Transfer news, rumours, suggestions, frenzied speculation, and outright lies - Season 2023-24

[Puja]

A new season dawns, almost unnoticed by being hidden behind England's inevitable charge towards their World Cup win, so it's time for a new thread.

Interesting article in the Telegraph, speculating about salaries and how they have balanced their squads for the (alphabetically) first five clubs in the Prem: https://12ft.io/proxy?&q=https%3A%2F%2F ... harlequins

Interested to see their take on Saracens when the second half of the list comes out - not because I think they're cheating, but because they have balanced their squad better than anyone and I'd like to see if there's any insight into how they've done that.

Puja

[FKAS]

Thanks for sharing that, interesting read.

Chiefs are an odd one, I still wouldn't be surprised if they used a bit of left over cap to pick up one or two world cup prospects.

Nice injury dispensation work by Quins to reinforce the pack in the short term with players that could stay for the long term.

As you say Sarries will make a fascinating read as they've been very good at rejuvenating their squad.

Some rumours Tigers might be making use of the injury dispensation funds with James Cronin out for a spell.

[Puja]

Thanks for sharing that, interesting read.

Chiefs are an odd one, I still wouldn't be surprised if they used a bit of left over cap to pick up one or two world cup prospects.

Nice injury dispensation work by Quins to reinforce the pack in the short term with players that could stay for the long term.

As you say Sarries will make a fascinating read as they've been very good at rejuvenating their squad.

Some rumours Tigers might be making use of the injury dispensation funds with James Cronin out for a spell.

There's more than a few promising T2 players who I suspect would be of interest, although I feel some of them might not be as good as individuals as they appeared within their highly cohesive international setups.

On Leicester, Rory Sutherland is still without a club. I can't believe we wouldn't be interested in him.

Puja

[Puja]

Part 2: https://12ft.io/www.telegraph.co.uk/rug ... -saracens/

Puja

[FKAS]

Looking at that Sarries may well have a stellar season this year but next summer might deliver some body blows unless they can offload the Vunipolas and use those savings plus the increase in cap to secure some of the others out of contract. Some of those guys might be eyeing up moves abroad to gain new experiences and big final contracts though. Jamie George in particular would interest a lot of French sides.

[Beasties]

Schonert as Sale’s top earner? Did I read that correctly?

[FKAS]

Schonert as Sale’s top earner? Did I read that correctly?

Tightheads and flyhalfs are expensive and they can't have Ford out the cap for the first two year of his contract as he's come from another Prem side. LCD can't be for the same reason.

The du Perez twins and Manu must be up there pretty close mind.

[Puja]

Looking at that Sarries may well have a stellar season this year but next summer might deliver some body blows unless they can offload the Vunipolas and use those savings plus the increase in cap to secure some of the others out of contract. Some of those guys might be eyeing up moves abroad to gain new experiences and big final contracts though. Jamie George in particular would interest a lot of French sides.

Please gods, let Farrell go to France.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Looking at that Sarries may well have a stellar season this year but next summer might deliver some body blows unless they can offload the Vunipolas and use those savings plus the increase in cap to secure some of the others out of contract. Some of those guys might be eyeing up moves abroad to gain new experiences and big final contracts though. Jamie George in particular would interest a lot of French sides.

Please gods, let Farrell go to France.

Puja

[Puja]

Looking at that Sarries may well have a stellar season this year but next summer might deliver some body blows unless they can offload the Vunipolas and use those savings plus the increase in cap to secure some of the others out of contract. Some of those guys might be eyeing up moves abroad to gain new experiences and big final contracts though. Jamie George in particular would interest a lot of French sides.

Please gods, let Farrell go to France.

Puja

It's not entirely out of the question based on that article (which does contain a lot of speculation, mind). If Farrell is joint marquee with Itoje and that only lasts till his contract needs renewing, and that contract is up in the summer, then he's an awfully big salary to try and incorporate into the main wagebill. Add to that the press starting to turn on him and it may be that he decides he'd rather have an overseas payday than have a paycut to stay.

Puja

[FKAS]

Depends on how much a pay cut doesn't it. If the salary cap is going up and both Vunipolas are out the door Sarries will have some cap to play with. In West and Mawi they've got two other good looseheads and Willis is signed in as the next 8. Replace both Vunipolas with squad men or prospects save several hundred thousand as the salary cap also goes up.

Racing are after a big name 10 and Burt always had a soft spot for Farrell though so fingers crossed he's not fired in the first season.

[jimKRFC]

Sam Grahamslaw, ex-Jersey, joins as injury cover. Rumoured to be for Yann Thomas who is out with long term concussion related injuries Which I really hope is not true.

[Margin_Walker]

Updated position on the LI players that had been contracted for this season. Almost all seem to have landed somewhere, albeit plenty have dropped down a level or two. Luke Green played some pre season stuff for Saints and there was talk of a short term contract, but haven't seen that confirmed anywhere. Can't find anything for Poolman, assume he may have gone back to Oz. Interesting to see a couple of the academy lads be picked up be French teams.

Ben Atkins - Rams (ND1)
Matt Cornish - Ealing
Agustín Creevy - Sale
Ignacio Ruiz - Perpignan
Lovejoy Chawatama - Harlequins
Luke Green
Ciaran Parker - Cardiff
Danilo Fischetti - Zebre
Will Goodrick-Clarke - Ealing
Ollie Hoskins - Saracens
Josh Caulfield - Bristol
Adam Coleman - Bordeaux
Chunya Munga - Northampton
Api Ratuniyarawa - Bayonne
Ed Scragg - Scarlets
Josh Basham - Koto Blue Sharks
Ben Donnell - Gloucester
Jack Cooke - Landsdowne (AIL)
So'otala Fa'aso'o - Perpignan
Juan Martín González - Saracens
Izaia Moore-Aiono - Ampthill
Tom Pearson - Northampton
Matt Rogerson (c)- Leicester
Josh Smart - Ampthill
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 - Zebre
Eddie Poolman
Matt Williams - Rosslyn Park (ND1)
Ben Loader - Stormers
Lucio Cinti - Saracens
Henry Arundell - Racing 92
Kyle Rowe - Glasgow
Tom Collins - Ealing
Michael Dykes - Gloucester

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

[Tigersman]

Lucas Brooke will 100% be picked by Exeter
Can see tigers keeping and eye on Cross at Loughborough especially as he's playing with Allen and Meredith

[FKAS]

The ties between Loughborough University and Tigers aren't as tight as they should be. Saints have connections up there, Wasps used to and there's some Sale connection as there's been a few guys released from there at 18 who've ended up at Loughborough Uni.

Tigers are increasingly using it as a training ground though with as you say Allen and Meredith playing BUCS there and us providing the Nat2 front row (Miell, Smith, Crane). Got Leicester Lions and Chinnor in Nat1 with Notts in the Championship as well for the loan guys.

[Margin_Walker]

Luke Green and Alex Harmes signed by Ampthill. That's it for the senior squad other than Poolman.

BUCs is definitely viable these days. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see the likes of Brooke or Walsh to pitch up at a prem club at some point in the future.

[Tigersman]

The ties between Loughborough University and Tigers aren't as tight as they should be. Saints have connections up there, Wasps used to and there's some Sale connection as there's been a few guys released from there at 18 who've ended up at Loughborough Uni.

Tigers are increasingly using it as a training ground though with as you say Allen and Meredith playing BUCS there and us providing the Nat2 front row (Miell, Smith, Crane). Got Leicester Lions and Chinnor in Nat1 with Notts in the Championship as well for the loan guys.

Sale don't really have much connections, the players go to Loughborough because it's a major sports uni.
Sale have more connections with MMU

[Banquo]

Wait til the prem clubs squad sizes are capped…

[FKAS]

The ties between Loughborough University and Tigers aren't as tight as they should be. Saints have connections up there, Wasps used to and there's some Sale connection as there's been a few guys released from there at 18 who've ended up at Loughborough Uni.

Tigers are increasingly using it as a training ground though with as you say Allen and Meredith playing BUCS there and us providing the Nat2 front row (Miell, Smith, Crane). Got Leicester Lions and Chinnor in Nat1 with Notts in the Championship as well for the loan guys.

Sale don't really have much connections, the players go to Loughborough because it's a major sports uni.
Sale have more connections with MMU

I was thinking more that there might be a coach connection as opposed to a partnership. I'm sure one of the Leatherbarrow lads was still on some sort of contract at Sale whilst playing at Loughborough.

You're right it has a ridiculous sports offering there.

[ilovelamp]

Will Stuart to Glaws. His performance against us at ‘holm last season was up there in terms of all time great individual ones from an opponent. He was a monster that day. Not convinced he’s totally consistent but would be a great signing.

[Puja]

Will Stuart to Glaws. His performance against us at ‘holm last season was up there in terms of all time great individual ones from an opponent. He was a monster that day. Not convinced he’s totally consistent but would be a great signing.

A move could be a great thing for his development, but isn't tighthead crowded at Kingsholm? You're already got Balmain, who's one of the better 3s in the Prem and I don't want too many impediments to Fasogbon's eventual domination.

Puja

[FKAS]

Balmain only signed a contract in March as well so unless he's signed a one year deal he should be sticking around. Fasogbon is only 19 so perhaps a case of Skivs successor planning with Balmain 32 at the start of next season, Stuart 28 and Fasogbon 20. Would be a nice age split between the three tightheads.

[Puja]

Balmain only signed a contract in March as well so unless he's signed a one year deal he should be sticking around. Fasogbon is only 19 so perhaps a case of Skivs successor planning with Balmain 32 at the start of next season, Stuart 28 and Fasogbon 20. Would be a nice age split between the three tightheads.

I suppose, and no-one's ever been sad about having too many decent tightheads. You'd expect Fasogbon to be looking to take over age 22-23, so you'd think Balmain could keep playing till 34-35, but why not stock up if Stuart's coming for the right price.

Puja

[FKAS]

Balmain only signed a contract in March as well so unless he's signed a one year deal he should be sticking around. Fasogbon is only 19 so perhaps a case of Skivs successor planning with Balmain 32 at the start of next season, Stuart 28 and Fasogbon 20. Would be a nice age split between the three tightheads.

I suppose, and no-one's ever been sad about having too many decent tightheads. You'd expect Fasogbon to be looking to take over age 22-23, so you'd think Balmain could keep playing till 34-35, but why not stock up if Stuart's coming for the right price.

Puja

You reckon Balmain will sign another contract after this one? He signed the last one whilst injured iirc. I wouldn't be surprised to see him head over to France and top up the pension on a three year deal rather than fall down the pecking order on a smaller deal.

[francoisfou]

I've just read that Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlam are in advanced talks with Toulon.

More to follow?

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/10/27/tra ... 545837.php