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

[twitchy]

Exe have signed u18's for the academy:

"winger and centre Toby Clinch, scrum-half Louie Sinclair, hooker Sol Moody and lock Junior Kpoku ".

[Puja]

Exe have signed u18's for the academy:

"winger and centre Toby Clinch, scrum-half Louie Sinclair, hooker Sol Moody and lock Junior Kpoku ".

Sounds like he'll be good off the bench in a tight game.

Interesting to see Junior leaving Saracens. His brothers left the club and Joel was notably grumpy about the environment and how they'd treated him after he left, so perhaps not surprising. Junior is apparently bigger than his brothers already, so probably nailed into the Exeter 7 shirt. Be interesting to see how he goes.

Puja

[Puja]

Santiago Grondona has joined Bristol Bears, the club can confirm.

Don't know too much about him myself, but the Exe fans seem disappointed he was allowed to leave.

Good player - regular Argentine international and a tough nugget in the back row. You've done well there.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Sean Robinson off to Kyuden Voltex in Japan. Pity to lose him from the Prem. Very under rated player.

[Peej]

Dom Morris leaves Sarries for a season long loan at Ospreys.

Well that's convenient timing

[Puja]

Dom Morris leaves Sarries for a season long loan at Ospreys.

Well that's convenient timing

Probably not the last Sarries player to go see the sights somewhere else for a season, I suspect.

Puja

[FKAS]

Dom Morris leaves Sarries for a season long loan at Ospreys.

Well that's convenient timing

Probably not the last Sarries player to go see the sights somewhere else for a season, I suspect.

Puja

If Tompkins and Daly go to the world cup it does leave them a bit short.

[Puja]

Well that's convenient timing

Probably not the last Sarries player to go see the sights somewhere else for a season, I suspect.

Puja

If Tompkins and Daly go to the world cup it does leave them a bit short.

Cinti as well, but they can make do and mend for a few weeks for the sake of staying under the salary cap.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

[Margin_Walker]

Now that guy's an elite journeyman. He's held tackle bags for half the league at this point. New club every year.

2011–2012 Free State Cheetahs
2012–2014 Stade Français
2014–2015 Eastern Province Kings
2015–2016 Leicester Tigers
2016–2019 Bath
2016–2017 → London Scottish (loan)
2019 → London Irish (loan)
2019–2020 Northampton Saints
2019 → Bedford Blues (loan)
2020 → Ampthill (loan)
2020–2021 Ealing Trailfinders
2021–2022 Wasps
2022 Lions
2023 Golden Lions
2023 Newcastle

[FKAS]

He's big and he's mobile for some reason he's just not that good. Makes sense for Falcons in a way what with Blamire back in England contention. Given they've got Byrne in from Bristol already and Maddison another journeyman before you get to Fletcher who looked perfectly comfortable stepping up as squad cover and the brilliantly named Corbin Thunder also joining maybe they could have spent the money somewhere else.

Unless there's a long term injury in amongst those players already.

[Mellsblue]

Now that guy's an elite journeyman. He's held tackle bags for half the league at this point. New club every year.

2011–2012 Free State Cheetahs
2012–2014 Stade Français
2014–2015 Eastern Province Kings
2015–2016 Leicester Tigers
2016–2019 Bath
2016–2017 → London Scottish (loan)
2019 → London Irish (loan)
2019–2020 Northampton Saints
2019 → Bedford Blues (loan)
2020 → Ampthill (loan)
2020–2021 Ealing Trailfinders
2021–2022 Wasps
2022 Lions
2023 Golden Lions
2023 Newcastle

His agent must be knackered!

[Margin_Walker]

Gloucester stockpiling Eng age grade 10s. Monty Bradbury follows Rory Taylor to join them from LI.

Latest confirmed signings from LI:

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 - Bayonne
Ed Scragg - Scarlets
Josh Basham
Ben Donnell - Gloucester
Jack Cooke
So'otala Fa'aso'o - Perpignan
Juan Martín González - Saracens
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 - Ealing
Michael Dykes - Gloucester

Calum Scott - Rams (ND1)
Joe Vajner
Afolabi Fasogbon - Gloucester
Tarek Haffar - Northampton
Mikey Summerfield - Bath
Chandler Cunningham-South - Harlequins
Jarlath Gleeson - Lyon
Lucas Brooke
Ollie Allan - Leicester
Monty Bradbury - Gloucester
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

[fivepointer]

Not surprised Bradbury has been picked up by a Prem side. Surprised Goodrick-Clark and Basham are still in limbo.

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah, I think Bradbury just needed to get a bit further into his rehab without a hitch to get picked up. Gloucester not a surprise with James Lightfoot Brown there. He'll be used to having Taylor snapping at his heels, as he was sitting a couple of years below him at school as well (Wellington)

Not heard any strong rumours with Basham. He may have something unannounced lined up like Loader. Basham, Loader, Green and a few others are training out on the pitches at Hazelwood still at the moment.

There was an early Ealing rumour with WGC, but nothing since. Ruiz is T14 bound with USAP by all accounts.

[FKAS]

I'm amazed nobody has picked up Basham, he's a good backrow.

Goodrick-Clark is a good club level loosehead. I'd take him at Tigers to add some depth.

Exeter should probably take both if they've got any cap left.

[Which Tyler]

Goodrick-Clark is a good club level loosehead. I'd take him at Tigers to add some depth

Same at Bath. If they haven't already spent JJ's salary, then picking up WGC would be a good move to add some depth before blooding the academy props.
TBH, if he did come to us, he'd be higher up the pecking order than that as well, quite possibly even making fist choice match-day 23.

[FKAS]

Goodrick-Clark is a good club level loosehead. I'd take him at Tigers to add some depth

Same at Bath. If they haven't already spent JJ's salary, then picking up WGC would be a good move to add some depth before blooding the academy props.
TBH, if he did come to us, he'd be higher up the pecking order than that as well, quite possibly even making fist choice match-day 23.

Yeah he'd very much be contention at Tigers. Easily better than our third choice and very much capable of becoming first choice should he bring his best form.

Only thing counting against him was the injury lay off last season from January onwards.

There's still rumours amongst the Tigers fan base another prop is due to be announced but given the timing I suspect it's an international joining after the world cup.

[Margin_Walker]

Goodrick-Clark is a good club level loosehead. I'd take him at Tigers to add some depth

Same at Bath. If they haven't already spent JJ's salary, then picking up WGC would be a good move to add some depth before blooding the academy props.
TBH, if he did come to us, he'd be higher up the pecking order than that as well, quite possibly even making fist choice match-day 23.

Yeah he'd very much be contention at Tigers. Easily better than our third choice and very much capable of becoming first choice should he bring his best form.

Only thing counting against him was the injury lay off last season from January onwards.

There's still rumours amongst the Tigers fan base another prop is due to be announced but given the timing I suspect it's an international joining after the world cup.

He's a really solid prop. In the Joe Marler mould really. Strong at the set piece and strong defensively if you run anywhere near him. Not much going on in the loose. That's useful enough in the prem and that's definitely his level. He was actually fit again and training for the run in last season, but Haffar was preferred to him as more of an impact all court loosehead off the bench.

[francoisfou]

Eddie Jones is said to be leaving his current job as Wallabbies' coach after the World Cup to become coach of Tokyo Sungoliath.
Jumping before he's pushed!

[FKAS]

Eddie Jones is said to be leaving his current job as Wallabbies' coach after the World Cup to become coach of Tokyo Sungoliath.
Jumping before he's pushed!

Hasn't he been a coaching consultant there for years now? I can't imagine he's going to walk away from a contract to 2027 which includes two men's world cups, a women's world cup and a Lions Tour for him to oversee.

[Mellsblue]

Ethan Grayson back at The Finishing School. No word on the length of deal, would guess one season, but I’m very happy with that.

[francoisfou]

Eddie Jones is said to be leaving his current job as Wallabbies' coach after the World Cup to become coach of Tokyo Sungoliath.
Jumping before he's pushed!

Hasn't he been a coaching consultant there for years now? I can't imagine he's going to walk away from a contract to 2027 which includes two men's world cups, a women's world cup and a Lions Tour for him to oversee.

According to this article in Rugbyrama, and I think my interpretation is correct, he's to be "director of rugby of Tokyo Sungloiath next season ...a position of high responsibility that wouldn't be compatible with being in charge of the Wallabies".

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/08/07/cou ... 383062.php

Of course, it could be pure speculation, but this website is generally reliable.

[Puja]

Eddie Jones is said to be leaving his current job as Wallabbies' coach after the World Cup to become coach of Tokyo Sungoliath.
Jumping before he's pushed!

Hasn't he been a coaching consultant there for years now? I can't imagine he's going to walk away from a contract to 2027 which includes two men's world cups, a women's world cup and a Lions Tour for him to oversee.

I absolutely can. He's already starting to get opprobrium from the press and fans that he's not magically solved Australia's many problems immediately and I would not be surprised if he's looking at the prospect of another four years with no great prospect of improving and deciding he doesn't fancy it. Not like he's needs the money after we got through with him.

Puja

[FKAS]

Wow the guys at the ARU will be fuming if he does go early. They stuck their neck out to bring him in. Sacked a decent head coach and saw the guy that was being lined up as the successor take a job overseas because the job wasn't going to be available.

If he leaves them in the lurch they are going to look more than a little foolish.

Sign of the times that Ethan Grayson hasn't been picked up by a Prem club. A few years ago someone would have definitely taken a punt on him, tightening purse strings everywhere. I'm sure he'll do well at Bedford.