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

[Mellsblue]

Max Clark (Bath, Dragons & Cardiff) to Newcastle - good player, shame he lured away by the dangle of caps

Wait, was he eligible to play for Wales? I don't think that ever got mentioned on here at any point?

Puja
In case anyone's taking me seriously, there was a stage where he was in a run of form and there was a lot of repeated comment about him being eligible for Wales (with the implication that we should cap him first to be on the safe side), to the extent that it then became a punchline. Looooooong callback joke that I'm amazed I even remember.

I believe Wales wanted him to play fullback.

[Mikey Brown]

Lancaster to Munster too sounds like it’s gathering steam. Not really sure what the substance is though.

[FKAS]

Lancaster to Munster too sounds like it’s gathering steam. Not really sure what the substance is though.

The substance being Racing wanting to see the back of him I'd have thought.

I'd have still thought Felix Jones would be a better bet for them though.

[FKAS]

Ollie Hassell-Collins is the next Tigers player to have his contract extension announced.

[francoisfou]

According to this article in MidiOlympique, Bath are said to have made an offer to Racing for Henry Arundell to sign at the end of this season, even though his contract lasts until 2026.
Maybe Racing want to offload Arundell as he's not exactly achieved the heights expected of him - or maybe he doesn't get on with Owen Farrell?

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2024/12/19/tra ... 402277.php

[Banquo]

Lancaster to Munster sounds like it’s gathering steam.

Long train journey tho............

[FKAS]

According to this article in MidiOlympique, Bath are said to have made an offer to Racing for Henry Arundell to sign at the end of this season, even though his contract lasts until 2026.
Maybe Racing want to offload Arundell as he's not exactly achieved the heights expected of him - or maybe he doesn't get on with Owen Farrell?

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2024/12/19/tra ... 402277.php

Could be freeing up a non-JIFF spot in the squad for someone else if they move Arundell on.

[Mikey Brown]

Has Lancaster got any other children?

[Timbo]

It’s been reported in France that Arundell has signed for Bath starting next season.

[FKAS]

JvP has agreed a new deal with Tigers. I think that completes the Christmas announcements.

[Which Tyler]

It’s been reported in France that Arundell has signed for Bath starting next season.

I can see it, but I'm not excited by it (unlike 2 years ago, when I was excited).
I've not seen a huge amount of him especially since moving to France, but he seems one of those highlights reel players who does little in the other 78 minutes of the match.
We've already got an over-paid winger like that (and a polar-opposite on the other wing).

I could easily be being very harsh, and he may well have developed nicely over the last couple of years, and just having a bad day on the few times I've watched him. If that were the case though, I'd have expected more excitement about him (see Jacques Willis), and Racing being unwilling to let him go a year early.

[Captainhaircut]

It’s been reported in France that Arundell has signed for Bath starting next season.

I can see it, but I'm not excited by it (unlike 2 years ago, when I was excited).
I've not seen a huge amount of him especially since moving to France, but he seems one of those highlights reel players who does little in the other 78 minutes of the match.
We've already got an over-paid winger like that (and a polar-opposite on the other wing).

I could easily be being very harsh, and he may well have developed nicely over the last couple of years, and just having a bad day on the few times I've watched him. If that were the case though, I'd have expected more excitement about him (see Jacques Willis), and Racing being unwilling to let him go a year early.

He’ll be coming in to play full back not wing. He barely played on the wing at all at Irish and in the youth teams but got moved out there because he’s quick. His best skill is his strike running on the counter or off set piece so he’s wasted on the wing chasing kicks.

[Which Tyler]

He's had 2 .5 years of development since then.
By that metric (age-grade and first year or two) - Ben Foden was a scrum half, Alfie Barbeary a hooker...

I wouldn't trust his decision making at FB (see above for "could be overly harsh"), and the club doesn't have a opening at FB (though there are rumours that we're interested in Carreras from Glos) - whereas we definitely have an opening at wing, albeit this summer looks like being a year ahead of schedule (and co-incidentally, being released a year early from his Racing contract)

[fivepointer]

Just be good to have him back in the Prem.

[Which Tyler]

Now in the Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... exile.html

Only detail they've got is a 2-year deal; nothing on whether his contract was bought out, or he was pushed out by Racing (hopefully the latter), nothing on whether he'll be getting paid remotely what he was on in France (I hope not), or if he's been offered a central contract (I hope not)

[Captainhaircut]

Great news. Wonder if they’ll pick him in the 6N- I’m sure they’ve used someone being contracted to English club in future as a loophole in the past. Piers Francis I think..

[Mikey Brown]

I hope not. I want to see him earn it.

He’s currently around 5th choice fullback behind Furbank, Smith, Steward, Carpenter probably, and around 6th choice wing behind Freeman, IFW, Sleightholme, Roebuck, Murley.

He’s obviously got the talent to usurp any of them, but we need to actually see it consistently put to good use.

[Captainhaircut]

I hope not. I want to see him earn it.

He’s currently around 5th choice fullback behind Furbank, Smith, Steward, Carpenter probably, and around 6th choice wing behind Freeman, IFW, Sleightholme, Roebuck, Murley.

He’s obviously got the talent to usurp any of them, but we need to actually see it consistently put to good use.

Furbank is injured, smith will be playing 10? Steward is a 12 so that leaves him second choice full back.

[Puja]

He's had 2 .5 years of development since then.
By that metric (age-grade and first year or two) - Ben Foden was a scrum half, Alfie Barbeary a hooker...

I wouldn't trust his decision making at FB (see above for "could be overly harsh"), and the club doesn't have a opening at FB (though there are rumours that we're interested in Carreras from Glos) - whereas we definitely have an opening at wing, albeit this summer looks like being a year ahead of schedule (and co-incidentally, being released a year early from his Racing contract)

You say that, but you've also been heavily linked to Willy Le Roux as well as Carreras, so it doesn't seem like van Graan agrees. I like TdG well enough, but I'm not sure he's absolute top-level - Arundell isn't yet either, but definitely could be if given some proper development and building up.

I suspect you will be getting him for a cheaper price than you would've last season though - I suspect Racing will be keen to get him off the books, given that they'll be having a new coach wanting to spend Lorenzetti's money soon, and they'll want non-JIFF places and salary-cap room for them to use.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Rumours that Tigers are eyeing up Seabrook and Haffar from Saints. Seabrook I can see us not resisting too much - he's a good player and never let us down, but there's a hell of a lot of competition in front of him in his position. We should be trying very hard to keep Haffar though.

[FKAS]

Rumours that Tigers are eyeing up Seabrook and Haffar from Saints. Seabrook I can see us not resisting too much - he's a good player and never let us down, but there's a hell of a lot of competition in front of him in his position. We should be trying very hard to keep Haffar though.

I'd take Haffar, doubly so if it's to replace old man Cronin who's frustratingly inconsistent.

Seabrook I'm less fussed about. Feels like it would be a depth signing until other players come through and push him out. If anything we need pace out wide to replace Simmons, I'd rather take a punt on a Championship flyer.

[Puja]

Rumours that Tigers are eyeing up Seabrook and Haffar from Saints. Seabrook I can see us not resisting too much - he's a good player and never let us down, but there's a hell of a lot of competition in front of him in his position. We should be trying very hard to keep Haffar though.

I'd take Haffar, doubly so if it's to replace old man Cronin who's frustratingly inconsistent.

Seabrook I'm less fussed about. Feels like it would be a depth signing until other players come through and push him out. If anything we need pace out wide to replace Simmons, I'd rather take a punt on a Championship flyer.

Christ, I would be thrilled to get Haffar - he looks such a good player and him stabilising the Saints scrum away in SA was a *statement*.

Would seem to be an odd transfer though - I can absolutely see him being narked at how little gametime he's got for Saints (especially given his contemporary Baxter is now a regular England player and he's fallen from being named-checked by Borthwick to not even making the recent A squad), but Leicester seems an odd destination given that we have NSmith as undisputed first choice as well as Cronin for company (and, while I like the energy, FKAS, Cronin signed a contract extension in March and I doubt it was only for 1 year. Might've been 1+1, I guess?)

Haffar's good enough that he should oust Cronin straight away and NSmith given time, but if he's annoyed about game-time, then Leicester seems like an odd move given the best he can hope for straight away is the 17 shirt. Mind, I suppose the only clubs where that's not true right now are Newcastle and Exeter and he may not particularly want to move across the country again, so maybe he's coming on the idea that he'd have a season to persuade Cheika not to renew Smith.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

[, but he seems one of those highlights reel players who does little in the other 78 minutes of the match.
We've already got an over-paid winger like that (and a polar-opposite on the other wing).

Or 24 hours after this post, Fizzler comes up with the shocking thought of Arundell in, Comanaiga out (I was more explicit in the other place, where I suspect one of the posters of being Fizzler or a minion)

[FKAS]

Rumours that Tigers are eyeing up Seabrook and Haffar from Saints. Seabrook I can see us not resisting too much - he's a good player and never let us down, but there's a hell of a lot of competition in front of him in his position. We should be trying very hard to keep Haffar though.

I'd take Haffar, doubly so if it's to replace old man Cronin who's frustratingly inconsistent.

Seabrook I'm less fussed about. Feels like it would be a depth signing until other players come through and push him out. If anything we need pace out wide to replace Simmons, I'd rather take a punt on a Championship flyer.

Christ, I would be thrilled to get Haffar - he looks such a good player and him stabilising the Saints scrum away in SA was a *statement*.

Would seem to be an odd transfer though - I can absolutely see him being narked at how little gametime he's got for Saints (especially given his contemporary Baxter is now a regular England player and he's fallen from being named-checked by Borthwick to not even making the recent A squad), but Leicester seems an odd destination given that we have NSmith as undisputed first choice as well as Cronin for company (and, while I like the energy, FKAS, Cronin signed a contract extension in March and I doubt it was only for 1 year. Might've been 1+1, I guess?)

Haffar's good enough that he should oust Cronin straight away and NSmith given time, but if he's annoyed about game-time, then Leicester seems like an odd move given the best he can hope for straight away is the 17 shirt. Mind, I suppose the only clubs where that's not true right now are Newcastle and Exeter and he may not particularly want to move across the country again, so maybe he's coming on the idea that he'd have a season to persuade Cheika not to renew Smith.

Puja

Cronin is 34. I presume it's a 1+1 deal and not a straight two year deal. Well not unless Cronin agreed a significant pay reduction. Haffar coming in would provide us that mobile prop option Cronin does. Van Der Flier might have taken that role but looks like he's out for a while. Whitcombe has looked solid in his rare appearances but looks more like a Smith understudy as opposed to someone who can offer a difference.

Haffar didn't see much game time last season at Saints and this season has seen West come in. His agent might be just looking around.

[FKAS]

10 Bears to sign new deals
AJ MacGinty (fly-half)
Gabriel Oghre (hooker)
Santiago Grondona (flanker)
James Williams (centre)
Jake Woolmore (prop)
Jack Bates (centre)
Sam Worsley (fly-half)
Joe Jenkins (centre)
Paddy Pearce (lock)
Jimmy Halliwell (prop)