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.

Sam just till the end of the season I think.

Supposedly Toulon are on the verge of signing Milner-Skudder, S Whitelock and Etzebeth for next season (so probably following the RWC). 

Might be a little too late by then!

Etzebeth will miss a third of every season on international duty and Milner-Scudder has had several serious injury. The three will be grotesquely expensive as well.

They are probably assuming they can get out of the relegation spot, yet the way they are playing that should not be the case.

LondonTiger wrote:They are probably assuming they can get out of the relegation spot, yet the way they are playing that should not be the case.

It was a very adventurous coach appointment. Might take some time to get the required fitness and skill levels to play how he wants to play.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:They are probably assuming they can get out of the relegation spot, yet the way they are playing that should not be the case.

It was a very adventurous coach appointment. Might take some time to get the required fitness and skill levels to play how he wants to play.

Does it take much skill and fitness to pass to Bastereud for the crash ball?

marty2086 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:They are probably assuming they can get out of the relegation spot, yet the way they are playing that should not be the case.

It was a very adventurous coach appointment. Might take some time to get the required fitness and skill levels to play how he wants to play.

Does it take much skill and fitness to pass to Bastereud for the crash ball?

That wasn't the style of rugby Collazo had his team playing at La Rochelle. Fast, physical and offloads. Get one over the gain line and the rest would stream through in support. Good team to watch.

So far the skill level showed by Toulon is the worst I can remember since Mourad has been in charge . Even a player like Savea is looking like a useless robot in this team. Adding more ABs will not improve this team. Don’t think they will get relegated because Perpignan , Grenoble and Agen are even worst this year.
Too much instability in the coaching staff is probably the main reason behind this mess and Mourad is to be blamed for that . In the last 2 years they had Dominguez , Ford , Cockerill, Delmas, Galthie who have all been dismissed for more or less gods reasons . Amongst all of them Colazzo is having the worst results and ironically he is still around...

Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

Welly wrote: Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

In many ways Cockers was perfect for the French league. Fluent in French and English, strong disciplinarian and likes a hard forward based game.

If Clermont decide to make a change I would expect Edinburgh to have a fight to keep him.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

In many ways Cockers was perfect for the French league. Fluent in French and English, strong disciplinarian and likes a hard forward based game.

If Clermont decide to make a change I would expect Edinburgh to have a fight to keep him.

He has signed a relatively long term contract there now, another 3 years i think and I don't think he is the sort of guy to break a contract. I think as well that he likes the idea of a building project, to see how far he can take a team. So far he has only coached good sides with big resources.

If that is his plan, it seems to be going pretty well so far.

Welly wrote: Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

Was he not offered the Toulon job and turned it down?

formerly known as Sam wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:They are probably assuming they can get out of the relegation spot, yet the way they are playing that should not be the case.

It was a very adventurous coach appointment. Might take some time to get the required fitness and skill levels to play how he wants to play.

Does it take much skill and fitness to pass to Bastereud for the crash ball?

That wasn't the style of rugby Collazo had his team playing at La Rochelle. Fast, physical and offloads. Get one over the gain line and the rest would stream through in support. Good team to watch.

The little I've seen of Toulon seems to be that gameplan, guys like Fekitoa, Tuisova and Savea are spectators a lot of the time. Even when Bastereud ties up a number of defenders it's reload for another big runner at first receiver instead of using the space that has been created or unleashing one of the talented backs who can break through with some skill

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

In many ways Cockers was perfect for the French league. Fluent in French and English, strong disciplinarian and likes a hard forward based game.

If Clermont decide to make a change I would expect Edinburgh to have a fight to keep him.

He has signed a relatively long term contract there now, another 3 years i think and I don't think he is the sort of guy to break a contract. I think as well that he likes the idea of a building project, to see how far he can take a team. So far he has only coached good sides with big resources.

If that is his plan, it seems to be going pretty well so far.

I stay up in Edinburgh these days and as a Tigers fan have keenly chatted to Edinburgh Rugby staff when possible about how he's viewed. By all accounts he's very settled and enjoying the new challenge. On the flip-side it sounds like Edinburgh Rugby and the SRU couldn't be happier to have him onboard.

If a French club comes calling then money does talk, but if there's a top class coach who I'd back to turn down a chance for another nought on the paycheck in favour of personal improvement then it would be Cockers. He seems to be relishing the challenge and as a lifelong Tigers fan, longtime Cockers fan and newfound Edinburgh follower I hope he stays!

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welly wrote: Cockers wasn't sacked TBF he was only ever a temp head coach after being brought in as a part time forwards coach by Ford he had signed with Edinburgh before getting the Head coach role.

And from what I gather Mourad regrets not keeping him, as they got on very well and he loved cockers more disciplined coaching style.

In many ways Cockers was perfect for the French league. Fluent in French and English, strong disciplinarian and likes a hard forward based game.

If Clermont decide to make a change I would expect Edinburgh to have a fight to keep him.

He has signed a relatively long term contract there now, another 3 years i think and I don't think he is the sort of guy to break a contract. I think as well that he likes the idea of a building project, to see how far he can take a team. So far he has only coached good sides with big resources.

If that is his plan, it seems to be going pretty well so far.

For any normal French club they'd be pushed to convince him to move. Clermont is slightly different as that was his club as a player and coach in between the stints at Tigers and his son (or one of them) was born there. They attempted to tempt him away from Tigers at one point and a significant long term contract was required to keep him.

I don't think he's one to duck out on a contract normally. The SRU certainly did good work getting him to sign that contract early before the likes of Toulon realised what he could offer. He's a great fit for Scottish rugby and I think he will be for a number of years yet.

Charlie Ewels being linked with a move to Tigers next summer. Whilst we may be interested I think this is probably the work of his agent whilst in negotiations with Bath.

I thought tigers had a load of good young locks coming through...?
I suspect your right ..agent talk

GeordieFalcon wrote:I thought tigers had a load of good young locks coming through...?
I suspect your right ..agent talk  

There's a couple on the way but they are 18. Jordan and Martin. Jordan has played a couple of games in the domestic cup and they are regulars in the A league. Expect to see them come into England under 20 reckoning. They aren't ready yet but we will be looking to offload one or possibly two locks next summer though. Fitzgerald is now over 30 and unlikely to be close to the first team when Williams, Spencer and Wells are all available. Kitchener is under pressure to earn a regular spot as well.

I think Williams might also be out of contract in the summer as well. So there is opportunity for the management to rejig the engine room. With Toomua off there's been rumours of us spending his marquee allocation on a brute to help up the physicality in the pack.

Ewels would fit in well with the current form options of Wells and Spencer. Combative and physical. If Brett Deacon continues as defence coach expect to see more of that as well because he'll want the team to attack everything when we've not got the ball.

Stuart Hogg to Exeter, i have just seen on twitter. That would be something.

Please then send Phil Dollman back to the Kingdom of Gwent, Mr Baxter

RiscaGame wrote:Stuart Hogg to Exeter, i have just seen on twitter. That would be something.

Please then send Phil Dollman back to the Kingdom of Gwent, Mr Baxter

I suspect Dollman will have a contract at Exeter until he opts to retire. Lachie Turner is likely to be the one out the door though I'm unsure whether that would free up enough cap for a bid for Hogg, it would depend on the Chiefs marquee situation.

Having signed Cordero fairly recently I'm not sure they'll opt for another high profile back three player. They might be better spending the money on a top class half back to manage the game might be a better way to spend the money.

I can’t see Dollman coming back, in the unlikely event they didn’t want him anyway.

RiscaGame wrote:I can’t see Dollman coming back, in the unlikely event they didn’t want him anyway.

He's now 33. If the role was as a player/coach then maybe.

Glasgow confirmed this morning that Hoggy is leaving at the end of the season.

No destination for him as yet.

Maybe that rumour has got some legs. I suspect most of France and a few other prem clubs would be interested as well. I know Tigers tried to entice him down south a couple of years back.

BBC are reporting Exeter as well now, looks like a done deal.

11.Nowell
14.Cordero
15.Hogg

king_carlos wrote:11.Nowell
14.Cordero
15.Hogg

Unfortunately for them Nic White and Gareth Steenson will be at 9 and 10.

Nic White likely to be released at the end of the season with Maunder and Townsend fighting it out for first choice. Simmonds Jr will have gotten over his sophomore slump and be back in the team too. It will be vital for the half backs to boss the pack though to ensure they get the ball when they want it, and not when the Chiefs pack want to give it up.

Nowell
Cuthbert
Hogg

An all Lions back line

Not sure if it has been confirmed on here, but Wasps have signed Campagnaro.

Hogg to Chiefs is a great piece of business by Baxter and a great long term play.

Clearly a carefully negotiated position and conversation over a long period of time.

Big day for Bath yesterday, with Catt, Ewels, Stooke and Watson all signing new deals to stay.

Still leaves 16 not signed up, including Attwood, Charteris, Lahiff, Louw, Priestland, Joseph and Clark.

Expect Attwood and Charteris to move on. Can see Joseph heading out the door for a bigger cheque and the club deciding that Louw/Priestland are too much cap with Burns / Underhill / Mercer coming through.

Personally, I wouldn't begrudge Attwood moving on, he's class and deserves a big last contract, potentially back in France. Charteris has been average and won't notice him going, with Ewels, Stooke and Garvey stepping up. Joseph is brilliant, but doesn't play for us much at all with injury and England duty and with Clark, Willison and Wright, we are ok at 13. Priestland would be a big loss, as I think the jury is still out on Burns, but perhaps it makes more sense to build strength in a starting position, then to have 2 expensive 10s.

Bathite wrote:Big day for Bath yesterday, with Catt, Ewels, Stooke and Watson all signing new deals to stay.

Still leaves 16 not signed up, including Attwood, Charteris, Lahiff, Louw, Priestland, Joseph and Clark.

Expect Attwood and Charteris to move on. Can see Joseph heading out the door for a bigger cheque and the club deciding that Louw/Priestland are too much cap with Burns / Underhill / Mercer coming through.

Personally, I wouldn't begrudge Attwood moving on, he's class and deserves a big last contract, potentially back in France. Charteris has been average and won't notice him going, with Ewels, Stooke and Garvey stepping up. Joseph is brilliant, but doesn't play for us much at all with injury and England duty and with Clark, Willison and Wright, we are ok at 13. Priestland would be a big loss, as I think the jury is still out on Burns, but perhaps it makes more sense to build strength in a starting position, then to have 2 expensive 10s.  

That's a lot of cap likely to be freed up if you clear out that many experienced players. Are you expecting a long shopping list? Will you really trim so many senior players from the leadership group?

Well it’s not the clubs decision if they want to leave and sign elsewhere is it. Can see Joseph, Attwood, Louise, priestland all be tempted elsewhere

Wheres all the Bath Academy products coming through??Rather than big expensive signings all the time...that doesn't seem to be working.

One is starting for England tomorrow

Bathite wrote:Well it’s not the clubs decision if they want to leave and sign elsewhere is it. Can see Joseph, Attwood, Louise, priestland all be tempted elsewhere

Bath are hardly paupers or a negative place to be. Not sure it'll be that easy for other clubs to cherry pick their way through your best players if you decide you want to retain them.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Wheres all the Bath Academy products coming through??Rather than big expensive signings all the time...that doesn't seem to be working.

Ironically the academy has produced several players in the last three years plus some long termers like Catt but Obano, Dunn, Ewels, Douglas, Ellis, Bayliss, Mercer, Cook, Burns, Clark, Atkins and even Watson all started in the academy are starters for Bath.

Watson?

Obano (Wasps)
Watson (Irish)

Welly wrote:Obano (Wasps)
Watson (Irish)

Both players were signed by Bath as Academy squad members and subsequently graduated to professional contracts.

Recwatcher16 wrote:

Welly wrote:Obano (Wasps)
Watson (Irish)

Both players were signed by Bath as Academy squad members and subsequently graduated to professional contracts.

Despite being 19, I thought that due to the number of first team appearances for LI the rules had meant that Watson had to be signed on a senior pro contract, rather than an academy pro.

Recwatcher16 wrote:

Welly wrote:Obano (Wasps)
Watson (Irish)

Both players were signed by Bath as Academy squad members and subsequently graduated to professional contracts.

Including those two is a pretty thin argument for our academy is producing players. They spent a token amount of time in the academy having spent significant time developing elsewhere.

Could be rubbish, but rumours are that Huw Jones is off to Tigers.

He's one of the many many players out of contract at Glasgow and is probably fairly highly sought after.
Not sure it would be a great move for him, but they are probably offering a fair wedge for his services.

The most I can say is that it's not rubbish.
But will also say talks can only be just talks.

EWT Spoons wrote:Could be rubbish, but rumours are that Huw Jones is off to Tigers.

He's one of the many many players out of contract at Glasgow and is probably fairly highly sought after.
Not sure it would be a great move for him, but they are probably offering a fair wedge for his services.

I doubt it's eye watering levels of cash but Tigers are going to have cap to spend on backs. Toomua, Tait, Smith and Owen are all out of contract in the summer. Tait and probably Smith will retire and Toomua is confirmed back to Australia, that's three centres definitely gone and one 50/50 on whether he is retained. Tigers will need at least one centre, probably two as Thacker the even younger is unlikely to be retained.

Could be a good move depending on how Murphy rebuilds the squad. Manu is also looking at contract renewal talks so as it stands I think only Eastmond is confirmed as here next season though you'd assume Manu will remain.

Expect some significant expenditure up front next summer as well with Toomua's marquee spot odds on to be given to a second row.

Apparently Jones turned down Glasgow's initial offer of a contract. I may depend on what they come back with now that they have the Hogg money freed up.

He almost certainly will earn better down south, it may come down to how close we can get to it.

Is he that happy in Glasgow?

Welly wrote: Is he that happy in Glasgow?

Hard to say really, he has only been there a year and in all honesty has not played that much, nor shown massive form so far, though he has looked much better of late and our season is shaping up nicely now, with plenty to play for.

Glasgow is a tight club and the players all seem to get on well and have good relations with the fans. I would hope if we put out a contract for him in the ball park, he would be tempted for a couple more years.

More than likely though it will come down to money and we won't be able to match what Tigers or others can offer.

Welly wrote: Is he that happy in Glasgow?

Hopefully not because he's a good player that can play 12 and 13. Give us some nice rotation in the centres with Eastmond/Jones/Manu. Worth and A N Other (maybe Owen) to provide squad support.

Add a fullback and maybe a wing if Thompstone goes and then it's concentrate on the pack. Ben Loader happy at LI?

Saw some fairly 2+2=5 rumour with us an LCD as he's not yet agreed a new deal at the Chiefs.