Silly Season Transfer Rumours 17/18

First topic message reminder :

Rumours are that I want to move to another company because my boss is an @rse.

And there's something to those rumours, I can assure you.

good move for him. hope he kicks on. has plenty of strengths but needs to improve his passing, kicking and defence.

stnick88 wrote:good move for him. hope he kicks on. has plenty of strengths but needs to improve his passing, kicking and defence.

so plenty of strengths.....

his main strength is his powerful and direct running.

sounds like I am being harsh but if he has international ambitions he has a long way to go as some of the basics aren't there yet but he has the potential and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the mix in a couple of years.

Agree Nick, he's looked a bit one dimensional when I've seen him. He's quick and strong but he needs more. I think he'll like our pitch and the high tempo game.

To be fair...we need some strong direct running in the midfield.

JPS was a big part of that and he's off. Matavesi, Flood are not great runners (imo) and Harris doesn't do much at all these days.

So if he can bring that and develop the rest of his game...im a happy man.

what happened to Harris, seems to have gone off the boil?

Big time. He got the call up to Scotland and has been pants since!

But then so has Hammersley

Can't agree with GF, I think Harris has really stepped up since his Scotland call up and has been excellent all season.

He's perhaps not making has many outside brakes (although he did against Wasps) but his all round game us much tighter. He defended well and brings others into the game, very good player.

Hammers, perhaps less so. He's quite rounded but he's seems to have forgot how to beat players and isn't quite picking the lines he used to. It looks like he's lost some gas tbh.

I haven't seen that though Sgt.
When Harris came on the scene firstly on the wing and then to 13 he was running great lines and making genuine defence breaking runs.

Weve barely seen that this season, exactly the same with Hammersley.

Yes Harris is defensively sound but you need to be able to attack the opposition not just defend, and the stats tell the story with our lack of tries scoring and points scoring. Arent we the first team in play off history to have a negative points level, or close to it.

At times we can play with breathtaking attacking play, then others we're so strictly drilled and robot like.

Hopefully next season we can be both...the brick wall defence, with some efficient attack.

Sunday Times reporting Cipriani to Gloucester as a done deal. Wonder if they can find someone to take Williams off their hands now.

I wouldn't mind Tigers taking him off their hands, if he was to be sensible in price.

I think all Tigers fans would take him back at a reasonable price. Not sure there's room in the squad currently. If Williams could play 15 as well as 10 and 12 then things might be different. I'm sure Glaws will be trying to get as much of his salary off the cap as possible so may pay a percentage to facilitate a move.

Tigers need props before anything else, a nasty monster of a lock to allow rotation with Spencer would be nice as well.

Glaws would probably have to pay a portion especially considering the massive payrise he got. Even with that, the cost would surely preclude him going anywhere as merely backup?

With Mafi coming in tigers won't be getting another lock IMO.

Haskell to Saints

Cips to Glaws

Shame, thought Haskell was going to Quins.
Still need to sort out the top job first though!

Well I'm more than chuffed we've signed Cips. He'll fit perfectly in to Ackers style of play and should make a huge impact upon our backs, which should see a starting line of Heinz, Cips, Banners, RJVR, Trinder, Marshall and Woodward. That's not too shabby!

We're expecting more signings this week. Grobler will be confirmed as should (hopefully) RJVR. There's still plenty of talk that Mostert will join too. We know one signing will be a TH; the only names being mentioned are Dreyer and Brookes, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's someone else altogether... as long as its not PDJ again!

The RJVR rumour went round before, then he signed for Sale in a short term deal. Is it more set in stone this time and do Glaws need another centre? Especially when there's a big hole to fill at tighthead.

A PDJ sized hole.

PDJ was spotted in Cheltenham with Cips, so you never know! I have absolutely no knowledge about who we are signing at TH, but I seem to get the feeling it could be quite a big name.

We're losing Symons and Scott from the centre and whilst Banners can cover, I think the view is we need another. RJVR will add considerable quality and I can see 36 moving to OC longer term. His defense is a real strong point and there is a strong argument that 13 is the best place to organise a defensive line.

Bath have picked up Girvan Dempsey as attack coach for next season. Girv has done a very fine job with the Leinster academy for the last number of seasons and was getting more involved with the senior team. Probably a sign that Lancaster might be at Leinster for another few seasons and Dempsey wants more on his CV for the 2020 merry-go-round.

Lancaster is loving it at Leinster and as importantly they, both club and fans, have totally warmed to him.

A really nice bloke who happens to know a lot about rugby - perfect.

From their tweet I think Symons is off to Northampton as well.

Shame as I'd hoped he was coming to Quins, there was a time when he was the next big thing but it just never came to fruition. Probably a lesson there for Shields actually, might not be best rush him into anything... Oh

Yappy, which Symons are you talking about? Andy, the centre, is leaving Glaws for Saints. I don't believe Matt's destination has been confirmed, but I thought he was coming to you to replace Matthews.

Ah I didn't realise there were two!

It only said Symons but I assume that's the centre then. Good stuff, so hopefully the other can come and be constantly injured for us

Joe Maksymiw signs for Connacht. Had not realised he had Irish ancestry.

So far, looking at second rows, that means Barrow and Maksymiw out, with Spencer in for us.

Big mess up down at Coventry.

Apparently they were going to announce numerous big names today (Carr etc) but they've put it off till the end of the month.

LondonTiger wrote:Joe Maksymiw signs for Connacht. Had not realised he had Irish ancestry.

So far, looking at second rows,  that means Barrow and Maksymiw out, with Spencer in for us.

Well Spencer and Voss.

Ah forgot the Jersey lad

We've got the two lads coming through the academy as well. The Jordan lad looks like he could be a real mobile beast in a couple of years if we develop him right.

After 4 years of battling cancer and being told last year it was terminal, T. Young wife is now remission.

Bloody great news

nathan wrote:After 4 years of battling cancer and being told last year it was terminal, T. Young wife is now remission.

Bloody great news

I'd heard the rumours a month or so back. Nice to see it confirmed, hopefully a weight off of Tom's shoulders.

Great news for Tom and his family. Lets hope the recovery is successful.

As to rugby...
Falcons have a player signing announcement this week apparently. This is a curious one as there's absolutely no rumours whatsoever unlike the previous ones.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

nathan wrote:After 4 years of battling cancer and being told last year it was terminal, T. Young wife is now remission.

Bloody great news

I'd heard the rumours a month or so back. Nice to see it confirmed, hopefully a weight off of Tom's shoulders.

Bloody amazing news!

HongKongCherry wrote:I have absolutely no knowledge about who we are signing at TH, but I seem to get the feeling it could be quite a big name.

When I said big name, I of course meant that quite literally, as in a double barrel name... And no it's not PDJ! Our ex-prop, Andy Deacon who writes in our local rag appears to have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag. There had long been a rumour it was a player from the Jeff still involved and it appears we may well have signed Jake Cooper-Wooley

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/deacs-week-lack-tmo-astonishing-1572632

Clearly this is far from definitive, but I'd be more than happy if true.

Matt Ferguson to be Saints new Assistant Coach next year. Know nothing about him, crept jhis track record is not startling:

Bristol
London Welsh
London Irish

All relegation fooder. He is supposed to b a scrum guru, none of the above have exactly set the scrummaging world alight,q hope I am wrong.

Good to see Haskell joining Saints, presumably as an 8 and back row cover, sort of wished/predicted that he was the right man back when he announced his contract was not being renewed.

Some wrap up news for Leinster. 21 senior contracts agreed for the 18/19 season (18 of which are local club/schools players).

Tadhg Furlong and Rob Kearney were already announced (central contracts).

4 players, Larmour, Abdaladze, Josh Murphy and Caelan Doris have all moved from academy onto Leinster senior contracts.

Other new contracts for next season are for (again some of these have been drip fed in recent weeks);
Michael Bent
Sean Cronin
Ed Byrne
Barry Daly
Tom Daly
Peter Dooley
Dave Kearney
Nick McCarthy
Fergus McFadden
Ross Molony
Andrew Porter
Garry Ringrose
Rhys Ruddock
James Tracy
Josh van der Flier

Jordi Murphy, Cathal Marsh and Peadar Timmins are the 3 players to be leaving Leinster.

One other notable retirement imminent also.

Gloucester are making some excellent signings (with more big names to follow), they're going to be some force next season.

HongKongCherry wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:I have absolutely no knowledge about who we are signing at TH, but I seem to get the feeling it could be quite a big name.

When I said big name, I of course meant that quite literally, as in a double barrel name... And no it's not PDJ! Our ex-prop, Andy Deacon who writes in our local rag appears to have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag.  There had long been a rumour it was a player from the Jeff still involved and it appears we may well have signed Jake Cooper-Wooley

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/deacs-week-lack-tmo-astonishing-1572632

Clearly this is far from definitive, but I'd be more than happy if true.

That would be a real blow for Wasps. Cooper-Wooley isn't a super star player but he's a solid and reliable player. He keeps his side of the scrum up and puts himself around the park. I'm not sure about the right up in the local paper mind;

"On the down side Gloucester losing John Afoa will be a blow. This could be offset by again raiding the Wasps club by signing prop Jake Cooper-Woolley, who is emerging into a fine prop and will be in the England reckoning leading up to the next World Cup in Japan"

Emerging as a fine prop? At 28 going on 29 he's in his prime as he should be. England reckoning? Only if there's a couple of injuries as the pecking order is Cole, Williams and Sinkler and he isn't going to overtake any of them.

Emerging as a fine prop? At 28 going on 29 he's in his prime as he should be. England reckoning? Only if there's a couple of injuries as the pecking order is Cole, Williams and Sinkler and he isn't going to overtake any of them.

Cole's spot is seriously under threat, there's a chance JCW could jump ahead of him before the world cup or at least be in the mix. All of the apparently "rested" players have a chance of not being in a squad again.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Emerging as a fine prop? At 28 going on 29 he's in his prime as he should be. England reckoning? Only if there's a couple of injuries as the pecking order is Cole, Williams and Sinkler and he isn't going to overtake any of them.

Cole's spot is seriously under threat, there's a chance JCW could jump ahead of him before the world cup or at least be in the mix. All of the apparently "rested" players have a chance of not being in a squad again.

Nah. JCW is a good solid AP level option but Cole is a better scrummager and better at the breakdown. If Cole is going to lose his spot it will be because a younger more mobile prop like Hill has shown he can scrummage well and then offers more round the park.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Emerging as a fine prop? At 28 going on 29 he's in his prime as he should be. England reckoning? Only if there's a couple of injuries as the pecking order is Cole, Williams and Sinkler and he isn't going to overtake any of them.

Cole's spot is seriously under threat, there's a chance JCW could jump ahead of him before the world cup or at least be in the mix. All of the apparently "rested" players have a chance of not being in a squad again.

Nah. JCW is a good solid AP level option but Cole is a better scrummager and better at the breakdown. If Cole is going to lose his spot it will be because a younger more mobile prop like Hill has shown he can scrummage well and then offers more round the park.

Perhaps a marginally better scrummager, but better at the breakdown, really?? When was the last time Cole made an impact at the breakdown at Int level? JCW is a better carrier and stronger at the breakdown imo. Cole is living on past glories, he's not the player he once was.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Emerging as a fine prop? At 28 going on 29 he's in his prime as he should be. England reckoning? Only if there's a couple of injuries as the pecking order is Cole, Williams and Sinkler and he isn't going to overtake any of them.

Cole's spot is seriously under threat, there's a chance JCW could jump ahead of him before the world cup or at least be in the mix. All of the apparently "rested" players have a chance of not being in a squad again.

Nah. JCW is a good solid AP level option but Cole is a better scrummager and better at the breakdown. If Cole is going to lose his spot it will be because a younger more mobile prop like Hill has shown he can scrummage well and then offers more round the park.

Perhaps a marginally better scrummager, but better at the breakdown, really?? When was the last time Cole made an impact at the breakdown at Int level? JCW is a better carrier and stronger at the breakdown imo. Cole is living on past glories, he's not the player he once was.

He wasn't living on past glories when he and Genge stuffed the Wasps scrum at Welford Rd. I don't think Cole is anywhere close to peak form but that's why he's been left at home this summer, it's been years (a decade nearly?) since he last had a full preseason and he isn't getting any younger. I have to say Tigers aren't helping him in our recruitment we're struggling to find anyone to challenge him for his place or even be a feasible replacement for rotation.

Quite frankly no England player made any impact at the breakdown during the 6N and I'd describe it as one of our major issues that our tighthead prop is better at slowing the ball down than the backrow.

Our tighthead prop doesn't slow ball more than the backrow though. Cole makes little to no impact at the breakdown, he just plods from ruck to ruck. He's living on past glories in this area.

When you haven't been in form for 3 years or so, it may be time to accept he's never going to be. Cole has been a great servant but we need a better option.

Arno Botha to Munster confirmed

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Our tighthead prop doesn't slow ball more than the backrow though. Cole makes little to no impact at the breakdown, he just plods from ruck to ruck. He's living on past glories in this area.

In which case you don't see what he does or don't want to.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Our tighthead prop doesn't slow ball more than the backrow though. Cole makes little to no impact at the breakdown, he just plods from ruck to ruck. He's living on past glories in this area.

In which case you don't see what he does or don't want to.

Or you're letting your Leicester bias cloud your judgement, which seems more plausible. I have no bias on this, I'm just an England fan wanting the best. Cole is an ok scrummager and not much else these days bar a penalty magnet.

TBF he is more than just a ok at scrummanging.

Tigers leavers as far as I'm aware of:
LH: Rizzo, Traynor
HK: McGugian, Thacker
TH: Mulipola, Baumann, Betts
LK: Barrow, Maksymiw
BR: Hamilton, Ryan
C: Catchpole
W: Malouf, Brady
FB: Pakalani

Maybe Williams but IMO not sure on that rumour currently.

Yea he is....does he add much more these days though? When does he show this mythical breakdown work as I've not seen it for about 3 years.