Silly Season Transfer Rumours 19/20

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mikey_dragon wrote:It’s an unfortunate coincidence I think, but his injury record was exemplary before he linked up with Bath.

His last lengthy injury was a collarbone issue suffered in a Wales training camp. Probably a bit of a mixed bag. It's hard once you start getting injuries to get out of the cycle as often one leads to another, Falatau managed to break the same arm some four or five months apart. Something Billy Vunipola managed as well.

I think Carlos is right. With the financial squeeze clubs are going to look for more value for money and less marquee names. Johnny May certainly found that when he went to discuss his new contract as did Ben Youngs.

The thing is...we have 2 senior scrum halves...Michael Young and Sam Stuart. We also have 2 outstanding young England age group scrum halves.

Id be so tempted to just keep that and give the kids the games.

Are RA mental? They are cutting staff all over the shop and asking their pros to take a 30% pay cut, but they shell out £3m on a 16 year old (Joseph Suaalii)? I'm sure he is an exciting talent, but this is outrageous. What odds on him switching back to NRL at the end of the contract? He'll have banked three years where presumably he will barely get a first team game (at least for a season or two), then jump ship back to NRL before he is even 20. Madness.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/teen-star-suaalii-set-to-accept-monster-3m-deal-to-commit-to-rugby-20200721-p55e5y.html

"Rugby Australia continues to have an open and exciting conversation about his potential future in our game. Financial offers being speculated in the media presently are totally fanciful, and is being propagated by the usual suspects whose sole interest it is to inflate and misrepresent contract values."

So might not be the full $3m. I understand the ARU point of view. They need to generate interest in rugby in Australia particularly at a time when all the Aussie teams are playing each other. They also need to start laying down a marker in terms of claiming the best young talent and getting them away from Aussie Rules and League. They've got a very rich man bankrolling the Force, if the ARU want some help keeping their best players they might just need to convince them to head to Perth (shouldn't be too hard) and give the Force a seat at the table.

I don't know mate, if I was a squad member for one of the franchises I would be pretty cheesed off about it. I can't help but think it a massive gamble, he is just so young. It is almost like a highlights video of him rag-dolling school boy opponents is expected to save Australian rugby.

I get that they are trying to generate interest through the hype around exciting young players, but in my opinion one 16/ 17 year old isn't enough. If they are going to go down this route, they need a number of players who are going to make an impact straight away. I say this particularly in light of this new Trans- Tasman competition they are getting so excited about. As things stand, the Aussie teams are going to get beefed every week. In my sporting experience, Aussie sports fans are quite fickle and will not turn out to watch a losing team.

Mind you, if they have found a rich backer to help secure this fella, maybe they can convince him to lure back some players who played union in their youth, such as Kalyn Ponga, Adam Doueihi, Izaia Perese or Angus Creighton. Some of those would be worth watching

The Force have a rich backer but they'd have to confirm the Force's future before he'd help them out. Some bridges were burnt when they cut the Force out last time (completely stupidly). 

I agree it's got to be a concerted effort to beef up the playing talent in Australia if this is the initial sign of intent then that's cool but they've got to back it up again. Can understand them going out their way though if this lad really is a once in a generation talent. Sometimes you can just tell, we knew Ford was going to be an international at 16 and some rugby league teams tried to pinch him from the academy.

True enough about Ford, but English rugby was in a much healthier place than it is in Australia currently.  He was also part of a very strong generation of English talent (Farrell, Nowell, Slade, Watson, Daly, Joseph and Yarde all came through around the same time as him).  

This young man is having a lot of money thrown at him at a time when Australia are as poor on the field as I can remember, and a complete mess off it. This seems like a horrendous amount of pressure to put on him, they risk ruining his potential. They are going to have to be very careful about how they support him (if all this turns out to be true of course).

Yesterdays news reported that Will Rowlands didnt sign up to the 25% pay cut from Wasps and is leaving, with reports stating the Dragons are in for him as he is going to be named in Pivac's 38 man training squad (WRU will therefore pick up 80% of his wages).

Roberts is also due to decide on his Dragons offer at the end of the week.

Roberts has the choice of Dragons or Major League Rugby, apparently.

Yep but its the end of any Wales comebacks if he goes to the MLR. Surely Dragons will be his likely destination as he previously spoken about wanting to end his career in Wales. MLR dont offer great contracts either so I'd be suprised if we cant match what America is offering. Surely Dragons have to be front runners.

It may not be just about the money with Roberts, he seems to have been a player who likes to experience different stuff. He may fancy a year in the states for non rugby reasons as much as anything.

BigGee wrote:It may not be just about the money with Roberts, he seems to have been a player who likes to experience different stuff. He may fancy a year in the states for non rugby reasons as much as anything.

Yeah true. I'm surprised he didn't try and push for a move to Japan. I think we've seen the best of him in a rugby jersey anyway. Tomane would have been a hell of a signing but it seems to have fallen through, so I expect he will end up in France or Japan.

Cumbrian wrote:True enough about Ford, but English rugby was in a much healthier place than it is in Australia currently.  He was also part of a very strong generation of English talent (Farrell, Nowell, Slade, Watson, Daly, Joseph and Yarde all came through around the same time as him).  

This young man is having a lot of money thrown at him at a time when Australia are as poor on the field as I can remember, and a complete mess off it. This seems like a horrendous amount of pressure to put on him, they risk ruining his potential. They are going to have to be very careful about how they support him (if all this turns out to be true of course).

I think you always have to be extra careful where it appears obvious the young individual has the making of a top level superstar. They'll need to get him a mentor and work to structure his work load as you can't just throw a 16 year old into first team training and say crack on. You'd hope his family are helping him to look at that as much they are the money that will help set up the family (he's one of six or seven I think it said).

Welshmushroom wrote:Yesterdays news reported that Will Rowlands didnt sign up to the 25% pay cut from Wasps and is leaving, with reports stating the Dragons are in for him as he is going to be named in Pivac's 38 man training squad (WRU will therefore pick up 80% of his wages).

Rowlands was always likely to head to Wales next summer now he's in and around the national set up. Might as well go a year earlier especially if it helps his involvement in the international squad. Dragons need a big second row as well so he'll get game time there which he's not guaranteed at Wasps (he'll always be behind Launchbury and scrapping it out with Gaskell).

BigGee wrote:It may not be just about the money with Roberts, he seems to have been a player who likes to experience different stuff. He may fancy a year in the states for non rugby reasons as much as anything.

Also as a doctor he may be seeing it as a good opportunity to head to America to develop his practice (especially in private hospitals)

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Yesterdays news reported that Will Rowlands didnt sign up to the 25% pay cut from Wasps and is leaving, with reports stating the Dragons are in for him as he is going to be named in Pivac's 38 man training squad (WRU will therefore pick up 80% of his wages).

Rowlands was always likely to head to Wales next summer now he's in and around the national set up. Might as well go a year earlier especially if it helps his involvement in the international squad. Dragons need a big second row as well so he'll get game time there which he's not guaranteed at Wasps (he'll always be behind Launchbury and scrapping it out with Gaskell).

Gaskell rated that highly? It seems like he's been around forever now. A good option available all season I'm sure, but not much more.

It appears that Logo Mulipola is with us for another season, having signed a new one year deal.

mikey_dragon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Yesterdays news reported that Will Rowlands didnt sign up to the 25% pay cut from Wasps and is leaving, with reports stating the Dragons are in for him as he is going to be named in Pivac's 38 man training squad (WRU will therefore pick up 80% of his wages).

Rowlands was always likely to head to Wales next summer now he's in and around the national set up. Might as well go a year earlier especially if it helps his involvement in the international squad. Dragons need a big second row as well so he'll get game time there which he's not guaranteed at Wasps (he'll always be behind Launchbury and scrapping it out with Gaskell).

Gaskell rated that highly? It seems like he's been around forever now. A good option available all season I'm sure, but not much more.

Wasps have always seemed to rank Gaskell ahead of Rowlands it feels, though to be fair they also filled different roles. Gaskell is the more mobile and good in the lineout, while Rowlands is more of a Launchbury stand in. However Rowlands has played more in the second row over this season and last than any other player.

Whats the crack withb Gabriel Ibitoye at QUins. Is he a free agent...off to France? Or is that not the case.

mikey_dragon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Yesterdays news reported that Will Rowlands didnt sign up to the 25% pay cut from Wasps and is leaving, with reports stating the Dragons are in for him as he is going to be named in Pivac's 38 man training squad (WRU will therefore pick up 80% of his wages).

Rowlands was always likely to head to Wales next summer now he's in and around the national set up. Might as well go a year earlier especially if it helps his involvement in the international squad. Dragons need a big second row as well so he'll get game time there which he's not guaranteed at Wasps (he'll always be behind Launchbury and scrapping it out with Gaskell).

Gaskell rated that highly? It seems like he's been around forever now. A good option available all season I'm sure, but not much more.

Gaskell's had injury problems but he's a very good lineout option and Wasps don't have the best of set pieces so he has tended to be used to sort that out. Launchbury isn't a great jumper so Gaskell works better as a second row partner.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Whats the crack withb Gabriel Ibitoye at QUins. Is he a free agent...off to France? Or is that not the case.

Suggestion, originally in the Telegraph I think, was that he declined to take the proposed pay cut and was therefore a free agent (similar to the Leicester guys). Agen were purported to be offering a deal, but I have heard nothing since then and he is still listed on the Quins website as a player.

It would work for Dragons as our other lock from Leicester/Connacht is a jumper, plus we usually use our back-row for that. I think Rowlands would be a bit difficult to lift anyway.

mikey_dragon wrote:It would work for Dragons as our other lock from Leicester/Connacht is a jumper, plus we usually use our back-row for that. I think Rowlands would be a bit difficult to lift anyway.

If you are struggling to spell his name, try pronouncing it! My favourite attempt by Radio Leicester was along the lines of Maxy-moo, while another time they tried Mak-sim-we. (I think Joe himself once said it was Mak-sim-u)

Yeah I'm very unfamiliar with that name, any idea where it's from? The commentators will struggle, Jiffy especially.

mikey_dragon wrote:It would work for Dragons as our other lock from Leicester/Connacht is a jumper, plus we usually use our back-row for that. I think Rowlands would be a bit difficult to lift anyway.

Yeah it's all about balance. Rowlands and Gaskell are both good club level players. It's just Gaskell has tended to work better with Launchbury.

Rowlands should work well at Dragons. Seems to be a lot more money being spent down at Dragons going forward.

Hopefully we still get Greg Bateman though, could do with a decent LH with availability...

mikey_dragon wrote:Yeah I'm very unfamiliar with that name, any idea where it's from? The commentators will struggle, Jiffy especially.

Ukraine apparently.

Just seen the article with video, he still sounds like a Midlander .

Dom Waldouck comfirmed to Gloucester as their new defence coach.

We are about to name ours next few days.

Jasper Wiese the brother of Cobus and number 8 for the Cheetahs rumoured to be heading to Tigers. His brother is off to Sale so could be the family moving over wholesale. Certainly wouldn't say not to a big unit at 8.

6. Liebenburg, Brink, Lewis
7. Reffell, Wallace, Lavin
8. Taufua, Weiss, Smith

Could give us a fairly monstrous backrow of Liebenburg, Taufua, Weiss with Brink on the bench as Taufua can play 6, 7 or 8.

Seems you’re doing alright with that Tuilagi money.

We had cleared the decks quite a bit before the five decided not to stay. Those five were all likely to leave next summer and it has been mentioned that the club didn't offer those guys extensions like they did a lot of the others. Manu may have been offered an extension.

Kalamafoni and Thompson both left this summer. We had two loan signings that helped cover the backrow as well. Needed some numbers in. Spending a bit more up front won't hurt either. Give Borthwick something to work with.

Josh Hohneck is staying in NZ for family reasons so won't return to Gloucester. Another blow for them. He's been very consistent for a few years now.

Gloucester are really going to need Rapava-Ruskin to step up. I'm a big fan of Rapava-Ruskin but since moving on from Worcester he hasn't quite kicked on.

Did anyone know Ben Lam is heading to Bordeaux? Unbelievable wing depth in NZ if Lam and J Savea can’t make the All Blacks.

Hurricanes are losing both their wingers with Lam going to France and van Wyk to Tigers. You are right the depth in NZ is ridiculous, Lam wouldn't have got a look in with the emergence of Jordan on top of Reece, Bridge, Iaone etc etc. It's a conveyor belt out there. Ian Foster has quite the selection headache.

Good signing for Tigers, might turn out to be another Duhan VDM.

Tom Homer returns to LI. The club have also signed Matt Cornish (Ealing Hooker), albeit only confirmed verbally on a call to season ticket holders last week. Several more to be announced in the next week or two.

Press speculation that Rob Simmons and Agustín Creevy have also signed.

Wow. Simmons and Creevy are two mega signings!

Gutted about Homer, he's been so brilliant and reliable for such a long time for us. I know we've got youngsters coming through, but still a risk with Brew leaving, Watson injury/england/lions concerns. Heard Homer was going to chase a big contract in France/JP, so was happy for him, but a bit disappointed that he's just going back down the M4. We've missed a trick there!

I've never understood the rating of Homer but he certainly gets plaudits from his own fans. I was really underwhelmed when we were linked with him a few weeks back.

He's a solid, experienced prem full back and will probably slot right into the starting line up. It's good to have him back and he's coming off a good season for Bath. He was stand out in our game against them earlier in the season

He's a more rounded player than when he left us. Then he was more of an adequate FB who was excellent from the tee.

Simmons has never overwhelmed me to be honest, but if we are losing Botha then he is about as good as we can expect at this short notice.

Homer is a much better player than when he left us so am pretty pleased with that one.

Creevy will add experience and has at least played in England before so should have decent language skills.

Big thing for me, is who we're going to have playing lock for us in August as I think the Simmons signing (if it happens) is for next season.

A Nott/Mafi partnership isn't going to frighten many opposing packs with Coleman injured and Botha a potential no show. Assume there will be some other cover coming in, especially with the rotation required by the short turnarounds. Otherwise we have a situation where the likes of Munga and Donnell are going to have to start games there.

Assume the club are on top of it though.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I've never understood the rating of Homer but he certainly gets plaudits from his own fans. I was really underwhelmed when we were linked with him a few weeks back.

Sgt we were linked with WIll Homer, his scrum hlaf brother.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I've never understood the rating of Homer but he certainly gets plaudits from his own fans. I was really underwhelmed when we were linked with him a few weeks back.

Sgt we were linked with WIll Homer, his scrum hlaf brother.

So I was outraged for nothing? I'm now furious!

Ibitoye confirmed as moving to Agen with immediate affect.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Top-14-gabriel-ibitoye-s-engage-pour-deux-saisons-avec-agen/1156259

Hhmmm interesting move.

Rules him out of any England thoughts...which for a lad with his potential and only 22 is a strange one.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Hhmmm interesting move.

Rules him out of any England thoughts...which for a lad with his potential and only 22 is a strange one.

I guess he has decided he was unlikely to play (or play much) for England over the next two seasons and would rather double his money at Agen than taking a 40% cut at Quins. It is always a hard decision to make - but hopefully it works out for him.

Would he get past...?
May
Watson
Nowell
Cockasaniga
Daly

And Thorley, though intestreting to see how all those wings get on at Gloucester this season.

He's pretty agile tbf. Might be able to get past Cokanasiga on the outside Geordie