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

[Which Tyler]

What did Eddie say? Did he get a cap that I’ve forgotten? Or did Eddie just have a look and then slag him off?

More that he was being bigged up by a lot of us on here, including myself. Eddie did have him in a couple of training camps, and discarded, to a reasonable amount of irritation on this board (and others)

[Mellsblue]

Given the amount of players Eddie brought in to the squad and then discarded he was bound to right on some of them!

[FKAS]

Tigers have announced their leavers;

The Senior Squad players are:

Chris Ashton
Jimmy Gopperth
Calum Green
Sean Jansen
Kini Murimurivalu
Hosea Saumaki
Eli Snyman

From the Senior Academy, the players are:

George Loose
Chester Owen
Riley Williams

In addition, two mid-season arrivals will leave with their short-term contracts at Tigers coming to an end.

The duo is Tom West and Sam Wolstenholme.

During the current season, the club agreed early releases with five players - Freddie Burns, Bryce Hegarty, Nephi Leatigaga, Nemani Nadolo and Lachlan Shelley - and saw the retirement of Richard Wigglesworth, who became Interim Head Coach.

Tom Cowan-Dickie, Tom Horton, Gabriel Oghre and Joe Taufete’e also left during the current campaign, bringing an end their short-term deals with the club.

[Puja]

Not too disappointed with any of those (aside from West as previously discussed). Sad that we never saw the best of Murimurivalu, but the rest are squad depth that are no great loss. Wonder if Green and Gopperth are transitioning to coaching or just flat-out leaving?

Puja

[FKAS]

I'm expecting Gopperth to get a player coaching role at Wasps. Maybe even head coach, we'll see. Rumours are that Green is having to retiree through injury.

Murimurivalu is heading home, loved the occasional flashes of him playing. He's a big hit at Oval Park by all accounts. That try at Franklin's Gardens where his hand of threw one Saints defender into the other so he could score in the corner will love long in the memory.

Pretty much as expected. George Loose was highly rated so I thought he'd be kept on but obviously not. I still think someone will manage to get more out of Saumaki somewhere. Great finisher.

[Margin_Walker]

LI leavers (assuming it doesn't end up being everyone) published at the last game. Nothing too scary out of the blue. OHC and Simmons the biggest losses. Parton for sentimental value. Gigena could still do a decent job somewhere, but has been squeezed out by Haffar's emergence. Hugh O'Sullivan was also going well and second choice by the end of the season, but probably the victim of being one of four 9s and his being the only contract expiring.

Departing players
Isaac Curtis-Harris, Facundo Gigena, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Isaac Miller, Hugh O'Sullivan, Tom Parton, Rob Simmons, James Stokes, Mike Willemse, Giosuè Zilocchi.

Injury dispensation cover
Kyle Cooper, Logan Trotter.

Academy
Louie Kirkham, Oran Murphy, Oliver Stirling.

[FKAS]

I'm surprised James Stokes is off. He's played quite a bit for LI. With OHC and Parton going I thought he'd be a handy squad man to keep around.

[Margin_Walker]

Yeah, Stokes is decent and could fill in easily at another club. iirc he's got a bit going on outside of rugby and will also be 32 soon after the season starts (bit young for a Leicester outside back unfortunately). Will be interesting to see what he does.

He was a cracking signing for us from Cov. Shaky first game, but has been a reliable squad player since then who's picked up a decent amount of prem game time.

[FKAS]

Henry Thomas is leaving Montpellier and looking to join a Welsh Region in order to advance his new availability. In a move that has probably caused his agent to burst into tears.

[Mellsblue]

Henry Thomas is leaving Montpellier and looking to join a Welsh Region in order to advance his new availability. In a move that has probably caused his agent to burst into tears.

From what I’ve read Montpellier have given him the boot.

[francoisfou]

I’ve read that Philippe Saint-André won’t renew Thomas’ contract if he chooses to be available for Wales. Strange, as he could be on a reasonable salary in Montpellier which almost certainly won’t be matched in Wales. Maybe life in the valleys is more enticing than the Hérault.

[FKAS]

Harsh but to Montpellier he's probably most useful during international windows.

[chris18501]

Tigers apparently interested in Kieran Wilkinson, released by Sale. Never quite cut it at Sale despite a couple of good performances.

[FKAS]

Tigers apparently interested in Kieran Wilkinson, released by Sale. Never quite cut it at Sale despite a couple of good performances.

Be a good third choice for Tigers. Looked like he was having a break out at Sale last season but he found himself out the squad as the season wore on and hasn't had much of a look in this season. Be good for Tigers but not necessarily good for Wilkinson. He'd be better off at Falcons where he'd be immediately competing for the starting jersey or Chiefs where he might be able to push for it with Skinner average and Haydon-Wood another youngster.

[Which Tyler]

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... s-26807120

From Wales, the following are all off, and without a confirmed destination, there's some good players in there if anyone's still got any salary cap scpae left (and funding to use that space):
Sam Davies, Rob Evans, Ben Fry, Lennon Greggains, Huw Taylor, Ioan Davies, Ben Moa.
Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Patchell, Lewis Rawlins, Tom Price, Phil Price, Taylor Davies, Daf Hughes, Corey Baldwin, WillGriff John, Iestyn Rees.
Rhys Priestland, Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Harri Millard, Lloyd Williams, Brad Thyer, Kirby Myhill, Kristian Dacey, Dmitri Arhip, Joe Peard, James Ratti.
Dan Lydiate, Gareth Anscombe.

[Puja]

I'd take Rob Evans at Leicester.

Puja

[FKAS]

I'd take Rob Evans at Leicester.

Puja

I'd rather have Arhip has the 8th prop. That way four each side. Job done.

If Harri Doel is still without a proper pro contract bring him in as an option on the wing.

[Puja]

I'd take Rob Evans at Leicester.

Puja

I'd rather have Arhip has the 8th prop. That way four each side. Job done.

If Harri Doel is still without a proper pro contract bring him in as an option on the wing.

Our loosehead is far weaker though. I'm still yet to be convinced Cronin is the answer and Whitcombe doesn't appear to be trusted or have kicked on, whereas on the tighthead we have Cole and Heyes who are doing a job.

Puja

[FKAS]

I'd take Rob Evans at Leicester.

Puja

I'd rather have Arhip has the 8th prop. That way four each side. Job done.

If Harri Doel is still without a proper pro contract bring him in as an option on the wing.

Our loosehead is far weaker though. I'm still yet to be convinced Cronin is the answer and Whitcombe doesn't appear to be trusted or have kicked on, whereas on the tighthead we have Cole and Heyes who are doing a job.

Puja

Yeah loosehead is certainly weaker though we are likely to have our preferred options all season.

Cronin has looked good at times but I agree he isn't an ideal first choice though he's also a substantial saving on Genge in terms of salary.

Whitcombe was first choice November, December and January until he did his shoulder from which he didn't return until the second Saints friendly. At 22 he looks a good club level player currently, couple of levels below international standard but he's young enough to improve further.

We've been somewhat spoilt by having West and Cronin. Got our hopes up that the two of them and Whitcombe next season would give us a well rounded and strong set of looseheads.

If we sign another loosehead then we've got to really keep everything crossed that Borthwick doesn't call up Heyes and Cole for the 6N and both of Hurd and Richardson stay fit during that period. Hoyt is to young to be a reliable back up.

[Puja]

I'd rather have Arhip has the 8th prop. That way four each side. Job done.

If Harri Doel is still without a proper pro contract bring him in as an option on the wing.

Our loosehead is far weaker though. I'm still yet to be convinced Cronin is the answer and Whitcombe doesn't appear to be trusted or have kicked on, whereas on the tighthead we have Cole and Heyes who are doing a job.

Puja

Yeah loosehead is certainly weaker though we are likely to have our preferred options all season.

Cronin has looked good at times but I agree he isn't an ideal first choice though he's also a substantial saving on Genge in terms of salary.

Whitcombe was first choice November, December and January until he did his shoulder from which he didn't return until the second Saints friendly. At 22 he looks a good club level player currently, couple of levels below international standard but he's young enough to improve further.

We've been somewhat spoilt by having West and Cronin. Got our hopes up that the two of them and Whitcombe next season would give us a well rounded and strong set of looseheads.

If we sign another loosehead then we've got to really keep everything crossed that Borthwick doesn't call up Heyes and Cole for the 6N and both of Hurd and Richardson stay fit during that period. Hoyt is to young to be a reliable back up.

And Hoyt hardly set the world alight for England U20s, getting outperformed and then dropped for an 18 year old. We do need to be picking up some props before next season.

Puja

[FKAS]

Some good quality props would be nice but I don't know how much budget we'll actually have for that. Quite a few contracts have been renewed (for youngsters that have come or are coming good) but some first team earners have definitely move on without direct replacements.

[Gloskarlos]

James Lightfoot Brown joins Glos as attack coach. Tim Taylor becomes skills and transition coach (whatever that is). Skivs has stated there will be no more comings and goings, all transfer business has been concluded.

JLB is known to Skivs from LI days, Glos have clearly been in need of an attack coach for the last 2 years, let's hope this one fits the bill. The lack of any further signings is great for the balance sheet, but the one thing this season taught us was that more than a couple of key injuries to this small squad makes a huge difference to results. Cutting cloth accordingly is of course essential, but I fear next season could turn out much the same as this one.

[FKAS]

Have Glaws confirmed there's no more signings coming in?

Mercer and Lewellyn are both good signings but I thought you'd be getting in a couple more. Might be announced after the season I suppose.

[Margin_Walker]

JLB could be decent for Gloucester.

He's been a fixture of the LI pathway for a long time and along with Jon Fisher has had a lot of first team coaching involvement. He probably would have been in line to step up to fill in for Brad Davis whilst he's away with the Wallabies if he hadn't had a better offer.

[Gloskarlos]

Have Glaws confirmed there's no more signings coming in?

Mercer and Lewellyn are both good signings but I thought you'd be getting in a couple more. Might be announced after the season I suppose.

Skivs has stated that is the case, yes. No plans for any further recruitment over and above the aforementioned couple. I'd expect to see a few fringe players departing too but they have not been announced. We are losing 36, Morgan, Reid as far as I am aware, no huge changes to squad numbers.