Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

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New season, new thread.

Bathite wrote:Banahan to Glos
Auterac to Quins


Almost official

Dammit. Wish Auterac was heading to WR. We could do with improving the propping stable here. Very reliant on Genge being fit. It's embarrassing to have Traynor starting vs Munster.

Good signing for Quins. Unsure about the Banahan rumour, doesn't really make sense to me.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bathite wrote:Banahan to Glos
Auterac to Quins


Almost official

Dammit. Wish Auterac was heading to WR. We could do with improving the propping stable here. Very reliant on Genge being fit. It's embarrassing to have Traynor starting vs Munster.

Good signing for Quins. Unsure about the Banahan rumour, doesn't really make sense to me.

I mean Bateman has been excellent at loosehead and Cilliers covers there.

The only reason Traynor is in is because no one else is avaible. (Logo would be starting if not for just coming back from injury.

Welly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bathite wrote:Banahan to Glos
Auterac to Quins


Almost official

Dammit. Wish Auterac was heading to WR. We could do with improving the propping stable here. Very reliant on Genge being fit. It's embarrassing to have Traynor starting vs Munster.

Good signing for Quins. Unsure about the Banahan rumour, doesn't really make sense to me.

I mean Bateman has been excellent at loosehead and Cilliers covers there.

The only reason Traynor is in is because no one else is avaible. (Logo would be starting if not for just coming back from injury.

Three quality options on each side then a development option as an understudy. Traynor is neither so I'd rather not retain him. Bateman has been a very handy squad player. Logo and Cilliers are both good props but both are out of contract in the summer and both have been injured for long periods.

Genge, Auterac, Bateman
Cole, Cilliers, Logo

That would be ideal but maybe unfeasible with the salary cap. Rizzo is clearly not fancied so I suspect he'll be off so there should be some cap for a replacement with him and Traynor offered up for a new signing.

But you know he’s gone to Quins right? Ha

Bathite wrote:But you know he’s gone to Quins right? Ha

Sadly yes. Hopefully we can grab a different good quality prop to increase the standard of our stable.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Bathite wrote:Banahan to Glos
Auterac to Quins


Almost official

Unsure about the Banahan rumour, doesn't really make sense to me.

Me neither, but it’s happening - 3 year deal

3 year deal for Banahan....jesus, he must have the best agent ever.

Fisherman pooly

He's absolutely awful, how is he still playing top flight rugby???

You surely won't miss him Bathite?

Still no bites....

It is a good deal for a 30 year old (nearly 31) winger though. Three year deal will take him well past his expected peak and at a salary gained when he's been in some half decent form.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

gcBlues wrote:Lloyd Williams re-signs with Cardiff Blues amid rumoured interest from the Scarlets

Underrated player.

Good one

Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Dragons will need a big chunk of cash to buy out Falatau's contract with Bath. They will need to sort it early as Bath will want time to source a replacement. Even then I'd be mildly surprised if they agreed.

Lealifano is heading back to Australia and was only at Ulster because he wanted some game time and they needed a 10. He wants to be back in the Wallaby fold as far as I've seen. North has options from multiple regions according to the rumours and Quade well who knows. He might arrive. He might go they oil Sale and play with his mate though.

Sam from what I understand our investor is willing to pay up. I'm sure Bath wouldn't mind seeing as they just had to pay a fine for releasing him outside the IRB window. They've still got Denton among others on their books right? From what I can also gather it's more likely to be just one of the aforementioned backs, not all three.

mikey_dragon wrote:Sam from what I understand our investor is willing to pay up. I'm sure Bath wouldn't mind seeing as they just had to pay a fine for releasing him outside the IRB window. They've still got Denton among others on their books right? From what I can also gather it's more likely to be just one of the aforementioned backs, not all three.

Denton is long gone - he's with Worcester and struggling to get or hold a place in a struggling team.

It is a shame. Other than the phobia of passing he suffered from he did show a lot of potential.

mikey_dragon wrote:Sam from what I understand our investor is willing to pay up. I'm sure Bath wouldn't mind seeing as they just had to pay a fine for releasing him outside the IRB window. They've still got Denton among others on their books right? From what I can also gather it's more likely to be just one of the aforementioned backs, not all three.

Denton was awful for Bath and is now awful for Worcester. Paul Grant and Zac Mercer are the other 8 options. Grant is a reliable journeyman whilst Mercer is a future international but still learning. The fine for releasing Falatau will be similar to that which Saints paid for releasing North a few years back, £60k. Bath will want well in excess of that to release Falatau and would happily pay that to ensure Falatau is there to mentor Mercer from another year.

Lydiate to return to Dragons

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

That would be an amazing capture - an absolutely outstanding player who is big enough to play lock and has good enough hands and feet to play loose forward - both at Bokke test level.

dragon4life wrote:Lydiate to return to Dragons

Meh, don't need him.

Barrf not happy that Faletau is crocked

George Carlin wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

That would be an amazing capture - an absolutely outstanding player who is big enough to play lock and has good enough hands and feet to play loose forward - both at Bokke test level.

It's the front five we need to invest in now.

Mikey, where did you hear this du Toit rumour?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

That would be an amazing capture - an absolutely outstanding player who is big enough to play lock and has good enough hands and feet to play loose forward - both at Bokke test level.

That's good news. It's the front five we need to invest in now.

Mikey, where did you hear this du Toit rumour?

To be fair, Mikey posts about 300 rumoured linked players to Dragons a week.....one's got to stick.

I can't see it mentioned anywhere else.

The Dragons are after Nakarawa now, according to Walesonline.

We're a gift to them at the moment!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:The Dragons are after Nakarawa now, according to Walesonline.

We're a gift to them at the moment!

That would be insanely super awesome

In was an Andy Howell article - and it's since been announced that Nakarawa's signed a contract extension with Racing!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

That would be an amazing capture - an absolutely outstanding player who is big enough to play lock and has good enough hands and feet to play loose forward - both at Bokke test level.

That's good news. It's the front five we need to invest in now.

Mikey, where did you hear this du Toit rumour?

To be fair, Mikey posts about 300 rumoured linked players to Dragons a week.....one's got to stick.

I should have known better to trust a mate who knows Andy Howell, it appears Du Toit is already back home sunning it up. Apparently us and Quins were after him. Pooly you and archbishop of shanterbury better keep it down. Every rumour I've posted here I've posted it at least a month before it becomes big news!

munkian wrote:

dragon4life wrote:Lydiate to return to Dragons

Meh, don't need him.

I haven't heard that one either. Is he required? We'll have Moriarty at 6, Griffiths at 7 and Faletau at 8 - we're likely to lose all four to team Wales...

Thacker and Afoa to Bristol (The Times)

LondonTiger wrote:Thacker and Afoa to Bristol (The Times)

I thought McGuigan was the one off. Seemed more likely as well given that Thacker seems to have jumped him in the pecking order. I rate Harry and think he offers something different. His scrummaging seems to have improved as well this season, wouldn't like to see him go but understand he may want first team rugby.

mikey_dragon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Taulupe Faletau, Quade Cooper, George North and Christian Lealiifano to Dragons. Waiting to hear back on Pieter-Steph du Toit.

That would be an amazing capture - an absolutely outstanding player who is big enough to play lock and has good enough hands and feet to play loose forward - both at Bokke test level.

That's good news. It's the front five we need to invest in now.

Mikey, where did you hear this du Toit rumour?

To be fair, Mikey posts about 300 rumoured linked players to Dragons a week.....one's got to stick.

I should have known better to trust a mate who knows Andy Howell, it appears Du Toit is already back home sunning it up. Apparently us and Quins were after him. Pooly you and archbishop of shanterbury better keep it down. Every rumour I've posted here I've posted it at least a month before it becomes big news!

mikey_dragon wrote:Halfpenny to Dragons on a dual contract is the latest rumour I'm hearing.

Yea, you really hit the nail! Only pulling your leg Mikey

Mallinder has been sacked by Saints

Should have happened in the summer. Wasted year and nobody will be available now.

Has West gone too?

Agree should have happened in the Summer

LondonTiger wrote:Has West gone too?

Agree should have happened in the Summer

Don't think so. But Dickens made head coach until new DOR found (only one of our coaches I rate).

Scottrf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Has West gone too?

Agree should have happened in the Summer

Don't think so. But Dickens made head coach until new DOR found (only one of our coaches I rate).

Beeb says that there is a feeling Mallinder has carried the can for an all round poor coaching performance. I would imagine there will be a clear out in time unless there is a massive improvement.

Wonder if Harry Mallinder will do a George Ford.

Lancaster to Saints? Relationship with Hartley would be interesting.

lostinwales wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Has West gone too?

Agree should have happened in the Summer

Don't think so. But Dickens made head coach until new DOR found (only one of our coaches I rate).

Beeb says that there is a feeling Mallinder has carried the can for an all round poor coaching performance. I would imagine there will be a clear out in time unless there is a massive improvement.

West I think is going to Newcastle in the Summer. Dowson just got here and only has a junior role.

The DOR should carry for the can for all round poor coaching performance. It's his job.

Harry Mallinder just signed until 2020.

Scottrf wrote:

lostinwales wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Has West gone too?

Agree should have happened in the Summer

Don't think so. But Dickens made head coach until new DOR found (only one of our coaches I rate).

Beeb says that there is a feeling Mallinder has carried the can for an all round poor coaching performance. I would imagine there will be a clear out in time unless there is a massive improvement.

West I think is going to Newcastle in the Summer. Dowson just got here and only has a junior role.

The DOR should carry for the can for all round poor coaching performance. It's his job.

Harry Mallinder just signed until 2020.

Oh there is no doubt that the buck stops with Mallinder, it's just that him going should not hide other failings.

I would thoroughly recommend John Kingston to Saints.
He is doing a sterling job for Quins....

We could always swap propdavid, we couldn't do worse.

Rowntree?

Welly wrote:Rowntree?

I'd take him under Lancaster yeah.

Somehow I feel this is six or seven months too late. Surely Ackermann was the ideal choice and watching what he's accomplished at Gloucester only reinforces that. There's two sets of boards in the East Midlands who should be asking themselves why they didn't attempt to bring him in.

Hope Jim Mallinder turns up somewhere and refreshes his batteries. He's 51, which is a few years younger than Jones and Hansen, so it would be a shame if he didn't have at least one more big coaching job in him.

Would be good to see a fresh, new English coach get the Saints job.

Names I have seen mentioned:

Stuart Lancaster - just signed an extended contract at Leinster and may prefer to stick with hands on coaching
Ali Hepher - Ex Saint player, but leaving head coach role at Chiefs to DoR may not suit his skills.
Mike Ford - surely a busted flush
Richard Cockerill - only recently joined Embra, not the sort to walk out on a commitment.

Cockerill isn't going to happen, lets be honest. I honestly think Lancaster in a consultant type role would be great. Bring in some professionalism and structure. Whether he's the right man for a full term role I'm not so sure. Our spending is all over the place, coaching archaic. Kind of think we need more of a hard-nosed type.

Lol cockerill really?

Welly wrote:Rowntree?

Rowntree wasn't pitchside that I could see on Friday night......possibly interviewing somewhere else or ill? Wouldn't have expected him to be away for a pretty crucial game.