZ's designated 2nd team is the JAB (Junior All Blacks) not the Maori. They are not an age grade team (that's the Baby Blacks) They are equivalent to the Wolfhounds or the Saxons or Scotland "A"

Confused?

He is eligible as a project player.

Laurie. I don't know if he has any Irish granny but there are plenty of Lowes in Ireland. In fairness I'd say we would have heard if he had a grandad in the closet.

You never know......Waldrom pulled a grandparent out of the hat when he needed one!

Zane Kirchner to NGD

munkian wrote:Zane Kirchner to NGD

Leinster had to get rid of him as he was blocking the development of Isa O'Nacewa

Pete330v2 wrote:

munkian wrote:Zane Kirchner to NGD

Leinster had to get rid of him as he was blocking the development of Isa O'Nacewa

Welly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Ozzy3213 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Yorkshire winger/15 Jonah Holmes to Tigers next season.

Can also play scrum half. 9 tries in 14 games this season. Could be a canny squad signing with Tait off. Shouldn't block Worth or Thacker Jnr coming through.

Good player.  Scored again today against us.  Best position is on the wing but would be a decent addition to any Premiership squad.  I had hoped we might pick him up if we get promoted.

Does he have the skills to cover 15 as that's the more crucial need Ozzy. A try scoring winger is always handy but with only TV and young utility back Worth as fullback option for next season I was hoping Holmes would be handy under the high ball and have a decent boot as well as his eye for the try line.

Talking to a Leeds fan he says he can play 15 too and is good under the high ball. Not sure on the boot though.

He doesn't kick much, his first thought is always to run. But as mentioned he does cover scrum half and his kicking is reasonable. When he has covered scrum half though I'd say his passing has been poor, so it's unlikely you'll see him much there. He's picks good lines and he's an elusive runner. Good player.

Unsubstantiated rumours on Comeallwithin:

Care to Saracens (!)
Brown to Leicester/Exeter (again)
Woodward to Quins
Fekitoa to Quins

Yes please on the final one...

You've got to love any player with 'feck it' in their name. He would be a fan hero at Ulster.

Care rumored to Bath too. No idea how legit it is. Weird one as we've got Kahn cook homer Allison. Although cook out of contract this year and Kahn 35

Thanks for that Cascough. Look forward to seeing him play next season.

CJ, can't see us signing Brown. Tigers have just recruited fullback cover and now have three options on the books for next season plus another academy option on the way though. Priorities are 10 and centre in the backline and we still need some extra beef up front. 

Chiefs might let Turner go and bring in Brown to replace him, that would be good business for them.

Fekitoa's agent is clearly trying to up the value of his NZRU contract. Not unusual to see AB names mentioned in connection with European moves just before they sign a new deal to stay.

Woodward might happen if we are loosing Brown.
Fekitoa is a quality centre

Fekitoa will be off to Toulon IMO.

Toulon has a lot to offer any player......
Quins can offer something a bit different to others, location to the city etc.
Salary perhaps would be average and cost of living would be quite high.
But they aren't exactly offering a winning environment at the moment.

propdavid_london wrote:Toulon has a lot to offer any player......
Quins can offer something a bit different to others, location to the city etc.
Salary perhaps would be average and cost of living would be quite high.
But they aren't exactly offering a winning environment at the moment.

Neither are offering the winning environment at the minute. He'll still be in NZ next year, just with a bigger bank balance.

Kurtley Beale looks to set to go back to Oz this Summer.

Just read about Beale. Wow what a great signing  for Wasps he has Been!

Good riddance I say abd use the money better for local talent! Or a reliable top class player if they need a marquee signing

Beale has been Beale. A mix of brilliance and complacency. They've got a ready made replacement in Le Roux but all the same Beale is a player that can turn a game. There's a reason Cheika has targeted him specifically.

Apparently Tigers are after Joe Ford and Matt O'Connor is Favourite for that he DoR role.

We scored a fair amount of tries under him but he doesn't seem to developer talent well.

Joe Ford would be a really poor signing.

He add a squad full of experienced international talent, considering he took over the mess of Loffreda it wasn't too hard to look better. We did well initially under MOC but towards the end his inability to develop and retain talent, particularly in the backs, hurt us in the years that followed. I don't want him back, he showed at Leinster he's not the man to rebuild. 

Joe Ford is squad filler. Average squad filler at that. I suppose he's a decent goal kicker with plenty of Championship experience...

Is Joe Ford a decent goal kicker?

Average is the only word that comes to my mind with bigger Ford.

Place kicking - average
Tactical kicking - average
Distribution - average
Decision making - average
Defence - average
Value for money - average
Annoyance from listening to suggestions that Joe coming to Welford Road might have been part of a deal with George - average

If he comes as second choice it will end with Toomua playing 10 when we need his playmaking at 12. If he comes as third choice then I'd rather give Bryant another year or promote Hardwick.

Bryant I think will move to 12 full time. He's not got the full flyhalf game particularly off the tee and game management. I was hoping Mauger would sculpt him into an understudy to Toomua. Hardwick is still young so some time out on loan is probably needed before he goes into full AP action.

If Joe Ford comes for a year whilst Hardwick gets some loan time and physically matures a bit. We'll need another flyhalf on top of that though as it'd be a disaster for George to get injured and Joe be our only specialist first team flyhalf.

Having said that Worth, Harrison and Toomua can all play flyhalf and as you say Bryant and Hardwick are coming through. A better second choice that can also play 12 would be better. Has Ryan Mills extended his stay at Worcester to next season?

If Worcs stay up I can't see Mills leaving. He's getting game time and progressing very well for them.

If Siale Piutau decides to stay in the Prem for a full season then he'd be an excellent pick up for most sides if Brizzle go down. Given how much he will be earning in Japan he may well not be interested in that though!

I don't mind Joe Ford signing as a 3rd choice 10, as said Bryant isn't a 10 really he is a 12, Hardwick will only be 18/19 next season and I would rather see him being on the bench for A league/AWC next season then potentially on the bench in a prem game at that age.

Harrison can cover 10 but if England call up Youngs we will need him at 9.
Toomua another potential 10 but he isn't a goal kicker.
Worth can cover 10 but would rather we focused him at 15.

Joe would be cheap and value for money IMO (and will know Holmes).

Heard we are in talks with another 10 (who can play 12) that would def be ahead of Joe Ford.