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

[FKAS]

Van Heerden has left exe immediately and returned to SA. Apparently totally amicable and he was just homesick. Still seems a bit odd. Exe having a really tough time. Could they loan someone as cover?

If Chiefs are looking to cut costs then that's one way to do it. I'd have thought it would leave them short though what with the Welsh 6N call ups. They must have their eye on somebody to come in.

[Which Tyler]

How heavily is Tony Rowe involved in Exeter these days?
They were very much his baby, as was all the Native American iconography. But he seems to be ever-less visible these days - no longer title sponsor, buying assets back from the club etc etc. It seems odd that the principal financier, and attention seeker, is keeping such a low profile as finances seem concerning.

[twitchy]

Harry Williams joining off to montpelier.

[FKAS]

Rowe is still around and financing but his plan was always that Chiefs would become self sustaining over time. The new shirt sponsor is just another Tony Rowe company. Rowe isn't a particularly young man anymore so might be watching some of the colder games from his home.

[twitchy]

So:

Sam Simmonds
Joe Simmonds
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Ruben van Heerden
Dave Ewers
Jack Nowell
Jannes Kirsten
Harry Williams

[Timbo]

So:

Sam Simmonds
Joe Simmonds
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Ruben van Heerden
Dave Ewers
Jack Nowell
Jannes Kirsten
Harry Williams

The key ones from that lot are Sam Simmonds, LCD & Ewers. The rest are fairly easily replaced, at least in terms of their abilities on the pitch. Those 3 will leave massive holes though, even with some of the good youngsters coming through.

Honestly think that Harry Williams leaving is a bit of a blessing. Since his neck(?) injury a year or so ago he gets pinged off the park most weeks. I hope Montpellier don’t think they’re getting the champions cup Winning Harry Williams.

[Puja]

So:

Sam Simmonds
Joe Simmonds
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Ruben van Heerden
Dave Ewers
Jack Nowell
Jannes Kirsten
Harry Williams

The key ones from that lot are Sam Simmonds, LCD & Ewers. The rest are fairly easily replaced, at least in terms of their abilities on the pitch. Those 3 will leave massive holes though, even with some of the good youngsters coming through.

Honestly think that Harry Williams leaving is a bit of a blessing. Since his neck(?) injury a year or so ago he gets pinged off the park most weeks. I hope Montpellier don’t think they’re getting the champions cup Winning Harry Williams.

It's the culture as much as anything. Losing JSimmonds, Williams and Nowell might not seem much on the pitch, but they were a major part of what made Exeter, Exeter. It's going to be a massive rebuilding job, almost from scratch.

Puja

[Timbo]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

[Banquo]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

Unless there is a mysterious grand plan up his sleeve, Baxter seems to have lost his way a bit as DOR. That said, there is a kind of golden generation there all hitting their sell by dates at roughly the same time. What's the academy 'product' looking like?

[Timbo]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

Unless there is a mysterious grand plan up his sleeve, Baxter seems to have lost his way a bit as DOR. That said, there is a kind of golden generation there all hitting their sell by dates at roughly the same time. What's the academy 'product' looking like?

I assume you mean behind the young lads that have pushed through in recent times. Obviously a good crop of top prospects in the current first team picture; Tshiunza, Jenkins, Capstick, Hodge etc. They also have another handful of age grade internationals they’ve signed from other clubs who havn’t pushed through quite yet. I think they have good ties with Exeter University which helps them attract young players from around the UK.

Their own academy doesn’t seem to produce real star young players all that much, but they do a great job at bringing players on a bit later into their 20’s. Lots of very competitive local rugby & obviously they use Pirates to develop players in the Champ.

[Banquo]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

Unless there is a mysterious grand plan up his sleeve, Baxter seems to have lost his way a bit as DOR. That said, there is a kind of golden generation there all hitting their sell by dates at roughly the same time. What's the academy 'product' looking like?

I assume you mean behind the young lads that have pushed through in recent times. Obviously a good crop of top prospects in the current first team picture; Tshiunza, Jenkins, Capstick, Hodge etc. They also have another handful of age grade internationals they’ve signed from other clubs who havn’t pushed through quite yet. I think they have good ties with Exeter University which helps them attract young players from around the UK.

Their own academy doesn’t seem to produce real star young players all that much, but they do a great job at bringing players on a bit later into their 20’s. Lots of very competitive local rugby & obviously they use Pirates to develop players in the Champ.

Yep- was just wondering if the plan was to migrate to many more home grown players, but as you point out, they've done pretty well on that already.

[Puja]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

Unless there is a mysterious grand plan up his sleeve, Baxter seems to have lost his way a bit as DOR. That said, there is a kind of golden generation there all hitting their sell by dates at roughly the same time. What's the academy 'product' looking like?

I assume you mean behind the young lads that have pushed through in recent times. Obviously a good crop of top prospects in the current first team picture; Tshiunza, Jenkins, Capstick, Hodge etc. They also have another handful of age grade internationals they’ve signed from other clubs who havn’t pushed through quite yet. I think they have good ties with Exeter University which helps them attract young players from around the UK.

Their own academy doesn’t seem to produce real star young players all that much, but they do a great job at bringing players on a bit later into their 20’s. Lots of very competitive local rugby & obviously they use Pirates to develop players in the Champ.

Just a pedantic note that Hodge is an import of an age grade international from Newcastle's academy, rather than home-grown.

Puja

[FKAS]

The weird thing to me is that they signed up the likes of Scott Sio & O’Laughlin, both good players but not absolutely necessary. For the cash they both cost they could have kept one or two of these guys they’re losing.

Sio was an odd signing. Not sure Chiefs were really in need of a loosehead but O'Laughlin was a good move considering Devoto is nearly always injured, Slade is in international duty for a third of every season and Whitten is more than a little grey on top.

It's interesting because Hepher has taken more responsibility for the coaching and Baxter is focusing on the culture. Is he maybe deciding that some of the guys are set in their ways and a refresh is needed?

A hooker, a tighthead, a lock, some backrows, a winger and a flyhalf. It's getting quite a list. There's some former Wasps and Wuss guys that could be acquired to help mitigate some of the losses but tightheads are tough to get hold of, good ones anyway.

[Mellsblue]

Or is it just that with the salary cap where it is this will now be par for the course? When you’re being outbid by Scottish regions…

[FKAS]

Or is it just that with the salary cap where it is this will now be par for the course? When you’re being outbid by Scottish regions…

Chiefs signed 30 players up just before the restrictions came into play so only 75% of their cap counted against the salary cap. Now those guys are coming up for renewal and as you say there's not as much space as there used to be.

[Mellsblue]

Leicester release the Eden Park Matador from his contract.

[Puja]

Leicester release the Eden Park Matador from his contract.

That strikes me as a great result for all concerned. We need to give Atkinson the role as Pollard's understudy if we're going to develop him and Burns will have a phenomenal amount of fun in Super Rugby. Best of luck to him - a club legend and he'll be remembered fondly.

Puja

[FKAS]

Yeah he'll be a hit down in New Zealand. He's in the twilight of his career he won't get another chance to play Super Rugby. Best of luck to him. He does leave until Feb so if fit will help Tigers with the tricky 6N period.

[Timbo]

A hooker, a tighthead, a lock, some backrows, a winger and a flyhalf. It's getting quite a list. There's some former Wasps and Wuss guys that could be acquired to help mitigate some of the losses but tightheads are tough to get hold of, good ones anyway.

Chiefs have probably the biggest squad in the Prem, have done for years. I doubt they’ll be recruiting to replace most of the guys leaving, they will just replace from within.

[Which Tyler]

Chiefs have probably the biggest squad in the Prem, have done for years. I doubt they’ll be recruiting to replace most of the guys leaving, they will just replace from within.

Have they actually had the biggest squad? Or have they just been about the only club to not separate senior and academy players, meaning that they always seem to have an extra 20 (more now) players than anyone else, for anyone not used to that?

[Banquo]

Leicester release the Eden Park Matador from his contract.

That strikes me as a great result for all concerned. We need to give Atkinson the role as Pollard's understudy if we're going to develop him and Burns will have a phenomenal amount of fun in Super Rugby. Best of luck to him - a club legend and he'll be remembered fondly.

Puja

It wasn't THAT smooth a journey to club legend iirc

[FKAS]

A hooker, a tighthead, a lock, some backrows, a winger and a flyhalf. It's getting quite a list. There's some former Wasps and Wuss guys that could be acquired to help mitigate some of the losses but tightheads are tough to get hold of, good ones anyway.

Chiefs have probably the biggest squad in the Prem, have done for years. I doubt they’ll be recruiting to replace most of the guys leaving, they will just replace from within.

Not that easy to replace half the starting line up with squad players. Some of the younger guys may well be allowed to step up
in one or two places but I presume they will be after several starting quality players as well.

[Puja]

Leicester release the Eden Park Matador from his contract.

That strikes me as a great result for all concerned. We need to give Atkinson the role as Pollard's understudy if we're going to develop him and Burns will have a phenomenal amount of fun in Super Rugby. Best of luck to him - a club legend and he'll be remembered fondly.

Puja

It wasn't THAT smooth a journey to club legend iirc

Oh no, definitely not - I believe my exact words when Ford went off in the final were, "Welp, we've now lost" (admittedly more for my regard for Ford than disdain for Burns, but still, a bit rude). However, for that one performance only, he's a club legend, the same way anyone involved in the 2009 South Africa win was.

Puja

[FKAS]

Tigers sign Tom Whitely from Bristol on a long term deal effective immediately.

[Puja]

Tigers sign Tom Whitely from Bristol on a long term deal effective immediately.

That's a decent signing - especially as a third choice 9.

Puja