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

[francoisfou]

Herbst, Hammond and Lamb all at once is a lot. Didn’t realise Lamb was going. It’s a shame, though he is very injury prone. Launch/Lewies not much better in that regard though.

Looking forward to seeing Petti come in.

Herbst's deal to Brive apparently fell through after a failed medical so Lamb is going instead.

I've read that Lamb isn't going to sign for Brive because of a shoulder problem so Brive have pulled out of the deal.

[FKAS]

Red Bull looking at investing in rugby. Apparently looking at Bristol or Newcastle. Bristol supposedly have a board meeting to discuss it. Advantage of Newcastle is their cheap but come with huge COVID loans to pay off..


https://archive.ph/PorEq

Very speculative and I'm not sure about the ethics of moving away from the Newcastle fans - the attendances have been going downhill of late, but you can't blame them after the last two seasons and they were at one point getting a better average crowd than Sale. Plus starting afresh in a new town is a huge risk, especially Darlington - the writer references Bath, Northampton, Gloucester, Exeter which sounds nice, but Exeter and Gloucester are in existing rugby hotbeds where there's not a huge number of alternative sports to go to in neighbouring towns, and Bath and Northampton have populations of 190k and 240k each. He's talking about a 25k stadium in a town that only has 100k people - there's a reason it was a white elephant in the first place! I'd be worried about having a crowd so small it'd be embarrassing.

I'm worried that Bristol will get that sweet Red Bull money and Newcastle will be left to continue to twist. Red Bull are after an advertising and branding vehicle - they might be tempted by the idea of raising a club from the brink of disaster and being able to rebuild it entirely in their own image (Newcastle Red Bulls?), but there's no denying it would be substantially easier and less risky to buy into an already decent team with crowds and a big stadium (that play in red and blue, no less!).

Puja

Red Bull have previously preferred to do it the hard way. RB Leipzig started in the fifth tier for instance.

The COVID loans might be hefty at Newcastle but should be repayable over a period of time so easier on cashflow than dropping a considerably bigger amount on Bristol who don't have a stadium of their own and Lansdowne has no pressure to sell.

The Red Bull Falcons representing the NE of England and creating a rugby hub up there does make sense though I'd have thought playing games primarily on Newcastle with the occasional visit to Darlington or Hull maybe Tynedale (for PRC) to spread it around the other NE rugby sides and bring a sense of representation together.

[FKAS]

Herbst, Hammond and Lamb all at once is a lot. Didn’t realise Lamb was going. It’s a shame, though he is very injury prone. Launch/Lewies not much better in that regard though.

Looking forward to seeing Petti come in.

Herbst's deal to Brive apparently fell through after a failed medical so Lamb is going instead.

I've read that Lamb isn't going to sign for Brive because of a shoulder problem so Brive have pulled out of the deal.

Maybe it was Lamb and not Herbst then. Sounds messy either way.

[francoisfou]

Herbst's deal to Brive apparently fell through after a failed medical so Lamb is going instead.

I've read that Lamb isn't going to sign for Brive because of a shoulder problem so Brive have pulled out of the deal.

Maybe it was Lamb and not Herbst then. Sounds messy either way.

Herbst apparently has an ankle issue that may put an end to Brive's interest in him.

[Puja]

Fissler reckons Worcester are going to lure Billy Twelvetrees out of retirement. Seems somewhat unlikely.

Puja

[Danno]

Fissler reckons Worcester are going to lure Billy Twelvetrees out of retirement. Seems somewhat unlikely.

Puja

Bwahahahahahaaa what

He's come up with some shit in his time but that has to be a pure turd on the floor of the school nurse's office

[FKAS]

Fissler reckons Worcester are going to lure Billy Twelvetrees out of retirement. Seems somewhat unlikely.

Puja

Bwahahahahahaaa what

He's come up with some shit in his time but that has to be a pure turd on the floor of the school nurse's office

If old William Wesley Twelvetrees was joining as attack coach that would at least make sense as he's doing the same job at Hartbury.

[Which Tyler]

[Danno]

Heh, where's this from?

[Banquo]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

[Danno]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

I've little knowledge in this area. If you can be arsed could you list roughly what/how many of each they need? I know the obvious medics, kit man but there's probably loads I don't know about at this level

[Puja]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

Probably by poaching half of yours through throwing money at them, I'd imagine.

Puja

[Banquo]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

Probably by poaching half of yours through throwing money at them, I'd imagine.

Puja

there is that. Still no idea where they are getting the money from. Spending a bomb on pr as well.

We are lurking under their eyeline luckily, but they've skewed the market horribly- time will tell if that's good or bad.

[Banquo]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

I've little knowledge in this area. If you can be arsed could you list roughly what/how many of each they need? I know the obvious medics, kit man but there's probably loads I don't know about at this level

So something like- as paid positions. (yes, it is a big overhead and then you have a squad of at least 33 plus loanees if you can get them, plus academy lads)

Board
CEO and CFO
Head of rugby
Marketing and comms Lead
Commercial lead

1st Team Rugby
Head Coach
Assistant coach x 2 or 3 and additional support x 1
Performance Lead
Lifestyle Performance practitioner and an intern
Team Manager
Analysts
Sport & Exercise Nutritionist
Sports Psychologist
Rugby Operations Manager
Groundsperson

Overall club
Welfare Lead
Safeguarding Lead
Community Lead
Mental Heath Lead

Medical
Immediate Care Doctor on retainer
Match Day Doctor (independent) paid per match
Pitch-side Video Reviewer (aspirational - Hawkeye dependent)
Physio (pitchside) x2
Physio (treatment in physio room) x 2

[Danno]

Thanks Banquo.

That's a huge list!

[Banquo]

Thanks Banquo.

That's a huge list!

tis. I think its right to raise standards, but its effin expensive.

[Which Tyler]

Worcester Warriors have signed former Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams ahead of their return to professional rugby next season.

The 35-year-old, who won 32 international caps and played at two World Cups, will join Warriors from Ealing Trailfinders.

[Banquo]

Worcester Warriors have signed former Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams ahead of their return to professional rugby next season.

The 35-year-old, who won 32 international caps and played at two World Cups, will join Warriors from Ealing Trailfinders.

average of signings now 32 . Gopperth next ?

[Banquo]

...though garside x 2 will help...

[Danno]

Worcester Warriors have signed former Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams ahead of their return to professional rugby next season.

The 35-year-old, who won 32 international caps and played at two World Cups, will join Warriors from Ealing Trailfinders.

average of signings now 32 . Gopperth next ?

I think francoisfou said he's a free agent now

[francoisfou]

Worcester Warriors have signed former Wales scrum-half Lloyd Williams ahead of their return to professional rugby next season.

The 35-year-old, who won 32 international caps and played at two World Cups, will join Warriors from Ealing Trailfinders.

average of signings now 32 . Gopperth next ?

I think francoisfou said he's a free agent now

I think I read that his family is based in Leamington, so maybe a return to Tigers is on the cards, or west to Wuss?
Whatever, it’s a crying shame that he won’t have the opportunity to play in the Top14.

[Banquo]

average of signings now 32 . Gopperth next ?

I think francoisfou said he's a free agent now

I think I read that his family is based in Leamington, so maybe a return to Tigers is on the cards, or west to Wuss?
Whatever, it’s a crying shame that he won’t have the opportunity to play in the Top14.

At 42, you’d think Tigers wouldn’t be that keen. Wuss is certainly a thing tho

[FKAS]

I think francoisfou said he's a free agent now

I think I read that his family is based in Leamington, so maybe a return to Tigers is on the cards, or west to Wuss?
Whatever, it’s a crying shame that he won’t have the opportunity to play in the Top14.

At 42, you’d think Tigers wouldn’t be that keen. Wuss is certainly a thing tho

Tigers are reshaping their backroom staff, a player/coach role with Gopperth joining as a skills coach would make sense. He'd likely be emergency cover and squad filler for PRC. Tigers have a couple of young 10s coming through and Titcombe incoming that he could mentor.

Worcester seems more likely if he's coming back to the Midlands though. At some point Wuss will surely announce players under the game of 30 otherwise they're going to end up with nickname "Dad's Army".

[Banquo]

I think I read that his family is based in Leamington, so maybe a return to Tigers is on the cards, or west to Wuss?
Whatever, it’s a crying shame that he won’t have the opportunity to play in the Top14.

At 42, you’d think Tigers wouldn’t be that keen. Wuss is certainly a thing tho

Tigers are reshaping their backroom staff, a player/coach role with Gopperth joining as a skills coach would make sense. He'd likely be emergency cover and squad filler for PRC. Tigers have a couple of young 10s coming through and Titcombe incoming that he could mentor.

Worcester seems more likely if he's coming back to the Midlands though. At some point Wuss will surely announce players under the game of 30 otherwise they're going to end up with nickname "Dad's Army".

Both garsides are going as above but yes

[Epaminondas Pules]

Not quite sure how wuss will meet minimum stds by 1st July in terms of support staff….

Probably by poaching half of yours through throwing money at them, I'd imagine.

Puja

there is that. Still no idea where they are getting the money from. Spending a bomb on pr as well.

We are lurking under their eyeline luckily, but they've skewed the market horribly- time will tell if that's good or bad.

Their owners aren’t exactly flush with cash. I mean they’re all millionaires but not to the level financing a Premier aspiring rugby club needs.