francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 10:34 am
Clermont are in need of a top class fly half and according to Midi Olympique, they've have approached George Ford.
Probably pie in the sky because Ford has a contract with Sale until 2026 and will still have aspirations to play for England, but maybe it's an offer that can't be refused, if an early-release deal can be struck with Sale.
I thought he signed a three year deal when he left Tigers and so is out of contract summer 2025?
Just googled and you are correct - it was a 3 year deal, but it's expected that he's on the verge of re-signing with Sale and, given that he moved from Leicester because he loves the north and wanted to put down roots there (and has just had his first kid and his dad and brother are both in the area), I can't see him going away to France.
Puja
His wife has a business up in I think it's Oldham and wanting to be near both sets of family as you say were considerations with them starting a family.
I imagine his agent is currently enjoying himself having meetings in restaurants with prospective parties to just apply some pressure to Sale to make sure they sufficiently dip their hands in their pocket and make him their marquee player.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 4:51 pm
Even more cross-Channel raids are being rumoured:
Bordeaux/Bègles want a powerful No8 and are said to be considering Alfie Barbeary, Dan de Preez and Juarno Augustus.
Dan du Perez would make a lot of sense. He's 29 and had a couple of injury disrupted seasons. One last chunky three year deal is probably front and centre of his thinking.
I'd be surprised if Barbeary heads off considering how well things are going at Bath and how close he must be to international representation.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Oct 14, 2024 4:51 pm
Even more cross-Channel raids are being rumoured:
Bordeaux/Bègles want a powerful No8 and are said to be considering Alfie Barbeary, Dan de Preez and Juarno Augustus.
du Preez or Augustus look like they'd be easy pickups for French teams. Sale have too many back rows as it is and are unlikely to break the bank to keep him, and Northampton don't use Augustus as first choice (although that may depend on how bad Graham's injury is and whether it's something he can come back from) and also have Pollock coming through.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:00 pm
Stade Français head coach, Karim Ghezal has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect, and current defence coach Paul Gustard is likely to have his responsibilities broadened.
Being appointed head coach hasn't been announced yet, but it would appear Gustard's name is in the frame as he won't now be joining the England set up.
Gustard has now officially been declared the head coach of Stade Français but he’s going to be under enormous pressure as SF are currently languishing in 13th place with only 9 points from 6 matches. Not far away is Stuart Lancaster whose club Racing aren’t exactly setting the world on fire so far this season. The odds on one or even both of them being fired this season won’t be long.
Gustard actually has recent experience of his team turning it around after a poor start to the season and winning the domestic league after they've lost their head coach, so maybe Stade will be okay.
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 4:21 pm
Gustard actually has recent experience of his team turning it around after a poor start to the season and winning the domestic league after they've lost their head coach, so maybe Stade will be okay.
"Never has the exodus of English Test players into the French professional leagues neen so great than during the last close season. In the forefront of which we find senior players of the England XV. The financial crisis is there for many who don't have the means to counter the power of the Top14 and ProD2. The English are leaving, to draw a line under their international careers"
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Oct 15, 2024 4:21 pm
Gustard actually has recent experience of his team turning it around after a poor start to the season and winning the domestic league after they've lost their head coach, so maybe Stade will be okay.
Jack Nowell (14) and Jonny Gray (5) play for La Rochelle and Bordeaux/Bègles respectively in this evening’s Top14 game.
I’ve just read that Jack Willis had yet another outstanding game for Toulouse yesterday evening and it’s said that he’s close to extending his contract by a couple of years. He knows which side his bread is buttered!
francoisfou wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 10:09 am
Jack Nowell (14) and Jonny Gray (5) play for La Rochelle and Bordeaux/Bègles respectively in this evening’s Top14 game.
I’ve just read that Jack Willis had yet another outstanding game for Toulouse yesterday evening and it’s said that he’s close to extending his contract by a couple of years. He knows which side his bread is buttered!
In fairness, great player though he is, there'd be a lot of risk in coming back in 2026 and aiming for the RWC. With the likes of Pepper, Carnduff, Pollock, Fisilau, Cunningham-South all having another two years to establish themselves, combined with all the other flankers that we currently have, it's entirely possible that he could forgo the Toulouse paycheque and lifestyle and still get nowhere near an England squad.
Bloody shame, cause he's a great player, but you can't blame him for not wanting to take the risk if he's happy where he is.
Billy V has been appointed captain (or chief screw) of the convicts XV in tomorrow’s home match against La Rochelle. Hogg and Simmonds are the British inmates in the team.
Joe Marchant’s on the wing for Stade Français home to Clermont and Jonny Gray in the row for Bordeaux/Bègles at home against Pau (Joe Simmonds and Dan Robson are rested - or dropped).
The big match is on Sunday evening, Toulouse v Toulon.
Blair Kinghorn and Jack Willis are in the Toulouse starting XV.
For Toulon, Ben White and Dave Ribbans start and Dan Biggar, Kyle Sinckler and Lewis Ludlum are replacements.
Billy Vunipola may be asked to continue as captain as Montpellier beat La Rochelle 16-0.
Ex Quins fly half, Brett Herron (anyone remember him?), has joined ProD2 club Colomiers, and is on the bench in this evening’s fixture against leaders Montauban, for whom ex Northampton forward Karl Wilkins (anyone remember him?) wears 7.
La Rochelle - 14 Jack Nowell v Stade Français 13 Joe Marchant, 21 Zack Henry
Clermont v Bordeaux/Bègles 4 Jonny Gray, 10 ex Ireland flyhalf Joey Carbery
Castres 3 Will Collier v Montpellier 8 Captain Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Simmonds
Toulon 4 Dave Ribbans, 22 Lewis Ludlam v Lyon
Perpignan 3 Kieran Brookes v Vannes 1 Mako Vunipola
Pau 10 Joe Simmonds, 3 Harry Williams, 21 Dan Robson v Racing 15 Sam James, 12 Dan Lancaster, 10 Owen Farrell
Bayonne v Toulouse is on Sunday evening. Maybe Alex Moon and Manu Tuilagi for Bayonne; Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn for Toulouse, who'll be misssing all their France squad players.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2024 7:02 pm
Round 9 of the Top14 takes place this weekend:
Bayonne v Toulouse is on Sunday evening. Maybe Alex Moon and Manu Tuilagi for Bayonne; Jack Willis and Blair Kinghorn for Toulouse, who'll be misssing all their France squad players.
As above, but of note is that Jack Willis has been appointed captain !
Round 11 of ProD2 began yesterday evening with Jack Maunder and Billy Searle the starting half backs for Agen in a home defeat to leaders Montauban.
In this evening's fixtures:
Béziers - 3 Christian Judge away to Colomiers
Angoulême - 14 Jonny May away to Grenoble
Brive - 7 Courtney Lawes away to Nice
Biarritz - 14 Zach Kibirige and 4 Charlie Mathews home to Provence - 6 Tiemana Harrison 12 Jimmy Gopperth
Midi Olympique are reporting that Junior Kpoku has signed an extension to his Racing92 contract to 2027 with an option to 2028, which probably tells us he fancies his chances of making the French squad and therefore says "non" to the RFU's proposition.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Tue Nov 19, 2024 6:30 pm
Midi Olympique are reporting that Junior Kpoku has signed an extension to his Racing92 contract to 2027 with an option to 2028, which probably tells us he fancies his chances of making the French squad and therefore says "non" to the RFU's proposition.
That's pretty worrying - a really nasty direction of travel on this topic.
If one of the best resourced nations can't stop their best young prospects being poached by France, that's indicative of a very unhealthy ecosystem
Some Brits have been appointed captain in this weekend’s round of the Top14:
Dave Ribbans captains Toulon at home against Bayonne.
Jack Willis for Toulouse (for whom Romain Ntamack returns from injury) at home against Perpignan.
Billy Vunipola for Montpellier at home to Pau.
francoisfou wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 5:46 pm
Some Brits have been appointed captain in this weekend’s round of the Top14:
Dave Ribbans captains Toulon at home against Bayonne.
Jack Willis for Toulouse (for whom Romain Ntamack returns from injury) at home against Perpignan.
Billy Vunipola for Montpellier at home to Pau.
at their respective bests, not a bad trio for an England pack.
Though no doubt Sarcastic Bent would say in order...not physical enough, no good over the ball and lightweight...
