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

[Mellsblue]

Feels weird to posit that concentrating three EPS and EPS-adjacent opensides at the same club is the best idea for England. From a pure England perspective, I'd rather he went to Saints and pushed Ludlam to 6 or 8, rather than us having 3 of our best opensides squabbling over 2 club shirts.

Puja

Unless they push and learn off each other to improve even further and get to be rotated so they’re fresher for club and country, that is.

Feels like you're reaching a bit there. The injuries to Weise and Dan du Preez have also influenced the decision to go with dual opensides more often.

I guess neither of us know who’s reaching.

[fivepointer]

Newcastle Falcons have confirmed the players who are leaving this summer as the club looks ahead to the 2023-24 season.

A total of 15 first-team squad members depart with the thanks and best wishes of the club, with ten new signings already announced.

The players leaving Kingston Park this summer are Conrad Cade, Connor Collett, Matthew Dalton, Carl Fearns, Gary Graham, Conor Kenny, Pete Lucock, Tom Marshall, Logovi’i Mulipola, Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, Greg Peterson, Sean Robinson, Alex Tait, Will Welch and Michael Young.

Thats quite a clear out. Newcastle are going to have a very small and what looks like an underpowered squad for next season.
Sean Robinson will be a big loss.

[FKAS]

Sean Robinson is a massive loss but if we're being bluntly honest he's the only real loss there. Welch has already retired and the rest are past their best or squad players.

Players In
Scotland Murray McCallum from Scotland Edinburgh
Scotland Kiran McDonald from Ireland Munster
England Tim Cardall from Australia Melbourne Rebels
England John Kelly from England Doncaster Knights
Scotland Ollie Leatherbarrow from England Exeter Chiefs
England Josh Bainbridge from England Coventry
Ireland Bryan Byrne from England Bristol Bears
Scotland Cammy Hutchison from Scotland Edinburgh
England Louis Brown from England Coventry
Ireland Hugh O'Sullivan from London Irish

Three locks on their way in, two of which were solid options at Wasps and another who was in the Championship team of the season. Byrne is a solid and experienced back up to Blamire that shouldn't block the younger guys coming through. Bainbridge and Leatherbarrow are pretty nuggety flankers. What they are missing is another big ball carrier in the backrow, Leatherbarrow is pretty dynamic but a big ball carrier and some more quality at prop is definitely needed.

[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

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?).

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Good luck to him though - top Leicester player and hope his future endeavours go well.

Puja

[FKAS]

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?).

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Good luck to him though - top Leicester player and hope his future endeavours go well.

Puja

Been a really good player for us over the last couple of seasons. One who helped set the tone, chasing everything and putting his body on the line. Which lets face it aren't normal traits for a winger. Scored some tries from nowhere as well. I hope he's not been tempted back via false promises from Eddie.

[FKAS]

Solomone Kata announced as joining Tigers.

[Mellsblue]

Alex Gray has signed for what I can only assume to be the latest team to join the URC, BBCGladiators.

[Which Tyler]

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

[Puja]

Alex Gray has signed for what I can only assume to be the latest team to join the URC, BBCGladiators.

I mean, he is quite pretty, but it's a bold move to be going with "Apollo" as a moniker. There's been one of the women's players going over to that revival as well. Looking forward to it; I loved a bit of Gladiators back in the day.

Puja

[FKAS]

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

I think he has Aussie citizenship as well as UK. He did live over there for something like 13 years having moved over as a child when his family emigrated.

[Puja]

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

Excellent question - I assume he has an Australian grandparent or something? Or does residency count if you were in a country for a certain number of years as a child? Am I imagining that?

Leicester have also announced the signing of Sam Carter, who I thought was played by Amanda Tapping, but is apparently a 33 year old Aussie backrow/lock who's been playing for Ulster and has previous experience with McKellar. So much for us keeping our powder dry in case of another going out of business sale.

Anyone know if he's any good?

Puja

[Tigersman]

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

Excellent question - I assume he has an Australian grandparent or something? Or does residency count if you were in a country for a certain number of years as a child? Am I imagining that?

Leicester have also announced the signing of Sam Carter, who I thought was played by Amanda Tapping, but is apparently a 33 year old Aussie backrow/lock who's been playing for Ulster and has previous experience with McKellar. So much for us keeping our powder dry in case of another going out of business sale.

Anyone know if he's any good?

Puja

Tigers should still have quite a decent amount of cap when you look at leavers to joiners the last 7 months

[FKAS]

Alex Gray has signed for what I can only assume to be the latest team to join the URC, BBCGladiators.

I mean, he is quite pretty, but it's a bold move to be going with "Apollo" as a moniker. There's been one of the women's players going over to that revival as well. Looking forward to it; I loved a bit of Gladiators back in the day.

Puja

They are going big on sports stars it seems. British sprinter Harry A-A is on there as Nitro. Could be an interesting new series.

Sam Carter also confirmed as joining Tigers from Ulster. The experienced lock we needed, makes sense. 16 Aussie caps, 88 appearances for the Brumbies and 58 for Ulster. I don't think he plays backrow.

[Adam_P]

Heffernan and Petch are leaving Saints, replaced by Elliot Millar Mills and Beltus Nonleh.

Petch leaving is a bit out of the blue. Can't remember seeing much of anything of Millar Mills and certainly haven't seen anything of Nonleh who is coming from national league two north...

We still need a quality loosehead.

[Which Tyler]

I think he has Aussie citizenship as well as UK. He did live over there for something like 13 years having moved over as a child when his family emigrated.

Citizenship's irrelevant though.
It needs to be birth, parent, grandparent, or 5 years residency - which as far as I'm aware, ceases to apply the moment he spends 2 consecutive months outside the country.

Now there may be a loophole that residency acquired before the age of 12 (or whatever) remains a qualifier - but I haven't heard of that loophole.
Also entirely possible he has some Aussie ancestry, but I thought he and his parents were all English.

[FKAS]

I think he has Aussie citizenship as well as UK. He did live over there for something like 13 years having moved over as a child when his family emigrated.

Citizenship's irrelevant though.
It needs to be birth, parent, grandparent, or 5 years residency - which as far as I'm aware, ceases to apply the moment he spends 2 consecutive months outside the country.

Now there may be a loophole that residency acquired before the age of 12 (or whatever) remains a qualifier - but I haven't heard of that loophole.
Also entirely possible he has some Aussie ancestry, but I thought he and his parents were all English.

If his parents also have Aussie citizenship?

[Which Tyler]

If his parents also have Aussie citizenship?

Then citizenship's irrelevant (to the best of my knowledge)

FTR though, BBC and Wikipedia both have him as eligible for Australia, though neither say how; but it won't be citizenship.

[FKAS]

If his parents also have Aussie citizenship?

Then citizenship's irrelevant (to the best of my knowledge)

I just looked it up. Ten years cumulative works for Harry.

8.1 Subject to Regulation 8.2, a Player may only play for the senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team, the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team and the senior National Representative Sevens Team of the Union of the country with which the Player has a genuine, close, credible and established national link in which:

(a) the Player was born; or

(b) one parent or grandparent was born; or

(c) the Player has completed sixty [1] consecutive months of Residence immediately preceding the time of playing; or

(d) the Player has completed ten years of cumulative Residence preceding the time of playing.

[Which Tyler]

(d) the Player has completed ten years of cumulative Residence preceding the time of playing.

Thank you - didn't know that one

[Spiffy]

Potter now confirmed as leaving Tigers to go back to Australia. I'm a bit surprised from an Australia perspective - he's a decent enough player, but I wouldn't pick him as an international, especially given the quality of wide players that Aus already have.

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

Excellent question - I assume he has an Australian grandparent or something? Or does residency count if you were in a country for a certain number of years as a child? Am I imagining that?

Leicester have also announced the signing of Sam Carter, who I thought was played by Amanda Tapping, but is apparently a 33 year old Aussie backrow/lock who's been playing for Ulster and has previous experience with McKellar. So much for us keeping our powder dry in case of another going out of business sale.

Anyone know if he's any good?

Puja

With all fit, he was not an automatic starter at Ulster, but did get plenty of game time from starts/bench. At his best, pretty good - a big strong bloke, puts in a good shift, but form a bit erratic - tends to be up and down. Past his best but probably handy enough as a squad backup player. Leicester probably could have done a bit better.

[Puja]

Heffernan and Petch are leaving Saints, replaced by Elliot Millar Mills and Beltus Nonleh.

Petch leaving is a bit out of the blue. Can't remember seeing much of anything of Millar Mills and certainly haven't seen anything of Nonleh who is coming from national league two north...

We still need a quality loosehead.

Petch feels like the kind of signing Newcastle would be after.

Puja

[Puja]

Is he actually eligible for Australia? I thought he was Aussie only through residency; which will have lapsed the moment he spent 2 consecutive months in the UK?

Excellent question - I assume he has an Australian grandparent or something? Or does residency count if you were in a country for a certain number of years as a child? Am I imagining that?

Leicester have also announced the signing of Sam Carter, who I thought was played by Amanda Tapping, but is apparently a 33 year old Aussie backrow/lock who's been playing for Ulster and has previous experience with McKellar. So much for us keeping our powder dry in case of another going out of business sale.

Anyone know if he's any good?

Puja

With all fit, he was not an automatic starter at Ulster, but did get plenty of game time from starts/bench. At his best, pretty good - a big strong bloke, puts in a good shift, but form a bit erratic - tends to be up and down. Past his best but probably handy enough as a squad backup player. Leicester probably could have done a bit better.

He was replacing Eli Snyman, so sounds like pretty much of a muchness. As long as he doesn't keep out the inevitable glory of a Martin/Chessum second row, I'll be happy.

Puja

[FKAS]

Agree on Perch, he'd be a good signing for Falcons as back up to McCallum. Heffernan is an odd one, he went on loan to Newcastle as part of the Davison deal and at the time this was the quote on the Saints website: “Oisín is still contracted with Saints next season, and is another who needs more game time and an opportunity to show what he can do in the Premiership, so we’ll follow his progress with interest.” so something has changed and Heffernan wasn't getting picked at Falcons.

Carter is just said filler for Tigers, probably cheaper than Snyman. Let's face it he's cover for international call ups where there's the potential we could see three locks called up and leave us with 30 year old Wells and two development locks that are ten years younger than him. A veteran lock that won't get in the way of those coming through just makes sense.

[Adam_P]

I'm hoping the league two punt is a rough diamond that comes good purely for the name Beltus to be in the team

[Puja]

Agree on Perch, he'd be a good signing for Falcons as back up to McCallum. Heffernan is an odd one, he went on loan to Newcastle as part of the Davison deal and at the time this was the quote on the Saints website: “Oisín is still contracted with Saints next season, and is another who needs more game time and an opportunity to show what he can do in the Premiership, so we’ll follow his progress with interest.” so something has changed and Heffernan wasn't getting picked at Falcons.

Carter is just said filler for Tigers, probably cheaper than Snyman. Let's face it he's cover for international call ups where there's the potential we could see three locks called up and leave us with 30 year old Wells and two development locks that are ten years younger than him. A veteran lock that won't get in the way of those coming through just makes sense.

I am a little bit concerned that he is McKellar's former captain at the Brumbies and that he's previously spoken very highly about him, from the googling I've done. Always a worry that a new boss's favourite might get in the way of the seriously good young lock talent that wehave.

Puja