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

[FKAS]

Agree on Perch, he'd be a good signing for Falcons as back up to McCallum. Heffernan is an odd one, he went on loan to Newcastle as part of the Davison deal and at the time this was the quote on the Saints website: “Oisín is still contracted with Saints next season, and is another who needs more game time and an opportunity to show what he can do in the Premiership, so we’ll follow his progress with interest.” so something has changed and Heffernan wasn't getting picked at Falcons.

Carter is just said filler for Tigers, probably cheaper than Snyman. Let's face it he's cover for international call ups where there's the potential we could see three locks called up and leave us with 30 year old Wells and two development locks that are ten years younger than him. A veteran lock that won't get in the way of those coming through just makes sense.

I am a little bit concerned that he is McKellar's former captain at the Brumbies and that he's previously spoken very highly about him, from the googling I've done. Always a worry that a new boss's favourite might get in the way of the seriously good young lock talent that wehave.

Puja

If McKellar didn't have a good reputation for bringing through young players and I hadn't seen two interviews with Aussie TV outlets where he bigs up the Tigers academy I'd be concerned. I quite like the fact he's brought someone with captain experience in. Some extra leadership is good (particularly during the international periods), if he can help mentor some of the younger guys as well that's a bonus. He's supposed to be a good lineout leader as well which should help Henderson and L Chessum who are both coming pretty good in that regard.

[Puja]

Agree on Perch, he'd be a good signing for Falcons as back up to McCallum. Heffernan is an odd one, he went on loan to Newcastle as part of the Davison deal and at the time this was the quote on the Saints website: “Oisín is still contracted with Saints next season, and is another who needs more game time and an opportunity to show what he can do in the Premiership, so we’ll follow his progress with interest.” so something has changed and Heffernan wasn't getting picked at Falcons.

Carter is just said filler for Tigers, probably cheaper than Snyman. Let's face it he's cover for international call ups where there's the potential we could see three locks called up and leave us with 30 year old Wells and two development locks that are ten years younger than him. A veteran lock that won't get in the way of those coming through just makes sense.

I am a little bit concerned that he is McKellar's former captain at the Brumbies and that he's previously spoken very highly about him, from the googling I've done. Always a worry that a new boss's favourite might get in the way of the seriously good young lock talent that wehave.

Puja

If McKellar didn't have a good reputation for bringing through young players and I hadn't seen two interviews with Aussie TV outlets where he bigs up the Tigers academy I'd be concerned. I quite like the fact he's brought someone with captain experience in. Some extra leadership is good (particularly during the international periods), if he can help mentor some of the younger guys as well that's a bonus. He's supposed to be a good lineout leader as well which should help Henderson and L Chessum who are both coming pretty good in that regard.

That's comforting; thanks.

Puja

[FKAS]

I am a little bit concerned that he is McKellar's former captain at the Brumbies and that he's previously spoken very highly about him, from the googling I've done. Always a worry that a new boss's favourite might get in the way of the seriously good young lock talent that wehave.

Puja

If McKellar didn't have a good reputation for bringing through young players and I hadn't seen two interviews with Aussie TV outlets where he bigs up the Tigers academy I'd be concerned. I quite like the fact he's brought someone with captain experience in. Some extra leadership is good (particularly during the international periods), if he can help mentor some of the younger guys as well that's a bonus. He's supposed to be a good lineout leader as well which should help Henderson and L Chessum who are both coming pretty good in that regard.

That's comforting; thanks.

Puja

https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/th ... by-podcast

Episode 60 here is a good interview with him.

[Mellsblue]

The news you’ve all been waiting for:

[FKAS]

Speaking of Championship inside centres, good to see Ronnie du Randt getting a deal at Nottingham. Part of the Tigers academy side that produced Steward, Whitcombe, Vanes, Ilione, Martin, JVP and Costelow. It was a slight surprise the centre didn't get a shot at a development contract.

[FKAS]

Leicester look set to complete another coaching raid on Eddie's Australia set up.

https://www.theroar.com.au/2023/05/29/e ... n-england/

[Danno]

Whispers of Marcus Smith to Racing after the RWC. I will not be pleased.

[FKAS]

Turns out the Dan Palmer rumour is true. Coaching team for next season confirmed.

Leicester Tigers 23/24 Coaching Team
Dan McKellar, Head Coach
Brett Deacon, Assistant Coach
Alan Dickens, Attack & Backs Coach
Matt Everard, Defence Coach
Dan Palmer, Scrum Coach
Ollie Richardson, Head of Physical Performance
Matt Smith, Skills Coach & Lead Academy Coach
The club can also confirm that Richard Wilks has been appointed General Manager.

I'm yet to be convinced by the Dickens appointment but we'll see. Everard is a very good young coach who's looked after attack and defence previously so could always do a job if needed. By the sounds of it Dan Palmer will be considerably more than the scrum coach and more like set piece coach and McKellar's right hand man. Ollie Richardson the new head of physical performance has done that all over the place and has also competed and trained MMA fighters so I imagine the fitness sessions might be brutal.

[FKAS]

Whispers of Marcus Smith to Racing after the RWC. I will not be pleased.

These just won't go away will they, seem to circle back round every other month. He's a point of difference for Quins so I can't see them agreeing to a contract buy out unless it's a contract plus a chunk extra and Smith has already confirmed he won't sign a new deal ahead of next summer anyway.

Still time to pick up Anscombe and go in to the new campaign with the two Welsh flyhalfs who probably cost what Marcus does between the two of them.

[Mikey Brown]

I heard Patchell was out of contract but Anscombe would be even better. Both would quite suit Quins I’d think.

[FKAS]

Both good players but keeping them fit is the issue.

[Puja]

The Guardian speculating about Bath players: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/ ... remiership

The situation is such that several players have been seeking to line up provisional moves with England’s Henry Arundell understood to be on Bath’s radar, Paddy Jackson on Newcastle’s, and the back-rower Tom Pearson believed to be of interest to Bath and Bristol among a host of suitors.

Bristol going for Pearson makes a lot of sense. Can't understand how Bath have any salary cap left, let alone enough to make an offer to Arundell or Pearson, but it may be that players are willing to join them cheaper - there's got to be a lot of allure for players from a financially failed club to join a side with a devoted and very wealthy owner.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

TBH, I've no idea where Bath stand in relation to the salary cap for next season - there's just been too many moving parts over the last 12 months; and of course, Hooper has moved on - it was (apparently) his call/advice to keep some cap unspent at the beginning of each year to spend on mid-season availabilities; and we've no idea if JVG would agree that it's a good idea.

It's "known" that GJVV has been offered a contract, but unknown whether he's accepted it; I guess that if not, it could be withdrawn, but... I just dunno.
It's thought that FLW had been offered a full year contract, but is only staying for 2 months - though it was also thought back in February that he'd already committed himself to return to Aus; so I don't really believe that one.

The only known summer signings are Russell (marquee) and Du Toit, whilst Doughty, Rae, Attwood, WSpencer, DeCarpentier, White, Green, Venter, Hamer-Webb, Atkins and 80% of Fergus Lee-Warner are outgoing.
Of course, Hill, Barbeary and Lawrence will be going up onto "proper" contracts this summer; but no idea how much of an increase that would actually be (are they going up from £100k combined? or £100k each?).

As with Hill, Barbeary and Lawrence; Bath having a dedicated financer has got to make it attractive to anyone who's just had the rug pulled out from underneath them.

Of course, there's also rumour of cap dispensation being allowed to recruit players from LI - but then those same rumours were doing the rounds with Wuss and Wasps...

Of those mentioned, Arundell has a connection to Bath, being a Beechen Cliff old-boy.
Pearson and CCS have been mentioned as "wanna have" on the Bath fan forums; but that doesn't even reach the level of "speculation".

Quite honestly though, I'd expect those 3 to be "of interest" to... everybody in the league if they can be afforded.

[Puja]

I had forgotten about Arundell's Bath roots (which is weird, cause I play for one of the teams that claims him as a junior player) - that does make a lot of sense.

Puja

[FKAS]

Arundell to Bath would make sense, plus a combination of Russell and Arundell in the same backline would be a lot of fun.

[twitchy]

Exe should be all in for arundell and pearson.

[Tigersman]

Tigers sign Midlands academy and England U18 backs
Charlie Myall (Centre)
Jack Kinder (Wing)

[Puja]

Tigers sign Midlands academy and England U18 backs
Charlie Myall (Centre)
Jack Kinder (Wing)

Good news - we should absolutely be looking to pick off the cream from those academies as Worcester especially had superb talent identification. Do you know much about Myall and Kinder?

Puja

[chris1850]

Coenie Oosthuizen returning to SA and Joining Cell C Sharks for next year.
Will have been on a decent wedge and arguably leaves Sale light at Tighthead now, as well as hooker with Ashman leaving. Hopefully there is space in the cap for a couple of decent replacements

[fivepointer]

Lets hope James Harper gets more opportunities.

[chris1850]

Telusa Veainu signs for Sale on a 1 year deal
https://www.salesharks.com/2023/05/30/s ... ainu-deal/

[FKAS]

TV is always a good watch, his footwork can create something out of nothing. He'll add some firepower to Sale's backline.

Tomas Francis is apparently looking at options away from Wales. Maybe Sale should get Johnny Hill to put in a good word.

[Puja]

Telusa Veainu signs for Sale on a 1 year deal
https://www.salesharks.com/2023/05/30/s ... ainu-deal/

That's a really good signing, but an interesting length of contract. I wonder if he's leaving France because his French contracts wouldn't let him play in the RWC and he's got the aim of spending a year in a decent environment that will be sympathetic to his international commitments, while keeping his options open for another decent money move in 2024-25?

He'll do an excellent job for you, around the squad as well as on the pitch.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

What's happened to Luke James?

[chris18501]

What's happened to Luke James?

Had a long injury layoff during which time Carpenter cemented the position of FB. Fit again now but Carpenter has been such a revelation that he can't get back in. Long term his best position may prove to be centre, though he faces stiff competition from Manu , his brother, RDP, Doherty, Below and Masai-White coming through