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

[Peej]

Really disappointed from a Leicester perspective, as he's such a good player and has such a bright future, so it feels like a horrifying waste to let him go. However, from an England and general rugby fan perspective, he didn't appear to have settled at all at Leicester and wasn't showing anything like the quality that he had at Wasps. He played anonymously at best (and like a drain at worst) in his 25 appearances for Leicester and there was no question that he was behind Pollard and Shillcock on form.

He's a quality player and a fresh start will do him the world of good, especially in an attacking team like Glaws. With Carreras comfortable (and possibly better) at 15, I see him being their first choice 10 in fairly quick succession - he's got the capability to push ahead of Barton and Hastings. Good luck to him and I hope he makes us regret letting him go.

Puja

Glad to see you post such a fair summary of his time at Tigers Puja. I feared the worst when he went to Tigers with Pollard arriving, and so it’s panned out with Shillcock also incoming and doing well. Of all the players at Wasps that were available, it was Willis x2 and Atkinson who were the obvious must-gets. He was really starting to purr just prior to Wasps’ collapse. He had a really bad injury and was forced back too soon initially, but thankfully kept gaining fitness, to the point where he looked nailed on for a future Eng career (imo at least).

Big setback for him at Tigers, up to him now. A move was the obvious choice, fingers crossed he can do himself justice from here.
On a separate note, it’s quite galling/depressing seeing so many Wasps youngsters stepping up towards a bright future, Opuku-Fordjour being the latest.

I get what you mean, Hartley being another. At the same time, would Fisilau be getting to show off as much behind Shields, Willis (T) or Barbeary?

[Which Tyler]

Sanderson sniffing Charlie


Didn't deserve about 2/3 of those caps, and form fell at around the time he was being selected by England, but he's back playing well again now. I suspect Bath will play pretty hard to keep him.

[Adam_P]

Saints have extended contracts with Dingwall yesterday and Coles today - two very important players to keep hold of, who are both getting better and growing into leadership roles.

Three more extensions being announced over the next three days, hopefully concluding with Lawes. Would be good to keep Ludlam too, but I have a feeling he is off. If it's a choice between the two, Lawes wins every time.

[Banquo]

Saints have extended contracts with Dingwall yesterday and Coles today - two very important players to keep hold of, who are both getting better and growing into leadership roles.

Three more extensions being announced over the next three days, hopefully concluding with Lawes. Would be good to keep Ludlam too, but I have a feeling he is off. If it's a choice between the two, Lawes wins every time.

Great news on Fraser and Coles.

[Mikey Brown]

Ludlam to Toulon isn't a done deal?

[twitchy]

Billy V in talks with a japanese club.

[Scrumhead]

That would be good for everyone. Billy gets to top up his retirement fund and any temptation SB has to select him is nullified.

[Adam_P]

Ludlam to Toulon isn't a done deal?

No - I've seen it reported in french press but nothing official from either side yet.

Our priority should definitely be to hold on to Lawes until retirement, hopefully get at least 2 more seasons out of him. By which time, Pollock should hopefully be a first team regular.

[Spiffy]

Billy V in talks with a japanese club.

Possible career change to Sumo wrestling in the offing? He's got all the attributes.

[Puja]

Saints have extended contracts with Dingwall yesterday and Coles today - two very important players to keep hold of, who are both getting better and growing into leadership roles.

Three more extensions being announced over the next three days, hopefully concluding with Lawes. Would be good to keep Ludlam too, but I have a feeling he is off. If it's a choice between the two, Lawes wins every time.

You don't think you'd get more out of the 28y/o Ludlam across the next 2 years than you would the 34y/o Lawes?

Puja

[Adam_P]

Saints have extended contracts with Dingwall yesterday and Coles today - two very important players to keep hold of, who are both getting better and growing into leadership roles.

Three more extensions being announced over the next three days, hopefully concluding with Lawes. Would be good to keep Ludlam too, but I have a feeling he is off. If it's a choice between the two, Lawes wins every time.

You don't think you'd get more out of the 28y/o Ludlam across the next 2 years than you would the 34y/o Lawes?

Puja

Lawes in the form of his life, showing no signs of slowing down and no longer away for internationals. Ludlam likely to be involved for England if he remains at Saints. Lawes is the better player and consistently has a bigger impact on games. Yes I do.

Obviously the chance of injury increases with age, but it's not a given that Ludlam would stay fitter for more time than Lawes.

Ideally I'd keep both - but there are obviously finances to balance and if we can only keep one of them it'd be Lawes for me - and for most other Saints fans I suspect.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol to announce a signing at 18.00

I'm off to the pub so will find out later who it is.

[Banquo]

Bristol to announce a signing at 18.00

I'm off to the pub so will find out later who it is.

doesn`t Mata that he`s 33

[jimKRFC]

Bristol to announce a signing at 18.00

I'm off to the pub so will find out later who it is.

doesn`t Mata that he`s 33

For me, the bigger issue is that 8 is not a priority.
Back up props/Sinckler replacement, 2nd row & 10 are much more of a concern.

[FKAS]

Mata a replacement for Bradbury?

Tenuous rumour of the day, Evan Roos has started following Tigers players on social media apparently. Tigers are on the look out for an 8 after all.

[jimKRFC]

Mata a replacement for Bradbury?

Could be.. Bradbury is our only specialist 8 so we'd be short if he went & it would be around the time you'd expect his contract to finish. Hopefully, Mata (as an older player) is seen as back up/rotation to Macenzzie Duncan or Paddy Pearce next year.

[Adam_P]

Tom James yesterday and Furbank today extending at Saints. Happy with both of those - but as there's only one more announcement in this tranche I don't think we're keeping both Lawes and Luds

[Mellsblue]

Tom James yesterday and Furbank today extending at Saints. Happy with both of those - but as there's only one more announcement in this tranche I don't think we're keeping both Lawes and Luds

The article I referenced on the EPS squad thread seems to think that Ludlum is def off to France.

[francoisfou]

Ruck are saying that Toulon want to sign Courtney Lawes, although MidiOlympique say that Toulon are denying the rumour.

[FKAS]

Joe Powell and Joe Browning finish their short term contracts at Tigers and leave the club.

Browning never really looked likely to break into the first team and Powell has been largely disappointing since his move from Irish. No surprises really. Hopefully this means JvP is about to return from injury and young Sam Edwards will get more opportunity.

[Adam_P]

Ruck are saying that Toulon want to sign Courtney Lawes, although MidiOlympique say that Toulon are denying the rumour.

Pretty sure Lawes has said that if he were to leave, it'd be for a less physically demanding league. So he's either staying put or going to Japan or America

[Puja]

Ruck are saying that Toulon want to sign Courtney Lawes, although MidiOlympique say that Toulon are denying the rumour.

Pretty sure Lawes has said that if he were to leave, it'd be for a less physically demanding league. So he's either staying put or going to Japan or America

It would be hilarious to see Lawes in America and they would adore him there, but the money's not enough for him to go - he'd get more by staying, even if he took a significant paycut at Saints. Japan or staying, if that's the case.

Joe Powell and Joe Browning finish their short term contracts at Tigers and leave the club.

Browning never really looked likely to break into the first team and Powell has been largely disappointing since his move from Irish. No surprises really. Hopefully this means JvP is about to return from injury and young Sam Edwards will get more opportunity.

It's damning to Browning that we were so short on wingers that we were rushing Simmons back from injury and playing Brown on the wing, and yet he still didn't make the XXIII. I had forgotten he was even in the squad, tbh. Hopefully he bounces back at a lower level and keeps going though.

Puja

[FKAS]

Toulon have apparently denied making any contact with Lawes on Twitter/X.

Puja, agreed on Browning. I always thought he'd try and make a go of it on the Sevens circuit but he never seemed to pursue it with much interest.

[Mellsblue]

[francoisfou]

https://x.com/mikebrown_15/status/17429 ... MV3j-SK8yQ

Is he signing for Toulon too?