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

[Mikey Brown]

The Lawrence ‘rumour’ seems to be based on nothing at all. He seems very happy at Bath. Isn’t he best mates with Redpath?

Not that I’d turn him away, but Quins need a real 12 option rather than trying to convert another 13, beyond Anyanwu.

[Which Tyler]

I suspect it's either based on "Quins would like to, whether they can or not" or someone like Fissler thinking "who'd be a good replacement for Esterhuizen, and would bait some clicks?"

[Epaminondas Pules]

Telegraph has Pepper Newcastle => Bath, presumed Cloete replacement
TRP has Lawrence => Quins IF they lose Esterhuizen - which seems a little optimistic (plausible, but optimistic) TBH, I think he's enjoying himself at Bath, and is grateful for the 2nd chance. You've got to think that Bath would fight hard to keep him as well.
Not to mention that (I think) he's under contract.

Can’t see Lawrence moving. Seems to be right at home and playing with one of his best mates.

Pepper would be an outstanding signing! Proper quality that lad! Feel for Newcastle. But the move could accelerate his higher ambitions greatly. Makes backrow a nightmare for opposition teams. And with Underhill’s fitness and general rotation plenty of game time in a genuinely challenging team rather than flogging himself in an understrength side.

[Which Tyler]

Shock news - Bath sign a Saffer: https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/bulls-lock-links-bath/
Jacques du Plessis (hard carrying lock, I gather)
Interestingly, he's coming to Bath immediately to rehab from his current injury, and if he gains fitness before June, will return to the Bulls to see out the season.

I think I'm actually feeling some pride in Bath's medical team this season!

[FKAS]

Jacques du Plessis was a physically brutal lock/6 for Montpellier a few years ago. Very good at stopping opposition rolling mauls. From what I heard he's barely played for the Bulls because of injury. If Bath can get him fit and firing he'll be a great addition to their pack.

[FKAS]

Gallo of Benneton and Argentina being linked to Tigers. He looked good for the Pumas at the world cup and at only 24 should have many good years ahead.

[Puja]

Gallo of Benneton and Argentina being linked to Tigers. He looked good for the Pumas at the world cup and at only 24 should have many good years ahead.

I'm dubious of Argentine props, as clubs seem to sign them and then realise they're trading on the history rather than being any good themselves, but a quick google suggests that he's their first choice loosehead and doing well for Benetton, so I'm intrigued. Would have to be a step up on Cronin.

Puja

[FKAS]

Gallo of Benneton and Argentina being linked to Tigers. He looked good for the Pumas at the world cup and at only 24 should have many good years ahead.

I'm dubious of Argentine props, as clubs seem to sign them and then realise they're trading on the history rather than being any good themselves, but a quick google suggests that he's their first choice loosehead and doing well for Benetton, so I'm intrigued. Would have to be a step up on Cronin.

Puja

I'm very dubious of the ones that have around 10 caps to their name and are late twenties upwards as they often seem to get deals around Europe and trade on memories of previous greats. Gallo has twenty odd caps at 24 and looked good at the world cup. As a Cronin replacement it would be a big call given his age but worth a go. Cronin isn't big shoes to fill.

Some possibly hopeful more than truthful rumours going round on the offy board that Genge has had a sizeable bust up with Pat Lam.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m sure Sarries will somehow have space for Genge if he needs a home.

[FKAS]

I’m sure Sarries will somehow have space for Genge if he needs a home.

Sod that, he can come back to his second home. He's up in Leicester a fair bit as is with his business and I think his wife is from up here.

[jimKRFC]

Some possibly hopeful more than truthful rumours going round on the offy board that Genge has had a sizeable bust up with Pat Lam.

Sounds possible not seen any hint of that on the Bris unofficial site. Got a link to it please?

[FKAS]

Some possibly hopeful more than truthful rumours going round on the offy board that Genge has had a sizeable bust up with Pat Lam.

Sounds possible not seen any hint of that on the Bris unofficial site. Got a link to it please?

Tigers offy board. I'd give it a 1% at most chance it's got any factual foundation.

[jimKRFC]

Some possibly hopeful more than truthful rumours going round on the offy board that Genge has had a sizeable bust up with Pat Lam.

Sounds possible not seen any hint of that on the Bris unofficial site. Got a link to it please?

Tigers offy board. I'd give it a 1% at most chance it's got any factual foundation.

TBH the sportsnetwork site is pretty anti-Lam at present so it was a surprise there was a negative rumour about him that wasn't there!

Fissler has said that Bristol weren't active in the transfer market as Lam's future was under review, and, with the Bath win he's now a bit more secure so Bristol are only just starting recruitment. Which is annoying as it means we're months behind other clubs (perhaps why Pepper is Bath bound).

[FKAS]

Incredible to think there's a club that's not well on their way to finishing their recruitment for next season already. Even if Bristol parted company with Lam they'd presumably still be eyeing up a similar style of coach. They must know what type of player they want.

More rumours:

Matt Gallagher to Benneton, a bit of a shock as he's been good for Bath.

Josh Kemeny the two cap Aussie flanker heading to Saints, seems as a Ludlam replacement

[Which Tyler]

Matt Gallagher to Benneton, a bit of a shock as he's been good for Bath.

Not that much of a shock, was originally thought he'd return to Munster, but that was confirmed not happening a few weeks ago.
With TdG and Sam Harris, we're moving from solidity to attacking threat at the back

[Epaminondas Pules]

Matt Gallagher to Benneton, a bit of a shock as he's been good for Bath.

Not that much of a shock, was originally thought he'd return to Munster, but that was confirmed not happening a few weeks ago.
With TdG and Sam Harris, we're moving from solidity to attacking threat at the back

He's got grandparents out there too. Harries is the future for sure, so seems a perfect time for that transition.

[Adam_P]

Josh Kemeny confirmed to Saints. Looks to have the ideal game to fit into Saints' way of playing - presumably the replacement for Ludlam

[FKAS]

Josh Kemeny confirmed to Saints. Looks to have the ideal game to fit into Saints' way of playing - presumably the replacement for Ludlam

Maybe there is something to the Tigers rumour mill after all

There's going to be a few Aussie players looking for work with the future of the Rebels very much looking to be similar to that of Wasps, Worcester and LI.

[Banquo]

Josh Kemeny confirmed to Saints. Looks to have the ideal game to fit into Saints' way of playing - presumably the replacement for Ludlam

Maybe there is something to the Tigers rumour mill after all

There's going to be a few Aussie players looking for work with the future of the Rebels very much looking to be similar to that of Wasps, Worcester and LI.

the game in Aus is in even worse trouble than here. And we are in pretty deep trouble imo

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/playe ... bath-rugby

Regan Grace - continuing his Rehab at Farleigh, signed a short-term contract to play in the 6N friendlies in March (if fully fit).
Jacques du Plessis - Doing his rehab at Farleigh, will be joining Bath in the summer. If he's fit before then, he'll return to South Africa to play for them.
Neil le Roux - Doing his rehab at Farliegh, and the rehab announcement looks like it's doing double-duty as a signing announcement.

[FKAS]

According to Fissler:

Hastings to Glasgow
McGuigan to be released at the end of his contract
Andre Esterhuizen to the Sharks with Quins wanting a £500k transfer fee
Alex Hearle to Newcastle
Magnus Bradbury to Edinburgh

[switchskier]

According to Fissler:

Hastings to Glasgow
McGuigan to be released at the end of his contract
Andre Esterhuizen to the Sharks with Quins wanting a £500k transfer fee
Alex Hearle to Newcastle
Magnus Bradbury to Edinburgh

Bradbury has been good at Bristol hasn't he? I can see why a swap with Mata going the other way makes superficial sense, but it would be better for Scotland and Edinburgh if he stayed south and some of our younger back rows got time.

Hastings to Glasgow seems a done deal.

[FKAS]

Glasgow do need an improvement at 10. Whether Hastings can stay fit enough to offer that we'll see.

I'm surprised Bradbury isn't going somewhere to up his earnings. He's a decent number 8 who's out the Scotland picture. Will heading back to Edinburgh help that? I thought France would probably be calling. He's 28, good time for a three yearly deal in France.

[jimKRFC]

Bradbury has been good for Bristol. He's done the basics really well, lake few errors and generally gets us moving forward. Would be sorry to see him go.

Can see why he's looking to go if he feels Mata is coming in as No1 8. If it's so Mata can rotate and give the sr academy 8s a chance then it kind of makes sense. But suspect Mata will come, we'll lose Magnus, and the young players will get no more game time.

[Scrumhead]

Rugby Pass reporting that Esterhuizen to the Sharks is a done deal. Huge, huge loss for Quins. He is integral to our style and even if the transfer fee gives us some de ent money to replace him with, there aren’t many players who can do what he does.