RugbyRebels

I thought Powell and the Benz-Salomon twins were highly-rated and expected to make the step-up to the first team squad. Perhaps not.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 7:46 am I thought Powell and the Benz-Salomon twins were highly-rated and expected to make the step-up to the first team squad. Perhaps not.

The Benz-Salomon twins are definitely the best props we've faced in the Champ, both in the tight and loose. For all our lack of wins , our scrum has usually been either at parity or slightly dominent, but Hartpury reversed that and they were a significant part of it.

FKAS wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 10:04 pm Not necessarily a bad idea to have some spare cap available in case a player becomes available unexpectedly or you have injuries.

The Stuart Hooper play, as it's known

We've spent 2 days on Twitter trailing the.....





Extension of Danny Care's contract! Huzzah.

Always feel a bit sad for players when they are cut. Appreciate not everyone is going to make it, and there are probably very good reasons why players are released but some of those Bristol are letting go havent had many opportunities.
Fred Davies was brought in as a star BUCS player but has hardly had a game. Charlie Rice showed a bit of promise but i dont think he's played this season.
Tough gig, pro rugby player.

Tom West to Saints confirmed to bolster the loose head stocks

Adam_P wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 3:25 pm Tom West to Saints confirmed to bolster the loose head stocks

Makes sense with both Wallers retiring. Very good signing for them, will definitely give them a good option at set piece and the tight exchanges.

https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/leic ... -signs-up/

He's barely played for Tigers so makes sense. He's to good to not be playing. At Falcons he'll get lots of game time.

FKAS wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 5:51 pm https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/leic ... -signs-up/

He's barely played for Tigers so makes sense. He's to good to not be playing. At Falcons he'll get lots of game time.

Agreed. Another player that I wish we'd got more out of, but fair play to him for seeking regular gametime.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 6:48 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 5:51 pm https://www.newcastlefalcons.co.uk/leic ... -signs-up/

He's barely played for Tigers so makes sense. He's to good to not be playing. At Falcons he'll get lots of game time.

Agreed. Another player that I wish we'd got more out of, but fair play to him for seeking regular gametime.

Puja

Leaves us with only two senior flyhalfs, one of which is really a fullback and then a 19 year old.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 2:09 pm Always feel a bit sad for players when they are cut. Appreciate not everyone is going to make it, and there are probably very good reasons why players are released but some of those Bristol are letting go havent had many opportunities.
Fred Davies was brought in as a star BUCS player but has hardly had a game. Charlie Rice showed a bit of promise but i dont think he's played this season.
Tough gig, pro rugby player.

Fred has done well every chance he's had. For me he looks like it worth keeping him rather than bringing a late 20s journeyman.....

Not sure if these are academy graduates, or extending their stay in the academy. I'd guess the former, they all seem to be 20/21; but with the imposed academy shrinkage, it could be that that's who we're renewing.

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/nine- ... bath-rugby

Saints confirmed list of leavers:

Courtney Lawes - Flanker/Lock
Lewis Ludlam - Back Row
Alex Waller - Prop
Ethan Waller - Prop
Paul Hill - Prop
Alex Moon - Lock
Tom Cruse - Hooker
Callum Braley - Scrum Half
Joel Matavesi - Center
Kayde Sylvester - Back Row
Geordie Irvine - Back row
George Patten - Prop
Aston Gradwick-Light - Hooker
Mathew Arden - Fly Half
Nick Tarr - Prop
James Grayson - Fly Half

We've also signed a couple of 10s with Charlie Savala (who has been with us on loan for a while) and George Makepeace-Cubitt

George Makepeace-Cubitt plays a bit of 15 as well doesn't he? England under 20s squad whilst playing League 1 as iirc. Good for him.

Many more signings expected to be announced?

GMC is very much a utility back. Could realistically pop up anywhere other than 9.

Pleased for him. He's done things the hard way. Wasn't actually in the initial senior academy intake for his year, but he ended up trialling during pre season and picking up a contract that way. Ended up doing well enough to end up getting Eng U19 gametime last season. Then had to get over the disappointment of not being picked up by a prem club when LI exploded.

Ultimately he got a ton of Gametime in ND1 for the Rams (mostly at FB iirc). Probably more than most loan players would have, so it's likely been good for his development. Glad the U20s kept him in the pathway and gave him the opportunity to impress in the 6N.

Couple of decent centres on the move as Devoto leaves Exeter and Sam James leaves Sale. No news on where they're going though

Puja

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 6:36 pm George Makepeace-Cubitt plays a bit of 15 as well doesn't he? England under 20s squad whilst playing League 1 as iirc. Good for him.

Many more signings expected to be announced?

From what I've seen the recruitment isn't quite finished. I think we need to see a decent sized lock come in to replace Moon.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 8:16 pm Couple of decent centres on the move as Devoto leaves Exeter and Sam James leaves Sale. No news on where they're going though

Puja

Good players. Neither quite at the top level, though Devoto may have been if he had stayed fitter for longer.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 5:32 pmI guess he just permanently slipped down the pecking order after looking very good around 2019.

Staying at Bath another year anyway.

Saints senior academy intake for next season has been confirmed, with the notable inclusion of Soane Tonga'Huia's lad Sonny. Really hope he can play like his dad and become as much of a club legend. He already looks about the same size as his dad.

Adam_P wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:37 pm Saints senior academy intake for next season has been confirmed, with the notable inclusion of Soane Tonga'Huia's lad Sonny. Really hope he can play like his dad and become as much of a club legend. He already looks about the same size as his dad.

Really interesting that he's a tighthead. Often, you see players go into the same position as their dads - the Sleightholme, the Graysons, etc - because their dad trains them up with all he knew. Makes a sort of sense that Sonny would play the opposite side of the scrum to his dad in a way though - learning by packing down against him.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:45 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:37 pm Saints senior academy intake for next season has been confirmed, with the notable inclusion of Soane Tonga'Huia's lad Sonny. Really hope he can play like his dad and become as much of a club legend. He already looks about the same size as his dad.

Really interesting that he's a tighthead. Often, you see players go into the same position as their dads - the Sleightholme, the Graysons, etc - because their dad trains them up with all he knew. Makes a sort of sense that Sonny would play the opposite side of the scrum to his dad in a way though - learning by packing down against him.

Puja

It's a hell of a way for a young prop to train!

Adam_P wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:47 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:45 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:37 pm Saints senior academy intake for next season has been confirmed, with the notable inclusion of Soane Tonga'Huia's lad Sonny. Really hope he can play like his dad and become as much of a club legend. He already looks about the same size as his dad.

Really interesting that he's a tighthead. Often, you see players go into the same position as their dads - the Sleightholme, the Graysons, etc - because their dad trains them up with all he knew. Makes a sort of sense that Sonny would play the opposite side of the scrum to his dad in a way though - learning by packing down against him.

Puja

It's a hell of a way for a young prop to train!

Or die!

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 7:13 pm

Adam_P wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:47 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 6:45 pm

Really interesting that he's a tighthead. Often, you see players go into the same position as their dads - the Sleightholme, the Graysons, etc - because their dad trains them up with all he knew. Makes a sort of sense that Sonny would play the opposite side of the scrum to his dad in a way though - learning by packing down against him.

Puja

It's a hell of a way for a young prop to train!

Or die!

He used to have 17 brothers...

Puja