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

[Puja]

Pay no attention to the fact that there was no transfer thread for 24/25 and instead feast your eyes on this new and untouched space of transfer speculation. Is Rees-Zammit going to Cambridge on a multi-hundred pound deal? Is Phil Christophers coming out of retirement to join the Newcastle Red Bulls as a marquee signing? Am I Neil Fissler and I claim my £5?

Who's to say???


As it turns out, it's me. All three are no*.

But here's a starter for 10 - Tomas Lavanini has been immediately released by Lyon "by mutual consent". I'm not a fan myself, given his many and varied nasty cheap shots on unaware players, and after he stole a living at Leicester for a while, but he would be exactly the kind of signing that would be a boost to Newcastle's chances of staying in the Prem without the help of the Minimum Standards Criteria and Diamond has never shied away from a rehabilitation project (or a bit of nastiness in the pack).

Puja


*or... are they???

[FKAS]

I'm torn on Lavanini. Is he a physical throw back capable of giving your scrum and rolling maul a massive boost. Yes. Is he incredibly uncoordinated for a professional sportsman. Yes, which combined with his love of physicality make him a walking liability. In the right side he could be really useful but that side has got to be geared up for attritional rugby and have some mobile and hard working forwards that can cover for him.

I don't think he's necessarily a bad player just one that has been overly remunerated by several clubs in succession (including Tigers).

[Danno]

Oh gawsh no, no-one needs Lavanini, he's a walking knee injury*

*not his knee

[FKAS]

Oh gawsh no, no-one needs Lavanini, he's a walking knee injury*

*not his knee

Not sure he can tackle that low...

[Danno]

Oh gawsh no, no-one needs Lavanini, he's a walking knee injury*

*not his knee

Not sure he can tackle that low...

But when he does he loves a bit of the old missile at a knee, I think Nathan Hughes caught one some years back that resulted in yet another card

[FKAS]

Oh gawsh no, no-one needs Lavanini, he's a walking knee injury*

*not his knee

Not sure he can tackle that low...

But when he does he loves a bit of the old missile at a knee, I think Nathan Hughes caught one some years back that resulted in yet another card

I can't remember who but I'm sure I heard a Tigers player somewhere mention how training was safer without him being there anymore.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Not sure he can tackle that low...

But when he does he loves a bit of the old missile at a knee, I think Nathan Hughes caught one some years back that resulted in yet another card

I can't remember who but I'm sure I heard a Tigers player somewhere mention how training was safer without him being there anymore.

That's a bit like Bucko at Gloucester; where the physio's wall had a list of injured players and a list of players injured by him

[Scrumhead]

Amanaki Mafi to Falcons. At 35, it’s probably safe to say his best years are behind him but a decent player on his day.

[FKAS]

Amanaki Mafi to Falcons. At 35, it’s probably safe to say his best years are behind him but a decent player on his day.

He's out of the Japan squad, probably won't play in the Europeans games. So just 18 league games for him over the season to turn up for. On his day he's a good number 8. I'd not be surprised to see Diamond squeeze the last few quality games out of his career.

[Puja]

Wonder how Louie Johnson is feeling right now? I can understand him being tempted away from Newcastle given their dysfunctional state last season, but Steve Diamond's (slightly sour grapes) warning about players going to a big club and getting lost in the bowels of the squad has been proven true, considering he played more first team games for Ampthill last season than he did for Saracens. He'd've been hoping the retirement of Goode would at least see him make the XIII this year, but with Sarries re-signing Fazlet and Malins, he's even less likely to get game time and, as a 22 year old fly-half, that's something he desperately needs.

Hindsight's 20/20 but, had he known what the future held, he'd've been better staying up north and having a crappy season (but getting 25 starts), and going into 25/26 as a cemented first choice Premiership fly-half, with Newcastle building an actual Premiership team for him to play alongside. Could even have resulted in an England cap if he'd played the whole season and looked a better option than CAtkinson.

It would make a lot of sense for him to seek a move back, although I'm not sure how forgiving Diamond is, or how much fun he'd be to play under if he's holding a grudge.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Cant blame Johnson for making the move. Doesnt seem to have worked out so far and Farrell returning is going to limit his chances further.

[FKAS]

Diamond would LOVE IT if Johnson came crawling back. Would be used as an example that leaving is a terrible idea and staying with Falcons is the better idea.

Johnson is presumably out of contract next summer so may well be getting his agent to shop around if his Sarries appearances don't increase.

[Puja]

Diamond would LOVE IT if Johnson came crawling back. Would be used as an example that leaving is a terrible idea and staying with Falcons is the better idea.

True, although I'm not sure Johnson would love Diamond loving it. Plus, out of the three players he gave that warning to, Guy Pepper's definitely done okay by moving and Brantingham's had decent game time and started for England A, so it's not a great strike-rate!

Puja

[Cameo]

Turning into a Newcastle thread this, but rumoured tonbe after Tom Christie from the Crusaders. Very solid 7 who has played (and won) a lot of big games. Never seemed to have the x-factor needed to get in the All Blacks team but I reckon he would be a very good signing.

[Danno]

Turning into a Newcastle thread this, but rumoured tonbe after Tom Christie from the Crusaders. Very solid 7 who has played (and won) a lot of big games. Never seemed to have the x-factor needed to get in the All Blacks team but I reckon he would be a very good signing.

Not a bad thing, gives me some confidence that they're getting over the line instead of going to the wall

[Scrumhead]

Diamond would LOVE IT if Johnson came crawling back. Would be used as an example that leaving is a terrible idea and staying with Falcons is the better idea.

True, although I'm not sure Johnson would love Diamond loving it. Plus, out of the three players he gave that warning to, Guy Pepper's definitely done okay by moving and Brantingham's had decent game time and started for England A, so it's not a great strike-rate!

Puja

Yeah, the forwards have definitely had more success. Before Johnson, Will Haydon-Wood also had an ill fated trip South. Clearly the Wasps situation was nothing to do with him, but given how his career has stalled since leaving, he’s another that surely would have been better off staying put.

[FKAS]

Diamond would LOVE IT if Johnson came crawling back. Would be used as an example that leaving is a terrible idea and staying with Falcons is the better idea.

True, although I'm not sure Johnson would love Diamond loving it. Plus, out of the three players he gave that warning to, Guy Pepper's definitely done okay by moving and Brantingham's had decent game time and started for England A, so it's not a great strike-rate!

Puja

Yeah, the forwards have definitely had more success. Before Johnson, Will Haydon-Wood also had an ill fated trip South. Clearly the Wasps situation was nothing to do with him, but given how his career has stalled since leaving, he’s another that surely would have been better off staying put.

Haydon-Wood's move was a particularly awful one. Moving to Wasps where he struggled for game time with Atkinson, Gopperth and Umaga already there before watching the club go pop. Then a brief stint in France before off down to Chiefs where he's been in and out the side with no run of games to establish himself. When he left Falcons he'd pretty much secured the starting job. He's soon going to turn 25 and have spent most of his career as a squad man.

Falcons have been building up their forwards with some typically Diamond esque signings. Physical and hard working pros that will scrap for everything. They'll be a tougher team to play against. Keeping Bello adds some much needed quality to the front row though a couple more props would help them. Half back is still an area of weakness.

[Puja]

Turning into a Newcastle thread this, but rumoured tonbe after Tom Christie from the Crusaders. Very solid 7 who has played (and won) a lot of big games. Never seemed to have the x-factor needed to get in the All Blacks team but I reckon he would be a very good signing.

It's a case of the timing as much as anything else. Everyone else has mostly completed their recruitment for next season (although I can't believe Leicester are genuinely planning on going into the season with just two senior tightheads, both of whom stand a decent chance of being called up to internationals - there must be someone else coming!), so it's just the late show of Red Bull money as Diamond tries to put a functional squad together from everyone else's unwanteds.

Puja

[FKAS]

Turning into a Newcastle thread this, but rumoured tonbe after Tom Christie from the Crusaders. Very solid 7 who has played (and won) a lot of big games. Never seemed to have the x-factor needed to get in the All Blacks team but I reckon he would be a very good signing.

It's a case of the timing as much as anything else. Everyone else has mostly completed their recruitment for next season (although I can't believe Leicester are genuinely planning on going into the season with just two senior tightheads, both of whom stand a decent chance of being called up to internationals - there must be someone else coming!), so it's just the late show of Red Bull money as Diamond tries to put a functional squad together from everyone else's unwanteds.

Puja

Tigers wage spend must be a good million less than last season. There's no way the squad they have now is spending up to the cap. The marquee spot is not filled and even with the additional 10s in place the retirements of Cole and Youngs are unfilled and despite their advancing ages they won't have been on small contracts (though probably not big ones either, Cole maybe depending on when he last signed).

At least a tighthead should be inbound. A scrum half as well would help.

Agree re Falcons and Diamond doing the recruitment equivalent of panning for gold after everyone else has been jewellery shopping.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Wonder how Louie Johnson is feeling right now? I can understand him being tempted away from Newcastle given their dysfunctional state last season, but Steve Diamond's (slightly sour grapes) warning about players going to a big club and getting lost in the bowels of the squad has been proven true, considering he played more first team games for Ampthill last season than he did for Saracens. He'd've been hoping the retirement of Goode would at least see him make the XIII this year, but with Sarries re-signing Fazlet and Malins, he's even less likely to get game time and, as a 22 year old fly-half, that's something he desperately needs.

Hindsight's 20/20 but, had he known what the future held, he'd've been better staying up north and having a crappy season (but getting 25 starts), and going into 25/26 as a cemented first choice Premiership fly-half, with Newcastle building an actual Premiership team for him to play alongside. Could even have resulted in an England cap if he'd played the whole season and looked a better option than CAtkinson.

It would make a lot of sense for him to seek a move back, although I'm not sure how forgiving Diamond is, or how much fun he'd be to play under if he's holding a grudge.

Puja

Would he have got 25 starts? He amassed 7 starts in 16 games over 3 seasons at Newcastle in all competitions. in his last season it was 5 starts in 12. For Sarries he got 4 starts in 6 games, despite missing the first half of a season with a bicep injury picked up in preseason.

[Which Tyler]

Newcastle Falcons have swooped to sign Argentina scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz on a two-year deal.

[Danno]

They're winging it* but these all seem like pretty prudent signings to keep the club going given who's available. Does give me confidence that the Red Bull deal is more or less done or they (realistically and potentially legally) shouldn't be spending any money.

*without signing any wingers

[FKAS]

That's another canny deal by Falcons. Straight out of Argentinian club rugby so affordable and he's played for the Pumas over the summer so definitely has something about him. Falcons needed to upgrade from Stuart at scrum half and this signing should do that.

A prop and a 10 up next for them ideally. In terms of wingers they've got some passable club level options iirc.

[Puja]

Wonder how Louie Johnson is feeling right now? I can understand him being tempted away from Newcastle given their dysfunctional state last season, but Steve Diamond's (slightly sour grapes) warning about players going to a big club and getting lost in the bowels of the squad has been proven true, considering he played more first team games for Ampthill last season than he did for Saracens. He'd've been hoping the retirement of Goode would at least see him make the XIII this year, but with Sarries re-signing Fazlet and Malins, he's even less likely to get game time and, as a 22 year old fly-half, that's something he desperately needs.

Hindsight's 20/20 but, had he known what the future held, he'd've been better staying up north and having a crappy season (but getting 25 starts), and going into 25/26 as a cemented first choice Premiership fly-half, with Newcastle building an actual Premiership team for him to play alongside. Could even have resulted in an England cap if he'd played the whole season and looked a better option than CAtkinson.

It would make a lot of sense for him to seek a move back, although I'm not sure how forgiving Diamond is, or how much fun he'd be to play under if he's holding a grudge.

Puja

Would he have got 25 starts? He amassed 7 starts in 16 games over 3 seasons at Newcastle in all competitions. in his last season it was 5 starts in 12. For Sarries he got 4 starts in 6 games, despite missing the first half of a season with a bicep injury picked up in preseason.

Ah, I wasn't aware of the bicep injury - that does change things a lot. Fair enough.

I would've said (assuming no injury), he'd've had a lot of starts for Newcastle last year - they were so devoid of fly-halves at the start of the season that they were shoe-horning Ethan Grayson in there so, had he been fit, he would've had a clear run right for the first 2 months which could've given him the whip-hand in his fight against Connon. I will admit - I had thought Connon was injured for a lot more of Newcastle's season than he was, but a quick look on all.rugby suggests I was overestimating that, so I am probably wrong on 25 starts. 10-15 would've been more than possible though.

On his Saracens career so far, the bicep injury does make a big difference to my opinion of it, however I will note that 3 of those 4 starts were Prem Cup, which is basically A-team games, especially the way Sarries treat it, and the 4th was in the weekend before the 6N when Saracens decided to lean into missing their England players by giving everyone a week off and fielding nearly an entirely shadow XXIII (and still Exeter only just beat them). So he's only had 2 bench appearances playing with the actual first team and no starts.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Wonder how Louie Johnson is feeling right now? I can understand him being tempted away from Newcastle given their dysfunctional state last season, but Steve Diamond's (slightly sour grapes) warning about players going to a big club and getting lost in the bowels of the squad has been proven true, considering he played more first team games for Ampthill last season than he did for Saracens. He'd've been hoping the retirement of Goode would at least see him make the XIII this year, but with Sarries re-signing Fazlet and Malins, he's even less likely to get game time and, as a 22 year old fly-half, that's something he desperately needs.

Hindsight's 20/20 but, had he known what the future held, he'd've been better staying up north and having a crappy season (but getting 25 starts), and going into 25/26 as a cemented first choice Premiership fly-half, with Newcastle building an actual Premiership team for him to play alongside. Could even have resulted in an England cap if he'd played the whole season and looked a better option than CAtkinson.

It would make a lot of sense for him to seek a move back, although I'm not sure how forgiving Diamond is, or how much fun he'd be to play under if he's holding a grudge.

Puja

Would he have got 25 starts? He amassed 7 starts in 16 games over 3 seasons at Newcastle in all competitions. in his last season it was 5 starts in 12. For Sarries he got 4 starts in 6 games, despite missing the first half of a season with a bicep injury picked up in preseason.

Ah, I wasn't aware of the bicep injury - that does change things a lot. Fair enough.

I would've said (assuming no injury), he'd've had a lot of starts for Newcastle last year - they were so devoid of fly-halves at the start of the season that they were shoe-horning Ethan Grayson in there so, had he been fit, he would've had a clear run right for the first 2 months which could've given him the whip-hand in his fight against Connon. I will admit - I had thought Connon was injured for a lot more of Newcastle's season than he was, but a quick look on all.rugby suggests I was overestimating that, so I am probably wrong on 25 starts. 10-15 would've been more than possible though.

On his Saracens career so far, the bicep injury does make a big difference to my opinion of it, however I will note that 3 of those 4 starts were Prem Cup, which is basically A-team games, especially the way Sarries treat it, and the 4th was in the weekend before the 6N when Saracens decided to lean into missing their England players by giving everyone a week off and fielding nearly an entirely shadow XXIII (and still Exeter only just beat them). So he's only had 2 bench appearances playing with the actual first team and no starts.

Puja

Yeah the bicep was bloody terrible timing.

Think either way he should have got more game time, and there is an argument for training with better players around him, but also live game time being better for development.

Hopefully he can get a good preseason in and stake a claim for the 23.