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

[FKAS]

James Venter, Sharks openside, to Glaws.

We also confirmed Ben Loader last week as well.

So far that’s:

Joseph
Byrne
Loader
Venter

All confirmed for next season. Hugh Bokenham also to be confirmed shortly.

All good options for Glaws but they do need some tight five players to come in if they want to build on this season.

Rumours that Fisichetti is coming in to bolster loosehead as VRR is apparently made of chocolate these days. Apart from that I’m not sure we really need to add too many to the front 5. We have massive depth at hooker, TH is well covered with Fasogbon, Kirill and Knight. We have young second row options coming out of our backside (Thomas, Arthur Clarke, Cam Jordan, Danny Eite) bolstered by experience from Alemanno and Freddie Clarke.

Fisichetti I've heard the rumour. He'd be a top signing and give Glaws two good looseheads, plus Vivas who's been decent as well. Gototsev is 37, and Knight is an ok backup. Fasogbon looks likely to be a star but I was expecting them to try and do something on that side of the scrum as well.

[ilovelamp]

Gototsev is 37 but an absolute beast. He’s good for another season or two. Knight has been a revelation this season, he’s really kicked on and can cover both sides. We signed Alfie Petch as long term back-up at tighthead but he’s not exactly set the world alight whenever he’s had an opportunity.

[FKAS]

They're both solid clubs tightheads. Petch is borderline Championship level. I thought they might make a play for more of a carrying threat at tighthead to compliment their attacking game and offer something different.

[jimKRFC]

Fissler reporting that Pat Lam is being looked at for Wales.
No idea what Bristol would do if he went....

[FKAS]

Fissler reporting that Pat Lam is being looked at for Wales.
No idea what Bristol would do if he went....

He's the highest paid head coach in the Prem with a contract until 2028. There may well be an early release clause in there but he's going to cost Wales a pretty penny. With that Bristol could recruit a good replacement. Franco Smith from Glasgow, Leon MacDonald from NZ maybe.

[Puja]

Fissler reporting that Pat Lam is being looked at for Wales.
No idea what Bristol would do if he went....

He's the highest paid head coach in the Prem with a contract until 2028. There may well be an early release clause in there but he's going to cost Wales a pretty penny. With that Bristol could recruit a good replacement. Franco Smith from Glasgow, Leon MacDonald from NZ maybe.

Given that Wales baulked at Franco Smith's £500k release fee, I don't see them being keen to go toe-to-toe with a possessive billionaire, so Lam would have to have a fairly basic release clause for that to be the case.

Puja

[FKAS]

Fissler reporting that Pat Lam is being looked at for Wales.
No idea what Bristol would do if he went....

He's the highest paid head coach in the Prem with a contract until 2028. There may well be an early release clause in there but he's going to cost Wales a pretty penny. With that Bristol could recruit a good replacement. Franco Smith from Glasgow, Leon MacDonald from NZ maybe.

Given that Wales baulked at Franco Smith's £500k release fee, I don't see them being keen to go toe-to-toe with a possessive billionaire, so Lam would have to have a fairly basic release clause for that to be the case.

Puja

Glasgow are also owned by the SRU who are rumoured to want Franco as Townsend's replacement should be move on at the end of his contract (finishes April 2026). Might mean they were not willing to play nice with Wales making an offer to their earmarked successor.

[FKAS]

Would be nice but I can't see it.

[Puja]

Would be nice but I can't see it.

Yeah, the whole "Sources suspect that Crowley is using Leicester's interest as leverage to negotiate improved terms with the IRFU" sound closest to being true.

We are properly fucked for next season. Losing Pollard and Shillcock, still no number 8, and with no idea who's going to be coaching us or what our situation's gonna be, it's unsurprising that we're struggling to bring anyone in. I could realistically see our only signings being Haffar and Blamire and us starting the season with Volavola and Woodward playing 10.

On the bright side, we'd probably be running so cheaply that we'd turn a profit? Although how long that'd last with us lingering near the bottom of the table, I don't exactly know.

Puja

[FKAS]

Would be nice but I can't see it.

Yeah, the whole "Sources suspect that Crowley is using Leicester's interest as leverage to negotiate improved terms with the IRFU" sound closest to being true.

We are properly fucked for next season. Losing Pollard and Shillcock, still no number 8, and with no idea who's going to be coaching us or what our situation's gonna be, it's unsurprising that we're struggling to bring anyone in. I could realistically see our only signings being Haffar and Blamire and us starting the season with Volavola and Woodward playing 10.

On the bright side, we'd probably be running so cheaply that we'd turn a profit? Although how long that'd last with us lingering near the bottom of the table, I don't exactly know.

Puja

I reckon it's 90% certain that Gustard will be in charge come the start of next season. If it was Rowntree maybe the Crowley rumour would hold more water.

Seems like Crowley isn't in line for a central contract and Munster are skint which means his salary is going to drop a fair chunk. Hence his agent holding some talks to apply pressure. It would be a proper shock move to pull it off and him being wearing green, red and white next season.

There's plenty of available 10s still not confirmed as signing anywhere for next season so I'm sure we'll do better than Volavola.

[Puja]

I reckon it's 90% certain that Gustard will be in charge come the start of next season.

Yeah, but is that really alleviating the uncertainty? Sure, short term, it means that prospective signings know who's in charge 25/26, but they won't know who'll be taking up the vacancy when it comes up again going into 26/27.

There's plenty of available 10s still not confirmed as signing anywhere for next season so I'm sure we'll do better than Volavola.

Can you give me some examples? I'm struggling to think of anyone that's Prem quality, available, and likely to join us.

Puja

[FKAS]

Some 10's who's contract status isn't confirmed for next season:
Damien Mckenzie
Gareth Anscombe
George Barton
George Ford (very likely to stay at Sale as long as they don't go cheap on him)
Kieran Wilkinson
Harry Bryne
Ben Healy
Billy Burns
Jack Carty
Brett Chamberlain
Tane Edmed
Jackson Garden-Bachop
Bryn Gatland
Otere Black
Dan Bigger
Ben Donaldson
Harry Godfrey
Caleb Muntz (linked with Provence)
Zach Henry
Noah Lolesio
Joey Carberry

We can pick a couple from that list fairly easily. George Barton would make a fairly ideal Shillcock replacement. Then there's some good options there, I'm a big fan of Muntz though not sure he'd fit Tigers style under Gustard. There's no chance DMac is leaving NZ unless it's a sabbatical in Japan. Black, Donaldson or Lolesio would all be good options likely a lot cheaper than Pollard.

Annoyingly rumours are that both Cannone brothers are nearing new deals in Italy. Their agent having tested the waters in the Prem enough to get them the pay increases they wanted presumably.

[FKAS]

Gustard will do at least two years. Can't see him throwing a tantrum and walking out ala McKellar not getting snaffled for the big job at an international team. The board aren't going to knee jerk fire anybody after a year either.

[Puja]

Gustard will do at least two years. ... The board aren't going to knee jerk fire anybody after a year either.

I admire your confidence.

(Also, thank you for the list. Very much appreciated)

Puja

[FKAS]

Gustard will do at least two years. ... The board aren't going to knee jerk fire anybody after a year either.

I admire your confidence.

(Also, thank you for the list. Very much appreciated)

Puja

No worries, I nicked the list from elsewhere and just added a couple of names and notes.

Less confidence in Gustard being brilliant and more that the board don't want any more negative press over upheaval at the club.

[Puja]

...more that the board don't want any more negative press over upheaval at the club.

Puja

[FKAS]

...more that the board don't want any more negative press over upheaval at the club.

Puja

It's funny because it's true...

I did say any more though, if they get it wrong again there's really no excuse and they'll take a pasting.

[Scrumhead]

Irene Herbst to Brive confirmed. Treadwell is presumably his replacement. Decent switch.

[Captainhaircut]

Irene Herbst to Brive confirmed. Treadwell is presumably his replacement. Decent switch.

CCS is the Herbst replacement….

[Adam_P]

Saints have signed Zimbabwean tighthead Cleopas Kundiona, who currently plays in French D2.

Don't know anything about him, but sound like he's decent around the park so should fit in at Saints.

[twitchy]

Exe sign Dweber (SA hooker) and Varney from glos.

[Which Tyler]

Exe sign Dweber (SA hooker) and Varney from glos.

From Vannes - surely

[Oakboy]

Exe sign Dweber (SA hooker) and Varney from glos.

From Vannes - surely

We are talking about Varney as in SH? Exeter certainly need one badly.

[Which Tyler]

We are talking about Varney as in SH? Exeter certainly need one badly.

Yup - he's certainly an upgrade for them; but they still need a real FH to pair him with

[Epaminondas Pules]

Exe sign Dweber (SA hooker) and Varney from glos.

From Vannes - surely

We are talking about Varney as in SH? Exeter certainly need one badly.

I’m not sure they need Varney though. I don’t see that as an upgrade.