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.

Ah i have no idea 7.5

Ive said all along Dean has no issues throwing young kids in to the pack... but just seems so hesitant to put the young backs in.
Its a shame the Euro games are cancelled as thats Deans blooding arena..where he tests them. Centre Obonna and winger Zach Kerr shone in the first few games.

If Relegation is gone..then maybe Dean might be happy to give a few more a few games. Especially with Burrell in a boot at the moment so out for a while.

Sounds like the Prem Cup may actually be going ahead this season according to TRP today. Would be April time and involve midweek fixtures.

If true would give a few youngsters across the league some much needed gametime in what must be a bit of a grim season for them development wise.

That would definitely be good Margin.

Ruck are linking Ollie Lawrence with Falcons for next seasons, out of contract after this year according to the Rugby Paper and a free agent

They've nicked it from TRP

And he's not out of contract this summer. He's got 18 months to go (that bit did at least make it into TRP story). Bit of a nothing story really I think.

king_carlos wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:The return of Freddie Burns? Can't see that at all. For starters we have options at 10 and secondly I don't think he particularly appreciated the way we palmed him off to Bath either.

Rumours that if Bonilla re-signs Henry will be on his way.

Agreed that Burns was unhappy with the way he got moved on but the entire setup has changed since then to be fair. CEO, board, coaches, head of recruitment all gone. It's the genius of Tigers staff churn. Players can't possibly harbour poor feelings for the club if there's a new deck every two years.

Sounds like a load of BS with Henry. He's ahead of Bonilla in selection as it stands. Bonilla is helping assist the coaches so Henry will be benefiting from his guidance as a mentor and knows what he brings isn't all about match day.

I can't see Burns coming back to play understudy. He could go somewhere like Falcons and start every week of he wanted a Prem return. I still expect him to fit in a bit of a Super Rugby stint whilst he's out in Japan.

king_carlos wrote:Rumours:

Ashton ---> Worcester (Due to be announced imminently according to some)

Jordan Taufua ---> Lyon (Apparently a done deal and might move before the season ends)

Marco van Staden ---> Tigers (A potential direct replacement)

Freddie Burns ---> Tigers (Ermmm...)

Sinoti Sinoti ---> Worcester (Has been on trial the past week)

Theo Brophy-Clews ---> Newcastle (That could work well IMO)

Who knows how that would go really.

As a LI fan, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he left (was gutted when Williams went north), although he'd no doubt find a measure of durability and turn into a star up there given our luck.

He's seems a great guy. Came through playing 10 for England age groups with a big rep, but his career over the last 4 or 5 years has been a bit of an injury horror show. Just one after another, meaning he's not had an extended run in the team since he was 18/19.

Back fit now though, so hopefully stays that way.  He's not a prem 10 for me though. Just doesn't have the kicking game from hand or tee. Potentially a good playmaking 12 with a lot of utility value covering 15 (where he's looked good in a few brief opportunities). He's big enough for the centres and has a lovely pass.

Ill say pass again on him.

Yeah, can see why you would Geordie. It's a signing we'd get crucified for by fans, given how badly a few of our punts on players with past injury issues have gone.

That said he is a genuinely talented guy with his head screwed on and if it does ever click, i'd rather it was with us.

We have a habit of trying to fix injury prone players and rarely does it come off.

We need to try a different plan now.

Signing experienced senior players with a point to prove seemed to work pretty well for Chiefs first few Prem seasons - Waldrom, Salvi etc.
Devoto and Woodburn later on

Ashton now confirmed to Worcester

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55801763

lostinwales wrote:Ashton now confirmed to Worcester

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55801763

He's never really looked up to much since he got back from Toulon. As cover for the injured Nanai it makes sense sort of.

Is that the third contract in row that Ashton has left early? Toulon, Sale and Quins.

king_carlos wrote:Is that the third contract in row that Ashton has left early? Toulon, Sale and Quins.

I'm pretty sure he agreed to leave Sarries a season early though at the end of the season as opposed to mid season.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Is that the third contract in row that Ashton has left early? Toulon, Sale and Quins.

I'm pretty sure he agreed to leave Sarries a season early though at the end of the season as opposed to mid season.

Four in a row then...

Looks like the Premiership will lose its best lock forward at the end of the season!

Yeah Lavanini has signed a two year deal with Clermont. Makes it the second season after we lost Itoje to the Championship last season.

Not sure who that Lavanini guy is but cool.

Nakarawa was linked with Ulster. Any truth in that?

*Edit - yes, much truth.

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure who that Lavanini guy is but cool.

He plays for Tigers. The team who's captain sent Will Rowlands crying to the ref like a child after Big Will tried to act tough and start a fight.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure who that Lavanini guy is but cool.

He plays for Tigers. The team who's captain sent Will Rowlands crying to the ref like a child after Big Will tried to act tough and start a fight.

The English love a bit of fake news.

Just googled Lavanini. Seen a clip of him trying to go toe-to-toe with Etzebeth. Needless to say he was put firmly back in his box .

mikey_dragon wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Not sure who that Lavanini guy is but cool.

He plays for Tigers. The team who's captain sent Will Rowlands crying to the ref like a child after Big Will tried to act tough and start a fight.

The English love a bit of fake news.

Just googled Lavanini. Seen a clip of him trying to go toe-to-toe with Etzebeth. Needless to say he was put firmly back in his box .

Do share that would be entertaining.

Doubt it's as good as Paice Vs Hamilton.

Given the salary cap is coming down the Prem clubs might well move a few players on.

It’s a popular video I’m sure you could find it. No, not as good as Paice vs Hamilton unfortunately.

That’s a big loss for Tigers though. Now they have to rely on ummm, Calum Green.

mikey_dragon wrote:It’s a popular video I’m sure you could find it. No, not as good as Paice vs Hamilton unfortunately.

That’s a big loss for Tigers though. Now they have to rely on ummm, Calum Green.

I watched the video. Shows two locks 'hugging' while smiling manically at each other. I don't think there was any placing in boxes on either side and I have no idea what the fuss is about.

lostinwales wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:It’s a popular video I’m sure you could find it. No, not as good as Paice vs Hamilton unfortunately.

That’s a big loss for Tigers though. Now they have to rely on ummm, Calum Green.

I watched the video. Shows two locks 'hugging' while smiling manically at each other. I don't think there was any placing in boxes on either side and I have no idea what the fuss is about.

Old school days you'd see more violence between teammates on a night out.

Doubt we'll ever see one better than Paice Vs Hamilton.

That's about as good as it gets these days. The shear presence of Etzebeth is probably enough to put most people off a fight mind. Not sure how more people didn't end up in hospital or in the morgue back in the 70s through to the 90s - I doubt we will ever see another Battle of the Gnoll, or a Battle of Brive. I don't think Wales has a reputation for having a few hard blokes any more, but SA and France sure do.

mikey_dragon wrote:Looks like the Premiership will lose its best lock forward at the end of the season!

Haha...at last! He'd be pushing a Prem top 10 locks to be fair which is well ahead where he was a few years back.

Lavanini is a big loss, leaves a big hole in your pack Sam.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Looks like the Premiership will lose its best lock forward at the end of the season!

Haha...at last! He'd be pushing a Prem top 10 locks to be fair which is well ahead where he was a few years back.

Lavanini is a big loss, leaves a big hole in your pack Sam.

Yeah we have some very good young locks on the way through, Martin in the England shadow squad already. Wells, Green, Enever who can't get near the team and then the trio of 20 year olds in Martin, Henderson and Chessum. Does look a little light. I'm not sure how much money we'll have to splash though with the cap coming down and one less marquee player spot.

With Taufua and Lavanini off we'll have slashed quite a bit off the wage bill.

Looks like Mulipola is off at the end of the season to France on a two year deal.

Mercer to Montpellier confirmed, Jaco Coetzee replaces him at Bath

Looks as if Scarlets are soon to announce the signing of WillGriff John. You'd hope they are also on the lookout for defence and attack coaches.

Confirmed signing mikey.

A day for signing tightheads as Christian Judge is off to Worcester from Bath at the end of the season. Rumours Schonert is off to Chiefs to replace Francis.

WRU and the region's really going after the exiled tightheads.

I reckon that Schonert could turn a few eyes playing in the Chiefs pack. When Worcester had Singleton and Taufete'e as very strong hookers the Worcester pack could be quietly impressive against more vaunted opponents. Scrummaging alongside Moon/Hepburn and Cowan-Dickie/Yeandle I'd back Schonert to do very well.

He should be a sound investment for Exeter. Got years left in the tank, good in the tight. Protects Street from having too much pressure on his shoulders too soon. At the same time not an insurmountable obstacle for Street but enough of a challenge to force Street to improve if he wants to force his way in.

Schonert isn’t a class player, but he is very good. He’ll go into the Exeter pack and there wouldn’t be any drop off.

John is a great signing for Scarlets. That’s two internationals in each front-row position now, there can’t really be any excuses for underperforming. Elias isn’t a great international so a bit of perspective is needed. Their hooker on the weekend was a lot better at hitting his jumper.

There’ll be more TH’s to come I bet. Rumour is Joe Heyes next.

Only if the WRU are going to fund a buy out of Heyes contract. I think he's got one more year left. He'd be their current type of target someone on the fringes of the England squad. Seems on current form he's 4th choice which isn't bad going at 21. At Tigers he's understudy to Dan Cole which again is a good place for a 21 year old.

We'll probably just wait one year and then send him to Cardiff.

So is it a case now, if you have ate a leek the Welsh selectors will look at you...?

Heyes isnt exactly far away from a Welsh tie tbf! Think hes firmly.in englands plans for the next phase at tight head though so cant see him jumping ship.

GeordieFalcon wrote:So is it a case now, if you have ate a leek the Welsh selectors will look at you...?

Wasn't there a Scottish 2nd row who got picked based on being seen wearing a Scottish scarf?

So does Heyes have actual links to Wales?

lostinwales wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So is it a case now, if you have ate a leek the Welsh selectors will look at you...?

Wasn't there a Scottish 2nd row who got picked based on being seen wearing a Scottish scarf?

i wouldnt be surprised

GeordieFalcon wrote:So does Heyes have actual links to Wales?

His dad is welsh. Played football for them if I'm remembering correctly.

Ah ok i wasnt actually aware of that.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:So does Heyes have actual links to Wales?

His dad is welsh. Played football for them if I'm remembering correctly.

It's a tenuous link, as I think his dad is from Nottingham or Leicester.

Swansea.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Swansea.

You sure? I thought Sam corrected me before on that.

Hmm....well as much as you can be from things you read online. Hes dads from there, hes from Nottingham.