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

[Mikey Brown]

Can anyone who's seen more of his brother play let me know what to expect? Similar? Rapid isn't he?

I'm obviously not expecting him to be a defensive maestro at 20 years old, but I'll be very pleased if he's got a similar sort of feel for the game.

[16th man]

I'm obviously not expecting him to be a defensive maestro at 20 years old,

Pfff. You know that isn't how this works. First missed tackle or dodgy read in a tv game and he'll be damned as defensively dodgy for the rest of his career.

[Mr Mwenda]

I'm obviously not expecting him to be a defensive maestro at 20 years old,

Pfff. You know that isn't how this works. First missed tackle or dodgy read in a tv game and he'll be damned as defensively dodgy for the rest of his career.

You've got to have a system.

[Tigger]

I suspect the LCD will be announced at Sale tomorrow...especially after his Tweet today.

[FKAS]

I'm obviously not expecting him to be a defensive maestro at 20 years old,

Pfff. You know that isn't how this works. First missed tackle or dodgy read in a tv game and he'll be damned as defensively dodgy for the rest of his career.

You've got to have a system.

It is the way.

[Mikey Brown]

Well funnily enough I tried searching Reddit for anything about Will Joseph and this came up.

[francoisfou]

Alun-Wyn Jones is heading for Toulon as a World Cup joker, and is expected there in a few days for pre-season training.

[Margin_Walker]

Can anyone who's seen more of his brother play let me know what to expect? Similar? Rapid isn't he?

I'm obviously not expecting him to be a defensive maestro at 20 years old, but I'll be very pleased if he's got a similar sort of feel for the game.

Very quick and athletic, with a huge upside if things click. Likely faster than his brother. Decent defensively, but as above, one missed tackle and his card will be forever marked, no doubt. He's fast enough to show players the outside and catch them on the angle and is much stronger in the tackle in the wide channels than Arundell is, for example.

He could do with an injury free run as things have been a little stop start for him. He also seems like he might lack a bit of confidence in himself sometimes, but I may be wrong on that. He's definitely on the quieter side.

Here's what he can do though.

[francoisfou]

According to Midi Olympique, Biarritz are about to sign Zach Kibirige.

From Ruck too:

https://www.ruck.co.uk/former-wasps-sta ... rhys-webb/

The big push to get Biarritz Olympique back in the Top14 is well and truly under way.

[Gloskarlos]

Gloucester Rugby 2023/24 Squad declared

Props

Alex Seville*
Ciaran Knight*
Fraser Balmain
Harry Elrington
Jamal Ford-Robinson
Kirill Gotovtsev
Mayco Vivas
Val Rapava-Ruskin

Hookers

George McGuigan
Jack Singleton
Santi Socino

Second-row

Ben Donnell (New Signing)
Cam Jordan*
Freddie Clarke*
Matias Alemanno

Back-row

Albert Tuisue
Jack Clement*
Lewis Ludlow*
Ruan Ackermann
Zach Mercer (New Signing)

Half-backs

Adam Hastings
Caolan Englefield (New Signing)
Charlie Chapman*
George Barton*
Stephen Varney*

Centres

Alex Hearle
Chris Harris
Mark Atkinson
Max Llewellyn (New Signing)
Seb Atkinson

Back-three

Jonny May*
Lloyd Evans*
Ollie Thorley*
Louis Rees-Zammit*
Michael Dykes (New Signing)
Santiago Carreras

*Denotes Gloucester Rugby Academy graduates.

Gloucester Rugby Elite Academy Squad |
Archie McArthur, Afolabi Fasogbon, Seb Blake, Arthur Clark, Harry Taylor, Freddie Thomas, Rory Taylor, Louis Hillman-Cooper, Josh Hathaway, Jake Morris, Jack Reeves.

Gloucester Rugby Academy Squad |
Fred Ma'a, Ethan Hunt, Gareth Blackmore, Danny Eite, Rob Nixon, Naquan Smith, Matthew Jones, Morgan Adderly-Jones, Tom Miles, Tom Riman, Reece Dunn, Will Gilderson, Ioan Jones.

[Margin_Walker]

Looks fairly thin at lock.

Donnell listed there is interesting. Whilst he played lock at U18s, he last started at lock for LI during an injury crisis in the covid catch up games in 2020 as a teenager. Skivs will know him better than I do, but he's only ever struck me as an emergency lock.

Might be a change of focus though and the intention may be to have a lighter weight more mobile option there.

[Gloskarlos]

Looks fairly thin at lock.

Donnell listed there is interesting. Whilst he played lock at U18s, he last started at lock for LI during an injury crisis in the covid catch up games in 2020 as a teenager. Skivs will know him better than I do, but he's only ever struck me as an emergency lock.

Might be a change of focus though and the intention may be to have a lighter weight more mobile option there.

Very thin at lock, would also say thin at back row and 10 (although Santi and Lloyd also play 10). 12 of that squad likely lost to the WC, which leaves very slim pickings for the first few matches, SiD an issue certainly (will be for most I would think). Be interested to see what becomes of Donnell, the Glos scrum was solid last year - having locks who play like back row players has been positive in terms of the more expansive game - Freddie Clarke being the case in point there. So if Skivs has sold it that he is a lock in name at scrum time only, who knows?

[Which Tyler]

Another LI player (academy) find a new gig
https://www.bathrugby.com/news/mikey-su ... bath-rugby

[Margin_Walker]

Pleased for him. He looked pretty solid at age grade.

[Margin_Walker]

Latest position on confirmed player destinations. Still some promising academy players available there. Worth mentioning too that Luke Green has actually been weathering this out playing for SD Legion in the MLR on loan. Will be interesting to see whether he tries that out as a long term option.

Ben Atkins - Rams (ND1)
Matt Cornish - Ealing
Agustín Creevy - Sale
Ignacio Ruiz
Lovejoy Chawatama - Harlequins
Luke Green
Ciaran Parker
Danilo Fischetti - Zebre
Will Goodrick-Clarke
Ollie Hoskins - Saracens
Josh Caulfield - Bristol
Adam Coleman - Bordeaux
Chunya Munga - Northampton
Api Ratuniyarawa
Ed Scragg - Scarlets
Josh Basham
Ben Donnell - Gloucester
Jack Cooke
So'otala Fa'aso'o - Perpignan
Juan Martín González
Izaia Moore-Aiono
Tom Pearson - Northampton
Matt Rogerson (c)- Leicester
Josh Smart
Caolan Englefield - Gloucester
Joe Powell - Leicester
Ben White - Toulon
Jacob Atkins - Rovigo
Paddy Jackson - Lyon
Rory Jennings - Newcastle
Tom Hitchcock
Benhard Janse van Rensburg - Bristol
Will Joseph - Harlequins
Luca Morisi
Eddie Poolman
Matt Williams
Ben Loader
Lucio Cinti - Saracens
Henry Arundell - Racing 92
Kyle Rowe - Glasgow
Tom Collins
Michael Dykes - Gloucester

Calum Scott
Joe Vajner
Afolabi Fasogbon - Gloucester
Tarek Haffar - Northampton
Mikey Summerfield - Bath
Chandler Cunningham-South - Harlequins
Jarlath Gleeson
Lucas Brooke
Ollie Allan - Leicester
Monty Bradbury
Conor Cross
George Makepeace-Cubitt - Rams (ND1)
Jake Shortland
Jack Walsh
Alexander Harmes
Ralph McEachran
Rory Taylor - Gloucester
Finn Worley Brady
Toby Maddock
Charlie Moss

[Tom Moore]

Surprised Loader is still available.

[Puja]

Surprised Loader is still available.

Margin's been studious about not putting destinations until they are 100% officially confirmed (on the basis thay many a rumour's turned out to be bullshit), but it's an open secret that Loader's going to the Stormers for next season.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah, for sure. Almost certainly Stormers bound.

The Collins to Ealing talk looks very likely too. Although thought that one would have been announced by now.

[Which Tyler]

Not UK based, but I see that Frans Steyn has retired

Fun fact, he beat Andy Farrell in his first RWC final, and Owen Farrell in his 2nd RWC final

[Mellsblue]

Not UK based, but I see that Frans Steyn has retired

Fun fact, he beat Andy Farrell in his first RWC final, and Owen Farrell in his 2nd RWC final

Fun definitely needs to be in inverted commas… or just replaced with depressing.

[Puja]

Not UK based, but I see that Frans Steyn has retired

Fun fact, he beat Andy Farrell in his first RWC final, and Owen Farrell in his 2nd RWC final

Weakling not bothering to stay on till he can beat Tommy Farrell in his 3rd.

Puja

[francoisfou]

Carl Fearns to Carcassonne for one year.
Carcassonne were relegated from ProD2 last season and will now play in Nationale - the 3rd tier.

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/07/17/tra ... 346524.php

[Tigger]

Latest position on confirmed player destinations. Still some promising academy players available there. Worth mentioning too that Luke Green has actually been weathering this out playing for SD Legion in the MLR on loan. Will be interesting to see whether he tries that out as a long term option.

Ben Atkins - Rams (ND1)
Matt Cornish - Ealing
Agustín Creevy - Sale
Ignacio Ruiz
Lovejoy Chawatama - Harlequins
Luke Green
Ciaran Parker
Danilo Fischetti - Zebre
Will Goodrick-Clarke
Ollie Hoskins - Saracens
Josh Caulfield - Bristol
Adam Coleman - Bordeaux
Chunya Munga - Northampton
Api Ratuniyarawa
Ed Scragg - Scarlets
Josh Basham
Ben Donnell - Gloucester
Jack Cooke
So'otala Fa'aso'o - Perpignan
Juan Martín González
Izaia Moore-Aiono
Tom Pearson - Northampton
Matt Rogerson (c)- Leicester
Josh Smart
Caolan Englefield - Gloucester
Joe Powell - Leicester
Ben White - Toulon
Jacob Atkins - Rovigo
Paddy Jackson - Lyon
Rory Jennings - Newcastle
Tom Hitchcock
Benhard Janse van Rensburg - Bristol
Will Joseph - Harlequins
Luca Morisi
Eddie Poolman
Matt Williams
Ben Loader
Lucio Cinti - Saracens
Henry Arundell - Racing 92
Kyle Rowe - Glasgow
Tom Collins
Michael Dykes - Gloucester

Calum Scott
Joe Vajner
Afolabi Fasogbon - Gloucester
Tarek Haffar - Northampton
Mikey Summerfield - Bath
Chandler Cunningham-South - Harlequins
Jarlath Gleeson
Lucas Brooke
Ollie Allan - Leicester
Monty Bradbury
Conor Cross
George Makepeace-Cubitt - Rams (ND1)
Jake Shortland
Jack Walsh
Alexander Harmes
Ralph McEachran
Rory Taylor - Gloucester
Finn Worley Brady
Toby Maddock
Charlie Moss

Ralph McEachran has signed for Sale.

[Margin_Walker]

Yep, good on him. Can't be easy getting a contract out of school and having it ripped up instantly, before having to find another.

Also Tom Hitchcock to Ealing and Calum Scott to Rams now confirmed

Ben Atkins - Rams (ND1)
Matt Cornish - Ealing
Agustín Creevy - Sale
Ignacio Ruiz
Lovejoy Chawatama - Harlequins
Luke Green
Ciaran Parker
Danilo Fischetti - Zebre
Will Goodrick-Clarke
Ollie Hoskins - Saracens
Josh Caulfield - Bristol
Adam Coleman - Bordeaux
Chunya Munga - Northampton
Api Ratuniyarawa
Ed Scragg - Scarlets
Josh Basham
Ben Donnell - Gloucester
Jack Cooke
So'otala Fa'aso'o - Perpignan
Juan Martín González
Izaia Moore-Aiono
Tom Pearson - Northampton
Matt Rogerson (c)- Leicester
Josh Smart
Caolan Englefield - Gloucester
Joe Powell - Leicester
Ben White - Toulon
Jacob Atkins - Rovigo
Paddy Jackson - Lyon
Rory Jennings - Newcastle
Tom Hitchcock - Ealing
Benhard Janse van Rensburg - Bristol
Will Joseph - Harlequins
Luca Morisi
Eddie Poolman
Matt Williams
Ben Loader
Lucio Cinti - Saracens
Henry Arundell - Racing 92
Kyle Rowe - Glasgow
Tom Collins
Michael Dykes - Gloucester

Calum Scott - Rams (ND1)
Joe Vajner
Afolabi Fasogbon - Gloucester
Tarek Haffar - Northampton
Mikey Summerfield - Bath
Chandler Cunningham-South - Harlequins
Jarlath Gleeson
Lucas Brooke
Ollie Allan - Leicester
Monty Bradbury
Conor Cross
George Makepeace-Cubitt - Rams (ND1)
Jake Shortland
Jack Walsh
Alexander Harmes
Ralph McEachran - Sale
Rory Taylor - Gloucester
Finn Worley Brady
Toby Maddock
Charlie Moss

[FKAS]

Marcus Smith signs a contract extension at Quins.