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

[Peej]

Of the current rumours around ex Wasps players beyond those discussed, it seems that Barbeary is looking at Bordeaux, Burger Odendaal is looking at Sale, Hislop, Fin Brown and Fisilau are looking at Sarries, and Frost is attracting attention from Exeter. Koch, Carr and van Vuuren are all likely to go back to SA.

[FKAS]

Odendaal would be a great option for Sale. Could fit in at 12 or 13 with the way they like to play.

Barbeary getting a taste of life in France could do him some good. We've seen players go there and thrive before. Bordeaux have a big pack but don't have any particular standouts in the backrow that I can remember.

[Peej]

I think Woki is there? But a very different type of player.

[francoisfou]

I think Woki is there? But a very different type of player.

Woki is now with Racing.

[jimKRFC]

Searle and Shillcock sign short term deals at Bath:

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/billy-se ... erm-deals/

[Timbo]

Barbeary also apparently been seen at Bristol. Sanderson has said he’s due to meet 4 Wasps’ players today. Suspect the more in demand free agents are just gathering all the offers available to them at the moment.

RPA have said that one Wasps player has signed a contract for next season but can’t find anything to cover him for the rest of this year. Nightmare.

[Which Tyler]

Searle and Shillcock sign short term deals at Bath:

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/billy-se ... erm-deals/

Yay, an actual FH!
And a very under-rated utility back; I personally hope we can find a way for them to stay longer term. Will need a relaxation of the salary cap - or some... interesting accounting / loan deals to manage it right now though.

[Puja]

Searle and Shillcock sign short term deals at Bath:

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/billy-se ... erm-deals/

Yay, an actual FH!
And a very under-rated utility back; I personally hope we can find a way for them to stay longer term. Will need a relaxation of the salary cap - or some... interesting accounting / loan deals to manage it right now though.

Both very decent and under-rated players - I think Searle could end up your first choice 10. Disappointed that Shillcock to Leicester rumours didn't bear fruit, but that's hopefully suggestive of CAtkinson joining.

Puja

[FKAS]

Searle and Shillcock sign short term deals at Bath:

https://www.bathrugby.com/news/billy-se ... erm-deals/

Yay, an actual FH!
And a very under-rated utility back; I personally hope we can find a way for them to stay longer term. Will need a relaxation of the salary cap - or some... interesting accounting / loan deals to manage it right now though.

Two pretty handy signings. Searle gives the depth the summer recruitment didn't and I agree Shillcock is definitely one of the league's more underrated players.

The Bath Warriors nickname is coming though with so many recruits coming down the M5.

[francoisfou]

Kyle Hatherell has joined La Rochelle, although I don't know for how long.

[fivepointer]

BREAKING: Bristol Bears confirm the signing of scrum half Will Porter from Wasps.

This follows a recent injury to Harry Randall.

Wondering where Porter would go. Far too good a young player not to get picked up by a Prem club. Will suit Bristol's style to a tee i'd have thought.

[FKAS]

Kyle Hatherell has joined La Rochelle, although I don't know for how long.

He was eager to go in the summer. I don't blame him he's not a youngster and really only made it at the top level in his late (ish) twenties having been at Marr in Scotland and Jersey in the Championship before joining Worcester. La Rochelle is a rugby mad city (nice small city as well) and he'll be one of the few Worcester guys who'll have managed to get a payrise from this mess.

[francoisfou]

According to Midi Olympique, Stade Français are about to sign Vincent Koch, and Biyi Alo to Racing.

[Banquo]

Has anyone got a handy list of which Wasps have secured new contracts and where?

[Which Tyler]

Has anyone got a handy list of which Wasps have secured new contracts and where?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2 ... fers#Wasps
https://all.rugby/transfers/premiership


Ted Hill signs long-term deal at Bath
https://www.bathrugby.com/news/ted-hill ... bath-rugby

[francoisfou]

Has anyone got a handy list of which Wasps have secured new contracts and where?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2 ... fers#Wasps
https://all.rugby/transfers/premiership


Ted Hill signs long-term deal at Bath
https://www.bathrugby.com/news/ted-hill ... bath-rugby

There are many that rate Ted Hill, but does Eddie?

[fivepointer]

Great signing for Bath. Hill is a top end quality player.

[Scrumhead]

How are bath managing to fit Hill and Lawrence under the cap? If they’re long term deals as described, they can’t be covered by injury dispensation.

Even if Bath might have been under the cap at the start of the season, Hill and Lawrence would surely have been too expensive to just slip in? It’s possible they could have taken cut price deals, but why would they commit to those on a long term basis? Surely it would have been better for them to take shorter contracts and put themselves in high demand?

[Which Tyler]

Can only assume that it's a pittance for now, but a nice long, well rewarded package to start in the summer.
Hopefully it's also been run past the salary cap commissioner first.

There may be some allowance for long-term injuries (eg Ewels) being ruled out for the season, and removing their salary from the cap.

[Mellsblue]

Figure I heard was that players are taking circa 33% of their previous salary and they’re the lucky ones… Will Butler is currently labouring on a building site.
I still think it’s mad that redundant players count towards the salary cap

[Puja]

How are bath managing to fit Hill and Lawrence under the cap? If they’re long term deals as described, they can’t be covered by injury dispensation.

Even if Bath might have been under the cap at the start of the season, Hill and Lawrence would surely have been too expensive to just slip in? It’s possible they could have taken cut price deals, but why would they commit to those on a long term basis? Surely it would have been better for them to take shorter contracts and put themselves in high demand?

Bath have had an egregious amount of long-term injuries early in the season. Depending on how Ewers and Obano recover, they might play so little rugby that their salaries don't count this season.

Puja

[FKAS]

Oli Morris (Wuss) and John Ryan (Wasps) join Munster until the end of the season.

Bath I imagine are using the injury dispensation rules to the limit, they may have also had some spare cap having removed a lot of big names in the summer and recruited sparingly (perhaps originally looking at Super Rugby or other additions mid season, maybe being patient until next summer). Bath are in a rebuild scenario under a new head coach, makes an awful lot of sense to be going after these young talented EQ guys if you've got the space. There's still some deadwood in the Bath squad that could be moved on next summer to help facilitate the long term stay of those that are committing. Jaco Coetzee injured again for a substantial period having missed most of last season for Bath as well, Hill an ideal replacement.

It's also worth noting that Launchbury's best offer (as alleged by I think it was The Times at the weekend) was £60k for the rest of the season. Top wages are not being handed out currently but these guys have still got bills to pay.

[Banquo]

Figure I heard was that players are taking circa 33% of their previous salary and they’re the lucky ones… Will Butler is currently labouring on a building site.
I still think it’s mad that redundant players count towards the salary cap

Will Butler has been so unlucky with injury. Agreed on salary cap, tho that’s probably not the only issue in most cases.

[Banquo]

Oli Morris (Wuss) and John Ryan (Wasps) join Munster until the end of the season.

Bath I imagine are using the injury dispensation rules to the limit, they may have also had some spare cap having removed a lot of big names in the summer and recruited sparingly (perhaps originally looking at Super Rugby or other additions mid season, maybe being patient until next summer). Bath are in a rebuild scenario under a new head coach, makes an awful lot of sense to be going after these young talented EQ guys if you've got the space. There's still some deadwood in the Bath squad that could be moved on next summer to help facilitate the long term stay of those that are committing. Jaco Coetzee injured again for a substantial period having missed most of last season for Bath as well, Hill an ideal replacement.

It's also worth noting that Launchbury's best offer (as alleged by I think it was The Times at the weekend) was £60k for the rest of the season. Top wages are not being handed out currently but these guys have still got bills to pay.

Bloody difficult though, as the signing clubs similarly have little money. There will be like for like redundancies in their playing staff sooner rather than later Crap all round.

[Which Tyler]

Bath have had an egregious amount of long-term injuries early in the season. Depending on how Ewers and Obano recover, they might play so little rugby that their salaries don't count this season.

Also worth mentioning that Bath have had terrible lists of injuries for several years. One of the things that Hooper seemed to learn under Blackadder, was to NOT commit your entire salary cap ahead of the season, and have enough left to bring in players mid-season; whether through injury or unexpected availability. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he advised JvG to do likewise (though it's anyone's guess as to whether JvG agreed, or if so, how much was left in reserve).

If so, then I doubt that it's much, and won't be enough to cover the 6 Worcester players at their previous salary levels, but it is possible that, combined with the injury dispensation, we simply have more room in the cap than anyone else with the capacity to spend to the cap.
Of course, it's also possible that we're exploiting every loophole (for example, we haven't seen a single minute for Mike Williams yet, and wouldn't be too surprised if he's sent out on loan for the season), every bit of creative accounting, and the odd loophole that may not actually exist - I certainly wouldn't rule it out (much as I'd like to)