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

[Adam_P]

He was a smart player so interested to see how he goes. What coaching experience has he had since playing?

[francoisfou]

He was a smart player so interested to see how he goes. What coaching experience has he had since playing?

Rebels and assistant Wallabies coach, I think?

[Epaminondas Pules]

He was a smart player so interested to see how he goes. What coaching experience has he had since playing?

Lineout coach for the Rebels for two years, then forwards coach for the Aussies for 4/5 years, now this

[Mikey Brown]

Geoff Parling returns to Tigers as head coach, long term deal.

Happy with that? Seems like one for the future and has already picked up some great coaching experiment there. From the little I’d heard it seemed likely he’d ever even leave Aus.

[FKAS]

It's a bit of a left field appointment but it feels quite akin to the Borthwick appointment so I'm hopeful it'll work out. If we can keep Hewatt it should help keep some consistency. Parling does help the lineout and forwards coaching which were areas of concern. Be interested to see what sort of style he brings.

[Puja]

Bloody hells, that's come out of absolute nowhere. Not even a whisper of a rumour of that. Last I heard, he was lost to English rugby permanently, because he and his family were happy and settled in Australia!

Geoff Parling returns to Tigers as head coach, long term deal.

Happy with that? Seems like one for the future and has already picked up some great coaching experiment there. From the little I’d heard it seemed likely he’d ever even leave Aus.

I myself am absolutely bloody delighted. He's incredibly highly rated as a coach and I had so much time for him as a player - if he brings half the workrate and dedication to improving to his coaching that he did on the pitch, he'll be a hell of an asset. Much, much more inspiring than taking Rowntree by default.

It's a bit of a left field appointment but it feels quite akin to the Borthwick appointment so I'm hopeful it'll work out. If we can keep Hewatt it should help keep some consistency. Parling does help the lineout and forwards coaching which were areas of concern. Be interested to see what sort of style he brings.

Agreed - keeping Hewatt's a priority for continuity, given Parling won't arrive until after his Australia duties on the BIL tour (assuming Parling is happy to work with him and doesn't have someone else he desperately wants/needs). Our attack has come on leaps and bounds since his arrival as well, so I'm more than happy with him staying in place.

Hopefully, now that the coaching team is all set up and ready to go, we'll have the stability enough to lock in a fly-half signing for next season pretty soon!

Puja

[Oakboy]

In all the gossip around transfers and vacancies (at rugby and football) the announcements that are most impressive are those with no preceding rumours. Congratulations to Leicester for achieving such a good, surprise appointment. That's the way it should be done.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. Very nicely done.

It has the makings of a great appointment and good for English rugby to bring home a highly rated, up and coming coach.

I liked Parling as a player and he always came across as a good bloke so I hope it works out well.

[FKAS]

In all the gossip around transfers and vacancies (at rugby and football) the announcements that are most impressive are those with no preceding rumours. Congratulations to Leicester for achieving such a good, surprise appointment. That's the way it should be done.

There was the smallest murmur he might be leaving Australia, that got no traction at all. You're quite right it's refreshing for it not to be leaked everywhere beforehand though it would have been nice to had this done a while ago and not had the club's name being used as filler in every gossip column as filler for months.

The press manager at Tigers appeared on the club's fans YouTube podcast thingy and hinted that they might need another hastily assembled podcast for more news tomorrow. Whether he's joking or not I don't know. If they confirm a quality 10 tomorrow the fan base won't know what to do with themselves.

[Banquo]

Yeah. Very nicely done.

It has the makings of a great appointment and good for English rugby to bring home a highly rated, up and coming coach.

I liked Parling as a player and he always came across as a good bloke so I hope it works out well.

agreed- it was kind of a shame he wasn't capped until he was 28, but great that he then became a Lion!

[p/d]

Cracking appointment, bloody good player and by all accounts a top bloke.

Chuffed for Leicester

[FKAS]

Sadly no humourous Geoff Parling stories from Youngs and Cole last night. Dan Cole did say he'd only being nice to Parling because he's the one picking the team and handing out contracts which suggests the big man is having a least one more season.

[Puja]

Rumours of Racing being after Ben Spencer with Le Garrec heading off. Likely bullshit, cause Spencer's only just re-signed with Bath and frankly, there's other players of similar quality out there who would cost less to prise away, but thought I'd mention.

Puja

[Danno]

Is Neil Fissler bumping up against his copy deadline again

[FKAS]

Is Neil Fissler bumping up against his copy deadline again

Must be. Non-JIFF, not a game changer and expensive to pry away. Not really a great option.

[Which Tyler]

Worcester confirm Matt Everard as coach.

[Puja]

Worcester confirm Matt Everard as coach.

Not shocking - hope he does well. The manner in which he was forced out of Leicester was an embarrassment to the club and I wish him the best going forwards.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Gloucester Rugby 2024/25 end-of-season leavers

Freddie Clarke
Charlie Chapman
Ruan Ackermann
Chris Harris
Santiago Carreras
Albert Tuisue
Louis Hillman Cooper
Morgan Adderly Jones
Mayco Vivas
Ioan Jones
Rory Taylor
Morgan Nelson
Alfie Petch
Christian Wade
Gareth Anscombe
Gareth Blackmore
Zach Mercer
Aristot Benz Salomon
Matty Ward

[Captainhaircut]

Surprised to see Freddie Clarke go.

Ioan Jones probably going to go and pretend to be Welsh.

Taylor and Hillman Cooper both highly rated when younger. Feel like good championship pick ups or Steve Diamond specials.

[Which Tyler]

It's also an early announcement for departures.
Part of me wonders if Worcester have put in a bid for a few of them, as they're currently announcing, and any movers from Glos wouldn't have to relocate

[Banquo]

Surprised to see Freddie Clarke go.

Ioan Jones probably going to go and pretend to be Welsh.

Taylor and Hillman Cooper both highly rated when younger. Feel like good championship pick ups or Steve Diamond specials.

Already play for Hartpury on dual reg, so yes. Whether they can afford them is another matter; in fact their model will look 'interesting' under new regs.

...a good chunk of that lot have been out on loan to Hartpury, Pirates and others. Interesting second hand market for Warriors to shop in

[FKAS]

Wilf McCarthy - centre Harbury College - BUCS Super Rugby Player of the Year - signs for Tigers for next season.

[FKAS]

Followed by Puma number 8 Joaquin Moro.

[FKAS]

Charlie Titcombe, flyhalf next in.

[Puja]

Followed by Puma number 8 Joaquin Moro.

Looks like an interesting project, rather than a starter right now - from a quick google, he 24, has done well for Pampas in Super Rugby Americas (probably equivalent to low Championship level), and seems to play as much at 7 as he does at 8.

We have also added an actual number 10, with Charlie Titcombe coming back from the Scarlets. Looks to be another project though - ex our academy and Wuss academy, he's been consistently Scarlets' #22. Still room to grow given he's only 23, but hopefully he's going to be our third 10, rather than our second.

Puja