Transfer gossip - sometimes even accurate (accidentally) - Season 2022/23

[Peej]

Batley is a decent squad lock for sure.

[Puja]

Biggar confirmed as leaving Saints at the end of the season. Good opportunity for Smith to get in early and be fully integrated with the side before he goes.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Will be interesting to see what happens to Fin Smith. Clearly seems like he's Saints bound at the end of the season, given all of the talk about it, even before all of this. But do they have the cap space to take him early, or is he fishing round for a short term gig somewhere?

[jimKRFC]

Sam Jeffries out for 4 months for Bris, so Batley could very well be injury dispensation for this season and a longer term deal starting next year when Joyce leaves.

Whatever happened to that JEFF REECE? He was showing a lot of promise.

His hamstring got ripped at the end of the Newcs game, he's out for 12 weeks I think... we're also without Luatua till the new year and Fitz Harding is also out long term.

[Puja]

Sam Jeffries out for 4 months for Bris, so Batley could very well be injury dispensation for this season and a longer term deal starting next year when Joyce leaves.

Whatever happened to that JEFF REECE? He was showing a lot of promise.

His hamstring got ripped at the end of the Newcs game, he's out for 12 weeks I think... we're also without Luatua till the new year and Fitz Harding is also out long term.

So we should expect to see Nield/Kvesic to Bristol rumours soon then?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Lewis Holsley, a 21yo prop ex of Worcester and with two Eng u20 caps, is named on the bench for Bedford this weekend.
Any info on him would be greatly appreciated.

[Scrumhead]

At one stage he was name-checked by Alan Solomons as one to watch but for whatever reason, he never really made a breakthrough.

[FKAS]

At 21 he still could make a breakthrough, no age at all for a prop. Spending some time in the Championship will be good for his development.

[Banquo]

Biggar confirmed as leaving Saints at the end of the season. Good opportunity for Smith to get in early and be fully integrated with the side before he goes.

Puja

I'm surprised they binned Biggar tbh, big loss and very popular in the community. Expensive I'd think tho.

[FKAS]

Biggar confirmed as leaving Saints at the end of the season. Good opportunity for Smith to get in early and be fully integrated with the side before he goes.

Puja

I'm surprised they binned Biggar tbh, big loss and very popular in the community. Expensive I'd think tho.

Allegedly £600k a year. With international call ups and his penchant for picking up niggling errors it's not a big surprise but you're right he'll be a big loss. Saints play a much better tactical game with him at 10. Finn Smith may be a potential future star but will be a big ask for him to step straight in.

[francoisfou]

Biggar confirmed as leaving Saints at the end of the season. Good opportunity for Smith to get in early and be fully integrated with the side before he goes.

Puja

Toulon are looking to sign a good stand-off for next season. Couldn't be a nicer place to top up your pension. Maybe Biggar should call Sir Jonny to ask for some guidance!

[francoisfou]

Just in case anyone missed the rumours about Christian Wade. He will make his début for Racing in tomorrow afternoon's home fixture against Pau.

[Scrumhead]

At 21 he still could make a breakthrough, no age at all for a prop. Spending some time in the Championship will be good for his development.

Yeah of course. Plenty of time to him. Just unusual that a DoR individually name checks a player who doesn’t go on to play. I think it was mostly injury related.

[Margin_Walker]

Talking of young ex Worcester props in the Championship.

Kai Owen signs for Donny

[FKAS]

Good pick up for Donny.

There's a few more props in that squad Championship sides with some spare cash might be eying hopefully. Tyack and McCallum would both really give most Championship scrums an extra boost.

[Banquo]

Biggar confirmed as leaving Saints at the end of the season. Good opportunity for Smith to get in early and be fully integrated with the side before he goes.

Puja

I'm surprised they binned Biggar tbh, big loss and very popular in the community. Expensive I'd think tho.

Allegedly £600k a year. With international call ups and his penchant for picking up niggling errors it's not a big surprise but you're right he'll be a big loss. Saints play a much better tactical game with him at 10. Finn Smith may be a potential future star but will be a big ask for him to step straight in.

Biggar has also been great off the park- fans and squad a bit surprised.

[FKAS]

I'm surprised they binned Biggar tbh, big loss and very popular in the community. Expensive I'd think tho.

Allegedly £600k a year. With international call ups and his penchant for picking up niggling errors it's not a big surprise but you're right he'll be a big loss. Saints play a much better tactical game with him at 10. Finn Smith may be a potential future star but will be a big ask for him to step straight in.

Biggar has also been great off the park- fans and squad a bit surprised.

I was assuming they'd try and keep him a bit longer. So many young backs coming through at Saints you'd have thought Biggar would be a great mentor.

[Banquo]

Allegedly £600k a year. With international call ups and his penchant for picking up niggling errors it's not a big surprise but you're right he'll be a big loss. Saints play a much better tactical game with him at 10. Finn Smith may be a potential future star but will be a big ask for him to step straight in.

Biggar has also been great off the park- fans and squad a bit surprised.

I was assuming they'd try and keep him a bit longer. So many young backs coming through at Saints you'd have thought Biggar would be a great mentor.

yes.Think he was surprised as well.

[Adam_P]

I think with one marquee and new cap rules it was pretty much inevitable. Lawes will be our marquee and we can't sustain a salary like Biggar demands. We also have other areas (front row) that need strengthening before our backline

[Banquo]

I think with one marquee and new cap rules it was pretty much inevitable. Lawes will be our marquee and we can't sustain a salary like Biggar demands. We also have other areas (front row) that need strengthening before our backline

yep, as above, expensive. But I don't think he saw it coming.

[Scrumhead]

Apparently Quins, Bath, Saints and London Irish are all after Santiago Medrano (Argentina prop who signed for Worcester this season).

From a Quins POV, I can only assume it would be as injury cover for Collier as we don’t really need another tighthead. Injuries aside, a loosehead would make a lot more sense.

[FKAS]

Rumours that Tigers have started negotiations with Jamie Shillcock after his release from the Wuss nightmare. Not really a surprise being just about the most logical option the club could have for replacing Hegarty.

[fivepointer]

He'll be a good addition for any Prem squad. Really good, versatile player with a lot to offer.

[jimKRFC]

Rumor on the Bristol site - Launchbury to Bristol.

Poster has some inside links to the club, Launchbury's wife is from Long Ashton but highly speculative..

Would prefer the Willis' myself.

[Scrumhead]

I know it’s just a rumour, but how could that be remotely possible from a cap POV?