SILLY SEASON TRANSFER RUMOURS 20/21

First topic message reminder :

mikey_dragon wrote:

y ddraig goch wrote:Jac Morgan is leaving the Scarlets for the Ospreys to go and learn his trade off Tipuric. Big loss for the Scarlets but makes sense with Dan Davies, Josh Macelod, and James Davies still on the books. Jac looks like a future Welsh international so it might be a good move for Wales in the long run with the Ospreys finally starting to live up to their potential with a return to the top level of Europe given the players on their books.

Davis and Davies aren’t that good, McCleod is very good but has awful luck with injuries lately. Scarlets’ supporters can’t see why Jac is being let go. Boyde was another good 7 that they let go.

Ospreys are a long way off their potential if last night is anything to go by.

He isn't 'being let go', he's apparently an Ospreys fan and wants to leave despite the offer on the table.
Considering the conditions, the young players in key positions, and the momentum killing refereeing performance (for both sides), Ospreys came out of it with a victory which is what they needed to help secure champions cup rugby next season.
I think it would be better to judge them as of next season when, if all the murmurs are to be believed, we will have a higher proportion of games played with full strength sides.

Saints announced the signing of Samoa international Brandon Nansen on Friday, played for the Blues in NZ and has a few caps for Samoa, probably why Adendorff is off. 121kg of Samoan muscle known for his hard ball carrying and pretty mobile as well. Good foil for Harrison.

Formerly of Newport Dragons and Brive. At 27 he's not got a massively impressive CV but he could be a bit of a bargain, he's certainly not small. Still surprised that Adendorff doesn't play more and isn't being retained by Saints. Looks explosive when he does play.

Bath signed two TH props: Rae from Glasgow and Jonker from Ealing.

On Rae, he is still fairly young for a prop (26) and is a solid player. Struggled for game time and stagnated the last couple of years, but there is a borderline international in there with the right coaching.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Saints announced the signing of Samoa international Brandon Nansen on Friday, played for the Blues in NZ and has a few caps for Samoa, probably why Adendorff is off. 121kg of Samoan muscle known for his hard ball carrying and pretty mobile as well. Good foil for Harrison.

He was a good player, but never seen a guy so injured. He can play lock or blindside.

mikey_dragon wrote:

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Saints announced the signing of Samoa international Brandon Nansen on Friday, played for the Blues in NZ and has a few caps for Samoa, probably why Adendorff is off. 121kg of Samoan muscle known for his hard ball carrying and pretty mobile as well. Good foil for Harrison.

He was a good player, but never seen a guy so injured. He can play lock or blindside.

Thats like Rodney Ah You up here. Hes genuinely a beast of a Tight head...but he's never away from the treatment table. I suspect he may be let go this summer.

Now we're being linked with Nathan Earle....god i really hope thats not true.

I'd definitely take Earle at Tigers. I believe the two leg injuries were separate issues rather than a recurring injury that might plague him indefinitely. There's risk in almost any player from an injury perspective but Earle wouldn't cost a fortune and the potential upside from his talent is huge.

Gabriel Ibitoye is out of contract now having been released from his Agen deal to sign as a medical joker with Montpellier until the end of the season. He'd be a great signing for pretty much any Premiership club.

Id rather have Ibitoye than Earle.

And i dont get the point in Signing Earle when we have 5 / 6 lads around 20 all pushing for places now.
We need to be looking at TH prop and FH not wings.

Thinking out loud about potentially good wing signings in the Premiership, does anyone who follows NFL know the situation with international player exemptions for their practice squads?

Christian Wade was retained by the Bills for a third season with an international player pathway exemption (basically gives them Bills an extra place in their practice squad) but I seem to remember reading that there's a limit to how many seasons players can use those exemptions for. He's been in their practice squad for three seasons now without getting any further so may be considering a return to rugby when his latest contract expires.

Hes 30 now. Be a good signing for anyone.

I've heard that Wade is well liked at the Bills and is good friends with a couple of the bigger names there. If he's a positive influence on the dressing room he'll probably be retained a bit longer in the hope he can break through. He made a statement couple of breaks the other year in pre season so might force a chance for himself yet.

Problem for Wade is shifting his body and mentality back to rugby in a position that favours youth and is not highly paid. To outbid the NFL practice squad and training camp payments, he would probably need at least a £250k offer (probably looking at £300k) and who is offering him that when you can get players like Nadolo for £200k?

It's crazy the money floating around in the NFL that that keep a player like Wade on 300k?? And he never gets a look in at actually playing.

I must admit, I know zero about American football but it just seems such a waste. They must have oodles of talent just sitting there on retainers.

$660k a year according to Google is what Wade is taking home. That is pennies in the NFL. The Bills have a salary cap of $188m for 2021 rising to $208m in 2022. The highest paid running back in the NFL makes $16m whilst there are nearly 20 of them being paid over $4m. If Wade takes a senior squad role he'll be on over a million dollars a year. You can see why he's happy out there.

If he came back he'd be looking at £200k a year max plus an attritional season back in the Prem.

I am amazed it is as much as $660k. Practice squad is usually c.$10k a week for 17 weeks plus similar weekly payments for being in a 10-12 week camp at the start of the season. Not sure if he accrues pension benefits (and the health insurance that comes with it) on the practice squad but they are quite generous as well.

Running back is the most attitional position in American Football and most running backs fall off a cliff at 28 - 30. I thought Wade is mainly looking at becoming a special teams player that is more of a hybrid role and is typically lower paid (c.$1.5-2m) for players that make careers from it. Either way, if he is getting c.£400-450k a year with his health insurance paid, there is no way he should come back to rugby unless he is dropped.

It's only according to a 10 second Google search so I'd take it with a pinch of salt. He played running back in some pre season games previously but agree a special teams role would also suit him and let's face it he'd take either or in fact anything at this stage. Running back is a brutal position and not the one if you are thinking of having a really long career. Money is often good though as a strong running game creates a lot of space for your quarter back to work in.

Sam Matavesi has extended his contract at Saints.

I am not sure how it works, but how can a player be a serving member of, in his case the Navy and still play professional sport for a club. It has happened with many a player, Rory Underwood being an example in the armature days. But is he pulling his Navy salary as well as his Saints salary?

I have no issue with it, but I am curious as to how it works. If we suddenly get put on a "war" footing, does he go back to the navy? How does he keep up with his training?

I am guessing it is the RNR, Royal Naval Reserves.  So he probably has an arrangement to train and refresh with them during the off season.  Maybe some study and appearances during the regular season too.  They do make accommodations to some people, or at least, they used to.  Same as with the Army Regular Reserve.  

I don't recall the process for how people in the Reserve are tiered to be recalled to active status.  But there are many different lists based on specific need.  It would also be based on the specialty or field he has chosen.

There's certain levels, even in the regulars. As Doc says, the reserves are a lot more flexible but I've known guys take unpaid sabbaticals to play sport. It's generally seen as a positive in the military.

It sure is interesting. I am uncertain as to whether they pull two wages. I suspect they will, as it is obviously a big thing for all Forces to highlight how they support Elite Athletes. It looks like they are probably paid by grants. I have always laughed at InterServices campaigns, where the likes of Josh McNally and Roko come back to play. Imagine facing them.

I know Josh has been promoted since he has been Elite, so they still have roles to play and must be getting the required assessments. Probably from liaison etc?

Matavesi is stated by Saints to be an Able Seaman stationed at RNAS Culdrose, so I can't see him being in the RNR.

There are quite few examples, even going back to the amateur days, there were not only military but loads of coppers, Richards, Dooley, Bayfield, the other lock who's name escapes me, he got clobbered by the Argentinian hooker, I remember Dooley thought it was quite funny.

I cannot understand how they can do their training (miltary) if they are away for 7 months of the year playing rugby.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Matavesi is stated by Saints to be an Able Seaman stationed at RNAS Culdrose, so I can't see him being in the RNR.

There are quite few examples, even going back to the amateur days, there were not only military but loads of coppers, Richards, Dooley, Bayfield, the other lock who's name escapes me, he got clobbered by the Argentinian hooker, I remember Dooley thought it was quite funny.

I cannot understand how they can do their training (miltary) if they are away for 7 months of the year playing rugby.

Inspector Paul Ackford

Dooley was just your average plod, so probably enjoyed seeing the top brass get whacked!

I remember he got a ssnc3tion from the Police though for some particularly nasty bit of thuggery jn an international match. The sort of thing that could hsve put him in jail had it not been sport. That was just about the time attitudes to that sort of thing stsrted to change.

Dooley was very much the enforcer. I remember Bayfield describing him as "big and daft" and "20 stone zero percent body fat" as well as various other descriptions over his well known like for a punch up. Part and parcel of being a copper as I understand it given some of the low lifes that go after them.

Dorian West was an armed response officer before taking up rugby professionally. Met him once and he told me a couple of stories. Quite an affable chap which I wasn't expecting after seeing him in interviews and on field.

Yes ive seen that speech Sam where he talks about Dooley getting flattened by a punch off a french man in the 5n, getting back up...and telling the ref " DO NOT send that f&*er off"

RiscaGame wrote:It sure is interesting. I am uncertain as to whether they pull two wages. I suspect they will, as it is obviously a big thing for all Forces to highlight how they support Elite Athletes. It looks like they are probably paid by grants. I have always laughed at InterServices campaigns, where the likes of Josh McNally and Roko come back to play. Imagine facing them.

I know Josh has been promoted since he has been Elite, so they still have roles to play and must be getting the required assessments. Probably from liaison etc?

That makes the win in the inter-services (Pre-covid) even more special! Us RAF boys have very little to shout about in military rugby terms.....I'd pretty much stopped taking interest tbh.

I remember when I first joined (1997) and getting called up for RAF U21 team, despite not even turning out for the station. I wrote it off there and then as a bit of a joke....plus it was during Easter leave in trade training!

Reports circulating that 2lose are planning a raid on Saints, big offers coming to both Biggar and Lawes. Both around 32 so must be starting to think about what happens in a couple of years time.

Biggar has enough Wales caps to go to France and still play for Wales, England do not operate that system, so Lawes would be out with another RWC around the corner.

Please Mr. Johnson, can you keep the France on the red list for a couple more years?

Kevin Sinfield could be on the way to Tigers as part of the coaching staff (presumably attack/backs/skills coach).

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Reports circulating that 2lose are planning a raid on Saints, big offers coming to both Biggar and Lawes. Both around 32 so must be starting to think about what happens in a couple of years time.

Biggar has enough Wales caps to go to France and still play for Wales, England do not operate that system, so Lawes would be out with another RWC around the corner.

Please Mr. Johnson, can you keep the France on the red list for a couple more years?

I thought Biggar just signed an extension with Saints.  If that's right, he is not going anywhere.  Lawes, I am not sure about his status.  He is a local lad and his family is well ensconced there as well.  He has had opportunities to leave before.  Already on a pretty big contract so unless Too-Loose are going to bring a lorry full of cash, I wonder what's in it for him to leave. Additionally, he would not be able to play for England so those paychecks would disappear too.

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/boyd-gives-short-shrift-to-speculation-linking-saints-stars-lawes-and-biggar-to-toulouse-3262998

Will Toulouse be paying Biggar more than the 600K per season that Northampton pay?

mikey_dragon wrote:Will Toulouse be paying Biggar more than the 600K per season that Northampton pay?

Can't imagine it going ahead. Ntamack and Biggar will both be away with their International squads for significant portions of the year and tie up significant amounts of money as well. Doesn't make sense unless Biggar is retiring from international rugby and I don't think he's the type he's too competitive.

Will Biggar still be on £600k after the wage cuts? 25% for Biggar would be £150k pa. Obviously he's still earning a monstrous contract but a £150k pay cut is significance, rugby careers are short and could end any moment, make hay while the sun shines, etc.

Ospreys are being linked with Elvis Taione as well, he’s got to be third or fourth choice at Exeter. Toby Booth must be trying to build a reliable 2nd team.

Talk of Parisse going to Quins!

GeordieFalcon wrote:Talk of Parisse going to Quins!

Would be a real surprise but I would love to see Parisse in the Premiership I must say!

That said it would be a bit of climb down for Quins from rumours of P-S du Toit signing as a marquee back row last summer.

Quins are an interesting side this season. To look at their squad I wouldn't expect a play-off side but Millard and his young coaching staff have them playing some really good rugby. That 8-9-10 axis of Dombrandt-Care-Smith has just clicked so well and they can be outstanding going forward. With Esterhuizen's crash ball, Marchant's class, the pace of Northmore, Green, Lynagh, etc outside them it's a potent combination.

I also think Matt Symons has quietly become one of the leagues most consistent second rows at Quins. He hasn't reached the heights many hoped when he arrived having skippered the Chiefs in games whilst they won Super Rugby titles but since settling into a role at Quins he just seems to nail the basics every single week.

mikey_dragon wrote:Ospreys are being linked with Elvis Taione as well, he’s got to be third or fourth choice at Exeter. Toby Booth must be trying to build a reliable 2nd team.

Maybe as a player coach? He's 38 but probably a good back up player and reliable across the board in terms of skillset. Got that winning mentality, could be seen as someone to come in and help drive standards.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Talk of Parisse going to Quins!

I could see a short term contract working well for both sides. Quins have a lot of talented youngsters in the back row, but could benefit from an old head to help develop them. They may also be anticipating Dombrandt spending time with England next season, and Parisse offers a similarly outrageous skill set.

Siale Piutau confirmed as leaving Bristol. He's still a very good centre that would be a good signing for many clubs.

king_carlos wrote:Siale Piutau confirmed as leaving Bristol. He's still a very good centre that would be a good signing for many clubs.

Surprised he's not picked up a one year deal unless he plans to leave the country. He's still good for Bristol and at 35 wouldn't have been expensive. At a guess he's off to Japan to be closer to family back in NZ. He's previously spent a few season in Japan.

Anyone know anything about Connacht prop Connor Kenny. We have apparently signed him ?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Anyone know anything about Connacht prop Connor Kenny. We have apparently signed him ?

It would appear he's a 24yo tighthead who's played 109 minutes (1 starts, 3 bench). He's 6ft and weighs around 133kg....that's one chunky boy.

Yes but im a chunky boy Sgt...doesnt mean i can prop for a Premier League team

GeordieFalcon wrote:Yes but im a chunky boy Sgt...doesnt mean i can prop for a Premier League team

Haha...judging by our recent luck with Irish props, he probably can't either!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Anyone know anything about Connacht prop Connor Kenny. We have apparently signed him ?

It would appear he's a 24yo tighthead who's played 109 minutes (1 starts, 3 bench). He's 6ft and weighs around 133kg....that's one chunky boy.

He looks a bit lackadaisical from what I've seen but a change in environment can do wonders for some players.

profitius wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Anyone know anything about Connacht prop Connor Kenny. We have apparently signed him ?

It would appear he's a 24yo tighthead who's played 109 minutes (1 starts, 3 bench). He's 6ft and weighs around 133kg....that's one chunky boy.

He looks a bit lackadaisical from what I've seen but a change in environment can do wonders for some players.

HHmm...well with the likes of Wilson, Welch, and Micky Ward there, it'll sharp be kicked out of him...or he wont last...

Nathan Earl relased by quins, so maybe the rumours hes coming to us are growing more legit.

Quins announce Tapuai, Landajo, Cavubati, Earle, Herron and Elia Elia are leaving.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Anyone know anything about Connacht prop Connor Kenny. We have apparently signed him ?

He must like bad weather.....

Its been a sizzling 10 degrees here for a few weeks now Doc.....sunburns all over

ON another note, looks like we had actually signed Brophy Clews before he decided to retire....

You can understand his decision.