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

[FKAS]

Maybe he'll be some form of medical joker for Racing 92?

Puja

Where did you hear that?

Did the rounds last week after he was included in the Racing Sevens side. Regan Grace's injury means there's a medical joker opportunity at Racing.

[Mellsblue]

Maybe he'll be some form of medical joker for Racing 92?

Puja

Where did you hear that?

Did the rounds last week after he was included in the Racing Sevens side. Regan Grace's injury means there's a medical joker opportunity at Racing.

Surprised it wasn’t mentioned on here whilst doing the rounds…

[FKAS]

Where did you hear that?

Did the rounds last week after he was included in the Racing Sevens side. Regan Grace's injury means there's a medical joker opportunity at Racing.

Surprised it wasn’t mentioned on here whilst doing the rounds…

Maybe if you look back you might see something, who knows.

[Mellsblue]

Did the rounds last week after he was included in the Racing Sevens side. Regan Grace's injury means there's a medical joker opportunity at Racing.

Surprised it wasn’t mentioned on here whilst doing the rounds…

Maybe if you look back you might see something, who knows.

Silly me.

[Puja]

I can't actually tell anymore if this is deadpan humour or genuine. Well done everybody.

Puja

[francoisfou]

Surprised it wasn’t mentioned on here whilst doing the rounds…

Maybe if you look back you might see something, who knows.

Silly me.

Now if you lot had been paying attention to this thread, you'd have known that Christian Wade has been rumoured to have signed for Racing to play 7s as a medical joker for someone I've never heard of. i now have it on good authority that he's committed to a one-year contract to play XVs.
It is said that Racing were after Duhan van de Merwe, but that rumour is now dead and buried because the SRU, in their wisdom, don't want their winger to play outside the UK, which seems inconsistent as Finn Russel is an established Racing man.

[Peej]

Wasps have signed a young Saffa hooker to the Academy, ex of Bristol. Corbin Thunder, which is a rather excellent name that could be a campaign slogan in the UK.

[Puja]

Wasps have signed a young Saffa hooker to the Academy, ex of Bristol. Corbin Thunder, which is a rather excellent name that could be a campaign slogan in the UK.

That sounds like the name of a superhero's alter-ago. He needs to team up with Warren Fury.

Puja

[jimKRFC]

Wasps have signed a young Saffa hooker to the Academy, ex of Bristol. Corbin Thunder, which is a rather excellent name that could be a campaign slogan in the UK.

Can't say I ever heard of him!

[Beasties]

Wasps have signed a young Saffa hooker to the Academy, ex of Bristol. Corbin Thunder, which is a rather excellent name that could be a campaign slogan in the UK.

That sounds like the name of a superhero's alter-ago. He needs to team up with Warren Fury.

Puja

[I R Geech]

Maybe if you look back you might see something, who knows.

Silly me.

Now if you lot had been paying attention to this thread, you'd have known that Christian Wade has been rumoured to have signed for Racing to play 7s as a medical joker for someone I've never heard of. i now have it on good authority that he's committed to a one-year contract to play XVs.
It is said that Racing were after Duhan van de Merwe, but that rumour is now dead and buried because the SRU, in their wisdom, don't want their winger to play outside the UK, which seems inconsistent as Finn Russel is an established Racing man.

Wade is teasing that he is London bound. Please don’t let it be Sarries.

[SDHoneymonster]

Virimi Vakatawa has effectively been banned from playing in France due to the nature of an injury, just a year out from a home WC. France has odd rules surrounding this - Chris Tolofua and Juan Figallo are two who have effectively previously been kicked out of the French game for medical issues, although Tolofua has since had surgery that allowed him to join Toulon. He's just been out for a year but did play for France in Japan over the summer. Bit of a kick in the nuts for the player, but maybe with more surgery he'll be allowed back and in the meantime I suspect a payday in Japan awaits - no URC club really needs him and no Prem club could afford him currently.

[FKAS]

Depends what Vakatawa wants doesn't it. If the French national team are still able to select him despite his injury status and it's just the league he can't play in then he might opt for a short term smaller contract in Europe to give him a chance of the world cup. The French Union might stretch the rules around selection in this one off case.

If that's not the case off to Japan where the player medical cover is apparently world class could see him play for a long time yet.

[Banquo]

Virimi Vakatawa has effectively been banned from playing in France due to the nature of an injury, just a year out from a home WC. France has odd rules surrounding this - Chris Tolofua and Juan Figallo are two who have effectively previously been kicked out of the French game for medical issues, although Tolofua has since had surgery that allowed him to join Toulon. He's just been out for a year but did play for France in Japan over the summer. Bit of a kick in the nuts for the player, but maybe with more surgery he'll be allowed back and in the meantime I suspect a payday in Japan awaits - no URC club really needs him and no Prem club could afford him currently.

what is the injury- I'd kind of assumed it was concussion.

[SDHoneymonster]

Virimi Vakatawa has effectively been banned from playing in France due to the nature of an injury, just a year out from a home WC. France has odd rules surrounding this - Chris Tolofua and Juan Figallo are two who have effectively previously been kicked out of the French game for medical issues, although Tolofua has since had surgery that allowed him to join Toulon. He's just been out for a year but did play for France in Japan over the summer. Bit of a kick in the nuts for the player, but maybe with more surgery he'll be allowed back and in the meantime I suspect a payday in Japan awaits - no URC club really needs him and no Prem club could afford him currently.

what is the injury- I'd kind of assumed it was concussion.

Turns out it's not an injury but a heart defect - the specifics of which have not been disclosed. Horrible images of Fabrice Muamba, Christian Eriksen and Marc-Vivien Foe all flash before your eyes when you hear about that, it's a good thing it's been caught but I wonder what can be done and if he can get back playing rugby.

[Banquo]

Virimi Vakatawa has effectively been banned from playing in France due to the nature of an injury, just a year out from a home WC. France has odd rules surrounding this - Chris Tolofua and Juan Figallo are two who have effectively previously been kicked out of the French game for medical issues, although Tolofua has since had surgery that allowed him to join Toulon. He's just been out for a year but did play for France in Japan over the summer. Bit of a kick in the nuts for the player, but maybe with more surgery he'll be allowed back and in the meantime I suspect a payday in Japan awaits - no URC club really needs him and no Prem club could afford him currently.

what is the injury- I'd kind of assumed it was concussion.

Turns out it's not an injury but a heart defect - the specifics of which have not been disclosed. Horrible images of Fabrice Muamba, Christian Eriksen and Marc-Vivien Foe all flash before your eyes when you hear about that, it's a good thing it's been caught but I wonder what can be done and if he can get back playing rugby.

ah ok, yep makes sense now.

[SDHoneymonster]

Reading a little bit more and apparently a small defect first appeared around the time of the 2019 world cup and wasn't particularly troubling, but it has developed in the intervening years (wonder if Virimi's had covid too, which could have something to do with it). It seems like a very similar condition that forced James Taylor to retire from cricket a few years back, in that basically anything that raises the heart rate too much is potentially lethal.

[Timbo]

Reading a little bit more and apparently a small defect first appeared around the time of the 2019 world cup and wasn't particularly troubling, but it has developed in the intervening years (wonder if Virimi's had covid too, which could have something to do with it). It seems like a very similar condition that forced James Taylor to retire from cricket a few years back, in that basically anything that raises the heart rate too much is potentially lethal.

Cardiomyopathy. A relative of mine was diagnosed with this in her early 30’s a while back. Not much can be done about it, although you can live a long and normal life with minimal fuss. Don’t think he’d be employable anywhere as an athlete if he has that sort of heart condition though.

[jimKRFC]

Sam Lewis, ex-Worcs back row, rumoured to have signed a deal with Bristol after impressing on trial. Seem to recall him being one of the best Worcs players when-ever we played them! Guess lack of funds meant he was allowed to go.

[Raggs]

Sam Lewis was always a very solid player, often in their top 3. A back to basics type 7 that just does the right things well.

[Mellsblue]

Did not see this coming.

*God did not make it possible for him to become an active player on a NFL game day roster.

[Puja]

*God did not make it possible for him to become an active player on a NFL game day roster.

God works in mysterious ways and often through multi-million euro contracts.

In more prosaic news, Newcastle have picked up Elliot Obatoyinbo on a short term contract after his release from Saracens. I suspect there'll be a few transfers like that this season - players who ordinarily would've been squad fodder but are contractless due to squads shrinking, being picked up as medical cover which ordinarily wouldn't've been needed if squads were bigger. A pool of floating medical jokers, if you will, to be picked up on zero-hours contracts as needed. [Quip redacted as not the Politics board]

Puja

[FKAS]

Blamire being linked to Saints, but tenuous as it's from Fissler.

[jimKRFC]

Not player news, but after Jordan Cranes step up to defence coach, Bristol have brought (back) in Glen Townson (112 appearances, 2012-17) as the academy transition coach. He was the forwards and defence coach Ealing and I seem to remember him as being pretty good mauling so hopefully will also add to the forwards as we've definitely lost there with Attwood leaving.

[Puja]

Blamire being linked to Saints, but tenuous as it's from Fissler.

I mean, it makes a lot of sense. They don't have an established hooker and he's desperately in need of being first choice somewhere.

Puja