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

[jimKRFC]

Harry Byrne rumoured to be coming to Bristol for 3 months;

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/le ... 28382.html

[Puja]

Harry Byrne rumoured to be coming to Bristol for 3 months;

https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/le ... 28382.html

Seems like an incredibly sensible move to me. Bristol can't function without MacGinty and it's a hell of a lot to dump onto Worsley.

Puja

[FKAS]

That'll be a great signing for Bristol. He's gone from being in the frame for Ireland to bring the forgotten man for club and country. He's only played 50 mins of rugby this season and I don't think he's injured. He and his brother could well be looking to move on next summer. Connacht will be interested again, Ulster might be depending on how their youngsters fare.

Even if both Byrne's do upsticks and move Leinster will still have Prendergast the heir apparent to the Ireland 10 shirt. Frawley who's international quality in half of the backline positions and Tector who seems like another Frawley in the making. There's also the next big thing in Casper Gabriel who's being described as the biggest school boy talent ever seen in the Leinster Schools system which is a pretty bold statement.

Given Bristol are after a new 10 for next season this could be a try before you buy for both them and Byrne. A 25 year old international flyhalf who won't actually miss any of the season, not a bad signing.

[FKAS]

Tom Parton leaves Sarries for Panasonic Wild Knights with immediate effect.

[Which Tyler]

Regan Grace to Cardiff with immediate effect.
Just not getting game time for Bath (always going to be an issue if you insist on not having enough backs on the bench), and Cardiff having an injury crisis.

It was expected that this would be a loan; but looks like it's permanent.

Unknown if this has any effect whatsoever on the Arundell rumours.

[FKAS]

Regan Grace to Cardiff with immediate effect.
Just not getting game time for Bath (always going to be an issue if you insist on not having enough backs on the bench), and Cardiff having an injury crisis.

It was expected that this would be a loan; but looks like it's permanent.

Unknown if this has any effect whatsoever on the Arundell rumours.

140 odd minutes of action this season doesn't suggest the coaches fancy him much. If the coaches don't see him having a future at Bath might as well offload him. If it's another loan Bath might as well just lend a couple more and set up Cardiff as a feeder club. Get the youngsters some game time.

[Which Tyler]

Limited by injury, of course; and the stupid benches they like to pick.
But yeah, he's obviously not showing them what he needs to to get a proper opportunity (though it must be acknowledged that Muir and Coka have been having a great season).

[Mellsblue]

Let’s be honest, Muir is a must pick just for his running style. Is there a bigger stride:inside leg ratio in world rugby.

[francoisfou]

Camille Chat has left Racing by mutual consent after having turned up at training much the worse for drink!
On form he’s been one the most destructive carrying hookers in the Top14.
He’s only 29 and will surely find another club quickly. Montpellier may have been interested, but there’s been no court conviction.

[francoisfou]

Midi Olympique say that Grenoble’s Welsh fly half Sam Davies is heading for Leicester and they also mention the Shillcock to Brive rumour.

[FKAS]

Midi Olympique say that Grenoble’s Welsh fly half Sam Davies is heading for Leicester and they also mention the Shillcock to Brive rumour.

I thought he'd signed a new deal at Grenoble? Would have been a handy back up.

[francoisfou]

Midi Olympique say that Grenoble’s Welsh fly half Sam Davies is heading for Leicester and they also mention the Shillcock to Brive rumour.

I thought he'd signed a new deal at Grenoble? Would have been a handy back up.

Reading this, you may well be right. They say here that Grenoble have proposed a three-year contract.

https://www.ledauphine.com/sport/2024/1 ... ter-au-fcg

[Puja]

Care says he's not retiring and will be having another year with Quins. Fair play to him - he's good enough to be a 2nd choice still, even at his age, and hopefully will be teaching enough to Friday that he'll end the 25-26 season as third choice.

Puja

[FKAS]

More rumours the deal to bring Haffar to Tigers is almost complete. Unsure who he's replacing, most likely candidate is Cronin who's 34 and not EQ. Some concern it might be Whitcombe who might not be that happy having spent longer than he would like as third choice.

[Danno]

Care says he's not retiring and will be having another year with Quins. Fair play to him - he's good enough to be a 2nd choice still, even at his age, and hopefully will be teaching enough to Friday that he'll end the 25-26 season as third choice.

Puja

Renewed contract confirmed today

[Puja]

More rumours the deal to bring Haffar to Tigers is almost complete. Unsure who he's replacing, most likely candidate is Cronin who's 34 and not EQ. Some concern it might be Whitcombe who might not be that happy having spent longer than he would like as third choice.

I'd prefer to keep Whitcombe over Cronin, but tbh that's mostly because he's a home-grown product rather than any thoughts of his quality. I can't say Whitcombe's especially kicked on as I'd hoped and he'll struggle to see game-time anywhere at the Prem (apart from possibly Newcastle).

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

Fissler reckons Treadwell to Quins. Would qualify back for England next year.

[Scrumhead]

I highly doubt he would be in the frame for an England but he’d be a decent re-acquisition for Quins.

[Mikey Brown]

I highly doubt he would be in the frame for an England but he’d be a decent re-acquisition for Quins.

Yep. Herbst off and someone reliable who won't trouble international selectors is probably needed.

[francoisfou]

Camille Chat has left Racing by mutual consent after having turned up at training much the worse for drink!
On form he’s been one the most destructive carrying hookers in the Top14.
He’s only 29 and will surely find another club quickly. Montpellier may have been interested, but there’s been no court conviction.

He's signed for Lyon until the end of the season.

[Scrumhead]

Random, but Lewis Chessum has been released by Tigers and has signed for the Dynoboars until the end of the season when he is apparently joining Exeter.

Hopefully it works out. We could really do with him fulfilling his potential.

[FKAS]

Random, but Lewis Chessum has been released by Tigers and has signed for the Dynoboars until the end of the season when he is apparently joining Exeter.

Hopefully it works out. We could really do with him fulfilling his potential.

I'd heard the Japan rumour but the Exeter bit is new. I was hoping he was going to Japan for a bit to get game time and experience before coming back to Tigers.

Nothing released by Tigers as of yet.

[Scrumhead]

I got it from Rugby Pass and it the Japan move was definitely reported as a done deal. The Exeter piece was a rumour they threw in.

If you’d asked me a few years back I would have seen Exeter as a great move. Now, not so much. He’d be better off returning to Tigers.

If departure rumours are true, Quins will be needing locks. I’d take him. Worse people to learn from than Launchbury and Lewies.

[FKAS]

Still nothing official, doesn't mean it's not happening mind.

Problem for Lewis Chessum is he lost 12 months of development at a crucial age and found himself down the pecking order as a result. It's going to take a bit of time for him to make up the lost development time and it's probably frustrating for him that the period where we were short on locks coincided with him being injured whilst when he's back we've got a surplus. He's got bags of potential but it might take a bit of time.

[Captainhaircut]

Mail reckon Dan Kelly is going to Munster. I thought he was going to Sale but clearly think he has a chance of getting in the Ireland side. Guess with Henshaw, Aki and McKloskey all aging that might be true.