Silly Season Transfer Rumours 16/17

First topic message reminder :

Gordon Reid is off to Irish.

Supposedly Toulouse are attempting to lure Liam Squire to France

formerly known as Sam wrote:Conon is a bit younger isn't he? Might be happier to hang around and gain experience than Willis who has got game time in the AP already and might get better offers than third choice.

Good looking back division for Falcons, exactly what's needed on the plastic pitch.

Yeah Conon is younger.

If the Falcons are serious about Willis, then maybe he needs to go out on loan for a full season as a starting 10 somewhere....otherwise there is a chance he'll be looking somewhere permanently.

We've got room we'll look after him for you.

Ha ha im sure you have Sam.

It's an area of increasing concern particularly with talk of Tigers offering Joe Ford a trial.

I've just seen a rumour that Falcons are after another back. They have apparently signed Cooper Vuna from Wuss.

Yeah that ones being doing the rounds for a while HK.

Don get it at all...similar to the Nalaga rumour a while back. I think we're totally fine in the backs now. Its a few forwards we need...like LH prop and if Scotty and Davy Wilson continue like sicknotes then TH props!

Rumours we may have signed Gary Graham, flanker from Jersey. Son of former falcon favourite George.

Looks another physical style player like the one from Leeds. Wonder if its true??

Confirmed Gary Graham from Jersey and Lh prop sami mavinga sign

Jon Welsh and Chris Harris contract renewed

I'm sure Saints and Quins fans will join me in congratulating Wasps. They have surpassed their previous champagne signings, the likes of Le Roux, Beale and Smith. That's right, ladies and gentlemen... PDJ is going to Wasps

HongKongCherry wrote:I'm sure Saints and Quins fans will join me in congratulating Wasps. They have surpassed their previous champagne signings, the likes of Le Roux, Beale and Smith. That's right, ladies and gentlemen... PDJ is going to Wasps

That'll be his 7th club in 10 years. He's played an average of 16.8 games a year. Have people not cottoned on to the fact that he's not actually very good yet?

Ha, cant be paying very much for him! And if they are then they are paying for a guy to sit on the bench (at best)

propdavid_london wrote:Ha, cant be paying very much for him!  And if they are then they are paying for a guy to sit on the bench (at best)

He does excel at that! Expect one good game a season, followed by a plethora of utter turd. Your scrum will be a real target for the oppo with him in the side.

Wasps have also signed Ben Harris from us, another non scrummaging prop.

PDJ has been trading on those England caps from way back when for ages. Wasps sound like they are just getting some squad filler in though I didn't think they were short at prop.

Well they've signed Ben Harris from us aswell so they must be struggling for props!

Didn't see this one...could be a good signing for Saints!

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/news/latest-headlines/2017/mar-2017/saints-sign-another-exciting-player-into-squad/

Good signing but I don't rate him as a 10 really.

Don't think that's a particularly good signing to be honest but happy to be proved wrong.

I like Francis but not sure about playing 10.

Francis is defo a 12, see failures at 10 for Edinburgh, lynch-pin at 12 for Blues

Ozzy3213 wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:I'm sure Saints and Quins fans will join me in congratulating Wasps. They have surpassed their previous champagne signings, the likes of Le Roux, Beale and Smith. That's right, ladies and gentlemen... PDJ is going to Wasps

That'll be his 7th club in 10 years.  He's played an average of 16.8 games a year.  Have people not cottoned on to the fact that he's not actually very good yet?

I'm convinced he's a professional conman

I can't decide whether PDJ still getting offers is a case of how difficult props are to find or coaches choosing optimism over reality.

He had so much potential to be an excellent modern prop. In his early years he was so dynamic. Somehow he's actually managed to get worse at the scrum as he's gained experience.

The change in scrum laws definitely didn't help given he didn't have the work ethic to graft and adapt. 2 props on the bench hasn't helped him either. In his early years his loose play and ability to play on both sides made him a good bench option.

Cardiff Blues are interested in signing Francis from Exeter via a NDC. A transfer fee also likely involved. Good move as TH props are badly needed in Wales. I can't say whether or not Blues will be in Europe's top tier next season but Wilson is a good set-piece coach so hypothetically Francis should improve and will be promoted to No.1 choice.

mikey_dragon wrote:Cardiff Blues are interested in signing Francis from Exeter via a NDC. A transfer fee also likely involved. Good move as TH props are badly needed in Wales. I can't say whether or not Blues will be in Europe's top tier next season but Wilson is a good set-piece coach so hypothetically Francis should improve and will be promoted to No.1 choice.

Promoted to number 1 choice? He's first choice at Chiefs who are an excellent set piece side so he'll walk into the Blues side. As for Wales he started the majority of Wales six nations games with Samson Lee on the bench so he's forst choice there as well.

He's also working with the coach that spotted him and Harry Williams playing in the Championship and turned them into good AP players and Francis an international. 

Threats over international selection and a big pay rise will be required to get him to move.

Sam I wasn't sure if he was first choice at Exeter as Baxter seems to do a fair bit of squad rotation with Williams and Rimmer, although that doesn't seem to hinder their set-piece. So what I meant was that he might not be first choice at Exeter but certainly would be at Blues.

Blues have an old Gethin, a temperamental Georgian, and some very promising U20 players on both sides of the front-row; Francis would be great addition.

Mikey he is first choice though Rob Baxter does go in for rotation. Francis has the edge in the loose as he's a pretty powerful unit ball in hand whilst Williams is more of a set piece prop and tends to feature mainly in the tight. They are both good props and I can't see Baxter being happy at the tough of losing either. Even if Low and Holmes can both play either side.

WOL are reporting Halfpenny to Bath next season

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:WOL are reporting Halfpenny to Bath next season

It's actually for the 2018/19 season

HongKongCherry wrote:

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:WOL are reporting Halfpenny to Bath next season

It's actually for the 2018/19 season

That's planning well ahead ...

Unless their are reasons to suspect Anthony Watson or Tom Homer are planning to move, would rather the salary cap was spent on a new TH than Halfpenny, who place kicking aside, is nothing special to justify the exorbitant salary which would be demanded.

Bath have had so many disruptive call ups and injuries this season that a period of consolidation would be far better than bringing in yet another player.

I'm sure there's another foreign 8 option on the way for Bath as well.

Don't get why they haven't recruited for the front row yet. I know they've signed a load of short term hookers but are any going to stay around? Not sure there's many high quality tightheads on the market either.

Hookers are only short term injury cover as Dunn walker and van vuuren are out for the season.

Front row is a priority and the word is that a high profile th is on the way. I had hoped that might be wp Nep but he re signed

No need for another foreign 8. We've got the u20s player of the tournament!

You've got a great number eight in development and a Lions 8 on the books as well as various other 8s you do like to accumulate them.

There's not many top tightheads hitting the market as they are like gold dust. I was surprised Nel opted to stay in Scotland but he's clearly happy up there. I'm still surprised Bath allowed Davey Wilson to go back to Newcastle.

Yeah I sensed your sarcasm fkas!

Wilsons form had really tailed off and he was unhappy, so why keep him, especially as he's a huge earner. At the time we had ok back up in Thomas but a few weeks later he blew up injured for the whole season. Lahiff is doing an ok job at th, but another top class signing is needed.

Despite not merging StadeFrancais is rumoured to lose Parisse to Glaws and Steyn to Wuss

Saying that it's probably BS given Glaws have already Morgan and Moriarty. They are also bringing carl fearns.

Can't imagine Parisse wanting to ditch Paris for the West Country either. Mid table rugby and cider.

Thought there was rumour of problems with the Fearns deal.

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/gloucester-rugby-respond-to-rumours-regarding-carl-fearns/

Resolved then....Gloucester are collecting quite a few decent back rowers.

propdavid_london wrote:Resolved then....Gloucester are collecting quite a few decent back rowers.

Kvesic and Kalamafoni are both leaving in the summer.

Wouldn't say it is resolved TBF.

If anything I would say it adds credibility to it.

It's resolved on the basis that Glaws are unwilling to break the contract. Fearns has publicly stated since the MO story that he is committed to joining Glaws; he has also purchased a property in the area. So whilst nothing is concrete until he joins, it is 99% likely he is still joining us.

There doesn't appear to be anything to the Parisse story other than Fissler stirring the pot. Nevertheless, a backrow of Moriarty, Fearns and Parisse with one of Morgan, Rowan, Ludlow or Evans to come off the bench would be rather nice to see!

If Parisse is thinking about following Picamoles to the AP for a stint I suspect there'll be a few clubs interested. The Tigers offy forum will be up in arms (even more than usual) if we don't make a significant attempt at acquiring his services. We really need a ball playing 8.

I would have thought there are others areas that Tigers need to spend on...rather than a bit of a luxury player at 8.

HongKongCherry wrote:It's resolved on the basis that Glaws are unwilling to break the contract. Fearns has publicly stated since the MO story that he is committed to joining Glaws; he has also purchased a property in the area. So whilst nothing is concrete until he joins, it is 99% likely he is still joining us.

There doesn't appear to be anything to the Parisse story other than Fissler stirring the pot. Nevertheless, a backrow of Moriarty, Fearns and Parisse with one of Morgan, Rowan, Ludlow or Evans to come off the bench would be rather nice to see!

Moriarty to Scarlets .

formerly known as Sam wrote:

propdavid_london wrote:Resolved then....Gloucester are collecting quite a few decent back rowers.

Kvesic and Kalamafoni are both leaving in the summer.

I was thinking more of.....Moriarty, Morgan, and is it Rowan?

Kalamafoni isn't the force he once was.
Kvesic.....I guess has been on the naughty step since he announced his departure.

formerly known as Sam wrote:If Parisse is thinking about following Picamoles to the AP for a stint I suspect there'll be a few clubs interested. The Tigers offy forum will be up in arms (even more than usual) if we don't make a significant attempt at acquiring his services. We really need a ball playing 8.

That youngster looks pretty useful as a carrying option - Hamilton is it?

HongKongCherry wrote:It's resolved on the basis that Glaws are unwilling to break the contract. Fearns has publicly stated since the MO story that he is committed to joining Glaws; he has also purchased a property in the area. So whilst nothing is concrete until he joins, it is 99% likely he is still joining us.

There doesn't appear to be anything to the Parisse story other than Fissler stirring the pot. Nevertheless, a backrow of Moriarty, Fearns and Parisse with one of Morgan, Rowan, Ludlow or Evans to come off the bench would be rather nice to see!

Has Fearns publicaly stated he is coming since the MO story?