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.

Maine man wrote:Leinster have three number 8's of high quality in my opinion. Doris, Deegan and Conan. Ruddock even plays there. Surely Ulster can tease one up north.

If not then I’m sure the IRFU would send another there. It makes sense but might not go down too well in and around Dublin.

The bulls have two multi millionaire backers each with a 37% stake, so aren't short of money.
Its bad news for Ulster alright as he is the best 8 in the Pro 14.
I think Deegan will move north, but will also get a NIQ replacement for Coetzee. Maybe even 2 Niq backrows if do not renew Faddes NIQ spot, and we don't need a NIQ back 3 player.

Of the three I figured it would be Deegan. You could try for Arno Botha, he might find himself surplus to requirements with the back-row forwards that Bulls are continuing to bring in.

mikey_dragon wrote:Of the three I figured it would be Deegan. You could try for Arno Botha, he might find himself surplus to requirements with the back-row forwards that Bulls are continuing to bring in.

I'd prefer Conan but I agree Deegan is more likely. With Moore, Murphy, EOS all ex Leinster they may be able to persuade someone to come north.
Botha signed for Ulster a couple of years ago but failed a medical if I'm correct.

Did he? Botha was with LI and Munster so isn’t unfamiliar to rugby in the NH.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/amp/rugby-union/39961072
You made me doubt myself there mikey!

We'd happily have Botha back at LI

To be fair he looked decent when I saw him play for Munster and LI

Maine man wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Of the three I figured it would be Deegan. You could try for Arno Botha, he might find himself surplus to requirements with the back-row forwards that Bulls are continuing to bring in.

I'd prefer Conan but I agree Deegan is more likely. With Moore, Murphy, EOS all ex Leinster they may be able to persuade someone to come north.
Botha signed for Ulster a couple of years ago but failed a medical if I'm correct.

Firstly that is some show of loyalty after Ulster stuck with him after he was basically injured for 2 full seasons. I wouldn't consider EOS ex Leinster but can see why he is in that category. As always it seems now it will probably be Leinster who will now be punished, I can see Deegan heading north but who knows what the players want.

I didn’t know that, but it seems odd that Ulster would fail Botha on a medical, then sign Coetzee given his injury record, which is far worse. Secondly, Munster sign him anyway and he’s actually decent.

Ulster had already signed Coetzee and he was with Ulster and injured when Botha was signed. When Botha then got injured before arriving Ulster couldnt take the risk of having two NIQ backrows on the treatment table longterm, they performed extra medical checks and Botha didnt pass. He went on to sign for LI instead.

James Lang, Quins to Edinburgh?

Simon Zebo tweeting a picture of him up on a hill looking over at Cork, with the caption, 'home is where the heart is'

Could well be construed as a hint that he is returning to Munster?

I think ireland need to get him home and into a green jersey, he’s better than Larmour. If he returns to Munster, then they get RG and all their LH’s back then thats starting to look like some team.

Must have been a slow day at Phil’s favourite news source the other week. Wyn Jones to Montpellier, Jake Ball to Australia - not the the rugby team just the country .

Jake Ball has announced he is quitting rugby to return to Australia at the end of the season. I don’t see him quitting rugby entirely, I wonder if the Force will pick him up. Huge loss for us though. It means either Beard comes back in, and he’s gash, or we fast-track one of the youngsters - they’re not ready imo even though they are doing well.

Just posted the same on the international page. Huge loss. Him and AWJ have been my top pairing for a number of years. But with AWJ on the slide and Ball now going we’re down to very average options. Or worse.

Potentially not good news for you Mikey. You were hoping Rowlands would head towards the Dragons but now the Scarlets might join the hunt for his signature.

Can't blame Ball for heading to Australia next summer. His wife and four kids are there already and have been for a while by the sounds of it. If it's back to Perth that's a beautiful part of the world and barely been touched by Covid. I'm sure the Force would snap him up quickly enough as well.

I think Scarlets might persist with their current options. They have experienced players and good up and coming’s. Morgan Jones will probably fill the void, as I said I don’t think it’s a good idea to throw him into the Wales set up yet. Rowlands and Ball were my choice for 2nd row going forward though. He might not be gone forever anyway, he could come back after a couple years in Aus/Super Rugby.

Just think this might never happen again

Gooseberry wrote:Just think this might never happen again

Truly funny!

I see we are being linked with a shock move for Mike Brown.

35..36 next season ah im not sure about that one.

Cipriani allegedly has offers from Japan, Lyon, Falcons, Sale and Bath.

Mike Brown would indeed be an odd move for you guys GF, he'd offer a lot of leadership from the back though particularly if you're playing young wingers and 13.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I see we are being linked with a shock move for Mike Brown.

35..36 next season ah im not sure about that one.

It would be an odd one but probably still a step up on Tait and Arscott to be fair.

Somehow I struggle to see a move away from Quins coming to fruition for Brown though. He's been there so long it would seem very odd to see him playing for a different Prem club!

I'd take Brown, seems like a Dean type of signing. I'm sure we can get a season or 2 out of him and he's arguably still the best English FB about.

Ah i get the experience thing, and i know FB is a position we really need to fix, but i just think we have enough in the backline now to put a youngster at FB and the likes of Michael Young, Flood, Burrell, Orlando etc can guide them,.

I'd be interested in seeing Joel Hodgson at 15 for a while. He has the skills, and importantly the few times ive seen him there he's taken the high balls well.

Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

I'm a big fan of his but Worcester have both Weir (rumoured to Glasgow) and Hougaard out of contract so it seems a lot of cap to be spending on a winger.

With the salary cap to be reduced as well. Unless of course Weir is going to be allowed to go and Searle be his replacement.

Weir was hinting very strongly in a Sunday Times article this weekend that he will be heading back north.

I thought Weir was confirmed already to Glasgow??? It's been out there quite a while that one.

Not confirmed yet, but extremely likely i would say

Worcester seem to be backing Searle, Glasgow need a flyhalf and Weir has made some money before returning back north. Everyone's a winner.

Not just has Weir gained money - but most importantly form from being a regular starter. something he hardly got in Scotland. I rate him as better than Hastings

Aparently we are still being linked with Carl Fearns...? Chick, Welch and Hardie still havent played this season so they must have long term injuries..?

But i thought the signing of Grondona would have put the Fearns thing to rest.

Also mentioned is winger Dean Adamson

GeordieFalcon wrote:Also mentioned is winger Dean Adamson

Adamson was scoring tries for fun for a while with Bedford. I think he signed with a Pro D2 club for this season. Wingers who excel in the Championship tend to have an easier time stepping up to the Premiership than other positions. He'd be a clever signing in my opinion.

Coach John Mulvihill leaves Cardiff with immediate effect, I expected him to see out the season.

Rhys Priestland also being linked with a move to the Arms Park, which could suggest that Jarrod is off. Is Jarrod Evans linked with any Premiership Clubs?

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

Actually Maitland left after 3 seasons, also for a money deal at London Irish. He was also SQ before he arrived.

DVDM will have done 4 season and signed 2 extensions since he arrived. You can't blame him for taking that kind of money. Edinburgh are never going to try and compete with that.

BigGee wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

Actually Maitland left after 3 seasons, also for a money deal at London Irish. He was also SQ before he arrived.

DVDM will have done 4 season and signed 2 extensions since he arrived. You can't blame him for taking that kind of money. Edinburgh are never going to try and compete with that.

Oh yeah that was it, he was already SQ. LI? I thought it was Saracens.

Not sure what the offer was but his stock has certainly risen since arriving at Edinburgh, I just think he could have stayed just a little bit longer especially so soon after qualifying. Big loss for Edinburgh too.

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

Actually Maitland left after 3 seasons, also for a money deal at London Irish. He was also SQ before he arrived.

DVDM will have done 4 season and signed 2 extensions since he arrived. You can't blame him for taking that kind of money. Edinburgh are never going to try and compete with that.

Oh yeah that was it, he was already SQ. LI? I thought it was Saracens.

Not sure what the offer was but his stock has certainly risen since arriving at Edinburgh, I just think he could have stayed just a little bit longer especially so soon after qualifying. Big loss for Edinburgh too.

It is a big loss, but money talks and is a short career. Edinburgh may well end up having the best of him at club level, he will miss s lot of games for Worcester now becsuse of his internstional calls.

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

Actually Maitland left after 3 seasons, also for a money deal at London Irish. He was also SQ before he arrived.

DVDM will have done 4 season and signed 2 extensions since he arrived. You can't blame him for taking that kind of money. Edinburgh are never going to try and compete with that.

Oh yeah that was it, he was already SQ. LI? I thought it was Saracens.

Not sure what the offer was but his stock has certainly risen since arriving at Edinburgh, I just think he could have stayed just a little bit longer especially so soon after qualifying. Big loss for Edinburgh too.

DVDM is reportedly being paid £300k a year so quite a bit.

Maitland joined Sarries from LI after LI got relegated. LI tempted him down south initially. I doubt Sarries paid him a big contract but it won't be peanuts either but security and trophies sweetened the deal.

Wuss have also added Mark Jones to their coaching team. He's got a lot of coaching experience now and he had a good year under Scott Robertson. Be interesting to see how this goes.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

BigGee wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Duhan confirmed to Worcester.

Poor. At least Maitland waited a while before signing for Saracens.

Actually Maitland left after 3 seasons, also for a money deal at London Irish. He was also SQ before he arrived.

DVDM will have done 4 season and signed 2 extensions since he arrived. You can't blame him for taking that kind of money. Edinburgh are never going to try and compete with that.

Oh yeah that was it, he was already SQ. LI? I thought it was Saracens.

Not sure what the offer was but his stock has certainly risen since arriving at Edinburgh, I just think he could have stayed just a little bit longer especially so soon after qualifying. Big loss for Edinburgh too.

DVDM is reportedly being paid £300k a year so quite a bit.

Maitland joined Sarries from LI after LI got relegated. LI tempted him down south initially. I doubt Sarries paid him a big contract but it won't be peanuts either but security and trophies sweetened the deal.

As someone who follows Wuss, that's crazy money for an area that, although they have lost quality from, is by no means the most important area to improve. However, Solomons is a canny guy to have in charge, so perhaps he knows something we don't.

Every team needs an X-factor player, and Wuss have just bought out Edinburgh's. Unless it's Clermont I think most teams should keep the spending of big bucks to the front 5.

Edinburgh's Andrew Davidson (lock) will be heading to Gloucester next season

Good player who has did well at Newcastle but has not bedded in as much as hoped for Glasgow last season or so far for Edinburgh this season. Decent signing for Gloucester

Hazel Sapling wrote:Edinburgh's Andrew Davidson (lock) will be heading to Gloucester next season

Good player who has did well at Newcastle but has not bedded in as much as hoped for Glasgow last season or so far for Edinburgh this season. Decent signing for Gloucester

Glocester becomming a decent team to support for Scotland fans

Who are the higher profile players still out of contract with Edinburgh and Glasgow?

Billy Mata
Jamie Ritchie
The Mish
Huw Jones
Jaco van der Walt
WP Nel
Nakarawa

By my knowledge those guys still are?

Others out of contract judging by top google results. I tend to sell off Scottish players a bit more than most but I would guess

Likely to go
- G Horne may be up and is a great buy low candidate for several English teams. Like H Jones, could do with a change of scenery as Glasgow have too many good scrum halves to accommodate/fund all of them

Depends on what the offer is
- Darcy Graham whose star has fallen somewhat. A good wing, not sure what team would go for him
- Blair Kinghorn may get offers. Newcastle in particular would make sense to me
- Berghan will begin starting ahead of Nel in the next two years due to age but most teams could do with one more solid tighthead
- Sam Johnson is a good IC and proven at international level though not sure who would go for him. Worked very well with an attacking 13

Glasgow managed to retain Cummings who I would have said is a flight risk though the Fagerson brothers are both up in 2022 and Zander in particular will interest teams

Hamish Watson has extended his contract at Edinburgh in a "long-term" deal

Hazel Sapling wrote:Hamish Watson has extended his contract at Edinburgh in a "long-term" deal

Long term normally means three years. With Racing interested I bet he got a bit of a pay rise though loyalty must have been a major factor.