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

[Epaminondas Pules]

I think I read that his family is based in Leamington, so maybe a return to Tigers is on the cards, or west to Wuss?
Whatever, it’s a crying shame that he won’t have the opportunity to play in the Top14.

At 42, you’d think Tigers wouldn’t be that keen. Wuss is certainly a thing tho

Tigers are reshaping their backroom staff, a player/coach role with Gopperth joining as a skills coach would make sense. He'd likely be emergency cover and squad filler for PRC. Tigers have a couple of young 10s coming through and Titcombe incoming that he could mentor.

Worcester seems more likely if he's coming back to the Midlands though. At some point Wuss will surely announce players under the game of 30 otherwise they're going to end up with nickname "Dad's Army".

I was on a coaching course with him not so long back. He was very good! As was Ashley Johnson until he absolutely melted me on a defensive drill!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Not sure what Wuss will do about academy lads either. Most of their best talents went to other academies and then Coventry picked up what was left. Cov also started DPP hunting much earlier than the Prem sides to try and get lads in early before the Prem sharks start circling. They’ve started as early as U14s for talent spotting. Most of Brum and the immediate surrounds were involved in their DPP days a few months back.

[Mellsblue]

At 42, you’d think Tigers wouldn’t be that keen. Wuss is certainly a thing tho

Tigers are reshaping their backroom staff, a player/coach role with Gopperth joining as a skills coach would make sense. He'd likely be emergency cover and squad filler for PRC. Tigers have a couple of young 10s coming through and Titcombe incoming that he could mentor.

Worcester seems more likely if he's coming back to the Midlands though. At some point Wuss will surely announce players under the game of 30 otherwise they're going to end up with nickname "Dad's Army".

Both garsides are going as above but yes

Balls. Was hoping they’d end up at Bedford.

Re Twelvetrees, from everything I’ve heard and read he’s been top drawer since he moved across to coaching so, assuming there’s any truth in it, perhaps he’s moving to coach rather than play.

[FKAS]

Tietie Tuimauga the 31 year old Samoan international who can play both sides of the scrum will join Sarries this summer.

Now three big PI props on the books for Sarries going into next season.

[Banquo]

Tigers are reshaping their backroom staff, a player/coach role with Gopperth joining as a skills coach would make sense. He'd likely be emergency cover and squad filler for PRC. Tigers have a couple of young 10s coming through and Titcombe incoming that he could mentor.

Worcester seems more likely if he's coming back to the Midlands though. At some point Wuss will surely announce players under the game of 30 otherwise they're going to end up with nickname "Dad's Army".

Both garsides are going as above but yes

Balls. Was hoping they’d end up at Bedford.

Re Twelvetrees, from everything I’ve heard and read he’s been top drawer since he moved across to coaching so, assuming there’s any truth in it, perhaps he’s moving to coach rather than play.

so were Bedford!

[Mellsblue]

Both garsides are going as above but yes

Balls. Was hoping they’d end up at Bedford.

Re Twelvetrees, from everything I’ve heard and read he’s been top drawer since he moved across to coaching so, assuming there’s any truth in it, perhaps he’s moving to coach rather than play.

so were Bedford!

[Banquo]

Balmain to wuss apparently. Meets the criteria.


Can't win anything with kids.

[FKAS]

Balmain to wuss apparently. Meets the criteria.


Can't win anything with kids.

Hard to win anything without a solid scrum as well. He should offer that.

[Banquo]

Balmain to wuss apparently. Meets the criteria.


Can't win anything with kids.

Hard to win anything without a solid scrum as well. He should offer that.

even at 33 I guess so.

You'll forgive a wry smile surely.

[FKAS]

Balmain to wuss apparently. Meets the criteria.


Can't win anything with kids.

Hard to win anything without a solid scrum as well. He should offer that.

even at 33 I guess so.

You'll forgive a wry smile surely.

Oh certainly. The rugby retirement home of the West Midlands is taking shape nicely.

[FKAS]

"Leicester Tigers can confirm the Senior Squad members who will leave the club at the conclusion of the 24/25 campaign.

Five of those have had their destination clubs confirmed in Josh Bassett (Worcester Warriors, The Champ), Dan Kelly (Munster, URC), Handré Pollard (Bulls, URC), Jamie Shillcock (Brive, Top14), and James Whitcombe (Edinburgh, URC).

In addition to the quintet already confirmed as departing, James Cronin, Kyle Hatherell, Tim Hoyt, Julián Montoya, Matt Rogerson, and Archie Vanes will continue their careers at new clubs from next season.

Côme Joussain’s season-long loan from Nottingham Rugby will also come to an end at the end of the season.

Senior Academy members Harry Beddall (Dragons Rugby, URC) and Malelili Satala (Edinburgh Rugby, URC), as well as the trio of Harry Clarke, Charlie Davies, Henry Mountford will also leave at the end of the current season."

I'm slightly surprised to see Charlie Davies going. From what I'd heard he'd had successful spells at Lough Uni and Leicester Lions in Nat 1.

[FKAS]

Cam Miell, Archie van der Flier, Josh Manz, Lewis Chessum and Ollie Allan all confirmed as stepping into the first team from the development squad for next season as well.

[Banquo]

"Leicester Tigers can confirm the Senior Squad members who will leave the club at the conclusion of the 24/25 campaign.

Five of those have had their destination clubs confirmed in Josh Bassett (Worcester Warriors, The Champ), Dan Kelly (Munster, URC), Handré Pollard (Bulls, URC), Jamie Shillcock (Brive, Top14), and James Whitcombe (Edinburgh, URC).

In addition to the quintet already confirmed as departing, James Cronin, Kyle Hatherell, Tim Hoyt, Julián Montoya, Matt Rogerson, and Archie Vanes will continue their careers at new clubs from next season.

Côme Joussain’s season-long loan from Nottingham Rugby will also come to an end at the end of the season.

Senior Academy members Harry Beddall (Dragons Rugby, URC) and Malelili Satala (Edinburgh Rugby, URC), as well as the trio of Harry Clarke, Charlie Davies, Henry Mountford will also leave at the end of the current season."

I'm slightly surprised to see Charlie Davies going. From what I'd heard he'd had successful spells at Lough Uni and Leicester Lions in Nat 1.

Vanes is an odd one- really rated him with us and what I've seen at Tigers. Nottingham bound I'd think.

[Banquo]

Hard to win anything without a solid scrum as well. He should offer that.

even at 33 I guess so.

You'll forgive a wry smile surely.

Oh certainly. The rugby retirement home of the West Midlands is taking shape nicely.

Be interesting to see how it develops, and whether they are aiming to win or just err 'consolidate' in CHAMP RUGBY

[Epaminondas Pules]

Cam Miell, Archie van der Flier, Josh Manz, Lewis Chessum and Ollie Allan all confirmed as stepping into the first team from the development squad for next season as well.

Also George Glenn comes in to replace Dave Wilkes as Academy Manager, leaving his current role as head of rugby for Denstone College.

[Puja]

Cam Miell, Archie van der Flier, Josh Manz, Lewis Chessum and Ollie Allan all confirmed as stepping into the first team from the development squad for next season as well.

Also George Glenn comes in to replace Dave Wilkes as Academy Manager, leaving his current role as head of rugby for Denstone College.

Is that a good move, do you think, or just replacing like-with-like?

Good news on the 5 stepping up, especially with the list of leavers including Cronin, Whitcombe, Joussain, Hatherell, Rogerson, and Youngs. Be interesting to see if we do sign anyone, especially at loosehead and 9 where we are definitely short, or if we expect the youngsters to be ready for prime-time straight away.

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

Vanes is a strange one is it not? Leaves just Blamire, Clare and FTT?

Also, isn’t it tighthead where they are short? They have Smith, Haffer, VDF and Miell for loose but just Heyes and Hurd for tight presuming Cole retires?

No news on a fly half? All seems a bit pointless anyway unless they make a signing there.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Cam Miell, Archie van der Flier, Josh Manz, Lewis Chessum and Ollie Allan all confirmed as stepping into the first team from the development squad for next season as well.

Also George Glenn comes in to replace Dave Wilkes as Academy Manager, leaving his current role as head of rugby for Denstone College.

Is that a good move, do you think, or just replacing like-with-like?

Good news on the 5 stepping up, especially with the list of leavers including Cronin, Whitcombe, Joussain, Hatherell, Rogerson, and Youngs. Be interesting to see if we do sign anyone, especially at loosehead and 9 where we are definitely short, or if we expect the youngsters to be ready for prime-time straight away.

Puja

He’s decent mate. Done a really good job with Denstone and unearthed some real gems in their upper and lower sixth lads. Very good coach. He’s coached my lad a few times in the lower age groups and he loves him. Whether the opinion of a 13 year old counts

[Puja]

Vanes is a strange one is it not? Leaves just Blamire, Clare and FTT?

Also, isn’t it tighthead where they are short? They have Smith, Haffer, VDF and Miell for loose but just Heyes and Hurd for tight presuming Cole retires?

No news on a fly half? All seems a bit pointless anyway unless they make a signing there.

Miell does go both ways ( ) if I recall correctly, but I am expecting a tighthead signing if Coles does call it a day. I've not seen anything from Hoyt to suggest that he'll make it top-level, so I'm not surprised he's not being kept.

Vanes is another one who has been talked up through development, but clearly his performances in training haven't been banging down the door for selection, as successive coaches haven't seemed to fancy putting him into the first XXIII. Leicester might be hoping that he'll have a Chessum/12T style renaissance from being released and they can pick him back up again once Nottingham have done the work.

Puja

[FKAS]

Vanes is a strange one is it not? Leaves just Blamire, Clare and FTT?

Also, isn’t it tighthead where they are short? They have Smith, Haffer, VDF and Miell for loose but just Heyes and Hurd for tight presuming Cole retires?

No news on a fly half? All seems a bit pointless anyway unless they make a signing there.

Miell does go both ways ( ) if I recall correctly, but I am expecting a tighthead signing if Coles does call it a day. I've not seen anything from Hoyt to suggest that he'll make it top-level, so I'm not surprised he's not being kept.

Vanes is another one who has been talked up through development, but clearly his performances in training haven't been banging down the door for selection, as successive coaches haven't seemed to fancy putting him into the first XXIII. Leicester might be hoping that he'll have a Chessum/12T style renaissance from being released and they can pick him back up again once Nottingham have done the work.

Puja

Vanes does seem to be rated for whatever reason. FTT who seems to underwhelm when given a start (see Glasgow game as a particularly bad example), is preferred. Vanes had issues with his lineout but they seem to be fixed these days. I thought his hat trick away at Stade Francais would be his breakthrough but sadly not.

Hopefully Vanes goes well in the Championship and we can bring him back when he's ready. If we can bring in another hooker who offers a ball carrying threat off the bench that would be very useful. I'm rather hoping we'll use this summer to tool up the forwards with more carrying threats.

Vanes and Charlie Davies are two I'd have preferred to keep but maybe they will develop better elsewhere in the short term.

LH for next season is Smith, Haffar, vdF and Miell
TH is Heyes, Cole, Hurd.

Miell was signed with a lot of talk about him having played various positions at school level but think he's concentrated on LH in more recent times. With Hoyt and Mountford (I'd not be surprised to see him rock up at Newcastle given he's studying up there) both leaving I think our only development TH is Maka unless we promote more from the academy. I wouldn't be surprised to see another tighthead join, Alo was loosely linked and he would be a good option. Won't trouble the starters but as an impact sub he has the size to bulldoze over the gain line which is always a handy ability to have.

I saw the Ben and Dan live show in Leicester. Dan Cole spoke like a man fully intending to be at Tigers and still playing next season.