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

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough. I figured Sale would be very happy with him as second choice and Veianu as third would seem excessive. Maybe he’s not the same player anymore, or just considered a wing option.

I guess if James moves forwards he’ll be very useful though.

[FKAS]

Telusa broke through as a winger, Tigers moved him to 15 and Murphy mentored him quite heavily to work on his ability under the high ball and kicking (though that was always his last resort). TV could easily slot onto the wing for Sale. Would make sense for Sale as well as they lacked a little bit of xfactor from the back three in the final Vs Sarries, particularly after Roebuck went off. TV would definitely offer something different. If Sale are planning on getting to some finals next season, then he might be a game changer.

[jimKRFC]

After previously posting (can't find it now) that should the worst happen to L.I then Bristol should be looking at Lock, back row or centre but would probably end up going for a position of strength (like prop)...

Bristol are linked to Chawatama the THP... which would mean Kloska and Jono BS get even less game time.

[fivepointer]

Chawatama wouldnt be the worst signing.

Bristol also mentioned as one team - along with Bath and Gloucester - interested in AWJ.

[FKAS]

I'd have thought that Saints would be the logical move for AWJ. The two leaders in their forward pack will both be away at the world cup, two locks out the door and one in. There's space, there's young guys who could use a mentor, the pack gets a leader and he won't be a blocker to the younger guys coming through.

[jimKRFC]

Heard it's a done deal - Arundell to Bath,

He was seen looking at houses in Bath, his family are all round here as well and the (rumored) £300K salary probably make it a sensible move.

[Puja]

Heard it's a done deal - Arundell to Bath,

He was seen looking at houses in Bath, his family are all round here as well and the (rumored) £300K salary probably make it a sensible move.

Bath could be frankly ridiculous next season, especially if the rumour of them being favourite for Pearson is true too. Picking up Hill, Pearson, Barbeary, Lawrence, Arundell - there's no doubt that they've done the absolute best out of the Prem's financial travails.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Heard it's a done deal - Arundell to Bath,

He was seen looking at houses in Bath, his family are all round here as well and the (rumored) £300K salary probably make it a sensible move.

Bath could be frankly ridiculous next season, especially if the rumour of them being favourite for Pearson is true too. Picking up Hill, Pearson, Barbeary, Lawrence, Arundell - there's no doubt that they've done the absolute best out of the Prem's financial travails.

Puja

Shame that flake Finn Russell is coming along to bugger it all up.

[Mellsblue]

Heard it's a done deal - Arundell to Bath,

He was seen looking at houses in Bath, his family are all round here as well and the (rumored) £300K salary probably make it a sensible move.

Bath could be frankly ridiculous next season, especially if the rumour of them being favourite for Pearson is true too. Picking up Hill, Pearson, Barbeary, Lawrence, Arundell - there's no doubt that they've done the absolute best out of the Prem's financial travails.

Puja

Shame that flake Finn Russell is coming along to bugger it all up.

It is quite the downgrade from Piers Francis.

[FKAS]

Still think Pearson is an odd signing for Bath when Cloete, Underhill and Reid are already under contract. Cunningham-South a physical and versatile lock, six and 8 would be a better way to splash the cash for them. Another option at 8 and lock would be great for them.

[Puja]

Still think Pearson is an odd signing for Bath when Cloete, Underhill and Reid are already under contract. Cunningham-South a physical and versatile lock, six and 8 would be a better way to splash the cash for them. Another option at 8 and lock would be great for them.

Bayliss as well. They do need a lock more than anything else.

Is CCS going to be a lock, do we think? I had thought he was settling into being a specialist 8.

Puja

[FKAS]

Given Barbeary's injury history and the issues at lock, having someone that could play both in the short term would be great surely.

[Margin_Walker]

Still think Pearson is an odd signing for Bath when Cloete, Underhill and Reid are already under contract. Cunningham-South a physical and versatile lock, six and 8 would be a better way to splash the cash for them. Another option at 8 and lock would be great for them.

Bayliss as well. They do need a lock more than anything else.

Is CCS going to be a lock, do we think? I had thought he was settling into being a specialist 8.

Puja

He'll be an 8 or 6 (or 7 if he ends up at Exeter).

[Puja]

Henry Arundell, the rising England star, is set to hold talks with Bath later this week, while the Scottish Rugby Union are understood to be interested in signing Ben White. Tom Pearson is expected to join Northampton Saints, while Will Joseph, Ollie Hoskins and Ben Loader are set to hold talks with Saracens.

Telegraph speculation - all makes a lot of sense. From an England perspective, I'd like to see what Sarries' exceptional player development skills could make from WJoseph and Loader, even if I'd prefer to see both of them at Leicester.

Puja

[FKAS]

Assuming Sarries were at the cap last season then there doesn't seem to be much wiggle room unless those linked players are short on good offers elsewhere.

Players In
England Tom Parton from England London Irish
England Tom Willis from France Bordeaux
England Gareth Simpson from Australia Western Force
England Tom West from England Leicester Tigers

Players Out
England Max Malins to England Bristol Bears
Scotland Robin Hislop to Scotland Edinburgh
United States Ruben de Haas to South Africa Cheetahs
England Jackson Wray retired
Scotland Duncan Taylor released
Argentina Eduardo Bello released
England James Flynn released
Wales Ethan Lewis released
England Obinna Nikwocha to England Coventry

Malins out and Parton in. de Haas out and Simpson in. Flynn and Hislop out and West in. Wray out and Willis in. Leaves Taylor and some squad player cap space for improved contracts and those three signings.

[Scrumhead]

Indeed. Malins and Wray are likely to have been the only decent earners they’ve offloaded.

While all four of their current signings might have had to accept lower than they might have previously accepted, they’re all proven performers and not cheap squad players.

Shady AF - what’s new eh.

[Puja]

Indeed. Malins and Wray are likely to have been the only decent earners they’ve offloaded.

While all four of their current signings might have had to accept lower than they might have previously accepted, they’re all proven performers and not cheap squad players.

Shady AF - what’s new eh.

I'd debate the 4 coming in being "proven performers" - Parton is injury-prone and wasn't wanted at Irish, Simpson is the very definition of "a cheap squad player" and, depending on when they signed terms with West, he was a sicknote who couldn't pick up a contract after Wasps' demise before Leicester took a chance on him. I'd imagine Willis costs a reasonable amount, but probably comes with a discount because he wants England recognition.

Bello came with a big fanfare as an Argie international tighthead (even if he has proven to be crap and then released), Taylor's last contract renewal was when he was a Scotland international, plus they have lost 9 players while only signing 4 (and no matter how cheap the likes of de Haas, Flynn, Lewis, Nikwocha and Hislop might've been, adding all of their wages together probably comes to a decent chunk of change).

I absolutely believe that they'd have some cap to spare without having to do anything shady - maybe not enough to get all three of those suggested, but if they do pick up all three, I'd imagine someone else would be given the boot to make room.

Sarries would be mad to do anything dodgy, considering the champions get audited by default nowadays, and they're hardly a team that's going to be above suspicion or given the benefit of the doubt.

Puja

[FKAS]

Duncan Taylor signed a one year deal last summer.

I'd forgotten about when they did the deal with West but Flynn was a Championship pick up and Hislop was left adrift following Wasps demise so those two out and West in makes sense.

They've definitely got a little bit of cap either unannounced or left to play with though. As we all agree not enough for all three unless those players are desperate which they might be.

[FKAS]

Rumours of Tom Pearson to Saints being a done deal. Not sure who they're dropping from their backrow to make room but that's an ideal signing for them.

[Puja]

Rumours of Tom Pearson to Saints being a done deal. Not sure who they're dropping from their backrow to make room but that's an ideal signing for them.

You've thought that'd see Ludlam share the 6/8 duties with Lawes and Augustus, both of whom are injury-prone enough that he's unlikely to be sitting on the bench too often. Agreed it's an ideal signing - they have needed a proper 7 to balance them out.

Puja

[FKAS]

Rumours of Tom Pearson to Saints being a done deal. Not sure who they're dropping from their backrow to make room but that's an ideal signing for them.

You've thought that'd see Ludlam share the 6/8 duties with Lawes and Augustus, both of whom are injury-prone enough that he's unlikely to be sitting on the bench too often. Agreed it's an ideal signing - they have needed a proper 7 to balance them out.

Puja

A proper 7 that is perfectly equipped to play their attacking style as well.

[Adam_P]

Yeah think Pearson and Saints is a very tidy match. Would like us to go after Cunningham-South too, but I've seen chat of us showing interest in Munga in addition to Pearson

[fivepointer]

Pearson at Saints looks a very good fit.

[Which Tyler]

Rumours of Tom Pearson to Saints being a done deal. Not sure who they're dropping from their backrow to make room but that's an ideal signing for them.

Was always way, WAY more likely than Bath - to the point where I can only believe Bath were mentioned as a negotiating gambit.
He's a great fit for them, a terrible fit for us.

[FKAS]

Yeah think Pearson and Saints is a very tidy match. Would like us to go after Cunningham-South too, but I've seen chat of us showing interest in Munga in addition to Pearson

Munga is a more logical choice to be fair. You need another lock, ideally one that'll challenge for a starting spot. CCS would be a handy Lawes successor but is only lock cover really. Munga should be another good fit for your attacking style.