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

[FKAS]

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

Only highlights I've found seem to show Moro as an 8.



https://www.instagram.com/scrumespn/reel/DBmj6UnSrE3/

This being the exception where he's playing for the Pumas and wearing 6.

https://www.instagram.com/lospumasuar/r ... m&hl=zh-cn

If he can get over the ball and compete than that's a massive bonus but from those clips he looks like a bit of a mobile unit that likes to carry direct. We definitely need for carrying options up front.

Titcombe is a useful squad option, can do a job at 15 as well. As you say, room to grow potentially and if he doesn't won't prove a barrier to Threlfall or Talbot.

[FKAS]

Tarek Haffar next one confirmed in. Ball carrying loosehead, yes please.

[FKAS]

Jamie Blamire the last to be confirmed.

[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

Only highlights I've found seem to show Moro as an 8.



https://www.instagram.com/scrumespn/reel/DBmj6UnSrE3/

This being the exception where he's playing for the Pumas and wearing 6.

https://www.instagram.com/lospumasuar/r ... m&hl=zh-cn

If he can get over the ball and compete than that's a massive bonus but from those clips he looks like a bit of a mobile unit that likes to carry direct. We definitely need for carrying options up front.

Titcombe is a useful squad option, can do a job at 15 as well. As you say, room to grow potentially and if he doesn't won't prove a barrier to Threlfall or Talbot.

Ah, I was looking at the Pampas teamsheets from www.AmericasRugbyNews.com - he appears to be even between 7 and 8 this season.

Blamire and Haffar the worst kept secrets but, as you say, very keen on having them on-board next season. If we can get a starting 10 in, then we've got a functional first team together, although I'd be happier with signing a reserve 10 and perhaps another 9 as I'm not thrilled about Whiteley being our 21 (and I don't believe Allan's ready for primetime yet, although would be happy to be corrected by someone with more knowledge).

Puja



ETA>

Leicester Tigers will confirm further signings to add to Geoff Parling’s 25/26 squad over the coming weeks.

At the bottom of the news report on the 5 signings from the Tigers website. Not quite "James Bond will return..." but promising enough.

[Captainhaircut]

Isn’t Seabrook meant to be coming in too?

Do I remember some chat about Orlando Bailey too? That would be great for both Leicester and England.

[FKAS]

Puja, I'd be delighted if he came in with some breakdown skills as well as being that direct carrier. A cut price Matera, dare we dream. We don't need another openside but a well rounded 8 would be ideal.

I still want;
Another ball carrying hooker
2x10s (one starting and the other a utility player ideally as we are likely to have sod all cover at 15 after Steward bar Titcombe and Pearson at this rate)
A back up 9
A winger who can ideally play a couple of positions (Seabrook maybe)

If after all that we've got space for a ball carrying tighthead like say Alo who can just be bench impact ala Mulipola and Leatigaga that would be ideal. Hoyt's agent is shopping him round the prem so I assume he's not being retained.

Haircut, yes Bailey is one of the names linked. He would be ideal, especially if Freddie Burns was incoming as an experienced mentor for a final season. Them both being able to play 15 and Bailey can also do a job at 12 would give us some nice options.

[Puja]

I had no idea that Burns was still playing until you said that. If he's available at a reasonable price, then he would be absolutely ideal as the Shillcock replacement!

I don't know what to think of the prospect of Bailey. He's rated and there is talent there, but he's a gamble to sign as our first choice 10 - he's not proven as the main man and if he doesn't kick on as we hope, then you're left trying to build a team with a major keystone missing. It's a high-risk, high reward move.

Mind, having said that, even if we weren't minded to make a risky play, who on earth else is there available at this time in May?

Puja

[Puja]

Uruguay full-back Juan Gonzalez joining Worcester: https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2025/ ... m-uruguay/

Feels like they're chucking too much money about on an all-or-nothing glory lunge.

Puja

[Danno]

Where are they getting their funding from again?

(Monster Energy? )

[Puja]

Where are they getting their funding from again?

(Monster Energy? )

[Danno]

They must be rolling in it and it'll get a load of youngsters in the academy too

[Beasties]

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

Only highlights I've found seem to show Moro as an 8.



https://www.instagram.com/scrumespn/reel/DBmj6UnSrE3/

This being the exception where he's playing for the Pumas and wearing 6.

https://www.instagram.com/lospumasuar/r ... m&hl=zh-cn

If he can get over the ball and compete than that's a massive bonus but from those clips he looks like a bit of a mobile unit that likes to carry direct. We definitely need for carrying options up front.

Titcombe is a useful squad option, can do a job at 15 as well. As you say, room to grow potentially and if he doesn't won't prove a barrier to Threlfall or Talbot.

I’d initially read that as Maro and thought WTF am I looking at?

Has jngf’s dream finally come true?

[Which Tyler]

Rumours (unsubstantiated) that Ruan Ackermann is being looked at by Leicester

[Scrumhead]

Ackermann’s form hasn’t been as good this season but he’s a very solid player and still only 29. He’d be a good pick up for most Premiership sides IMO.

I could actually see him doing really well at Tigers.

[Puja]

Rumours (unsubstantiated) that Ruan Ackermann is being looked at by Leicester

Ugh, last thing we need. Hugely overrated player to my mind.

Puja

[FKAS]

Rumours (unsubstantiated) that Ruan Ackermann is being looked at by Leicester

Ugh, last thing we need. Hugely overrated player to my mind.

Puja

Not very flashy, few dominant hits but a 92% tackle completion rate. Similar gain line success and dominant carry stats to Cracknell who has a lower tackle completion.

He'd be an ok signing but not one I'd be excited by.

[Scrumhead]

Overrated? I’d argue he’s the opposite.

I get why he might not be a signing to get ‘excited’ about but he’s a proven Premiership player who rarely dips below 7/10 in terms of performance.

Actually, I think Cracknell is a pretty good comparison. The main difference between them this season is form. A couple of seasons ago, it would have been the reverse.

[Banquo]

Uruguay full-back Juan Gonzalez joining Worcester: https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2025/ ... m-uruguay/

Feels like they're chucking too much money about on an all-or-nothing glory lunge.

Puja

CEO claims their budget is about 750k. Lol.

[ilovelamp]

Nepo Laulala to Glaws. Will be announced this week.

[Captainhaircut]

Nepo Laulala to Glaws. Will be announced this week.

Feels like that will be a dreadful signing.

[Which Tyler]

Depends on the price - it's been over a year since he last played rugby - he's not going to be fighting offers from all over the place.
You often get players off the back of really long injuries taking a short, low contract to prove fitness, or retire

[Puja]

Rumours (unsubstantiated) that Ruan Ackermann is being looked at by Leicester

Ugh, last thing we need. Hugely overrated player to my mind.

Puja

Not very flashy, few dominant hits but a 92% tackle completion rate. Similar gain line success and dominant carry stats to Cracknell who has a lower tackle completion.

He'd be an ok signing but not one I'd be excited by.

Goes missing in big games and seems to have an overinflated idea of his own carrying ability so he's selfish ball in hand and too often gets buried trying to carry through somewhere that he shouldn't have. He gets worse the better the opposition gets - like Dombrandt but much worse.

I actually rate Cracknell quite highly, but I think the point does need to be made that we don't need a second Cracknell. We already have one of those and he does a job very nicely. We have decent depth in our back row - even assuming Hatherell and Rogerson are both off (which I don't believe are confirmed yet?), we have Reffell, Liebenberg, Cracknell, Ilione, Carnduff, and now Moro, and that's without dropping one of our many lock/6s back, using the likes of Williams from the academy, getting a loan from Nottingham, etc.

Our squad does not need another okayish 6/8. We're just getting rid of two of them who rarely actually played! If we're going to sign a back row, then we need either a new first team 8 to replace Wiese, or to go for someone young and improvable (like Moro). If we can't get either of those, then spending cap on squad cover who is "just as good as Cracknell if you look at it" isn't worth doing.

Just feels like a Kalamafoni signing. Yeah, he'll probably be all right, but it's signing someone as a starter in a key position who probably wouldn't be first choice anywhere else.

Puja

[ilovelamp]

Ugh, last thing we need. Hugely overrated player to my mind.

Puja

Not very flashy, few dominant hits but a 92% tackle completion rate. Similar gain line success and dominant carry stats to Cracknell who has a lower tackle completion.

He'd be an ok signing but not one I'd be excited by.

Goes missing in big games and seems to have an overinflated idea of his own carrying ability so he's selfish ball in hand and too often gets buried trying to carry through somewhere that he shouldn't have. He gets worse the better the opposition gets - like Dombrandt but much worse.

I actually rate Cracknell quite highly, but I think the point does need to be made that we don't need a second Cracknell. We already have one of those and he does a job very nicely. We have decent depth in our back row - even assuming Hatherell and Rogerson are both off (which I don't believe are confirmed yet?), we have Reffell, Liebenberg, Cracknell, Ilione, Carnduff, and now Moro, and that's without dropping one of our many lock/6s back, using the likes of Williams from the academy, getting a loan from Nottingham, etc.

Our squad does not need another okayish 6/8. We're just getting rid of two of them who rarely actually played! If we're going to sign a back row, then we need either a new first team 8 to replace Wiese, or to go for someone young and improvable (like Moro). If we can't get either of those, then spending cap on squad cover who is "just as good as Cracknell if you look at it" isn't worth doing.

Just feels like a Kalamafoni signing. Yeah, he'll probably be all right, but it's signing someone as a starter in a key position who probably wouldn't be first choice anywhere else.

Puja

You won’t find a Glaws fan that will agree with you. Ruan has been phenomenal for us, often the only reliable ball carrier we have had in the forwards, and is never less than 100% committed. It’s dreadful business for us to let him go, he should have been in the England reckoning long ago.

[FKAS]

Ugh, last thing we need. Hugely overrated player to my mind.

Puja

Not very flashy, few dominant hits but a 92% tackle completion rate. Similar gain line success and dominant carry stats to Cracknell who has a lower tackle completion.

He'd be an ok signing but not one I'd be excited by.

Goes missing in big games and seems to have an overinflated idea of his own carrying ability so he's selfish ball in hand and too often gets buried trying to carry through somewhere that he shouldn't have. He gets worse the better the opposition gets - like Dombrandt but much worse.

I actually rate Cracknell quite highly, but I think the point does need to be made that we don't need a second Cracknell. We already have one of those and he does a job very nicely. We have decent depth in our back row - even assuming Hatherell and Rogerson are both off (which I don't believe are confirmed yet?), we have Reffell, Liebenberg, Cracknell, Ilione, Carnduff, and now Moro, and that's without dropping one of our many lock/6s back, using the likes of Williams from the academy, getting a loan from Nottingham, etc.

Our squad does not need another okayish 6/8. We're just getting rid of two of them who rarely actually played! If we're going to sign a back row, then we need either a new first team 8 to replace Wiese, or to go for someone young and improvable (like Moro). If we can't get either of those, then spending cap on squad cover who is "just as good as Cracknell if you look at it" isn't worth doing.

Just feels like a Kalamafoni signing. Yeah, he'll probably be all right, but it's signing someone as a starter in a key position who probably wouldn't be first choice anywhere else.

Puja

He wouldn't be my choice now we have Moro in but I'd not be outraged by it either. He's played quite a bit for Glaws but I'd agree he's a solid Prem level player and we have one already at 8.

Hatherall and Rogerson are likely off. Rogerson linked with Wuss (where he'd be brilliant and an obvious captain). Leaves us with:

6. Liebenburg, Carnduff, J Manz
7. Reffell, Ilione, Williams
8. Cracknell, Moro

I'm with you, if we're adding another I want it to be a proper Weise replacement not another solid pro. It is worth noting that J Manz is back off a long injury so will probably be spending time in the Championship next season. Williams has been injured for the second half of the season as well so Championship seems likely for him next season as well.

If we've got budget to throw around more carriers in the front row to go with Blamire and Haffar. Well and flyhalfs we desperately need a starting flyhalf.

[Tigersman]

On Ackermann, dudes prob been the only Gloucester forward who is consistent.
He isn't selfish it's his job, the one Gloucester player who can play in the tight and still win his contact so he is asked to be the pit mule. Mercer could do what he did thanks to him really last season

Honestly I'm kind of amazed people don't rate him considering the obvious weakness around him in the Gloucester pack.

He's a far more dynamic carrier than Chick yet people raved about him as a Saints player