Transfer gossip - sometimes even accurate (accidentally) - Season 2022/23

[FKAS]

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)

I presume he'll be the Louw replacement. He's heading back to SA as opposed to France.

I would be surprised if French clubs aren't looking to recruit in England and Wales though. The JIFF regulations do limit the number of signings though.

[Banquo]

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)

I presume he'll be the Louw replacement. He's heading back to SA as opposed to France.

I would be surprised if French clubs aren't looking to recruit in England and Wales though. The JIFF regulations do limit the number of signings though.

There's definitely some more going, and I did say etc

[FKAS]

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)

I presume he'll be the Louw replacement. He's heading back to SA as opposed to France.

I would be surprised if French clubs aren't looking to recruit in England and Wales though. The JIFF regulations do limit the number of signings though.

There's definitely some more going, and I did say etc

I'm not disagreeing.

[jimKRFC]

Dave Walder being linked to Bristol as attack coach. There are rumors of Muldoon and McPhilipps moving back to Connacht, and bit of shake up in the coach might not be a bad think (so long Irish stays looking after the scrum).

[Stom]

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.

Why does he get to stay for the World Cup? I’d dump him immediately: he’s very good, but as shown in the past 2 games, the team as a whole is more important. We have the curries, and we need to make the punishment for going outside the eps harsh to dissuade players from leaving…

[Mellsblue]

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.

Why does he get to stay for the World Cup? I’d dump him immediately: he’s very good, but as shown in the past 2 games, the team as a whole is more important. We have the curries, and we need to make the punishment for going outside the eps harsh to dissuade players from leaving…

Because all ex Wasps and Wuss players have exemption from the rule until after the World Cup.

[Stom]

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.

Why does he get to stay for the World Cup? I’d dump him immediately: he’s very good, but as shown in the past 2 games, the team as a whole is more important. We have the curries, and we need to make the punishment for going outside the eps harsh to dissuade players from leaving…

Because all ex Wasps and Wuss players have exemption from the rule until after the World Cup.

Oh, I thought it was just until end of season… which would make more sense

[ilovelamp]

Max Llewellyn now confirmed for us at Glos. Great signing!

[FKAS]

Glaws going from a situation of them having a badly aging midfield to them having three good young prospects in Seb Atkinson, Lewellyn and the Georgian lad.

Has Lewellyn played much 13 though?

[ilovelamp]

Think he’s definitely more of a 12 but with Atkinson x 2 already in situ I do think either he or Seb A will be used at 13.

Kveseladze has had a lot of chances to prove himself as a viable option for us but I don’t think he’s going to cut the mustard unfortunately.

I’d rather we invested time in Louis Hillman-Cooper (traditional Glos name) now that he has recovered from injury. Looks a real prospect at 13.

[francoisfou]

London Irish's Aussie 2nd row Rob Simmons has signed a two-year deal with Clermont.

[FKAS]

London Irish's Aussie 2nd row Rob Simmons has signed a two-year deal with Clermont.

19 appearances, 5 yellow cards and 1 red. He'll fit in well with Vahaamahina and Lavanini. Big, strong and concedes penalties for fun.

[Margin_Walker]

London Irish's Aussie 2nd row Rob Simmons has signed a two-year deal with Clermont.

19 appearances, 5 yellow cards and 1 red. He'll fit in well with Vahaamahina and Lavanini. Big, strong and concedes penalties for fun.

Numbers don't seem right to me. Can't remember him picking up a red for Irish. He's on 4 yellows this season in 19. A lot, but he's actually been on the wrong end of a few team yellows for collapsed mauls etc. His discipline is middling rather than terrible.

1 yellow in 26 games last season.

He'll be missed and has proved the more valuable of our two Aussie 2nd rows on account of his durability compared to Coleman.

[twitchy]

I remember him getting a red (maybe against quins).

[FKAS]

Apologies, slight misread of the stats by me. It is five yellows but two were in one game hence the red. The two yellows/red was Vs Saints.

[Margin_Walker]

Apologies, slight misread of the stats by me. It is five yellows but two were in one game hence the red. The two yellows/red was Vs Saints.

No worries. It'll be an error on their site. He only got one yellow in that game for a red zone maul collapse.

Checked now and he's definitely not been sent off for LI in his three seasons.

20/21 - 1 yellow in 17 games
21/22 - 1 yellow in 26 games
22/23 - 4 yellows in 19 games

[francoisfou]

London Irish's Aussie 2nd row Rob Simmons has signed a two-year deal with Clermont.

19 appearances, 5 yellow cards and 1 red. He'll fit in well with Vahaamahina and Lavanini. Big, strong and concedes penalties for fun.

Clermont have a new coach, Christophe Urios, who is attempting to rebuild a side that are currently a lowly10th in the Top14.
In their pomp, Clermont had a fearsome pack, but that sadly is a thing of the past and Urios is trying to rectify that, and Simmons as you say, will fit in well. Tomas Lavanini hasn't hit the heights that were expected of him and for the moment, his contract has yet to be renewed.

[Puja]

In their pomp, Clermont had a fearsome pack, but that sadly is a thing of the past and Urios is trying to rectify that ... Tomas Lavanini hasn't hit the heights that were expected of him and for the moment, his contract has yet to be renewed.

As a Leicester fan, I can empathise with all of that.

Puja

[FKAS]

London Irish's Aussie 2nd row Rob Simmons has signed a two-year deal with Clermont.

19 appearances, 5 yellow cards and 1 red. He'll fit in well with Vahaamahina and Lavanini. Big, strong and concedes penalties for fun.

Clermont have a new coach, Christophe Urios, who is attempting to rebuild a side that are currently a lowly10th in the Top14.
In their pomp, Clermont had a fearsome pack, but that sadly is a thing of the past and Urios is trying to rectify that, and Simmons as you say, will fit in well. Tomas Lavanini hasn't hit the heights that were expected of him and for the moment, his contract has yet to be renewed.

If the plan is to go back to a big fearsome pack then. Simmons will work with that. Lavanini tends not to provide the greatest value for money. When he turns up he's great, doesn't tend to be a regular thing though.

Clermont seem to have some real talent coming through, I hope Urios has the sense to rebuild around them. Boudou and Jauneau both look internationals for the future.

[FKAS]

Robertson confirmed as All Black's coach from 2024.

[Peej]

I remember him getting a red (maybe against quins).

Are you thinking of Coleman vs Sarries?

[Puja]

Bath sign Thomas du Toit for next season: https://www.bathrugby.com/club-news/spr ... ath-rugby/

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Ah, the old ‘sign an avalanche of SA forwards’ as step 1 of any new HC taking on a struggling club.

[Puja]

Ah, the old ‘sign an avalanche of SA forwards’ as step 1 of any new HC taking on a struggling club.

I like that they're advertising him as "World Cup Winner Thomas du Toit". It is true, but glosses over his involvement in the triumph being a grand total of 88 minutes against the might of Namibia and Canada.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Ah, the old ‘sign an avalanche of SA forwards’ as step 1 of any new HC taking on a struggling club.

I like that they're advertising him as "World Cup Winner Thomas du Toit". It is true, but glosses over his involvement in the triumph being a grand total of 88 minutes against the might of Namibia and Canada.

Puja

SA’s Paul Collingwood MBE.