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

[Epaminondas Pules]

Talk that any extension would have a break clause enabling a return to England for RWC.

[Puja]

Yep. Pretty gutted about those.

I don't know how much substance there is to Evans being off. He is such a fan favourite here, but maybe too much to hope we can keep all of CCS, Kenningham, Evans and Dombrandt happy at once.

Agreed that Jibulu off seems strange given his career trajectory. Another academy player that we couldn't keep hold of is painful.

WEvans's agent has done his job, as he's now signed a new contract with Quins, joining Green, Porter, Murley, and Cleaves in renewing this week. Good business by Quins, but still no news on Jibulu though.

Puja

[Stom]

Yep. Pretty gutted about those.

I don't know how much substance there is to Evans being off. He is such a fan favourite here, but maybe too much to hope we can keep all of CCS, Kenningham, Evans and Dombrandt happy at once.

Agreed that Jibulu off seems strange given his career trajectory. Another academy player that we couldn't keep hold of is painful.

WEvans's agent has done his job, as he's now signed a new contract with Quins, joining Green, Porter, Murley, and Cleaves in renewing this week. Good business by Quins, but still no news on Jibulu though.

Puja

Or Anyanwu

We're going to need a 12...he could have been this team's JTH - not quite England quality, but knits the midfield together.

[FKAS]

Northampton Saints have signed Samoa international number 8 Iakopo Mapu until the end of the season.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol rumoured to be looking at Freddie Douglas from Edinburgh. Supposedly why Scotland capped him against Portugal.

[Adam_P]

Northampton Saints have signed Samoa international number 8 Iakopo Mapu until the end of the season.

Can't wait to see him in action, he's a beast. Hopefully ends up doing well and staying on a bit longer

[FKAS]

Northampton Saints have signed Samoa international number 8 Iakopo Mapu until the end of the season.

Can't wait to see him in action, he's a beast. Hopefully ends up doing well and staying on a bit longer

Should add some ballast to the Saints backrow and generate momentum definitely. When you see a Samoan with no neck you know they're a real unit.

[ilovelamp]

Ben Loader to Glaws…another ex LI player linking up with James Lightfoot-Brown again.

[FKAS]

Ben Loader to Glaws…another ex LI player linking up with James Lightfoot-Brown again.

Disappointing, he was linked with Tigers and would have been a good improvement on Bassett and more available than Watson.

[FKAS]

Juarno Augustus to join Ulster Rugby on 3 year-deal is doing the rounds.

[Puja]

Juarno Augustus to join Ulster Rugby on 3 year-deal is doing the rounds.

Unsurprising. I'd imagine he's on a pretty hefty contract for the amount that he's actually needed by Saints - Sam Graham's emergence has meant that they didn't *need* him (assuming the poor sod recovers from his injury well) and he's probably an expensive player to have as a squad rotation option, especially with Pollock coming through like a train.

Just googled to see how much he has actually played for Saints and the first result is Northampton confirming his exit, so it's now officially fact. (ETA - the numbers did back up my impression - last year he played 17 games for Saints, but only 9 of them were starting).

Puja

[Adam_P]

Big loss for Saints, he's been great when fit and firing. Hopefully Mapu comes good

[Puja]

Ben Loader to Glaws…another ex LI player linking up with James Lightfoot-Brown again.

Great news to have him back in the league. England aren't exactly short of decent wing options at present (I think the list goes IFW, Freeman, Sleightholme, Roebuck, Murley, Ibitoye, Watson before you even start looking at any other players!), but he's a good player and will improve the Prem.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I was curious how much he’d played 15 but really not that much. Surprised to see he’s 26 already too.

Occupied positions by Ben on start team :
Winger : 69 times ( Right Wing 58%, Left Wing 25% )
Fullback : 12 times ( Fullback 14% )
Center : 2 times ( Outside Centre 2% )

A winger of that quality who may be too far down the pecking order to get an England call up is probably a very good acquisition.

[Puja]

I was curious how much he’d played 15 but really not that much. Surprised to see he’s 26 already too.

Occupied positions by Ben on start team :
Winger : 69 times ( Right Wing 58%, Left Wing 25% )
Fullback : 12 times ( Fullback 14% )
Center : 2 times ( Outside Centre 2% )

A winger of that quality who may be too far down the pecking order to get an England call up is probably a very good acquisition.

As long as he hasn't got a Welsh grandmother somewhere in his family tree, of course.

Puja

[FKAS]

Ben Loader to Glaws…another ex LI player linking up with James Lightfoot-Brown again.

Great news to have him back in the league. England aren't exactly short of decent wing options at present (I think the list goes IFW, Freeman, Sleightholme, Roebuck, Murley, Ibitoye, Watson before you even start looking at any other players!), but he's a good player and will improve the Prem.

Puja

Let's be honest here, Watson isn't an option anymore. Can't stay fit long enough.

Loader should be in the the mix with Ibitoye, Murley, Roebuck etc. Aiming for A side recognition and then kick on again. 6ft2 and nearly 15 stone, good strike rate last season for Stormers.

[FKAS]

Tigers sign Jed Holloway on a short term contract, he's going to join San Diego Legion in the new year.

Tom Manz, Ollie Chessum and Harry Wells are out injured. As is Fin Carnduff. Crone Beets is still in SA with various rumours as to why.

Leaves Tigers a big short in the lock stocks with Henderson only just training after a lengthy injury and Chessum Jnr only just back playing after a year off. George Martin has to have a rest week post international window then the only other options are playing a backrow there, a teenager and 22 year old Joussain who's in his first season at Prem level having turned out for Notts last season.

[Puja]

Liam Williams returns from Japan to Saracens. Apparently he and his wife are expecting their first child and the idea of having it across the other side of the world from extended family was enough that he was willing to break his very lucrative Kubota Spears contract to come back to the UK. I'd imagine Sarries are probably getting a bit of a bargain there, even if he's not quite the player he once was.

Puja

[FKAS]

Liam Williams returns from Japan to Saracens. Apparently he and his wife are expecting their first child and the idea of having it across the other side of the world from extended family was enough that he was willing to break his very lucrative Kubota Spears contract to come back to the UK. I'd imagine Sarries are probably getting a bit of a bargain there, even if he's not quite the player he once was.

Puja

Alex Goode is also out until some time in the new year having had surgery so a good injury dispensation.

[Danno]

Marler officially retires. It's not a great week for us

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/ ... nal-rugby/

[Mellsblue]

Does anyone know if Marler has retired, completely or otherwise etc etc?

[Danno]

Does anyone know if Marler has retired, completely or otherwise etc etc?

Retired from all rugby, as of Friday, I believe

[Danno]

Does anyone know if Marler has retired, completely or otherwise etc etc?

Fuck's sake Mells, I didn't see there was a thread you swine

[Puja]

Does anyone know if Marler has retired, completely or otherwise etc etc?

Fuck's sake Mells, I didn't see there was a thread you swine

Because I'm a moderator, I can also see that you messed up and made your announcement post twice, once before Mells's message and once after, which makes it even funnier.

Puja

[Danno]

Fuck you too Puja