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

[Which Tyler]

Looks like Bath have finished their business in the market for the year. Expecting a list of confirmed departures ahead of the weekend, to give them a send-off


Depending on exactly who's in that list, as opposed to have another year or two on their existing contracts; it looks like a slight strengthening of the senior squad, and a significant strengthening (but concentrating) of the academy.

[Danno]

Will Collier leaving Quins for an unspecified Top 14 team

https://www.quins.co.uk/Article/will-co ... harlequins

[Puja]

The worst kept secret revealed as the Vunipolae confirmed as leaving Saracens.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Looks like Bath have finished their business in the market for the year. Expecting a list of confirmed departures ahead of the weekend, to give them a send-off


Depending on exactly who's in that list, as opposed to have another year or two on their existing contracts; it looks like a slight strengthening of the senior squad, and a significant strengthening (but concentrating) of the academy.

No Barbeary?

[FKAS]

Looks like Bath have finished their business in the market for the year. Expecting a list of confirmed departures ahead of the weekend, to give them a send-off


Depending on exactly who's in that list, as opposed to have another year or two on their existing contracts; it looks like a slight strengthening of the senior squad, and a significant strengthening (but concentrating) of the academy.

No Barbeary?

I think it's re-signings on the top and new signings on the bottom.

[Which Tyler]

Indeed, the likes of Barbeary and Lawrence are contracted beyond this summer.
I can guarantee that our squad will be more than 24 players

[Scrumhead]

Lamositele to Quins officially confirmed. Decent replacement for Collier I suppose.

Will Addison being linked with a return to Sale after being released by Ulster.

Interesting that Dave Ewers is on the move too. I’d imagine a few Premiership clubs could be interested.

[Puja]

Lamositele to Quins officially confirmed. Decent replacement for Collier I suppose.

Will Addison being linked with a return to Sale after being released by Ulster.

Interesting that Dave Ewers is on the move too. I’d imagine a few Premiership clubs could be interested.

Surprising that Ewers has been booted after just one year. Did he not hit it off at Ulster or something?

Puja

[FKAS]

Lamositele to Quins officially confirmed. Decent replacement for Collier I suppose.

Will Addison being linked with a return to Sale after being released by Ulster.

Interesting that Dave Ewers is on the move too. I’d imagine a few Premiership clubs could be interested.

Surprising that Ewers has been booted after just one year. Did he not hit it off at Ulster or something?

Puja

Ulster fans said he looked sluggish and past it.

[Mikey Brown]

Interesting. He's 33 now and was hardly the most dynamic looking player, even in his prime. Immensely powerful though.

Hard to think who he'd be a good fit for. He might quite suit Sale if he's still physically up to it? I could imagine Newcastle being quite keen for a player like him.

[FKAS]

Good call on Newcastle, got to imagine he'd be a favourite there if he's still got enough in the tank and with some more mobile backrow around him. Possibly use him to cover lock as well.

[Which Tyler]

Josh McNally confirming his departure today.
Seems odd that he's getting a solo announcement, unless Bath are stupidly confident of getting a home SF against the odds; it means 1-2 players can get a solo announcement, and everyone else is either lumped together, or being announced after the last home match where the fans can give them a send-off.

[FKAS]

Is McNally retiring and heading back to the RAF or is he off elsewhere?

[Which Tyler]

Unknown, the announcement uses word like "former RAF technician" and "announces his departure" which makes it sound like he is (or wants to) going to another club.

[Puja]

Busy day of news today: Slade confirms he's staying with Exeter, Tom Cruse joins Bedford as forwards coach, and Ralph Adams-Hale retires early due to a shoulder injury.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ralph Adams-Hale really has had no luck whatsoever. Could have kicked on and been a decent player but just beset by injuries.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Alfie Longstaff, very promising U18 hooker in the Yorkshire Academy signs for Sale.

[Puja]

BBC have an article on the website with the title: "Edwards and Green among nine leaving Harlequins". Clicked through to discover that, of course, it was Max Green. Well played, click-bait.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

BBC have an article on the website with the title: "Edwards and Green among nine leaving Harlequins". Clicked through to discover that, of course, it was Max Green. Well played, click-bait.

Puja

Gareth Edwards?!?!?!

[Which Tyler]

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/jonke ... leave-bath

Jonker, Schoeman, Verden and Wright to leave Bath.
Surely that's not all?

[Puja]

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/jonke ... leave-bath

Jonker, Schoeman, Verden and Wright to leave Bath.
Surely that's not all?

Maybe they're planning on showing utter disdain for Arnold Rimmer's squad limit rules?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

And I still say, if those squad limits are coming in, they can't be with immediate effect, there HAS to be a grace period whilst existing contracts are honoured - whether senior or academy.

[Banquo]

And I still say, if those squad limits are coming in, they can't be with immediate effect, there HAS to be a grace period whilst existing contracts are honoured - whether senior or academy.

25/26 for limits I'd think, but clubs need to start shedding now.....and they are.

They've been offering Wright around since Xmas, offering to pay half a season's salary....80k!

Verden's a good lad.

[FKAS]

List of 23/24 Ealing Trailfinders Leavers:

Rhys Anstey
Jordan Burns
James Cordy-Redden
Luke Daniels
Andrew Davidson
Harry Dugmore
Tom Georgiou
James Gibbons
Josh Gillespie
Will Goodrick-Clarke
Richard Hardwick
Tom Hitchcock
Dan Hiscocks
Jonah Holmes
Pat Howard
Ross Kane
Cian Kelleher
Dan Lancaster
Simon Linsell
Kevin O'Byrne
David O'Connor
Jimmy Roots
Steven Shingler

[Puja]

Son of Burt leaving - wonder if he's got another gig or if he's another player caught in the market contraction.

The Rugby Paper reckons that May to Saracens is being talked through currently. Would make sense for Sarries as he's still a very handy player, although I was expecting May to go get a pension top-up in Japan or ProD2.

Puja