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

[FKAS]

What the actual fuck

Something has kicked off there. We've just hired his mate as attack coach FFS.

[Adam_P]

That is very out of the blue isn't it.

[Puja]

Now officially confirmed: https://www.leicestertigers.com/news/240622

This part of the statement is bananas: "The club has commenced the process for finding a new Head Coach to lead the men’s programme into the 24/25 season. Pre-season training for the men’s players not on international duty commences on July 1 at Oval Park."

Who exactly is going to be running that pre-season training? The panel of coaches recently hired by McKellar who are surely currently sharpening their CVs?!

If we have done this, we need to have already had the replacement lined up, and ready to go tomorrow. If he has triggered this, then we need to be suing the shit out of him, because this is basically wrecking our next season.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Kevin Sinfield?

[FKAS]

Kevin Sinfield?

If he wants a full time position. Some rumours he'd prefer a part time role for personal reasons.

[Puja]

Kevin Sinfield?

If he wants a full time position. Some rumours he'd prefer a part time role for personal reasons.

And, let's face it, he's hardly a proven union coach. Great human being, inspirational leader, but would be picking on personality rather than capability.

The more I think on this, the more angry I am. Even the absolute *best* *case* *scenario*, where we have already signed Cheika or someone of that quality (and are delaying an announcement for... reasons?), AND the new assistant coaches are the new man's choices, AND everyone's going to be in place for the start of pre-season, AND this is not costing us a wedge in release fees, there's still going to be disruption and turmoil as the squad get to adapt to a seventh change of direction and gameplan in seven seasons. Unless we've signed Wayne Smith, I'm dubious any new signing is worth that.

The best case scenario doesn't look likely - what seems most likely from the rumour mill is that McKellar presented his vision to the board and the board didn't like and so we've agreed to part ways without a single plan for going forwards, which is just unconscionably stupid. If we were going to decide we didn't like him, then that needed to be done at the end of the season, not a week before pre-fucking-season, and the idea of not backing the poor sod after giving him one season disrupted by the RWC and by not having an attack coach is risible.

This is going to end up with Hewat named caretaker, then promoted to full-time boss because no-one else is willing to come to our basketcase of a club, and us competing with Gloucester for 8th place again.

Frankly, at this point, I'm halfway hoping that he's done something ethically despicable, so there's at least some logic behind this.

Puja

[FKAS]

Considering the backroom staff in place Sinfield would be fine. What we need right now is a leader that'll pull everyone together and get them working together. Some future vision would be a plus but in terms of actual specific coaching we actually have a good coverage of that currently.

Now the issue might well be that our scrum and attack coach also decide that we can go and do one and leave. Then we are truly up shit creek without a paddle.

I mean how far apart in vision can the board be with a guy that they publicly backed about a week ago to lead us into next season? It's ridiculous.

[Mellsblue]

Kevin Sinfield?

If he wants a full time position. Some rumours he'd prefer a part time role for personal reasons.

inspirational leader,

Puja

Surround him with experienced coaches and you could be on to a winner.
Every player you hear from raves about him.

[Puja]

I mean how far apart in vision can the board be with a guy that they publicly backed about a week ago to lead us into next season? It's ridiculous.

21st June - Dan McKellar gives a quote saying how he's pleased to sign Will Wand and that he's "a great addition to our group"
22nd June - Dan McKellar's leaving was "mutually agreed following extensive discussions regarding the club’s future direction"

Something must've occurred. Surely.

Puja

[FKAS]

I mean how far apart in vision can the board be with a guy that they publicly backed about a week ago to lead us into next season? It's ridiculous.

21st June - Dan McKellar gives a quote saying how he's pleased to sign Will Wand and that he's "a great addition to our group"
22nd June - Dan McKellar's leaving was "mutually agreed following extensive discussions regarding the club’s future direction"

Something must've occurred. Surely.

Puja

Something fairly dramatic around those discussions regarding the club's future must have caused a significant argument.

That or McKellar has been talked into taking the Tahs job back in Australia with Schmidt only in for the short term there's the potential to have a run at the Wallaby job again. He's sat down and discussed the approach with the board who've said you can go if you like. Although, if that was the case it's unprofessional from McKellar having seen the coaching staff be confirmed by the club so recently, the club maybe having their arm forced by media getting hint of the news early as it seems Chieka is rumoured to be incoming (that could be lazy journalism though).

[Puja]

Fissler from last monthL https://amp.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... is-future/

A Premiership Director of Rugby has been fighting for his job, and his fears intensified after a drunken rant from a top executive at his club at the Premiership Awards in London this week.

Whispers are reaching Fissler Confidential Towers that the executive had enjoyed an evening of free alcohol before giving their thoughts on their club’s boss to opposite numbers at rival clubs.

The coach concerned has been on the ropes for weeks, but the club would be forced to splash out cash it can ill afford to make a substantial payout for the remaining years on the contract.

Not confirmed it's Leicester, but suggestive.

Puja

[Puja]

I mean how far apart in vision can the board be with a guy that they publicly backed about a week ago to lead us into next season? It's ridiculous.

21st June - Dan McKellar gives a quote saying how he's pleased to sign Will Wand and that he's "a great addition to our group"
22nd June - Dan McKellar's leaving was "mutually agreed following extensive discussions regarding the club’s future direction"

Something must've occurred. Surely.

Puja

Something fairly dramatic around those discussions regarding the club's future must have caused a significant argument.

That or McKellar has been talked into taking the Tahs job back in Australia with Schmidt only in for the short term there's the potential to have a run at the Wallaby job again. He's sat down and discussed the approach with the board who've said you can go if you like. Although, if that was the case it's unprofessional from McKellar having seen the coaching staff be confirmed by the club so recently, the club maybe having their arm forced by media getting hint of the news early as it seems Chieka is rumoured to be incoming (that could be lazy journalism though).

Waratahs job makes a lot of sense from McKellar's perspective and would be a good option for Rugby Australia, who need to get a trustworthy name in ASAP to try and stop more of the Rebels diaspora from leaving the country/code.

Puja

[FKAS]

It would make a lot of sense for the ARU to go down that route. In a Super Rugby season where they were nearly competitive, to have the Tahs look useless wasn't good. Bringing home an experienced Aussie coach who's still young enough to be a long term appointment would be good PR and as you say maybe help keep some of those out of contract lads who are more than a little disenfranchised.

Someone elsewhere reminded me Mike Catt is leaving Ireland after the summer series. Dare we dream Tigers will be that ambitious in the appointment. He could have his old mate Hewatt look after the first few weeks of pre season. The defence and set piece play last season was largely fine. A Catt and Hewatt led attack off the back of that platform, yes please.

[Oakboy]

I know nothing about the Leicester situation apart from thinking that the board has cocked up repeatedly since the Dean Richards days. Also, no head coach worth having will take on the job (at any club) without being able to choose his own staff. Continuity in that area means conflict and failure.

[Mikey Brown]

It would make a lot of sense for the ARU to go down that route. In a Super Rugby season where they were nearly competitive, to have the Tahs look useless wasn't good. Bringing home an experienced Aussie coach who's still young enough to be a long term appointment would be good PR and as you say maybe help keep some of those out of contract lads who are more than a little disenfranchised.

Someone elsewhere reminded me Mike Catt is leaving Ireland after the summer series. Dare we dream Tigers will be that ambitious in the appointment. He could have his old mate Hewatt look after the first few weeks of pre season. The defence and set piece play last season was largely fine. A Catt and Hewatt led attack off the back of that platform, yes please.

That would be an interesting move. No idea what his coaching aspirations are, but leading a club side on top of his Ireland experience could be great for England down the line.

[FKAS]

I know nothing about the Leicester situation apart from thinking that the board has cocked up repeatedly since the Dean Richards days. Also, no head coach worth having will take on the job (at any club) without being able to choose his own staff. Continuity in that area means conflict and failure.

Depends which board you mean. The old one up to the Murphy appointment (give or take) were a bit traditionalist and had a very mixed bag of appointments. Under the Pinchen regime the appointments have generally been decent albeit under tough conditions. Borthwick, Wigglesworth/Wilson, McKellar (who on paper would have worked and I thought next season would have been better). This crap shoot though is frankly embarrassing the week after confirming the coaching setup for next season.

Did Cheika appoint his own coaches at Argentina? I thought he agreed to work with Argentinian assistant coaches with his right hand man Contepomi taking over post world cup. Catt with no prior head coach position might be happy to start with what Tigers provide particularly as one is his former LI team mate.

[Puja]

Charlie Morgan with some more details on McKellar: https://archive.ph/1mIRI

Seems confident in Cheika's impending arrival and that McKellar decided he couldn't continue as he didn't have the support of the dressing room.

Puja

[FKAS]

Charlie Morgan with some more details on McKellar: https://archive.ph/1mIRI

Seems confident in Cheika's impending arrival and that McKellar decided he couldn't continue as he didn't have the support of the dressing room.

Puja

Seems an odd timeline. Meeting end of May with the players. Allows his mate to sign for the club, allows the club to name hin publicly as part of the coaching staff for next season and then decides "oh well they don't back me, I'm off".

I suspect he had misgivings about the players backing him and then the ARU showed some interest so things were brought to a head with Tigers. Possibly wanted some additional backing or whatever if he were to stay etc.

[FKAS]

https://archive.ph/GOSn6

Chris Vui failed drugs test explaining his absence all season.

[Adam_P]

Sam Matavesi is leaving Saints to head overseas - not yet confirmed where, but thought to be Lyon. Shame to lose him, but with Robbie Smith second choice and Craig Wright coming through, it's a good opportunity for all. Could be in a pickle if Langdon and Smith both get international call ups in future.

[jimKRFC]

https://archive.ph/GOSn6

Chris Vui failed drugs test explaining his absence all season.

People that know him are saying that doping seems unlike him. But the issue of not being notified of the fail and having to fight to clear sounds a nightmare!

Vakatawa is also off. Unable to agree a deal so off somewhere else. Does mean Ravouvou gets more of a chance as does Joyce.

[jimKRFC]

Vui story now pulled from the Telegraph and other on-line sites it seems.. possibly a bit more to this...

[FKAS]

Dan Palmer leaves Tigers, he was the set piece coach last season and had his role trimmed to scrum coach for this season. Given his close relationship it's not a massive surprise he's leaving and given neither our scrum nor lineout looked improved last season, no real loss.

Neil Fowkes the academy forwards coach is assisting in the short term having previously coaches Wasps scrum and been forwards coach at Ealing and Nottingham before a stint as head coach at Notts. He should be fine.

It's been confirmed the other coaches has all commenced work ahead of pre season for the non-internationals beginning on Monday.

[Puja]

Dan Palmer leaves Tigers, he was the set piece coach last season and had his role trimmed to scrum coach for this season. Given his close relationship it's not a massive surprise he's leaving and given neither our scrum nor lineout looked improved last season, no real loss.

Neil Fowkes the academy forwards coach is assisting in the short term having previously coaches Wasps scrum and been forwards coach at Ealing and Nottingham before a stint as head coach at Notts. He should be fine.

It's been confirmed the other coaches has all commenced work ahead of pre season for the non-internationals beginning on Monday.

"The process for appointing a new Head Coach is ongoing, with an announcement to be made ahead of the playing group’s return on July 1."

This quote is promising, although "an announcement" is not the same as an appointment.

Puja

[FKAS]

Dan Palmer leaves Tigers, he was the set piece coach last season and had his role trimmed to scrum coach for this season. Given his close relationship it's not a massive surprise he's leaving and given neither our scrum nor lineout looked improved last season, no real loss.

Neil Fowkes the academy forwards coach is assisting in the short term having previously coaches Wasps scrum and been forwards coach at Ealing and Nottingham before a stint as head coach at Notts. He should be fine.

It's been confirmed the other coaches has all commenced work ahead of pre season for the non-internationals beginning on Monday.

"The process for appointing a new Head Coach is ongoing, with an announcement to be made ahead of the playing group’s return on July 1."

This quote is promising, although "an announcement" is not the same as an appointment.

Puja

Don't say things like that Puja. Sounds ominously like an interim head coach is incoming...

Hopefully a new head coach is incoming quickly and we're not stuck waiting for someone to see out their 6 month notice period.