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

[Puja]

Josh Beaumont retires. Shame for him that he had the injuries that he did and when he did - knocked him off his momentum in 2016 when he looked destined for England caps and never quite got back to where he was. Will Addison is also leaving Sale with TBC as his next destination.

On the other side, Launchbury signs on for another contract at Quins.

Puja

[Puja]

Josh Bassett leaving Leicester end of the season. Unsurprising - he's not the same player as he was in his youth, injuries took their toll, and we never saw the best of him. Be a good signing for Worcester, IMO.

Puja

[FKAS]

Josh Bassett leaving Leicester end of the season. Unsurprising - he's not the same player as he was in his youth, injuries took their toll, and we never saw the best of him. Be a good signing for Worcester, IMO.

Puja

He's also 33, most wingers tend to tail off into their thirties.

[FKAS]

James Cronin Appointed Head Coach at Highfield for 2025/2026 Season

Highfield Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Cronin as the new Head Coach of our Senior Men’s squad for the upcoming season 2025-26.

[Mellsblue]

That def ticks the frenzied speculation box.

[FKAS]

That def ticks the frenzied speculation box.

Well it probably allows RugbyPass and Ruck to link us with every loosehead currently on the market until we announce the replacement. After we've announced Parling they've lost their steady stream of easy content filler.

[Puja]

James Cronin Appointed Head Coach at Highfield for 2025/2026 Season

Highfield Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Cronin as the new Head Coach of our Senior Men’s squad for the upcoming season 2025-26.

Leaves us a touch short with Whitcombe also off - we'll have NSmith and Haffar which is an excellent 1/17 combo (and hopefully will switch around as the season goes on), but nothing beyond them. Is van der Flier considered ready for primetime? I know he's rated and 23 isn't too callow an age for a young prop, but we left him at Nottingham most of last season and only had him off the bench for 2 Prem Cup games and our 2nd XV selection capitulation to Glasgow, which doesn't suggest so.

Not thrilled about having to sign in a third choice as squad packing though.

Puja

[FKAS]

James Cronin Appointed Head Coach at Highfield for 2025/2026 Season

Highfield Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Cronin as the new Head Coach of our Senior Men’s squad for the upcoming season 2025-26.

Leaves us a touch short with Whitcombe also off - we'll have NSmith and Haffar which is an excellent 1/17 combo (and hopefully will switch around as the season goes on), but nothing beyond them. Is van der Flier considered ready for primetime? I know he's rated and 23 isn't too callow an age for a young prop, but we left him at Nottingham most of last season and only had him off the bench for 2 Prem Cup games and our 2nd XV selection capitulation to Glasgow, which doesn't suggest so.

Not thrilled about having to sign in a third choice as squad packing though.

Puja

van der Flier was Notts young player of the season, last season. I suspect he'd have played more this season of he hadn't done his knee in the first batch of PRC games and then been out until that Glasgow game about 5 months later.

I'd promote internally. VDF becomes third choice and Miel can be fourth, pack Miel off for some Championship rugby experience next season. Not much point having developed the pathway if we aren't going to use it and with VDF looking good at Championship level pre injury it's time for him to make the step up.

[Puja]

James Cronin Appointed Head Coach at Highfield for 2025/2026 Season

Highfield Rugby Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of James Cronin as the new Head Coach of our Senior Men’s squad for the upcoming season 2025-26.

Leaves us a touch short with Whitcombe also off - we'll have NSmith and Haffar which is an excellent 1/17 combo (and hopefully will switch around as the season goes on), but nothing beyond them. Is van der Flier considered ready for primetime? I know he's rated and 23 isn't too callow an age for a young prop, but we left him at Nottingham most of last season and only had him off the bench for 2 Prem Cup games and our 2nd XV selection capitulation to Glasgow, which doesn't suggest so.

Not thrilled about having to sign in a third choice as squad packing though.

Puja

van der Flier was Notts young player of the season, last season. I suspect he'd have played more this season of he hadn't done his knee in the first batch of PRC games and then been out until that Glasgow game about 5 months later.

I'd promote internally. VDF becomes third choice and Miel can be fourth, pack Miel off for some Championship rugby experience next season. Not much point having developed the pathway if we aren't going to use it and with VDF looking good at Championship level pre injury it's time for him to make the step up.

Isn't Miel a tighthead?

Puja

[Puja]

Also, !!!RICH LANE!!! is tormenting Bristol by only extending his contract for one more year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... y2ep0lypgo

Puja

[FKAS]

Leaves us a touch short with Whitcombe also off - we'll have NSmith and Haffar which is an excellent 1/17 combo (and hopefully will switch around as the season goes on), but nothing beyond them. Is van der Flier considered ready for primetime? I know he's rated and 23 isn't too callow an age for a young prop, but we left him at Nottingham most of last season and only had him off the bench for 2 Prem Cup games and our 2nd XV selection capitulation to Glasgow, which doesn't suggest so.

Not thrilled about having to sign in a third choice as squad packing though.

Puja

van der Flier was Notts young player of the season, last season. I suspect he'd have played more this season of he hadn't done his knee in the first batch of PRC games and then been out until that Glasgow game about 5 months later.

I'd promote internally. VDF becomes third choice and Miel can be fourth, pack Miel off for some Championship rugby experience next season. Not much point having developed the pathway if we aren't going to use it and with VDF looking good at Championship level pre injury it's time for him to make the step up.

Isn't Miel a tighthead?

Puja

https://all.rugby/player/cameron-miell

Nope. Though he's a) played less than I thought and b) I've managed to spell his name wrong.

[Adam_P]

Saints confirmed leavers: Jake Garside, Charlie Savala, Callum Hunter-Hill, Ewan Baker, Nathan Langdon, Toby Cousins, Beltus Nonleh, Tom Dye, Louis Haley, Henry Nanka-Bruce and Kieran Perkins.

Shame to lose Garside imo, but none of the rest will be a huge loss which makes a nice change compared to the last two seasons.

Those are in addition to the already announced Juarno Augustus, Temo Mayanavanua, Burger Odendaal, Tom Seabrook, Tarek Haffar, Ruben Logan - some of which are more impactful than others.

[Banquo]

Saints confirmed leavers: Jake Garside, Charlie Savala, Callum Hunter-Hill, Ewan Baker, Nathan Langdon, Toby Cousins, Beltus Nonleh, Tom Dye, Louis Haley, Henry Nanka-Bruce and Kieran Perkins.

Shame to lose Garside imo, but none of the rest will be a huge loss which makes a nice change compared to the last two seasons.

Those are in addition to the already announced Juarno Augustus, Temo Mayanavanua, Burger Odendaal, Tom Seabrook, Tarek Haffar, Ruben Logan - some of which are more impactful than others.

Ewan has done well for us, but can see why. Shame Bedford wouldn't let him play for us tomorrow, ditto Reuben Logan, so we have to field academy lads instead.

[Banquo]

garside to warriors I hear

[FKAS]

Charlie Savala to Glasgow to replace Tom Jordan.

What's the story with Toby Cousins he was highly rated?

[Adam_P]

Glister is better/more well rounded and is obviously favoured above Cousins at Saints given their respective involvements.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Cousins never really developed beyond being big and quick.

[Banquo]

Cousins never really developed beyond being big and quick.

off to Ealing

[FKAS]

Cousins never really developed beyond being big and quick.

Fair enough. He's still only 20 so there's time.

Could be a good pick up for Ealing.

Quins have announced quite a few leavers as well.

2024/25 END-OF-SEASON LEAVERS: Quins
Lennox Anyanwu (Mont)
Caleb Ashworth
Danny Care (Retirement)
Charlie Clare
Lewis Gjaltema
Tom Golder
Leigh Halfpenny
George Hammond
George Head
Irne Herbst
Wyn Jones (Dragons)
Will Joseph (Gloucester)
Nathan Jibulu (Sale)
Dino Lamb
Dillon Lewis (Dragons)
Will Trenholm (Gloucester)
Archie White
Roma Zheng

[jimKRFC]

Red Bull looking at investing in rugby. Apparently looking at Bristol or Newcastle. Bristol supposedly have a board meeting to discuss it. Advantage of Newcastle is their cheap but come with huge COVID loans to pay off..


https://archive.ph/PorEq

[Puja]

Cousins never really developed beyond being big and quick.

Fair enough. He's still only 20 so there's time.

Could be a good pick up for Ealing.

Quins have announced quite a few leavers as well.

2024/25 END-OF-SEASON LEAVERS: Quins
Lennox Anyanwu (Mont)
Caleb Ashworth
Danny Care (Retirement)
Charlie Clare
Lewis Gjaltema
Tom Golder
Leigh Halfpenny
George Hammond
George Head
Irne Herbst
Wyn Jones (Dragons)
Will Joseph (Gloucester)
Nathan Jibulu (Sale)
Dino Lamb
Dillon Lewis (Dragons)
Will Trenholm (Gloucester)
Archie White
Roma Zheng

Was very confused by Charlie Clare apparently being released by Quins, but a google tells me he's a different one. Leicester should absolutely sign him, just for the entertainment value.

Hammond's a decent player leaving Quins - wonder where he's off to?

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Herbst, Hammond and Lamb all at once is a lot. Didn’t realise Lamb was going. It’s a shame, though he is very injury prone. Launch/Lewies not much better in that regard though.

Looking forward to seeing Petti come in.

[FKAS]

Saints must be in the hunt for lock replacements. Hammond from Quins and Nkwocha from Cov are both confirmed released and could be options.

Saracens have signed Fijian prop Vilikesa Nairau from Championship club Coventry. He represented Fiji under 20s and can play both sides though Sarries have described him as a loosehead, I think he played more at tighthead for Cov. He's only 22, could be a smart pick up.

[FKAS]

Herbst, Hammond and Lamb all at once is a lot. Didn’t realise Lamb was going. It’s a shame, though he is very injury prone. Launch/Lewies not much better in that regard though.

Looking forward to seeing Petti come in.

Herbst's deal to Brive apparently fell through after a failed medical so Lamb is going instead.

[Puja]

Red Bull looking at investing in rugby. Apparently looking at Bristol or Newcastle. Bristol supposedly have a board meeting to discuss it. Advantage of Newcastle is their cheap but come with huge COVID loans to pay off..


https://archive.ph/PorEq

Very speculative and I'm not sure about the ethics of moving away from the Newcastle fans - the attendances have been going downhill of late, but you can't blame them after the last two seasons and they were at one point getting a better average crowd than Sale. Plus starting afresh in a new town is a huge risk, especially Darlington - the writer references Bath, Northampton, Gloucester, Exeter which sounds nice, but Exeter and Gloucester are in existing rugby hotbeds where there's not a huge number of alternative sports to go to in neighbouring towns, and Bath and Northampton have populations of 190k and 240k each. He's talking about a 25k stadium in a town that only has 100k people - there's a reason it was a white elephant in the first place! I'd be worried about having a crowd so small it'd be embarrassing.

I'm worried that Bristol will get that sweet Red Bull money and Newcastle will be left to continue to twist. Red Bull are after an advertising and branding vehicle - they might be tempted by the idea of raising a club from the brink of disaster and being able to rebuild it entirely in their own image (Newcastle Red Bulls?), but there's no denying it would be substantially easier and less risky to buy into an already decent team with crowds and a big stadium (that play in red and blue, no less!).

Puja