Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

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New season, new thread.

I think he could be brought through Welly. He has potential and size.

I agree with Sgt I really don't think Saracens are good at bringing through backs for whatever reasons, unlike what they are capable of with their forwards.

However I will say...its now or never..he needs to make this move the right one and fulfil that potential.

Well with the signing of Lewington it's not that surprising Earle has left. I wish him all the best. Quins should suit him but of course Quins still need to sort their pack out.

I wonder if Earle will be the only promising youngster leaving Saracens.

I don’t doubt Earle has potential just he hasn’t been that good when he has had his chances.

Earle has hardly had a chance tbh.

Saracens have messed that up.

Ben Youngs resigns and the world's worst kept secret Gigena is confirmed

re-signs or resigns?

Earle is a good signing, I wonder if anyone is leaving though to make way for him?

Toulon sign Messam, not Kaino to replace Vermeulen

Fluxy wrote:Toulon sign Messam, not Kaino to replace Vermeulen

I didn't think Kaino would be a good signing, he's a little old. Neither of the ABs play at 8 either right? And hopefully Vermuelen is back in the SA set-up, he can still reach the world cup.

yappysnap wrote:Earle is a good signing, I wonder if anyone is leaving though to make way for him?

Did you replace Yarde when he left?

mikey_dragon wrote:

Fluxy wrote:Toulon sign Messam, not Kaino to replace Vermeulen

I didn't think Kaino would be a good signing, he's a little old. Neither of the ABs play at 8 either right? And hopefully Vermuelen is back in the SA set-up, he can still reach the world cup.

Messam has played some 8 previously. It takes him straight out of the NZ RWC options as well. Coming in the same week as Soponga confirmed to Wasps that's two experienced players unavailable for the world cup. That might annoy Hansen somewhat.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

Fluxy wrote:Toulon sign Messam, not Kaino to replace Vermeulen

I didn't think Kaino would be a good signing, he's a little old. Neither of the ABs play at 8 either right? And hopefully Vermuelen is back in the SA set-up, he can still reach the world cup.

Messam has played some 8 previously. It takes him straight out of the NZ RWC options as well. Coming in the same week as Soponga confirmed to Wasps that's two experienced players unavailable for the world cup. That might annoy Hansen somewhat.

I'm sure they'll cope Sam....

Bristol announcing 9 new players tomorrow.
RugbyInsideLine are saying
John Afoa (Top left)
Harry Thacker (Bottom middle)
Jake Heehan (B. 2 from right)
Nic Stirzaker (T. 2 from right)
Tiff Eden (B. 2 from left)
Shaun Malton (T. 2 from left)
Aly Muldowney (B. left)
Jordan Lay (B. right)
Yann Thomas (T. Right)

Which is pretty average really.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Earle is a good signing, I wonder if anyone is leaving though to make way for him?

Did you replace Yarde when he left?

No, that is whom he is replacing.

Shame to see thacker go but it's been expected for a long time

nathan wrote:Shame to see thacker go but it's been expected for a long time

Where do you think Bristol will play him?

Prob Hooker if they are signing the Heehan.

Rugby Fan wrote:

nathan wrote:Shame to see thacker go but it's been expected for a long time

Where do you think Bristol will play him?

He's got a lot better at scrum time but continues to be a menace around the park. Still our best lineout operator. If he moves to openside full time he'll need to work on surviving the clear out. He's the type of player that can change a game, annoyed we've not made more of him to be honest.

Afoa and Thacker aside those signings aren't inspiring.

so bristol currently looking at a team of what?
1. Tongaʻuiha (?)
2. Thacker
3. Afoa
4. Vui
5. Muldowney
6. Lam
7. Heenan
8. Luatua
9. Stirzaker
10. Madigan
11. Varndell
12. Tovey
13. Hurrell
14. Morahan
15. Piutau

needs alot more still esp front row

Lieua and Siale Piatau are both there and more likely to tart than Tovey. Tight five depth is vial so you'd expect them to keep trying to improve in that department.

A shame to see Harry go but understandable for him to go searching for more starts. It's what he needs at this stage of his career, especially with TPN arriving.

He bailed Tigers out of trouble in his breakthrough season when Tom Youngs was injured and he played fantastically as starter. His try against Saints will live long in the memory too. His long range throws helped the line-outs attacking options a lot back when it was functioning. It's a shame his progression stalled when his starts dried up.

I hope he does well at Brizz and pushes on. He's such a live wire in the loose which as much as anything makes him a very enjoyable player to watch when he gets the ball. I'll certainly miss seeing him in a Tigers shirt and would much rather keep him.

I think Hurrell is at Edinburgh next season so replace him with S Piutau.

They could do with another lock, a bigger option at hooker and a good loosehead before they spend money elsewhere. I wonder if they will raid LI for their young LH or Reid. Assume they will be scouring South Africa or Australia for some talent in the forwards.

https://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/signedupsaturday-the-wrap-up/

Hurrell features on the confirmed squad so far post for next season so Bristol aren't anticipating losing him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/signedupsaturday-the-wrap-up/

Hurrell features on the confirmed squad so far post for next season so Bristol aren't anticipating losing him.

Hurrell was strongly tipped for Edinburgh, but then re-signed for Bristol. Maybe he was holding out for a better offer or did not fancy the weather in Edinburgh!

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:https://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/signedupsaturday-the-wrap-up/

Hurrell features on the confirmed squad so far post for next season so Bristol aren't anticipating losing him.

Hurrell was strongly tipped for Edinburgh, but then re-signed for Bristol. Maybe he was holding out for a better offer or did not fancy the weather in Edinburgh!

Bristol went with a lucrative offer to get him from Doncaster on the first place (after he tore their defence open in the playoffs) so I'm guessing his new deal after an excellent AP season was pretty lucrative. He'd have been great signing for Edinburgh. I was hoping he'd have come home to Tigers.

Brussow arrives at Saints. Could be an inspired signing if he's anywhere near the levels he was before he left for Japan. One of favourite recent players, can't wait to see him in the AP.

Doubt there is anyone better at the breakdown in the AP?

Scottrf wrote:Doubt there is anyone better at the breakdown in the AP?

Saints will soon ruin that.

munkian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:Doubt there is anyone better at the breakdown in the AP?

Saints will soon ruin that.

I'm sure.

On the planet...bar perhaps Pocock.

Apparently Jimmy Stevens (from Nottingham) will be heading back to Tigers to fill Thackers place.

I wish Tigers would have a couple years of hurt and develop the younger guys and start the conveyor belt of talent again.

nathan wrote:Apparently Jimmy Stevens (from Nottingham) will be heading back to Tigers to fill Thackers place.

I wish Tigers would have a couple years of hurt and develop the younger guys and start the conveyor belt of talent again.

Wow. Unless he has come on leaps at Nottingham that is a big step down. He was very average at Irish.

SirBurger wrote:

nathan wrote:Apparently Jimmy Stevens (from Nottingham) will be heading back to Tigers to fill Thackers place.

I wish Tigers would have a couple years of hurt and develop the younger guys and start the conveyor belt of talent again.

Wow. Unless he has come on leaps at Nottingham that is a big step down. He was very average at Irish.

Yep it's a pretty poor trade off. In theory we've got some good young guys coming through and Stevens will just hold the fort whilst they develop. As MOC is the coach he'll remain third choice irrelevant of the form of the young players right up to when the young lads get annoyed and leave so we'll keep him longer and then we'll see TPN and Youngs looking at retirement with no successors of quality so we'll end trying to splash in a crowded market and sign some journeymen at great cost.

Not sure if it was mentioned earlier - sure I heard over the weekends game Stuart Barnes saying that Charlie Matthews was off to Wasps.

propdavid_london wrote:Not sure if it was mentioned earlier - sure I heard over the weekends game Stuart Barnes saying that Charlie Matthews was off to Wasps.

Symons going the the way.

At the mo Matthews is playing well

Not sad to see him go. The occasional decent game but prone to stupid decisions and not nearly powerful or aggressive enough. Rubbish hands.

Needs a coach to kick him up the backside as he has the physical foundation to be a great lock.

Agree with mid_gen. He will have the occasional good game (did do well when he came on early last weekend).
But for his size he isn't half as effective as he could be in the loose.

I don't have the stats but our lineout (I know most of our hookers cant hit a barn door) should be so much better with a bean pole in their side! We seem to turn over a lot of possession there, especially at crucial phases.

I just think a fresh start would be good for him and give us the opportunity to get someone hungrier.

Joining Wasps after being shown the door at Quins certainly helped Launchbury

Dropped from the academy at 18 (according to t'internet). Yup, lost out there.

Stevens signing makes sense IMHO.
(Thacker + MacGuigan) - (Mahoney + Stevens) = 5 hookers and maybe a top player somewhere.

Hooker isn't an issue currently, and if it means the cap from those two and be put into signing a very good lock or Back rower or even centre then it's the right move for us.

Welly wrote: Stevens signing makes sense IMHO.
(Thacker + MacGuigan) - (Mahoney + Stevens) = 5 hookers and maybe a top player somewhere.

Hooker isn't an issue currently, and if it means the cap from those two and be put into signing a very good lock or Back rower or even centre then it's the right move for us.

McGuigan definitely off though? He was linked with Bristol and has vanished from view with us. If he does indeed leave then Stevens makes sense as experienced cover. My only doubts are over our head coaches ability to find the young guns at 4th and 5th choice enough game time to develop them.

Josh Bassett signs a new deal with Wasps.....not off to Saints then.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Josh Bassett signs a new deal with Wasps.....not off to Saints then.

Heem is the new Saints rumour.

Replacement for North then I suppose!
Heem has looked pretty good for Warriors - any news on their funding? Weren't they looking for investors a while ago?

Strettle signs for Sarries

Wonder is earle or this happened first. They do seem more willing to give a run to their forwards before backs.

Scottrf wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Josh Bassett signs a new deal with Wasps.....not off to Saints then.

Heem is the new Saints rumour.

Try not to ruin Biggar while you're at it. Better yet rip up his contract so he can stay with a better team in Wales.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Wonder is earle or this happened first. They do seem more willing to give a run to their forwards before backs.

Earles rumour started at the beginning of the season with people linking him to a move to the club following his mate Morris who's apparently gone very well at Quin's.

Strettle seems later then that