Silly Season Transfer Rumours 23/24

I need rumours.....and I need them now!

Tigers have apparently signed a loosehead to join after the world cup.

Anthony Watson has an offer to return after the world cup also.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers have apparently signed a loosehead to join after the world cup.

Anthony Watson has an offer to return after the world cup also.

The offer re the RFU and Leicester have done a deal together that neither will formally comment on?

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:Tigers have apparently signed a loosehead to join after the world cup.

Anthony Watson has an offer to return after the world cup also.

The offer re the RFU and Leicester have done a deal together that neither will formally comment on?

The deal with the RFU is with the RFU. The rumour is Tigers didn't have the budget for him until Potter unexpectedly left and even then it's not what Watson would consider for a 12 month deal. Presumably joining after the world cup makes it work pro rata.

Watson was offered a deal around Christmas time so the rumours go but as he's publicly stated he and his agent were shopping for a move closer to Surrey but neither Sarries nor Quins seemed interested. Tigers moved on and when no deal on the South emerged he was left somewhat high and dry.

No team in France would offer a contract before the end of the world cup either so it still could be he goes over there on a deal.

Very nice of the RFU.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Very nice of the RFU.

Well it's that or risk him sacking off the world cup and going over to France on a chunky contract.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I need rumours.....and I need them now!

This is rumoured to be the year where I finally lose those pesky 10kg.

George Carlin wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I need rumours.....and I need them now!

This is rumoured to be the year where I finally lose those pesky 10kg.

My wife did the Zoe testing thing from Tim Spector. There wasn't much for her to lose but she's feeling great after it. If you're serious about shifting the 10kg I'd recommend.

Petrus du Plessis joins Tigers as scrum coach until the end of the world cup when Dan Palmer will joint from Australia.

Rumours/transfers that have/likely to occur:

Demba Bamba - Lyon to Racing
Jeffrey Toomaga Allen - Ulster to Reds (Recently switched national allegiance to Samoa)
Alex Hodgman - Blues to Reds (hoping to playing for Oz if selected in 2024)
Billy Searle - signing for Biarritz
Sam Cross signed from Ospreys to Newcastle Falcons

Fluxy wrote:
Jeffrey Toomaga Allen - Ulster to Reds (Recently switched national allegiance to Samoa)

On a pedantic note he is no longer under contract with Ulster and is unattached

Vakatawa signs with Bristol. Given his layoff and not being able to play in the French leagues that has the potential to be a very good value signing!

Alongside Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Malins and Ravouvou they've added impressively to the backs in terms of quality and depth with Piutau and Radrada departing. Grondona in the back row. Marmion at SH. I like the look of a lot of their recruitment.

They have the same issues with depth in the tight five though.

king_carlos wrote:Vakatawa signs with Bristol. Given his layoff and not being able to play in the French leagues that has the potential to be a very good value signing!

Alongside Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Malins and Ravouvou they've added impressively to the backs in terms of quality and depth with Piutau and Radrada departing. Grondona in the back row. Marmion at SH. I like the look of a lot of their recruitment.

They have the same issues with depth in the tight five though.

Right five does look a bit bare. Batley was an underrated pick up for them last season, solid addition and with Oghre joining this season that's a very smart pick up. The new scrum coach that came in midway through last season seemed to get more of a tune out of them so that might help a bit this season when the big names aren't there.

Randall
MacGinty
Vakatawa
Janse van Rensburg
Ravouvou
Ibitoye
Malins

Could be a fun backline to watch should the forwards turn up.

I rate Oghre but his set-piece needed work at Wasps. I was hoping Tigers might keep him still. Talented player. They've lost Bryan Byrne though. So one in one out. Thacker, Capon and Oghre is good hooker depth.

I'd guess that O'Conor might play wing a bit with their strength at centre. Williams impressed last season at 12 and Ravouvou plays almost exclusively at inside. BJvR is class at inside and outside centre and will surely start in the full strength 23.

1.Genge, Thomas, Woolmere, T Solomon-Benz
2.Thacker, Capon, Oghre, Davies
3.Sinckler, Lahiff, Tyack, Kloska, J Solomon-Benz
4.Holmes, Batley, Dun
5.Vui, Caulfield, Owen

That looks light below the first choice 23. Which feels like Bristol's issue for a while now. I've underrated Yann Thomas in the past, actually think he's proved me wrong and become a solid squad player. Jay Tyack has never really converted his destructive Championship performances to the Jeff though.

6.Luatua, Harding
7.Heenan, Thomas
8.Grondona, Bradbury

But that looks very good. Lower on numbers but high and quality. Which is where most Prem sides have moved with the lower cap. 6 back rows might look light on the face of it but Tigers only have 7 when you add in Ilione being such a good prospect that he should be making first XV starts this season. Plus Tigers picked up Rogerson from LI sadly going boom.

9.Randall, Marmion, Woolstenholme, Lennon
10.MacGinty, Sheedy
11.O'Conor, Lane, Bates
12.Ravouvou, Williams
13.BJvR, Vakatawa, Ascherl
14.Ibitoye, Naulago
15.Malins, Heward

Then that looks really strong to me. Good depth across the backline. Plenty of versatility which is vital with the lower cap. Maybe light a quality winger. Someone to be ahead of Lane basically. Injury dispensation wingers are fairly common to pick up though.

Vakatawa played a lot of wing as well. Wouldn't be surprised to see him doing a few stints out wide.

Bristol did have that young tighthead play a few games on loan at the Crusaders. I wonder if he might return and prove to be a bit of a bonus to the front row stocks.

i wonder how long we'll have Mateo Carreras....i bet there be a few rich clubs looking at him

Geordie wrote:i wonder how long we'll have Mateo Carreras....i bet there be a few rich clubs looking at him

People said the same about Radwan but he signed a new deal. Having Orlando, Rubio and Moroni at the club probably helps. Wouldn't be surprised to see Falcons keep using the Puma connection to bring more over.

Possibly....depends on the money situation i guess.

Geordie wrote:Possibly....depends on the money situation i guess.

Going from being the 3rd Scottish region to being the 1st/2nd Argentinian one?

Julio Geordio.....

Geordie wrote:Julio Geordio.....

Not sure Columbia has much in the way of a rugby presence but Falcons could certainly expand their South American affiliations to Chile and Uruguayan players who want to come over to Europe.

England wing Anthony Watson is in talks about re-joining Leicester Tigers.

Max Clark from Dragons to Cardiff on loan. He hasn't really kicked on with us and Cardiff need centre's. You could argue Max wasn't given a fair crack, but also we had Stef Hughes come in and take his opportunities well during that time.

Rory Sutherland signs for Oyonnax

French media saying Mateo Carreras has signed for Bayonne for next season....

And Rumours Lewis Ludlum and Kyle Sinkler have signed for Toulon for next season

James Kenny of Exeter, on loan to Ospreys. Have to admit I’ve never heard of him.

Geordie wrote:And Rumours Lewis Ludlum and Kyle Sinkler have signed for Toulon for next season

Could be true - they're old enough and expensive enough.

Wiese leaving Leicester for Stade is a new one to me.

Wiese is out of contract and possibly the best in the world at getting over the gain line against a set defence. Maybe only Aldritt is in a similar league there. Though there are plenty of brilliant number 8s that match other parts of Wiese's game. That skill will always be in demand. Not least against the very physical defences in the Top 14.

He's reportedly in negotiations with Tigers and Stade. I suspect there are plenty of other suitors though. He's developed into a terrific player. Hopefully he stays but I wouldn't be surprised if Tigers just can't compete.

mikey_dragon wrote:James Kenny of Exeter, on loan to Ospreys. Have to admit I’ve never heard of him.

it would mess up their England chances, with Lawes retirement there is a blind side spot up for grabs. Ludlum would be my favourite for that spot due to his lineout ability. Ludlam, Curry, Earl is a pretty good backrow.

I wonder if he knows something of Borthwick's plans and doesn't see himself fitting in i.e. not 6'5" and 18 stone

Anyone know where Oli Jäger is going? I’m thinking Leinster.

James Grayson leaving Northampton for Japan

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/67348546

Northampton Saints fly-half James Grayson is to leave Franklin's Gardens to play club rugby in Japan.

The team that the 25-year-old son of ex-England fly-half Paul Grayson has signed for is yet to be confirmed.

Grayson, who has scored 617 points in 92 Saints appearances, will leave Northampton after Sunday's match against Exeter Chiefs.

"Without doubt this was a really difficult decision for me to make," Grayson said.

"Ultimately, this is a decision driven by my desire to play more rugby, more regularly.

"As a professional, all you want is to be able to go out there and play on a Saturday afternoon, so I am making this move to try and further my rugby career - it is an opportunity that I felt like I couldn't really turn down."

Grayson looked set to succeed Dan Biggar as Saints' first-choice 10 when the Wales and Lions legend made his exit to Toulon last season.

But he has remained edged out by Fin Smith's arrival following Worcester Warriors' demise a year ago.

Grayson ended up missing most of last season after suffering a stress fracture in October.

"He's not playing enough minutes," Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton.

"It's a chance to go away and play some rugby week in, week out. He's frustrated as he isn't playing enough.

"He has a huge family history here, so it is a big step for him.

"He has been a great team-mate and a great person around the club. One of life's good guys. But it's also a chance to broaden his horizons."

St Leigh of Lilliput to the Crusaders is a fantastic move for him and I hope he has a great season.

Taking the Jamie Roberts approach of just heading out wherever you fancy in your last few seasons for a bit of a laugh. Why on earth wouldn't you do that if you can?

Northampton get Charlie Savala from Edinburgh on a short term loan.

Northampton have 13 senior backs after Grayson leaves and no specialist fly-halves other than Fin Smith. He should do a job for them whilst they figure out who they want to sign permanently.

George Carlin wrote:St Leigh of Lilliput to the Crusaders is a fantastic move for him and I hope he has a great season.

Taking the Jamie Roberts approach of just heading out wherever you fancy in your last few seasons for a bit of a laugh. Why on earth wouldn't you do that if you can?

I imagine he’s being paid more out in NZ than he was offered at Scarlets. Not because they’re paying loads in NZ, but because of how much the regions are now offering the pros after the slashing of budgets. Especially those towards the end of their careers.

No chat about Rhys Patchell to the Highlanders.

Didn't realise that he's 30 now. Again, very pleased for him. Takes balls and foresight to make that move.

I doubt he will regret it.

Patchell was always a great player, just too injured. I guess both are stopping in NZ before heading to Japan.

Mateo Carreras confirmed as leaving end of season but no destination mentioned...just "overseas"

Given budget limitations at Falcons that was always likely to be the case, sadly. Carreras has developed into a genuinely world class winger now. He'll be getting mahoosive offers from the Top 14.

Ah no shock at all KC. We're rubbish and we have no money.

He came as a 7s player who had barely played 15s and we've turned him in to a top class winger. We have Iwan Stephans, whos a class act and the younger Nathan Greenwood who is an absolute jet set missile, and then the 16.5 stone army Fijian winger who we havent seen much of yet..

So we need to develop those lads.

This is the only time i wish we were like football...we'd actually get financially rewarded with big transfer fees for developing these players....

Blair Kinghorn to Toulouse, an imminent move being strongly touted in the French Press.

BigGee wrote:Blair Kinghorn to Toulouse, an imminent move being strongly touted in the French Press.

Wow. Toulouse now rather than Toulon as per previous rumours. Toulouse already have Ramos, Jaminet and Mallia... How many international fullbacks are they stockpiling?! With Ntamack injured I'd presumed that Ramos and Mallia would play 10 with Jaminet at fullback. Then they'll still got another quality international fullback in Capuozzo who they use as a wing for good measure though!

Jaminet has gone to Toulon. That probably accounts for the change.

BigGee wrote:Jaminet has gone to Toulon. That probably accounts for the change.

I'd completely missed that, sorry. I guess it makes sense. Ramos is absolutely world class. If it weren't for Ramos with France then Jaminet could easily be seen as one of the best FBs in the game. Understandable that he doesn't want to be second fiddle at club level too.

Great place for Kinghorn to be. I'd presume that Ramos and Mallia will be used at FH ahead of him when Ntamack isn't available. He may well play some 10 there though.

Billy Searle briefly being the Toulouse 10 this season is such a fun fact. This season other potential FHs for them could foreseeably be Ntamack, Ramos, Mallia, Kinghorn and even Dupont when he shifts there later in the game. And Billy Searle when all of those were either at the RWC or injured.

Scarlets have signed TH prop Joe Jones from Sale Sharks.

mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets have signed TH prop Joe Jones from Sale Sharks.

We needed that!!

Kinghorn to Toulouse also a done deal, he is moving over next week.

Oakdene wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets have signed TH prop Joe Jones from Sale Sharks.

We needed that!!

Yes a TH was desperately needed. Jones was a decent player when he was young, he didn't seem to kick on though. Hopefully this isn't another WillGriff John

mikey_dragon wrote:

Oakdene wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scarlets have signed TH prop Joe Jones from Sale Sharks.

We needed that!!

Yes a TH was desperately needed. Jones was a decent player when he was young, he didn't seem to kick on though. Hopefully this isn't another WillGriff John  

I just said that to my mate, "lets hope this works out better than the last prop we signed from Sale".

I mean, he can't be worse can he?

Rumours of a South African player coming to PYS too.