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

[Which Tyler]

Telegraph reports that Itoje could be moving (to France?) rather than accept his salary being cut in half in the proposed new contract. Saracens plan to award Farrell with the marquee contract ahead of him. That's Itoje out of the England team, then!

Can someone PLEASE convince Saracens to do the precise opposite?

[fivepointer]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

[Mellsblue]

What’s wrong with earning £800k to play rugby?

[Mellsblue]

It seems the system is determined to tie itself into an ever tighter knot.
When do we return to a higher cap and/or a second marquee player. If it’s only a season or two could this be an exceptional circumstance?

[Oakboy]

It seems the system is determined to tie itself into an ever tighter knot.
When do we return to a higher cap and/or a second marquee player. If it’s only a season or two could this be an exceptional circumstance?

I still say (boring, I know) that it should be salary cap reduction/limit OR a ban on France-based players - not both together. It's like English rugby has a death wish.

[FKAS]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

Nothing like piling on the pressure for the RFU to bring in hybrid contracts. £400k a year plus £20k a time to play for England isn't exactly poor remuneration.

[francoisfou]

Richard Cockerill's days as head coach of Montpellier may be numbered.

Montpellier, who were Top14 champions in 2022, won their first match of this season but have lost the last six and are sitting two points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Bernard Laporte, who was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption in December 2022, has been appointed Director of Rugby by Montpellier President Mohed Altrad, who simultaneously was given an 18-month suspended sentence in the same affair of an allegedly crooked shirt sponsor deal for the French XV!

Altrad has called a club meeting for this afternoon, presumably to confirm the appointment of Laporte, and maybe the departure of Cockerill?

For the record, there are three Brits in the squad, Harry Williams, Sam Simmonds and Elliot Stooke, who'll is due to rejoin Bath in the near future.

He has indeed been sacked and to be replaced by Patrice Collazo, who's just been sacked by Brive!

[Puja]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

[16th man]

Sarries will have made a fairly cold assessment of sponsorship potential, injury chances etc. etc. and the numbers on that side will have come up on England's starting fly half.

[FKAS]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

[Oakboy]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

It will be interesting to see if all their current back rowers are still there then.

[FKAS]

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

It will be interesting to see if all their current back rowers are still there then.

I'd have thought BillyV would head over to France for a chunky deal whilst he can still land one. 32 and with a reputation for attritional, relentless carrying should land him a nice deal with a mid to low table French side. Land a three year deal and that'll see him into retirement.

TWillis looks a likely replacement whilst Gonzalez is a good replacement for Wray. Should see them covered. BillyV freeing up some cap space for Itoje inside the normal cap.

Could be both Vunipolas are going given Mawi and West have been acquired at loosehead.

[Puja]

"Maro Itoje is facing a major career dilemma, after being offered a new contract by Saracens worth around 50 per cent of his current deal, which is due to expire at the end of this season.

The 29-year-old England lock is believed to earn approximately £800,000 per year, as one of the highest-paid players in the country, but Mail Sport understands that his club have only been able to offer him £400,000-£425,000 per year to extend his stay.

This is because a change to the salary cap regulations means clubs can now only designate one ‘marquee’ player, rather than the previous two, and Owen Farrell – also out of contract in the summer – will retain that category at Saracens"

Itoje is a top player and one that Saracens would be very foolish to lose, but 800K a year to play rugby?

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

Then how in the name of gods are they having to lowball Itoje?! Surely they can fit him in, if they don't renew either Vunipolae?

Just feels like a bizarre choice - you cannot acquire a player of Itoje's quality on the open market without spending a heck of a lot more, and it's not like they have a young thruster ready to replace him.

Puja

[Stom]

We don't really have any confirmation of this. I have no doubt there will be negotiations. But hey, losing Itoje for 2 seasons right now might not be the worst thing to happen. He could learn from abroad and come back a better player, ready to step in before the next World Cup.

Just like the old NZ sabbaticals.

Just wish Farrell would take a permanent one.

[Peej]

Isn't the cap going up by a million next year? And they still can't fit Itoje in?

[FKAS]

Madness by Saracens, and not just for the fact that they've looked at a binary choice between Fazlet and Itoje and decided to keep Fazlet. They've known full-well that this was coming up and still kept both TWillis and BillyV, signed in Gonzalez and Cinti. They should've been stockpiling salary cap to keep both - hells, if they'd gone to £650k, that'd probably have been enough, but offering half is an insult for a player of Itoje's quality.

Puja

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

Then how in the name of gods are they having to lowball Itoje?! Surely they can fit him in, if they don't renew either Vunipolae?

Just feels like a bizarre choice - you cannot acquire a player of Itoje's quality on the open market without spending a heck of a lot more, and it's not like they have a young thruster ready to replace him.

Puja

To be fair where are you going to replace Farrell on the open market? £400k might get you a good flyhalf but the top tier ones tend to be over £500k. There's no readymade replacement at Sarries or young tyro that's obviously available in the Prem for them to go and acquire.

Ben Healy, Joe Simmonds, Handre Pollard, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Libbok are all under contract. French and Irish flyhalfs won't head over, Kiwi flyhalfs seemingly only go to Japan now. What does that leave? Bringing Anscombe back to the UK, Hastings from Glaws, Paddy Jackson the PR nightmare, Garbisi might be available not sure.

Getting a direct replacement for Itoje is almost impossible but for £400k you could acquire a good one or possibly two. For instance Jacques du Plessis would be available next summer and there's a guy who's quality (he'd have 50 odd caps if he was English) and could suit Sarries down to the ground.

[FKAS]

Isn't the cap going up by a million next year? And they still can't fit Itoje in?

Problem is every player due for renewal knows that. Sarries have also used the loophole and still have two marquee players. With Itoje rumoured to be on north of £800k that would immediately eat through most of the cap increase before they look after anybody else.

[Which Tyler]

Regan Grace training in/with Bath

Thought to be rehabbing locally, rather than a first look, but... It's gotta be a first look too

[Puja]

BillyV is out of contract next summer.

Then how in the name of gods are they having to lowball Itoje?! Surely they can fit him in, if they don't renew either Vunipolae?

Just feels like a bizarre choice - you cannot acquire a player of Itoje's quality on the open market without spending a heck of a lot more, and it's not like they have a young thruster ready to replace him.

Puja

To be fair where are you going to replace Farrell on the open market? £400k might get you a good flyhalf but the top tier ones tend to be over £500k. There's no readymade replacement at Sarries or young tyro that's obviously available in the Prem for them to go and acquire.

Ben Healy, Joe Simmonds, Handre Pollard, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Libbok are all under contract. French and Irish flyhalfs won't head over, Kiwi flyhalfs seemingly only go to Japan now. What does that leave? Bringing Anscombe back to the UK, Hastings from Glaws, Paddy Jackson the PR nightmare, Garbisi might be available not sure.

Getting a direct replacement for Itoje is almost impossible but for £400k you could acquire a good one or possibly two. For instance Jacques du Plessis would be available next summer and there's a guy who's quality (he'd have 50 odd caps if he was English) and could suit Sarries down to the ground.

I wasn't so much thinking of replacing Farrell, as much as the impossibility of replacing Itoje and therefore you should aim to keep both. There's few enough top-class players out there and Saracens could afford to lose some of their squad quality and still be more than covered, especially with the quality of players without a contract. They don't *need* TWillis, Earl, BillyV, Gonzalez, McFarland, and Christie all competing for 3 starting back row spaces.

Puja

[FKAS]

Then how in the name of gods are they having to lowball Itoje?! Surely they can fit him in, if they don't renew either Vunipolae?

Just feels like a bizarre choice - you cannot acquire a player of Itoje's quality on the open market without spending a heck of a lot more, and it's not like they have a young thruster ready to replace him.

Puja

To be fair where are you going to replace Farrell on the open market? £400k might get you a good flyhalf but the top tier ones tend to be over £500k. There's no readymade replacement at Sarries or young tyro that's obviously available in the Prem for them to go and acquire.

Ben Healy, Joe Simmonds, Handre Pollard, George Ford, Marcus Smith, Finn Russell, Fin Smith and Libbok are all under contract. French and Irish flyhalfs won't head over, Kiwi flyhalfs seemingly only go to Japan now. What does that leave? Bringing Anscombe back to the UK, Hastings from Glaws, Paddy Jackson the PR nightmare, Garbisi might be available not sure.

Getting a direct replacement for Itoje is almost impossible but for £400k you could acquire a good one or possibly two. For instance Jacques du Plessis would be available next summer and there's a guy who's quality (he'd have 50 odd caps if he was English) and could suit Sarries down to the ground.

I wasn't so much thinking of replacing Farrell, as much as the impossibility of replacing Itoje and therefore you should aim to keep both. There's few enough top-class players out there and Saracens could afford to lose some of their squad quality and still be more than covered, especially with the quality of players without a contract. They don't *need* TWillis, Earl, BillyV, Gonzalez, McFarland, and Christie all competing for 3 starting back row spaces.

Puja

Yeah I'd cut both Vunipolas loose with a view to using the spare cap on Itoje personally. They have cover at 8 with TWillis and Earl. Loosehead they've got West, Mawi and Adams-Hale. Depth in the squad is there.

[FKAS]

What's also worth noting that if Itoje is on between £400k and £450k on his new deal then once you add on the £200k he'd get from 10 internationals it's £600k to £650k. Inconvenience of moving he's going to be telling his agent he'll want minimum £700k a season that's 800k in Euros, still less than he earns now. He's going to be one of the highest paid players in the world irrelevant of what league. How many clubs have the spare cap to fit in that kind of cost?

You presume Racing will be eying up a flyhalf next summer. Montpellier are a basket case he'd be mad to go there. Toulouse don't tend to go in for many big signings as they use their budget to keep what they have together, La Rochelle are similar. So Toulon maybe. Japan might be an option.

[Stom]

Nah, I'm pretty sure if Itoje was available, the French clubs would be all over him, even if they could better spend their money elsewhere.

But, equally, I'm sure that while there is substance to this, we should take it with a pinch of salt.

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone keeping track of Kpoku?

[francoisfou]

Anyone keeping track of Kpoku?

Don’t think he’s been in the Lyon match day squad recently. He may be injured?

[Spiffy]

What's also worth noting that if Itoje is on between £400k and £450k on his new deal then once you add on the £200k he'd get from 10 internationals it's £600k to £650k. Inconvenience of moving he's going to be telling his agent he'll want minimum £700k a season that's 800k in Euros, still less than he earns now. He's going to be one of the highest paid players in the world irrelevant of what league. How many clubs have the spare cap to fit in that kind of cost?

You presume Racing will be eying up a flyhalf next summer. Montpellier are a basket case he'd be mad to go there. Toulouse don't tend to go in for many big signings as they use their budget to keep what they have together, La Rochelle are similar. So Toulon maybe. Japan might be an option.

No matter how you analyse it, for any player to be offered half his current salary by his employer is quite an insulting smack in the chops,especially one of Itoje's quality.