Transfer news, rumours, speculation, insinuations, and outright transfer slanders - Season 2025/26

[Captainhaircut]

Telegraph have Quirke as signing for Newcastle with Cam Jordan and Elliot Miller-Mills signing too.

RugbyPass agrees and also suggests James Pater, Sam Graham, Will Haydon-Wood, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Will Rigg and George Turner are in talks.

Would all be good solid signings. Probably lacking top level quality outside of Quirke (plus Sotutu having already signed)- going to need to find a 10 from somewhere and a first choice tighthead. Simmonds and Sinckler would be good moves.

[FKAS]

I think Joe Simmonds is under contract with Pau and not sure they'd be open to letting him go.

Anthony Belleau is in talks with Saints to extend his stay there but has offers from France. A good offer from NRB where he'd be the main man might sway things.

Bello is still at NRB and he's a good tighthead, he's just had that nasty injury that's been keeping him out.

[francoisfou]

Former Northampton 2nd row Alex Moon is leaving Bayonne at the end of this season for a three-year contract with Bordeaux /Bègles.

[Mikey Brown]

Telegraph have Quirke as signing for Newcastle with Cam Jordan and Elliot Miller-Mills signing too.

RugbyPass agrees and also suggests James Pater, Sam Graham, Will Haydon-Wood, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Will Rigg and George Turner are in talks.

Would all be good solid signings. Probably lacking top level quality outside of Quirke (plus Sotutu having already signed)- going to need to find a 10 from somewhere and a first choice tighthead. Simmonds and Sinckler would be good moves.

Does WHW not have it in him to be that at 10? I know he’s been sat behind Skinner at Exeter, which isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement, but he looked really promising when he was at Falcons before.

Who is Rakete-Stones?

Is Alex Moon one that slipped through the cracks for England recognition? I don’t know if he had a fully rounded game or not but seems to be a handy unit and clearly going well in France.

[Scrumhead]

Sam Graham and Elliott Millar-Mills confirmed to be leaving Saints and both were strongly linked with NRB. Seems likely the rumours were true.

[Puja]

Sam Graham and Elliott Millar-Mills confirmed to be leaving Saints and both were strongly linked with NRB. Seems likely the rumours were true.

Sam Graham would be a belting signing. Such a good Prem player.

Not sure how Quirke would work - isn't 9 one of the few places where Newcastle already have a top-quality starter?

Puja

[FKAS]

Sam Graham and Elliott Millar-Mills confirmed to be leaving Saints and both were strongly linked with NRB. Seems likely the rumours were true.

Sam Graham would be a belting signing. Such a good Prem player.

Not sure how Quirke would work - isn't 9 one of the few places where Newcastle already have a top-quality starter?

Puja

Quality starter than a massive drop off to players who'd be at test third choice elsewhere though they do have the young lad Davies. Quirke would give them two 9s able of playing at that high tempo and considerable pace.

Aaron Wainwright now confirmed as joining Tigers.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Telegraph have Quirke as signing for Newcastle with Cam Jordan and Elliot Miller-Mills signing too.

RugbyPass agrees and also suggests James Pater, Sam Graham, Will Haydon-Wood, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Will Rigg and George Turner are in talks.

Would all be good solid signings. Probably lacking top level quality outside of Quirke (plus Sotutu having already signed)- going to need to find a 10 from somewhere and a first choice tighthead. Simmonds and Sinckler would be good moves.

Pater would be an odd one being in his first season of professional rugby and played 5 games for Saints already this season as an 18 year old. Scored a hattrick for Cambridge last weekend as an aside.

[Puja]

Sam Graham and Elliott Millar-Mills confirmed to be leaving Saints and both were strongly linked with NRB. Seems likely the rumours were true.

Sam Graham would be a belting signing. Such a good Prem player.

Not sure how Quirke would work - isn't 9 one of the few places where Newcastle already have a top-quality starter?

Puja

Quality starter than a massive drop off to players who'd be at test third choice elsewhere though they do have the young lad Davies. Quirke would give them two 9s able of playing at that high tempo and considerable pace.

Aaron Wainwright now confirmed as joining Tigers.

I was more thinking from Quirke's perspective than Newcastle's! Big risk for someone on the cusp of England recognition, especially since he appears to've nailed down the 9 shirt at Sale now.

Pater would be an odd one being in his first season of professional rugby and played 5 games for Saints already this season as an 18 year old. Scored a hattrick for Cambridge last weekend as an aside.

Newcastle looking to rebuild their ravaged talent pipeline by parachuting in some young starlets?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sam Graham would be a belting signing. Such a good Prem player.

Not sure how Quirke would work - isn't 9 one of the few places where Newcastle already have a top-quality starter?

Puja

Quality starter than a massive drop off to players who'd be at test third choice elsewhere though they do have the young lad Davies. Quirke would give them two 9s able of playing at that high tempo and considerable pace.

Aaron Wainwright now confirmed as joining Tigers.

I was more thinking from Quirke's perspective than Newcastle's! Big risk for someone on the cusp of England recognition, especially since he appears to've nailed down the 9 shirt at Sale now.

Pater would be an odd one being in his first season of professional rugby and played 5 games for Saints already this season as an 18 year old. Scored a hattrick for Cambridge last weekend as an aside.

Newcastle looking to rebuild their ravaged talent pipeline by parachuting in some young starlets?

Puja

Maybe. They've always produced, just not maximised their talent and any that have come through they've not been able to hold onto. Pater is really highly rated at Saints. He is ridiculously rapid!

[FKAS]

Quality starter than a massive drop off to players who'd be at test third choice elsewhere though they do have the young lad Davies. Quirke would give them two 9s able of playing at that high tempo and considerable pace.

Aaron Wainwright now confirmed as joining Tigers.

I was more thinking from Quirke's perspective than Newcastle's! Big risk for someone on the cusp of England recognition, especially since he appears to've nailed down the 9 shirt at Sale now.

Pater would be an odd one being in his first season of professional rugby and played 5 games for Saints already this season as an 18 year old. Scored a hattrick for Cambridge last weekend as an aside.

Newcastle looking to rebuild their ravaged talent pipeline by parachuting in some young starlets?

Puja

Maybe. They've always produced, just not maximised their talent and any that have come through they've not been able to hold onto. Pater is really highly rated at Saints. He is ridiculously rapid!

Does it indicate some fairly clear recruitment focus. They wants some serious speed at 15 with kicking ability so in come Hodge and maybe Pater. They want a running 9 so Benitez-Cruz is brought in and then Quirke targeted.

[Scrumhead]

Very much in the speculation category but I read an article with Vern Cotter talking about how he might fancy a crack at the Premiership when his contract expires in the summer.

Apparently he’s talking to ‘a couple’ of clubs. As a Quins fan, that made my ears prick up as he is pretty much exactly what we need - he typically produces sides that play nice rugby but he’s not known as ‘Stern Vern’ for nothing. Take this post as me trying to manifest it …

I’d expect to be competing with NRB and possibly Gloucester.

NRB probably in pole position but beating in mind he’s 64, I wonder whether he might see Quins as being able to achieve more in a shorter space of time? NRB’s more of a multi-season project where I maintain Quins are a couple of signings and the right coach (like Vern) away from being a good side.

I also wonder whether NRB might fancy O’Gara? According to Fissler he’s potentially on the way out of La Rochelle.

[FKAS]

NRB seem to want a firm hand on the tiller, McFarland the former Ulster coach has been linked and he's not a mild, easy going head coach. Whomever goes in there has a chance to mould the club into what he wants it to be, there's an emphasis on running attack and aggressive/physical forwards but that's about it so far in recruitment. Good attack coach, passable defence coach in situ and salary cap to play with if recruited early enough to have input.

Quins is a tough ask for anyone. The squad, existing coaches and fan base have a very defined style of how Quins play. Any attempt to move away from a run heavy attack is met with negativity. Just ask Paul Gustard, who I still argue provided the platform for the last Prem title. Any head coach there is facing an unpopular clear out of the coaches and a rebuild.

At Glaws it might be an easier job. There's a young and talented coaching staff that needs an experienced leader. The squad is a bit patchwork and obviously injury ravaged currently but you look at how well they did last season and think they are lacking more direction in terms of rugby management on and off the field away from fairly quick improvements.

[Scrumhead]

Quins is a tough ask for anyone. The squad, existing coaches and fan base have a very defined style of how Quins play. Any attempt to move away from a run heavy attack is met with negativity. Just ask Paul Gustard, who I still argue provided the platform for the last Prem title. Any head coach there is facing an unpopular clear out of the coaches and a rebuild.

Actually the majority of Quins fans I know have come round to the impression that Nick Evans and Adam Jones might not actually be as good as we thought they were. The reflected glory from the title has gone, neither is shining in their role and the general POV is that it’s become way too comfortable on their watch. I don’t think a clear out would be unpopular. We’d be sad to see two good club servants leave from a sentimental perspective, but not from a performance angle. Take a look on the Come All Within board and it will give you a better temperature check.

I agree with you about Gustard to some degree. I think a lot he had the right ideas but the wrong methods and didn’t win hearts or minds with the players or the fans. Recruitment under his tenure was excellent though.

Wilson was a weird appointment who should never have been hired.

I don’t think Quins fans only expect a ‘run heavy’ attack. I can tell you right now that we’d be very happy with copying Saints or Bristol’s style of play. They’re bringing the attacking, offloading style we identify with whilst also being solid in defence.

I don’t know why anyone would join, knowing the players we have a decide we should play a territory-based, kicking style. It doesn’t suit the players we have and it’s not in keeping with the image of the club. The clubs above are showing what’s possible - we should be aiming for that, not trying to reinvent ourselves as a poor imitation of Saracens.

[FKAS]

Saints style of play is an interesting one. They've got the very fluent attack but since Boyd left Dowson and Vesty have added some real pragmatism to the style. Vesty being a product of the Leicester set up is both happy to run it and play the tactical game. Certainly the improvements in Mitchell's box kicking game have been heavily utilised.

Quins could definitely benefit with something similar. Should ROG exit La Rochelle he'd be a fairly ideal recruit as head coach. Should Leon MacDonald decide Japan isn't for him after all then he'd be another very good option, he really rebuilt that under performing Blues team that Vern Cotter got to then take to a title after the Crusaders fell apart post Robertson. Failing to hard a return for Andy Friend could be interesting as well. Vern Cotter might be a bit too rigid in his approach to be successful, not sure.

What I've never really understood about Quins is the kick chase game, it's dire. Normally one winger chasing to compete (despite only Isgro being good in the air) and then a line following up at a jog behind. Considering how quick the wingers are and the tendency to field multiple jackle threats a rapid chase, tackle and compete at the breakdown would seem a better option. Either win a turnover or provide such slow ball the opposition are likely to kick it back to your dangerous backs.

[Scrumhead]

Totally with you on the last paragraph. It makes me wonder whether NEv got too much praise too soon. The Care, Smith, Esterhuizen combination was exceptional but we also had a very good platform from Marler, Baldwin and Collier/Louw.

In other words, we had a good attack because we had an excellent 9/10/12 axis playing off a good scrum. I’m not sure NEv actually deserves the credit he got? It’s not his fault that none of the players who left/retired were adequately replaced, but nothing he’s done since has really shown much innovation or quality. The ill-advised kick chase game is a part of that.

Leon McDonald could be interesting but hard pass on ROG though.

[FKAS]

Why so again ROG? His heavy offload, keep the ball moving attack and physical, turnover heavy defence at La Rochelle game style could translate really well to Quins.

Agreed on the front row/midfield bit. Those really were excellent combinations that gave Quins a good foundation. Your rolling maul around that time was pretty cracking as well.

[Scrumhead]

More of a dislike for ROG’s personality than his coaching.

[francoisfou]

More of a dislike for ROG’s personality than his coaching.

Agreed.
His reputation for being rather hot-headed and disrespectful towards match officials has grown in recent seasons.