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

[ilovelamp]

Ross Byrne confirmed at Glaws. Cracking signing that.

[FKAS]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... igers-job/

Gustard and Lancaster apparently the front runners for the Tigers job. Not really inspirational options.

[Puja]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... igers-job/

Gustard and Lancaster apparently the front runners for the Tigers job. Not really inspirational options.

The head coaches of the two worst performing teams in the T14. Good to know where we stand in the market.

That being said, I wouldn't be entirely against Burt. The rumours out of Racing were that he didn't learn French and never had the support with the wider squad because of that, so if we overlook the Racing debacle, then he'd be a good person to help develop our young squad and academy lads, and he did do well at Leinster. Would need a decent coaching team around him (wouldn't hate a Burt-Rowntree double-bill!), but there'd be some reasons for hope.

Puja

[FKAS]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... igers-job/

Gustard and Lancaster apparently the front runners for the Tigers job. Not really inspirational options.

The head coaches of the two worst performing teams in the T14. Good to know where we stand in the market.

That being said, I wouldn't be entirely against Burt. The rumours out of Racing were that he didn't learn French and never had the support with the wider squad because of that, so if we overlook the Racing debacle, then he'd be a good person to help develop our young squad and academy lads, and he did do well at Leinster. Would need a decent coaching team around him (wouldn't hate a Burt-Rowntree double-bill!), but there'd be some reasons for hope.

Puja

If Lancaster took Wilks job as head of academy with maybe a slightly wider remit for development pathways etc. I'd be behind that. As a head coach he's been a disaster to date. I wouldn't hate him in a DOR role with Rowntree head coach that could work but might be a bit pricey.

Gustard doesn't really have much experience as a head coach, one slightly odd spell at Quins where he didn't suit them and that squad didn't suit him. He inherited the mess at Stade and can't blame him for wanting out. Labit the DOR there seems to be heavily involved in coaching, mainly the attack so don't think Gustard is getting much control there either.

[francoisfou]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... igers-job/

Gustard and Lancaster apparently the front runners for the Tigers job. Not really inspirational options.

The head coaches of the two worst performing teams in the T14. Good to know where we stand in the market.

That being said, I wouldn't be entirely against Burt. The rumours out of Racing were that he didn't learn French and never had the support with the wider squad because of that, so if we overlook the Racing debacle, then he'd be a good person to help develop our young squad and academy lads, and he did do well at Leinster. Would need a decent coaching team around him (wouldn't hate a Burt-Rowntree double-bill!), but there'd be some reasons for hope.

Puja

If Lancaster took Wilks job as head of academy with maybe a slightly wider remit for development pathways etc. I'd be behind that. As a head coach he's been a disaster to date. I wouldn't hate him in a DOR role with Rowntree head coach that could work but might be a bit pricey.

Gustard doesn't really have much experience as a head coach, one slightly odd spell at Quins where he didn't suit them and that squad didn't suit him. He inherited the mess at Stade and can't blame him for wanting out. Labit the DOR there seems to be heavily involved in coaching, mainly the attack so don't think Gustard is getting much control there either.

Midi Olympique reported yesterday that Labit will no longer be involved in the training of the team, but will remain DoR.
Stade Français now find themselves bottom of the Top14 and I understand that Thomas Lombard, DG of the club, called a crisis meeting of the coaching staff followed by another with the players.
Gustard now has sole responsibility for training, supported by Morgan Parra, and will prepare his team for the home fixture against La Rochelle on Saturday afternoon.

[FKAS]

The head coaches of the two worst performing teams in the T14. Good to know where we stand in the market.

That being said, I wouldn't be entirely against Burt. The rumours out of Racing were that he didn't learn French and never had the support with the wider squad because of that, so if we overlook the Racing debacle, then he'd be a good person to help develop our young squad and academy lads, and he did do well at Leinster. Would need a decent coaching team around him (wouldn't hate a Burt-Rowntree double-bill!), but there'd be some reasons for hope.

Puja

If Lancaster took Wilks job as head of academy with maybe a slightly wider remit for development pathways etc. I'd be behind that. As a head coach he's been a disaster to date. I wouldn't hate him in a DOR role with Rowntree head coach that could work but might be a bit pricey.

Gustard doesn't really have much experience as a head coach, one slightly odd spell at Quins where he didn't suit them and that squad didn't suit him. He inherited the mess at Stade and can't blame him for wanting out. Labit the DOR there seems to be heavily involved in coaching, mainly the attack so don't think Gustard is getting much control there either.

Midi Olympique reported yesterday that Labit will no longer be involved in the training of the team, but will remain DoR.
Stade Français now find themselves bottom of the Top14 and I understand that Thomas Lombard, DG of the club, called a crisis meeting of the coaching staff followed by another with the players.
Gustard now has sole responsibility for training, supported by Morgan Parra, and will prepare his team for the home fixture against La Rochelle on Saturday afternoon.

Yeah read this yesterday evening. Sounds like a right mess with players not sure who was actually in charge. The head coach they forced out in September is doing well at Lyon, maybe suggesting that either Labit or the players squad are the issue. Be interesting to see if Gustard can turn it around now he's in full control.

[Puja]

If Lancaster took Wilks job as head of academy with maybe a slightly wider remit for development pathways etc. I'd be behind that. As a head coach he's been a disaster to date. I wouldn't hate him in a DOR role with Rowntree head coach that could work but might be a bit pricey.

Gustard doesn't really have much experience as a head coach, one slightly odd spell at Quins where he didn't suit them and that squad didn't suit him. He inherited the mess at Stade and can't blame him for wanting out. Labit the DOR there seems to be heavily involved in coaching, mainly the attack so don't think Gustard is getting much control there either.

Midi Olympique reported yesterday that Labit will no longer be involved in the training of the team, but will remain DoR.
Stade Français now find themselves bottom of the Top14 and I understand that Thomas Lombard, DG of the club, called a crisis meeting of the coaching staff followed by another with the players.
Gustard now has sole responsibility for training, supported by Morgan Parra, and will prepare his team for the home fixture against La Rochelle on Saturday afternoon.

Yeah read this yesterday evening. Sounds like a right mess with players not sure who was actually in charge. The head coach they forced out in September is doing well at Lyon, maybe suggesting that either Labit or the players squad are the issue. Be interesting to see if Gustard can turn it around now he's in full control.

Not a great choice for Leicester. If Gustard has actually got the talent for the job and can turn it around once he's in full control (which I doubt, given England's improvement after he left and his tenure at Quins), then he'll stay at Stade and not be available to us. If he hasn't got what it takes and fails miserably, then we'll be okay to pick him up so he can fail here too. Yaaay.

Reports say that we were keen on Franco Smith, but that Glasgow have an ironclad contract with a £500k buyout clause, and we are (understandably) not keen enough to spend that kind of money. Apparently, that half mill has also warded off Wales from picking him up, and they are (allegedly) now in talks with Michael Cheika, last seen leaving Leicester because he didn't want to move his family to the UK (understandably, right now). Doesn't speak well of Leicester's environment if Cheika leaps straight back into a UK-based job after leaving us, although I suppose international rugby is much less onerous day-to-day than club and could be done on a commute.

Mind, doesn't speak well of Wales if they're willing to accept a head coach commuting from the other side of the planet, but I suppose they're in the situation that they're in. Plus this is all rumour and "allegedlies" so far.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Obviously I’ve got mixed feelings about Gustard, but I’m unsure on the dismissal of his skills as a defence coach for England.

He was Eddie’s first defence coach right? We definitely did drop off, then see improvements under Mitchell, but that initial spell was very good and he’s hardly alone in having broken down after years working alongside Jones.

[FKAS]

Midi Olympique reported yesterday that Labit will no longer be involved in the training of the team, but will remain DoR.
Stade Français now find themselves bottom of the Top14 and I understand that Thomas Lombard, DG of the club, called a crisis meeting of the coaching staff followed by another with the players.
Gustard now has sole responsibility for training, supported by Morgan Parra, and will prepare his team for the home fixture against La Rochelle on Saturday afternoon.

Yeah read this yesterday evening. Sounds like a right mess with players not sure who was actually in charge. The head coach they forced out in September is doing well at Lyon, maybe suggesting that either Labit or the players squad are the issue. Be interesting to see if Gustard can turn it around now he's in full control.

Not a great choice for Leicester. If Gustard has actually got the talent for the job and can turn it around once he's in full control (which I doubt, given England's improvement after he left and his tenure at Quins), then he'll stay at Stade and not be available to us. If he hasn't got what it takes and fails miserably, then we'll be okay to pick him up so he can fail here too. Yaaay.

Reports say that we were keen on Franco Smith, but that Glasgow have an ironclad contract with a £500k buyout clause, and we are (understandably) not keen enough to spend that kind of money. Apparently, that half mill has also warded off Wales from picking him up, and they are (allegedly) now in talks with Michael Cheika, last seen leaving Leicester because he didn't want to move his family to the UK (understandably, right now). Doesn't speak well of Leicester's environment if Cheika leaps straight back into a UK-based job after leaving us, although I suppose international rugby is much less onerous day-to-day than club and could be done on a commute.

Mind, doesn't speak well of Wales if they're willing to accept a head coach commuting from the other side of the planet, but I suppose they're in the situation that they're in. Plus this is all rumour and "allegedlies" so far.

Puja

Gatland was a part timer spending 6 months in New Zealand a year and I suspect Chieka is thinking similar. That and Wales throwing £600k at Gatland and probably similar at Chieka presumably is more than we can offer.

Neither Gustard nor Lancaster are particularly good options. Feels meh. Surely Rowntree can't have bombed the interview that much.

[Puja]

Obviously I’ve got mixed feelings about Gustard, but I’m unsure on the dismissal of his skills as a defence coach for England.

He was Eddie’s first defence coach right? We definitely did drop off, then see improvements under Mitchell, but that initial spell was very good and he’s hardly alone in having broken down after years working alongside Jones.

Were we ever that good in defence under him though? Felt like we were never particularly watertight and got away with it because of the strengths of our game elsewhere, culminating in that shitty tour of South Africa where we opened up 20 point leads in the first two tests through scintillating attack, only to show turnstile defence to let them be wiped out.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough. Maybe I’m just conflating the early success of Eddie and the Sarries ‘Wolfpack’ defence of the time.

[twitchy]

Exe have signed aussie centre Len Ikitau.

[Mellsblue]

Nice. Love watching him play.

[jimKRFC]

Max Pepper confirmed as joining Bristol, Diamond seems upset about it so hopefully a good'un. Covers wing/9 so fits to the small squad/multiple positions approach now being used.

[twitchy]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/25/e ... ssie-raid/

•Len Ikitau signs on a nine-month deal.

•Exeter have sights on signing Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon and Waratahs' hooker Julian Heaven (EQ).

[FKAS]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/02/25/e ... ssie-raid/

•Len Ikitau signs on a nine-month deal.

•Exeter have sights on signing Wallabies scrumhalf Jake Gordon and Waratahs' hooker Julian Heaven (EQ).

Ikitau one sounds a bit weird. He's being allowed out of his contract early but not until after the AIs. Then he's got an initial 9 month deal with the option of either another year with Chiefs or going back to Australia. Either way he's expected to head back to Australia in time for the next world cup.

[FKAS]

"David Kidwell will join Michael Cheika’s coaching team for the remainder of the 24/25 season.

The 47-year-old previously worked with Cheika as an Assistant Coach at Argentina and is currently an Assistant Coach with the Japan national side under Eddie Jones."

Makes rumours of Matt Everard being stood down more substantiated.

[Mikey Brown]

Felix Jones back to SA. A weird resolution to all this nonsense and they already have attack and defence coaches.

[Puja]

Felix Jones back to SA. A weird resolution to all this nonsense and they already have attack and defence coaches.

Frankly, that's a much better result than him going to Ireland. Not like he's particularly going to change much about South Africa, but I would've been worried about his system in the hands of the Irish, especially given their cohesion between province and country.

Puja

[FKAS]

Felix Jones back to SA. A weird resolution to all this nonsense and they already have attack and defence coaches.

Frankly, that's a much better result than him going to Ireland. Not like he's particularly going to change much about South Africa, but I would've been worried about his system in the hands of the Irish, especially given their cohesion between province and country.

Puja

Yeah, give Ireland one of the top assistant coaches going would have been big for them.

I suspect this means a reduced role for Jerry Flannery as the attack is being looked after by Tony Brown who's already brought some innovative stuff to the table.

[Mikey Brown]

Felix Jones back to SA. A weird resolution to all this nonsense and they already have attack and defence coaches.

Frankly, that's a much better result than him going to Ireland. Not like he's particularly going to change much about South Africa, but I would've been worried about his system in the hands of the Irish, especially given their cohesion between province and country.

Puja

Yeah, give Ireland one of the top assistant coaches going would have been big for them.

I suspect this means a reduced role for Jerry Flannery as the attack is being looked after by Tony Brown who's already brought some innovative stuff to the table.

Really? Just hiring a second defence coach (still not clear whether he even wants to be one?) and demoting the guy who was brought in a year ago? Is it possible Jones actually takes a more senior role, like Neinaber, with Rassie still as DOR?

It would certainly put him in a good position to take over from Farrell somewhere down the line.

[FKAS]

Frankly, that's a much better result than him going to Ireland. Not like he's particularly going to change much about South Africa, but I would've been worried about his system in the hands of the Irish, especially given their cohesion between province and country.

Puja

Yeah, give Ireland one of the top assistant coaches going would have been big for them.

I suspect this means a reduced role for Jerry Flannery as the attack is being looked after by Tony Brown who's already brought some innovative stuff to the table.

Really? Just hiring a second defence coach (still not clear whether he even wants to be one?) and demoting the guy who was brought in a year ago? Is it possible Jones actually takes a more senior role, like Neinaber, with Rassie still as DOR?

It would certainly put him in a good position to take over from Farrell somewhere down the line.

You'd assume Felix will be working at high level stuff and Jerry will be doing the more hands on stuff.

I was never sure what role Neinaber had, he was called head coach but Rassie seemed to still be in charge. He and Felix seemed to switch attack and defence coaching between iirc.

[Banquo]

Yeah, give Ireland one of the top assistant coaches going would have been big for them.

I suspect this means a reduced role for Jerry Flannery as the attack is being looked after by Tony Brown who's already brought some innovative stuff to the table.

Really? Just hiring a second defence coach (still not clear whether he even wants to be one?) and demoting the guy who was brought in a year ago? Is it possible Jones actually takes a more senior role, like Neinaber, with Rassie still as DOR?

It would certainly put him in a good position to take over from Farrell somewhere down the line.

You'd assume Felix will be working at high level stuff and Jerry will be doing the more hands on stuff.

I was never sure what role Neinaber had, he was called head coach but Rassie seemed to still be in charge. He and Felix seemed to switch attack and defence coaching between iirc.

yeah was going to ask on what a DOR does for an intl side- unless he oversees all the men's rep sides.

[FKAS]

Handre Pollard off to the Bulls for next season. Tigers now almost certainly looking for two flyhalfs, an 8 and a head coach for next season.

[Puja]

Welp, Telegraph reckon it's Gustard for Leicester. I hope I'm wrong about him. He is a Leicester old boy, so he'll understand the culture without going for the reductive, "Leicester culture means strong forward pack, so that means the supporters will be fine if we play 10 man and don't use the backs."

Puja