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

[Gloskarlos]

JLB could be decent for Gloucester.

He's been a fixture of the LI pathway for a long time and along with Jon Fisher has had a lot of first team coaching involvement. He probably would have been in line to step up to fill in for Brad Davis whilst he's away with the Wallabies if he hadn't had a better offer.

Yes, reasons to be positive. Just having an attack coach will hopefully make a significant difference. Skivs and JLB do have previous, so it's not a shot out of the blue.

[FKAS]

Players In
England Zach Mercer from France Montpellier
Wales Max Llewellyn from Wales Cardiff

Players Out
England Tom Seabrook to England Northampton Saints
England Finn Theobald-Thomas to England Leicester Tigers
England Ben Morgan retiring
Italy Jake Polledri to Italy Zebre Parma
England Billy Twelvetrees to England Ealing Trailfinders
Australia Jordy Reid to England Ealing Trailfinders

McGuigan and Seb Atkinson joined mid season as well didn't they. I presume Barton will get more game time next season? Otherwise you only look a little shorter at backrow.

[Gloskarlos]

Players In
England Zach Mercer from France Montpellier
Wales Max Llewellyn from Wales Cardiff

Players Out
England Tom Seabrook to England Northampton Saints
England Finn Theobald-Thomas to England Leicester Tigers
England Ben Morgan retiring
Italy Jake Polledri to Italy Zebre Parma
England Billy Twelvetrees to England Ealing Trailfinders
Australia Jordy Reid to England Ealing Trailfinders

McGuigan and Seb Atkinson joined mid season as well didn't they. I presume Barton will get more game time next season? Otherwise you only look a little shorter at backrow.

Yes they have all been documented for a while so I didn't consider some of those departures. I'm not convinced Barton is going to get much game time. There were many opportunities this season with Hastings out for a long period for him to come forth but the management didn't go that way. I wonder if he might go elsewhere. Squad 23/24 looking like this:-

Loosehead Props
Rapava Ruskin
Seville
Elrington
Vivas
McArthur*

Tighthead Props
Balmain
Knight
Ford-Robinson
Gotovtsev
O'Connor*

Hookers
Socino
Walker
Singleton
McGuigan
Blake **

Locks
Craig
Alemanno
Clarke
Jordan*
Clark*

Backrow
Ackermann
Ludlow
Clement
Tuisue
Mercer
Taylor*
Thomas*

Scrum Halves
Chapman
Varney
Meehan

Fly Halves
Hastings
Evans
Barton

Centres
M. Atkinson
Harris
Kveseladze
Reeves
LLewellyn
Hillman-Cooper*
S. Atkinson*

Wings
Thorley
May
Rees Zammit
Hearle
Morris*
Morgan*

Fullbacks
Moyle
Carreras
Hathaway*

* Elite Academy
**Still Academy but has played 1st XV rugby this season

[FKAS]

I just wondered with Barton as Twelvetrees was used at 10 at times and with no replacement for him in that role whether Barton might get more of a go.

That squad looks pretty good to be fair. One more backrower would be ideal.

[Gloskarlos]

I just wondered with Barton as Twelvetrees was used at 10 at times and with no replacement for him in that role whether Barton might get more of a go.

That squad looks pretty good to be fair. One more backrower would be ideal.

Currently Lloyd Evans and or Santi dip in at 10 before Barton gets a look in.

Agreed - although Freddie Clarke can do a good job at 6 if necessary.

[FKAS]

Didn't Freddie Clarke start in the backrow and move forward? You haven't got a large number of locks either though.

[Gloskarlos]

Correct, started at back row, could play there again if necessary. Agreed we are light of a lock, a back row player and the drop off in quality of our first choice props get injured is noticeable. I think we need 3or4 signings in honesty to cover those. No budget available though.

[Mellsblue]

I wonder how/if this will affect the flow of Saffers into the Prem. The rebuild phase of any new regime might need a different approach.

[Adam_P]

Seeing rumours today of Lukhan Salakia-Loto returning to Australia, presumably to play in the WC. Would be a huge blow to Saints pack in general, and the second row in particular, to lose both him and Ribbons at the same time. Bit late in the day to find a top quality replacement too.

[Peej]

I'm sure Irish have a couple of decent locks

[FKAS]

I'm sure Irish have a couple of decent locks

Brutal.

Saints could always go back to acquiring talent from Falcons, worked to fix their tighthead issue.

[FKAS]

Sounds like the Aussies are going in on the Prem clubs with Eddie Jones allegedly helping the Western Force to try to bring in Potter from Tigers.

Be a loss, ridiculously consistent and hard working player.

[Puja]

Sounds like the Aussies are going in on the Prem clubs with Eddie Jones allegedly helping the Western Force to try to bring in Potter from Tigers.

Be a loss, ridiculously consistent and hard working player.

Wouldn't necessarily be a surprise though - we are back-three heavy in our squad and Bassett fills a very similar niche. If it meant we could keep Watson, I'd be okay with it.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I wonder if he’s regretting capping Porter for England now.

[Banquo]

Seeing rumours today of Lukhan Salakia-Loto returning to Australia, presumably to play in the WC. Would be a huge blow to Saints pack in general, and the second row in particular, to lose both him and Ribbons at the same time. Bit late in the day to find a top quality replacement too.

at least Coles might get a chance to reestablish himself.

[FKAS]

I wonder if he’s regretting capping Porter for England now.

He was on contact with Potter in regards to England as well.

[FKAS]

Sounds like the Aussies are going in on the Prem clubs with Eddie Jones allegedly helping the Western Force to try to bring in Potter from Tigers.

Be a loss, ridiculously consistent and hard working player.

Wouldn't necessarily be a surprise though - we are back-three heavy in our squad and Bassett fills a very similar niche. If it meant we could keep Watson, I'd be okay with it.

Puja

We've got lots of fullback cover but wing doesn't look that well stocked. Steward, Brown and Shillcock aren't great if we need to move them out to the wing. Kata, OHC and Bassett are good recruits but Potter has played 26 games in the last two seasons and with all of Nadolo, Murimurivalu, Saumaki and Ashton already gone we'd really need to keep Watson and perhaps go recruiting or train up Cokanasiga to cover as we don't have any young wingers waiting to step up (Browning?).

[Adam_P]

Seeing rumours today of Lukhan Salakia-Loto returning to Australia, presumably to play in the WC. Would be a huge blow to Saints pack in general, and the second row in particular, to lose both him and Ribbons at the same time. Bit late in the day to find a top quality replacement too.

at least Coles might get a chance to reestablish himself.

Yep our second row will be down to Moon and Coles, with Lawes who hasn't played lock in ages and the new Fijian. Then we'd be relying on the likes of Lockett and Sylvester to step up.

[Mellsblue]

Seeing rumours today of Lukhan Salakia-Loto returning to Australia, presumably to play in the WC. Would be a huge blow to Saints pack in general, and the second row in particular, to lose both him and Ribbons at the same time. Bit late in the day to find a top quality replacement too.

at least Coles might get a chance to reestablish himself.

Yep our second row will be down to Moon and Coles, with Lawes who hasn't played lock in ages and the new Fijian. Then we'd be relying on the likes of Lockett and Sylvester to step up.

I thought Sylvester is exclusively back row?

[FKAS]

Matt Kvesic signs for Coventry

[Adam_P]

at least Coles might get a chance to reestablish himself.

Yep our second row will be down to Moon and Coles, with Lawes who hasn't played lock in ages and the new Fijian. Then we'd be relying on the likes of Lockett and Sylvester to step up.

I thought Sylvester is exclusively back row?

He does definitely seem to play mostly in the back row you're right. He's listed as a lock on the squad page of the Saints website, but then so is Lawes.

[Which Tyler]

FLW is heading back to Aus... but...
He's staying with Bath through November
https://www.bathrugby.com/news/fergus-l ... extension/

[ilovelamp]

Dan Robson to Glaws with Meehan heading back to Oz to fight for a RWC spot.

I’d rather keep Meehan if I’m being honest.

[Puja]

Jesus, are Rugby Australia really flashing the cash at the moment or something? I thought they'd spent it all on teenage rugby league players.

Puja

[FKAS]

They're really going for it at the world cup aren't they. Eddie seems to have convinced them that it's their time.