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

[Timbo]

More cash in France, can't blame them. Not sure what the prem can do- paradoxically we prob need to raise the salary cap at the same time as not being able to afford it. Central contracts may be one answer- but I'd think that would both denude the prem and also lead to more journeymen o/s signings.

The salary cap is due to go back up the season after next. Hopefully only those clubs who can really afford to pay more do so. I suppose the worry then might be that the likes of Bristol, Bath, Sarries etc might be operating on 20-25% bigger budgets than most of the rest of the league. In a depressed wage market those clubs could build very formidable squads and be quite dominant.

.....I mean raise substantially for recruitment, retention and rotation but maybe tied to academy investment. As callous as it is, I'd like to see super clubs as it were.

I’d be all for scrapping marquee players and tying additional cap space to academy products.

[Banquo]

The salary cap is due to go back up the season after next. Hopefully only those clubs who can really afford to pay more do so. I suppose the worry then might be that the likes of Bristol, Bath, Sarries etc might be operating on 20-25% bigger budgets than most of the rest of the league. In a depressed wage market those clubs could build very formidable squads and be quite dominant.

.....I mean raise substantially for recruitment, retention and rotation but maybe tied to academy investment. As callous as it is, I'd like to see super clubs as it were.

I’d be all for scrapping marquee players and tying additional cap space to academy products.

Academy 'products' made me smile, but yes.

[p/d]

As callous as it is, I'd like to see super clubs as it were.

Likewise. Plus Leicester.

[Mikey Brown]

How has it come about Newcastle let McGuigan go mid season? Just happy to take the payout with little to play for this season? Feels weird seeing so many mid season changes.

[Banquo]

As callous as it is, I'd like to see super clubs as it were.

Likewise. Plus Leicester.

[Puja]

How has it come about Newcastle let McGuigan go mid season? Just happy to take the payout with little to play for this season? Feels weird seeing so many mid season changes.

The only thought I have is that they're looking to take advantage of some of the unsigned talent still loose after the W&W closing down sale and have come to the conclusion that they're better off improving their whole squad instead of having two international hookers.

I guess the other option is that maybe Blamire has threatened to leave if he doesn't get the first team rugby he needs and they've decided they'd rather keep the young one than the old one.

Puja

[FKAS]

How has it come about Newcastle let McGuigan go mid season? Just happy to take the payout with little to play for this season? Feels weird seeing so many mid season changes.

The only thought I have is that they're looking to take advantage of some of the unsigned talent still loose after the W&W closing down sale and have come to the conclusion that they're better off improving their whole squad instead of having two international hookers.

I guess the other option is that maybe Blamire has threatened to leave if he doesn't get the first team rugby he needs and they've decided they'd rather keep the young one than the old one.

Puja

Well there's rumours we was off at the end of the season so when Glaws were suddenly in need maybe Falcons have let him go early knowing they need to develop without him anyway. Might as well give Blamire more game time and they've got some other hookers coming through. McGuigan leaving now or at the end of the season doesn't make much difference to an area of squad difference other than maybe freeing up some cash to go and invest in an out of contract player.

Bringing back Haydon-Wood, getting Tom West into their front row or Shillcock in at 15. Any of those could improve on what they currently have.

[Timbo]

Blamire has just signed on for 2 more years, so the theory that he only did so if he was guaranteed more starts in the 2 shirt makes sense. Especially with the World Cup looming.

[FKAS]

McGuigan confirmed on a "long term" contract.

[ilovelamp]

Max Llewellyn of Cardiff also rumoured to be heading to Glaws. Big old unit at 12 and an ideal replacement for Mark Atkinson.

[FKAS]

Yeah it's been confirmed previously he's off to an English club and being Surrey born counts as EQ.

From famine to feast for Glaws in the centres. Getting both Seb Atkinson and Max Lewellyn in would certainly address the issue of having two aging options at 12.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol also linked to Max Llewellyn, assume it's because of his dad's link to the club. Possibly easier route to 1st team rugby there as well.

[Mikey Brown]

Haven’t had a new messiah in a little while, then two twelves come along at the same club?

[francoisfou]

Rugbyrama are saying that Finn Russell is probably on his way out of Racing - maybe to Bath, and could be replaced by ........... Joe Simmonds.

[Mellsblue]

Joe Simmonds needs a move, imo. Will Exeter have any players left next season?!?!?

Conversely, bffs Jamie ‘melted wheelie bin’ George and Elliott Daly sign extensions at Sarries.

[Mikey Brown]

Joe Simmonds needs a move, imo. Will Exeter have any players left next season?!?!?

Conversely, bffs Jamie ‘melted wheelie bin’ George and Elliott Daly sign extensions at Sarries.

Oh good. The England camp videos wouldn’t be the same with Jamie George’s hilarious brand of laddy banter. Like James Corden and Michael MacIntyre rolled in to one.

[Mellsblue]

Joe Simmonds needs a move, imo. Will Exeter have any players left next season?!?!?

Conversely, bffs Jamie ‘melted wheelie bin’ George and Elliott Daly sign extensions at Sarries.

Oh good. The England camp videos wouldn’t be the same with Jamie George’s hilarious brand of laddy banter. Like James Corden and Michael MacIntyre rolled in to one.

He’s not the slimmest but that is harsh.

[fivepointer]

A Corden/MacIntyre hybrid. That is just too awful to contemplate. George isnt that irritating, is he?

Exeter seem to be in state of transition. Might not be a bad thing for J Simmonds to go elsewhere but he will leave a hole.

[Which Tyler]

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... on/1370251

[FKAS]

It'll be interesting to see what Russell does with that Bath backline. There's plenty of quality in there to work with.

[Which Tyler]

It'll be interesting to see what Russell does with that Bath backline. There's plenty of quality in there to work with.

Be interesting to see if he's allowed to do anything with that Bath backline (and if it's actually confirmed by player or club)

[Peej]

Two UK-based fly halves are allegedly on their way to play in the Top14 next season.
According to Midi-Olympique, Tommaso Allan is off to Perpignan next summer having signed a two-year contract, and Gareth Anscombe is in the sights of Pau.

Didn't Allen come through at Perpignan originally before going to Italy?

[francoisfou]

Two UK-based fly halves are allegedly on their way to play in the Top14 next season.
According to Midi-Olympique, Tommaso Allan is off to Perpignan next summer having signed a two-year contract, and Gareth Anscombe is in the sights of Pau.

Didn't Allen come through at Perpignan originally before going to Italy?

Yes, you’re right. He was at Perpignan between 2013/16.

[Mellsblue]

Tomasso Allan’s Lonely Planet career. Perpignan, Treviso and London with retirement back in Perpignan (avec France’s pension laws), plus international match city breaks in Edinburgh and Rome. A rugby career done correctly.

[FKAS]

It's going to hit highs of 14 degrees in Perpignan today, as Allan runs out at the freezing training complex at Quins I'm sure that won't be on his mind at all.