Transfer news, rumours, speculation, insinuations, and outright transfer slanders - Season 2025/26

[Danno]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... h-defence/

I can’t tell what this is based on (if anything) but the idea of now shifting El Abd to forwards so Wigglesworth can have a go at being a defence coach sounds ridiculous.

Wiggy has coached international defence before for Canada, so it's not entirely illogical, but it seems barking. I would be thoroughly in favour of us getting Blackett in, as he seems like a superb attack coach, but El-Abd's defence was one of the highlights of the summer and we only just got him in, at great expense and trouble, so it seems wild to then move him!

If we can get Blackett, then just move Wiggy to being full-time no.2 and let him dip his oar in as and how he likes. Let's not fuck about with a good thing.

Puja

In the land of the sensible we'd just put Wiggler at skills and let El Abd (I don't quite share your opinion of his defence coaching just yet but hey - and how much did a Pro D2 part time coach really cost ) and Blackett (and Ford - I shall not cease banging this drum) get the attack.

Wiggslyerer anywhere near the defence is patently bonkers

[Which Tyler]

Wiggy has coached international defence before for Canada, so it's not entirely illogical, but it seems barking. I would be thoroughly in favour of us getting Vesty in, as he seems like a superb attack coach, but El-Abd's defence was one of the highlights of the summer and we only just got him in, at great expense and trouble, so it seems wild to then move him!

If we can get Vesty, then just move Wiggy to being full-time no.2 and let him dip his oar in as and how he likes. Let's not fuck about with a good thing.

FTFY

In the land of the sensible we'd just put Wiggler at skills and let El Abd (I don't quite share your opinion of his defence coaching just yet but hey - and how much did a Pro D2 part time coach really cost ) and Vesty (and Ford - I shall not cease banging this drum) get the attack.

Wiggslyerer anywhere near the defence is patently bonkers

You too

[Danno]

I don't know what you changed WT!

[FKAS]

He replaced Blackett with Vesty.

I suspect Blackett would be more available as he's just attack coach for Bath. Vesty being head coach at Saints would probably see them exceptionally unhappy at potentially letting him go.

Isn't Sinfield still on the books as skills coach, albeit part time? At some point we might need to move on a coach in order to make room for a new one.

[Danno]

'Twas very late, in my meagre defence

[Mellsblue]

Did the Wigster go to the same Kompromat tutorials at Sarries as Farrell.

[FKAS]

https://archive.ph/ryDY4

Interview with Pat Howard, interesting that Johnno approached him when he got the England job.