RugbyRebels

Not sure about that. I’d have thought Matavesi would be regarded as pretty well established now?

Blamire definitely needs to be first choice somewhere, but quite tricky to see where would be best. Wasps would be the best fit IMO.

Yeah Saints could really do with an option at 7 beyond Ludlam.

Mikey Brown wrote:Yeah Saints could really do with an option at 7 beyond Ludlam.

If only they'd give a permanent contract to Hinkley.

Puja

Joel Hodgson has found a contract with Utah Warriors in MLR after being released from Newcastle. Pleased for him - he's always seemed like a decent bloke and I think he'll do well there.

Puja

Puja wrote:Joel Hodgson has found a contract with Utah Warriors in MLR after being released from Newcastle. Pleased for him - he's always seemed like a decent bloke and I think he'll do well there.

Puja

Some absolutely cracking cities with rugby teams now in the US - New Orleans, Atlanta, New York, Austin... you feel sorry for the guys that have to go and live with the mormons in Utah.

I dunno, the skiing is great, the scenery is beautiful, and the tax rate is kind. A mate of mine played for the Warriors and loved it.

Plus Utah have their facilities and crowd together better than any other side in the league. They've got a good size stadium that they get regular sellouts of, compared to New York (with no stadium and practically no-one knows they have a team), Austin (decent stadium, but miles away from town so small crowds), and New Orleans (converted baseball stadium, so not great for rugby, plus too big for their crowd size).

That's not to mention that the small wages in MLR go a lot further in Salt Lake City than they do in New York or California.

Puja

Racing are looking for a replacement for Finn Russell who’s now in the last year of his contract which is unlikely to be extended. They are hoping to secure the signature of no less than Beauden Barrett and maybe Bordeaux/Bègles French fly half Matthieu Jalibert too (who they’ll have to buy out of his contract with B/B). Also, Stuart Lancaster is rumoured to be taking over as head coach from Laurent Travers next season.

francoisfou wrote:Racing are looking for a replacement for Finn Russell who’s now in the last year of his contract which is unlikely to be extended. They are hoping to secure the signature of no less than Beauden Barrett and maybe Bordeaux/Bègles French fly half Matthieu Jalibert too (who they’ll have to buy out of his contract with B/B). Also, Stuart Lancaster is rumoured to be taking over as head coach from Laurent Travers next season.

Why is Russell unlikely to be extended?

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Donny osmond wrote:

francoisfou wrote:Racing are looking for a replacement for Finn Russell who’s now in the last year of his contract which is unlikely to be extended. They are hoping to secure the signature of no less than Beauden Barrett and maybe Bordeaux/Bègles French fly half Matthieu Jalibert too (who they’ll have to buy out of his contract with B/B). Also, Stuart Lancaster is rumoured to be taking over as head coach from Laurent Travers next season.

Why is Russell unlikely to be extended?

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Trying to read between the lines, and I may well be wrong, Russell’s future at Racing is far from clear, in exactly what way I don’t know, it’s only a hunch.

The Rugby Paper reporting that the salary cap is due to go back up for 24/25 season after 4 clubs- the threshold- voted for it during a recent meeting. Hard to believe that 1/3rd of the league think that’s a good idea tbh. I’d guess Sarries, Exeter and Bristol would be 3 of the 4. Not sure who the other one would be.

Timbo wrote:The Rugby Paper reporting that the salary cap is due to go back up for 24/25 season after 4 clubs- the threshold- voted for it during a recent meeting. Hard to believe that 1/3rd of the league think that’s a good idea tbh. I’d guess Sarries, Exeter and Bristol would be 3 of the 4. Not sure who the other one would be.

The cap was always going back up, it was agreed when the reduction in cap and change to marquee players was.

No shock Bristol voted for this as they were against it going down in the first place.

I thought it was due to start going back up as of next season. If not going up post world cup will make it tough for English clubs to make the most of the Southerners coming north and to keep hold of any English players who know they won't make the next world cup and who are being offered lucrative deals overseas.

Bath?

Nowell off to France as well apparently.

Jake Armstrong loaned to Doncaster and Martin Mulhall (LHP) sent to Saints on loan. Hopefully Mulhall will get some game time.

Also Duane Ratu Willemsen has retired from pro rugby at the age of 21 based on medical advice and returned to Australia. Real shame that - thought he might come good.

Burt to Racing. Good plan.

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:29 pm Burt to Racing. Good plan.

Effectively ruling himself out of returning in place of Jones?

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:44 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:29 pm Burt to Racing. Good plan.

Effectively ruling himself out of returning in place of Jones?

Was that really ever an option?

Lancaster has been in a coaching consultant role at Leinster working under Cullen for most of the time post England. If he wants another shot at international level I suspect he knows he needs to go and be the main man somewhere or join an international team as an assistant and work his way up.

Lancaster is an employee of Leinster with the job title of Senior Coach, and has been for the majority of his time there. He was mostly in a consultancy role at the beginning because it was only meant to be a short term move due to family commitments*. Cullen’s title is Head Coach but everyone and his dog will tell you he fulfils the role of DoR and Lancaster the role of HC.
Not that I particularly want Lancaster as coach but his cv is at least as strong as any other domestic option.

* "I will be eternally grateful to... the whole Leinster organisation for the opportunity they gave me and my family back in 2016," Lancaster said in a statement. "Initially it was for just one season and here I am entering my seventh….”

FKAS wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:03 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:44 am

Banquo wrote: ↑Mon Sep 26, 2022 6:29 pm Burt to Racing. Good plan.

Effectively ruling himself out of returning in place of Jones?

Was that really ever an option?

Lancaster has been in a coaching consultant role at Leinster working under Cullen for most of the time post England. If he wants another shot at international level I suspect he knows he needs to go and be the main man somewhere or join an international team as an assistant and work his way up.

IF the RFU decide for the next head coach that he should be English, that he should have international experience and that he should have a track record of winning things, I'd suggest that Burt has to be on the shortlist. (All three attributes might be logical after their experience with Jones, especially in PR terms considering where Englush rugby is in general, perhaps?)

I'm not advocating Burt for the job, just suggesting what the RFU stance could be.

I’d always assumed when you’d been booted from the job once that you wouldn’t ever be a contender again, but I have no idea how flexible the RFU would be on that.

Obviously Farrell didn’t take as much responsibility for RWC 15, not being head coach (despite any talk about him believing he was) but he has successfully worked his way back to the top level.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 11:23 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 9:03 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 8:44 am

Effectively ruling himself out of returning in place of Jones?

Was that really ever an option?

Lancaster has been in a coaching consultant role at Leinster working under Cullen for most of the time post England. If he wants another shot at international level I suspect he knows he needs to go and be the main man somewhere or join an international team as an assistant and work his way up.

IF the RFU decide for the next head coach that he should be English, that he should have international experience and that he should have a track record of winning things, I'd suggest that Burt has to be on the shortlist. (All three attributes might be logical after their experience with Jones, especially in PR terms considering where Englush rugby is in general, perhaps?)

I'm not advocating Burt for the job, just suggesting what the RFU stance could be.

It's a restrictive set of attributes re English and international experience.

Borthwick
McFarland
Farrell Snr
Baxter
Lancaster
Skivington
Rowntree

If you add winning things that rules out McFarland somewhat harshly, Rowntree and Skivington.

Who have I missed?