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

[Puja]

This article in Midi Olympique says that Jasper Wiese, currently with Leicester Tigers, is in advanced negotiations for a contract with Stade Français from next season.

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/11/05/tra ... 562285.php

"The first contacts went well but nothing has been confirmed. We will let him breathe in the country, allow him to take full advantage of the celebrations following him winning the RWC. After that, we will probably re-engage in dialogue."

Sounds like the headline's exaggerating a touch with "advanced negotiations"! Hopefully we can get him down to another contract - he's one of those players that's nigh irreplaceable.

Puja

[francoisfou]

This article in Midi Olympique says that Jasper Wiese, currently with Leicester Tigers, is in advanced negotiations for a contract with Stade Français from next season.

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/11/05/tra ... 562285.php

"The first contacts went well but nothing has been confirmed. We will let him breathe in the country, allow him to take full advantage of the celebrations following him winning the RWC. After that, we will probably re-engage in dialogue."

Sounds like the headline's exaggerating a touch with "advanced negotiations"! Hopefully we can get him down to another contract - he's one of those players that's nigh irreplaceable.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ah FFS I was hoping we'd get another contract out of him before he disappeared off to France or Japan. There were rumours his new contract (and that of Martin's) were almost ready to go so I'm hoping it's just a bit of agent work to push Tigers to get it finalised.

[francoisfou]

Newcastle's Mateo Carreras is said to have signed a three-year contract with Top14 club Bayonne, from next season.

Only a matter of time really. He's been too box-office to be at Newcastle for a while and after his performances in the RWC, there was no chance a French club wouldn't snap him up.

Puja

The deal has apparently fallen through as Carreras hasn’t returned the pre-contract papers to Bayonne, but there’ll undoubtedly be another Top14 club chasing his signature. Maybe Racing?

[FKAS]

Newcastle's Mateo Carreras is said to have signed a three-year contract with Top14 club Bayonne, from next season.

Only a matter of time really. He's been too box-office to be at Newcastle for a while and after his performances in the RWC, there was no chance a French club wouldn't snap him up.

Puja

The deal has apparently fallen through as Carreras hasn’t returned the pre-contract papers to Bayonne, but there’ll undoubtedly be another Top14 club chasing his signature. Maybe Racing?

Maybe he's fallen for a Geordie lass and can't bare to leave the area

[FKAS]

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

Toby Maddock was named on the bench for a Tigers development side game against Oxford Uni yesterday.

[Margin_Walker]

Yep, saw that. He was another school leaver, so good to see him get a chance somewhere. Must be pretty tough working hard to win a senior academy contract and then have it taken away from you due to external events before you even start.

Of the others Green and Harmes have signed for Amptihill and Shortland is at Cinderford in ND1, so only Poolman that I can't find anything for.

[FKAS]

Wouldn't surprise me if Poolman wasn't back in Australia playing Shute level again. He only joined LI in Jan was it?

[Margin_Walker]

Yep. Expect he's back there playing club rugby there somewhere.

He joined just before Christmas as a bit of a Porter type Sydney Uni punt. Announced in Jan.

[Mellsblue]

James Grayson leaving Northampton for Japan.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... ton-saints

[Banquo]

James Grayson leaving Northampton for Japan.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... ton-saints

Not great management from Saints- that said, he's been poor in some of the bigger games.

[Puja]

James Grayson leaving Northampton for Japan.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... ton-saints

Not great management from Saints- that said, he's been poor in some of the bigger games.

I always got the impression when watching him that he lacked that little bit of quality to reach the very top level. Would be an excellent Champ player and a very decent budget third choice for a good Prem side, but not someone that'd ever be able to command a 10 shirt on a regular basis.

Fair play to him - clearly believes in himself more than I do and wants to go prove it. Wish him the best in Japan and hope he has a great time.

Puja

[Spiffy]

James Grayson leaving Northampton for Japan.

https://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/new ... ton-saints

Not great management from Saints- that said, he's been poor in some of the bigger games.

Like the once-promising Mallinder, he has sadly moved on to oblivion. Both had the makings of pretty good players and probably could have been developed by better coaching.

[Mellsblue]

Could just be that he wants more money. .

[Adam_P]

Think the writing was on the wall somewhat for Grayson once we started seeing Furbank selected at 10 over him. To be honest I felt more annoyed about Ethan than James, who I thought looked like he could be the real deal.

Saints have brought in Charlie Savala on loan from Edinburgh to cover, who I know nothing about

[FKAS]

I'm surprised Grayson has stayed this long. He's been in and out the side and has generally been third choice. There were rumours he'd join Falcons where he'd have easily been first choice and the chance to play lots of first team rugby. Playing in Japan isn't a bad choice. Good learning opportunity and from there he could even dabble in Super Rugby.

[francoisfou]

George North is said to be in negotiations to join ProD2 club Provence Rugby, who are currently in second place and in a good postion to contest the end of season playoffs for promotion to the Top14.
Other former UK players with Provence are: Tomas Francis, Teimana Harrison, Jimmy Gopperth and Jonny McPhilips.

[FKAS]

I mean he'll be 32 at the end of the season but surely this is his agent just announcing his availability to the open market. Provence would be a nice place to play out a chunky final contract though.

[francoisfou]

[quote=FKAS post_id=311016 time=1700154904 user_id=3347]
I mean he'll be 32 at the end of the season but surely this is his agent just announcing his availability to the open market. Provence would be a nice place to play out a chunky final contract though. This article in Midi Olympique says that North has been to the club and met those responsible. If he does agree terms it’d be a tremendous signing for this promising ProD2 club
[/https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/11/16/tra ... 583916.php

[16th man]

I mean he'll be 32 at the end of the season but surely this is his agent just announcing his availability to the open market. Provence would be a nice place to play out a chunky final contract though.

You'd assume with his history of head knocks he'd want the biggest pay day he can get for a couple of years before getting out of the game.

[Which Tyler]

Hame Faiva; Hurricanes => Bath
29 year old capped hooker - now we know where Piers Francis' salary is being re-spent. Shame for Stewart and Spandler, but definitely an upgrade in an area we were short of numbers.
Still a bit short at lock though, but I guess some of the backrows can cover if necessary.

[francoisfou]

Richard Cockerill's days as head coach of Montpellier may be numbered.

Montpellier, who were Top14 champions in 2022, won their first match of this season but have lost the last six and are sitting two points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Bernard Laporte, who was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption in December 2022, has been appointed Director of Rugby by Montpellier President Mohed Altrad, who simultaneously was given an 18-month suspended sentence in the same affair of an allegedly crooked shirt sponsor deal for the French XV!

Altrad has called a club meeting for this afternoon, presumably to confirm the appointment of Laporte, and maybe the departure of Cockerill?

For the record, there are three Brits in the squad, Harry Williams, Sam Simmonds and Elliot Stooke, who'll is due to rejoin Bath in the near future.

[Oakboy]

Telegraph reports that Itoje could be moving (to France?) rather than accept his salary being cut in half in the proposed new contract. Saracens plan to award Farrell with the marquee contract ahead of him. That's Itoje out of the England team, then!

[Which Tyler]

Telegraph reports that Itoje could be moving (to France?) rather than accept his salary being cut in half in the proposed new contract. Saracens plan to award Farrell with the marquee contract ahead of him. That's Itoje out of the England team, then!

Can someone PLEASE convince Saracens to do the precise opposite?

[fivepointer]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?