RugbyRebels

Saints have signed Fijian lock Temo Mayanavanua from Lyon for next season. Don't remember seeing him play before, but based on his physical stats he could be a fine replacement for Ribbans.

6ft6 and 19 stone he's a big lad. Only 3 caps so probably won't have seen him in action. I guessing Saints will be hoping he's not world cup bound.

Dimes confirmed as going to Edinburgh and rumour is that Ewan Ashman will follow him there from Sale.

Big loss for the club especially if Akker heads back to SA as well.

Connacht have signed Sean Jansen from Tigers. He looked OK, but not convincing enough for it to be much of a loss IMO. Better for that game time to go to someone like Ilione.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:23 am Connacht have signed Sean Jansen from Tigers. He looked OK, but not convincing enough for it to be much of a loss IMO. Better for that game time to go to someone like Ilione.

Wasn't physical enough to challenge for us at 8 and we've got several talented young backrowers coming through.

Jake Polledri will leave Glaws at the end of the season to join Zebre.

francoisfou wrote: ↑Sat Mar 11, 2023 1:56 pm Jake Polledri will leave Glaws at the end of the season to join Zebre.

feel for him. He could have become top drawer.

I’m gutted about Jake, he’s been through the mill, and unfortunately hasn’t got back to where he was quite. I hope he finds his form, and continues to be positive. He’s an astounding bloke.

It’s now confirmed. Jack Nowell will play for La Rochelle next season, it is said for twice the salary he has at Exeter. Bon vent, Jack!

Wow. Nice place to be getting paid twice what you were before. Nowell's agent has earned his commission there.

I will note that the reports are Nowell will be getting twice the salary *offered* by Exeter, not twice the salary he's currently on. Given that Rob Baxter has been very open about being more than a little irked at the time this has taken and that Nowell has been leaving without a destination for most of the season, I don't know they were offering him an exceptionally good package to stay.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 10:57 am I will note that the reports are Nowell will be getting twice the salary *offered* by Exeter, not twice the salary he's currently on. Given that Rob Baxter has been very open about being more than a little irked at the time this has taken and that Nowell has been leaving without a destination for most of the season, I don't know they were offering him an exceptionally good package to stay.

Puja

yes, in the other thread I noted it was twice the offer on the table, probs

Davison to Saints, Painter to Cheifs and Heffernan on loan to Newcastle with immediate effect

With the likes of McGuigan and Davison going in contract and mid season, Newcastle look like they are trying to cut back further on their playing budget for the rest of the year. Perhaps not, but the pair of them going must surely hit their front row quality. Perhaps more at tighthead than hooker, where they do seem to have a little more quality.

According to The Times, Nowell is currently on £300k and Exeter have offered a pay cut of approx 25%. Assuming that’s all correct, that’s still a good offer, given the lower salary cap (and would just be he’s current wage minus the 25% that currently sits outside the cap) and even if it’s £200k more than the offer rather than the existing it’s a chunky payrise. Add in the tasty pension on top…
Still, Exeter should be able to get in someone from the southern hempisohere who’s quicker and less prone to injury for £200k+…

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 11:36 am With the likes of McGuigan and Davison going in contract and mid season, Newcastle look like they are trying to cut back further on their playing budget for the rest of the year. Perhaps not, but the pair of them going must surely hit their front row quality. Perhaps more at tighthead than hooker, where they do seem to have a little more quality.

They dont have that many star names so you wouldnt expect them to have a particularly high wage bill. Things must be very tight.

Saints have a good man in Davison. Very steady, accomplished prop who will do a very decent job.

I dunno Mells the talent from the SH has dried up a bit with the lowered salary cap and the draw of Japan.

More speed and less injury prone is a pretty low bar to aim for though.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 1:19 pm

Margin_Walker wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 11:36 am With the likes of McGuigan and Davison going in contract and mid season, Newcastle look like they are trying to cut back further on their playing budget for the rest of the year. Perhaps not, but the pair of them going must surely hit their front row quality. Perhaps more at tighthead than hooker, where they do seem to have a little more quality.

They dont have that many star names so you wouldnt expect them to have a particularly high wage bill. Things must be very tight.

Saints have a good man in Davison. Very steady, accomplished prop who will do a very decent job.

There was a rumour that Falcons were open to letting him go but would want some compensation. Sending Heffernan up there on loan for the remainder of the season probably means that is without Falcons having to pay for him. Heffernan was very good at Championship level with Notts.

McCallum has signed for next season which is a player not dissimilar to Davison and probably on a lower salary.

Painter to Chiefs has been in the works for a while and the injury to Williams expediting it.

Max Llewellyn to Glos will be confirmed tomorrow. Quite like the idea of Seb Atkinson at 12 and Llewellyn at 13 - that’s a massive and very physical centre pairing.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 14, 2023 2:04 pm

Bloody hell. He's got them playing much better rugby this season. Some half decent recruitment in the summer and they could have a good season, next season. It would be a massive blow to Falcons.

So Willis stays at Toulouse for 2 years.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... ee/1385815

Does that suggest there’s been some movement with the England situation, or he simply likes the team, lifestyle and the money?

I suspect the money and lifestyle are pretty good. Playing with a top team that have a great chance of winning the lot probably helps as well. I wonder if he's got England training camp release in the contract? If he has he might be exception. If he hasn't then in my opinion his international career is dead for two years after the world cup.

Dillon Lewis to Quins, won't be the last Welsh international fleeing the Principality.

FKAS wrote: ↑Wed Mar 15, 2023 5:17 pm Dillon Lewis to Quins, won't be the last Welsh international fleeing the Principality.

Just backfilling those leaving the prem (I don't mean Quins specifically, but I think we will see a lot more going to France etc soon)