Transfers for next season (including transfer rumours!)

P_1 · 24-01-2013 9:36am

thebaz wrote: »

somehow I doubt the ball boy is in the academy

Sigh... If you have to explain a joke it shows how bad a joke it was

darragh_haven · 24-01-2013 10:41am

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Robbie Fruean is a bit of a mixed bag, has not really fulfilled early promise. He looked a great player 2 years ago, but that is probably due to the space afforded to him by opposition defenders who were kept busy by Sonny Bill Williams, Guildford, Maitland and Dagg. He benefited from the space created by the others, so I think they made him look like a better players than he actually is. Did not see him that much last season, but when I did he looked pretty poor and off his game. Maybe a change of scene would benefit him.

I watched 7 or 8 videos of him on YouTube last night, he looked powerful, always had his arm out in front of him going into a tackle to fend off the tackler (piri weepu got shunt back)! That said, the back line is sensational around him and might not be too hard to look good.
I'm going to ask my college buddy who's living in Wellington, where he heard the rumour. (or was it a friend of a friend type thing)

thomond2006 · 25-01-2013 12:59pm

Jean Bouilhou not getting an extension at Toulouse, all set for Lydiate to replace him.

FrannoFan · 25-01-2013 1:18pm

Rumour from Gerry Thornley in todays paper that Conway on his way to Munster. Half way through 2 year deal so seems surprising. With Fionn Carr going thought he would still have a future here.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 25-01-2013 5:02pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Jean Bouilhou not getting an extension at Toulouse, all set for Lydiate to replace him.

Dan Lydiate already signed for Racing hasn't he!

Fishooks13 · 25-01-2013 5:03pm

Not sure if its been mentioned here but Johnny Sexton has singed a contract with a French club

4PP · 25-01-2013 5:07pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Dan Lydiate already signed for Racing hasn't he!

Thats the last I heard, along with Roberts....

Fireball07 · 25-01-2013 5:37pm

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Not sure if its been mentioned here but Johnny Sexton has singed a contract with a French club

He tried to set it on fire???

Good news for Leinster so!

P_1 · 25-01-2013 5:38pm

Paul Warwick is leaving Stade Francais for Worcester.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8434733,00.html

Hmm a Parisian club losing a fly half, where's that can opener

BoarHunter · 25-01-2013 6:35pm

and Van Den Merwe from Leinster to Stade Francais

ssaye · 25-01-2013 6:37pm

BoarHunter wrote: »

and Van Den Merwe from Leinster to Stade Francais

What?

BoarHunter · 25-01-2013 6:38pm

ssaye wrote: »

What?

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Ca-bouge-au-stade-francais/345366

thomond2006 · 25-01-2013 6:39pm

Fishooks13 wrote: »

Not sure if its been mentioned here but Johnny Sexton has singed a contract with a French club

Thanks for posting, someone might have missed it! :pac:

jamiedav2011 · 25-01-2013 6:40pm

BoarHunter wrote: »

http://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Ca-bouge-au-stade-francais/345366

Ah here, this has to be a bad dream.

BoarHunter · 25-01-2013 6:42pm

jamiedav2011 wrote: »

Ah here, this has to be a bad dream.

You'll know for sure in April but they sound pretty sure about the information.

4PP · 25-01-2013 6:47pm

No dream, its happening. Common knowledge over here as opposed to where JS will go.

awec · 25-01-2013 6:49pm

4PP wrote: »

No dream, its happening. Common knowledge over here as opposed to where JS will go.

Montpellier, Clermont or Racing? One of those 3, right?

4PP · 25-01-2013 6:53pm

awec wrote: »

Montpellier, Clermont or Racing? One of those 3, right?

Clermont declared a while ago that they would not be making any big changes, can't see how Monty could afford him..............so..........

Of course this is pure speculation. I'm just surprised there has not been a leak, really. The T14 is generally a sieve for this sort of thing.......

BoarHunter · 25-01-2013 6:54pm

awec wrote: »

Montpellier, Clermont or Racing? One of those 3, right?

Don't see Galthie moving from Montpellier, Don't see Clermont changing either and Racing have already signed the Coaching team from Castres

awec · 25-01-2013 6:56pm

4PP wrote: »

Clermont declared a while ago that they would not be making any big changes, can't see how Monty could afford him..............so..........

Of course this is pure speculation. I'm just surprised there has not been a leak, really. The T14 is generally a sieve for this sort of thing.......

Yea but Racing also declared they weren't signing sexton...

Winters · 25-01-2013 7:12pm

awec wrote: »

Yea but Racing also declared they weren't signing sexton...

IRUPA of which Sexton is the chairman tweeted he is off to Racing.

4PP · 25-01-2013 7:35pm

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Leinster are on the look out for a new oh & this chap is in the running, strong competition from Toulon though, fingers crossed

mickeyinsider · 26-01-2013 12:10am

Leinster are to enquire about Adam Ashley Cooper or Drew Mitchell as a replacement for Isa Nacewa. Apparently he wants to raise the kids in NZ so won't be renewing. I don't personally agree with those player choices, it's just what I'm hearing on what Schmidt is looking at.

MI

CatFromHue · 26-01-2013 12:14am

Isn't Mitchell an out and out winger?

Ashely Cooper being more versatile would be a better option of the two I think as he could play 11, 13, 14, or 15.

.ak · 26-01-2013 12:25am

I like Adam Two-Fathers, good player on his day.

GerM · 26-01-2013 12:31am

Schmidt will have limited involvement in the replacement for Nacewa given their contracts expire at the same time. Leinster shouldn't bother renewing Nacewa's contract anyway. He'll be 32 and taking up a valuable NIQ spot.

AAC and Mitchell would both be 30 when Nacewa finishes up. They've both had major injuries in their careers and probably aren't as good as they once were. I'd prefer AAC though if we were genuinely looking at them.

Wexfordboy89 · 01-04-2013 11:03pm

didnt know were else to post this but for any one interested stephen donald is leaving bath at the end of the season to play in japan

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12553/8611445/Aviva-Premiership-Bath-fly-half-Stephen-Donald-to-join-Mitsubishi-Dynaboars

29-04-2013 11:17am

Gray on the move again. (Castres)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/22336530

Another 'marquee' player of one of the Celtic nations on way to France.

We (Leinster) should have signed him last year!

thomond2006 · 29-04-2013 11:28am

Given the way it worked out for him at Sale maybe it's best ye didn't!

.ak · 29-04-2013 11:39am

Yeah, he's overrated imo. Lots of potential and a great athlete, but I'm far more happy with McCarthy and Roux tbh. Roux, after a season or two of Leinster conditioning, will be great I think...

Quint2010 · 29-04-2013 11:41am

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, he's overrated imo. Lots of potential and a great athlete, but I'm far more happy with McCarthy and Roux tbh. Roux, after a season or two of Leinster conditioning, will be great I think...

And Toner. Thought he had a great match on Saturday. Really had some great carries and showed great hands for Heaslip's first try.

little173 · 29-04-2013 11:57am

Plus the fact that a Home International is no use to Leinster as away for AI and 6N need a non Int to fill in. Toner has kicked on nicely this season actually, Schmidt has shown the ability to improve players through hands on coaching and great man management.

Bogota · 29-04-2013 12:01pm

Leinster desperately need to sign a top class winger IMO.

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 29-04-2013 12:11pm

Bogota wrote: »

Leinster desperately need to sign a top class winger IMO.

Zane Kirchner................LOL

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny · 29-04-2013 12:13pm

.ak wrote: »

Yeah, he's overrated imo. Lots of potential and a great athlete, but I'm far more happy with McCarthy and Roux tbh. Roux, after a season or two of Leinster conditioning, will be great I think...

Roux is an absolute ruck inspector, always looks to smash lads and falls off too many tackles, even carrying isn't extremely effective. Needs to dramatically improve if to be a starting Lock.

Buer · 29-04-2013 2:14pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Roux is an absolute ruck inspector, always looks to smash lads and falls off too many tackles, even carrying isn't extremely effective. Needs to dramatically improve if to be a starting Lock.

He only turned 22 this season. An absolute child in terms of playing lock and this is only his first season after moving to the other side of the world. I don't think we'll be able to evaluate him properly until about November.

JustinDee · 29-04-2013 2:25pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Zane Kirchner................LOL

There were people of that attitude towards the signing of Nacewa, Halwell and Spooner. The latter, a very skilled pivot who scored a mountain of points against Ireland for Australia in '99, was unlucky with injury. The other two turned out to be very astute signings indeed. Kirchner isn't the dud that some purport him to be.

totallegend · 29-04-2013 4:50pm

Tavis Knoyle has signed for Gloucester. The Scarlets are going to struggle badly next season I think.

.ak · 29-04-2013 5:10pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Roux is an absolute ruck inspector, always looks to smash lads and falls off too many tackles, even carrying isn't extremely effective. Needs to dramatically improve if to be a starting Lock.

Buer wrote: »

He only turned 22 this season. An absolute child in terms of playing lock and this is only his first season after moving to the other side of the world. I don't think we'll be able to evaluate him properly until about November.

Add to the fact he's been most of the season out with a collar bone. I've never broken my collar bone, but I've bruised it, and I can only image what it'd be like to jump into contact sport straight after it. You'd be subconsciously avoiding tackling with your shoulder. He'll grow out of that.

TheGoldenAges · 29-04-2013 5:29pm

.ak wrote: »

Add to the fact he's been most of the season out with a collar bone. I've never broken my collar bone, but I've bruised it, and I can only image what it'd be like to jump into contact sport straight after it. You'd be subconsciously avoiding tackling with your shoulder. He'll grow out of that.

I've broken both of them in a car accident, took me a year and a half to feel 100%.

thomond2006 · 29-04-2013 6:02pm

JustinDee wrote: »

There were people of that attitude towards the signing of Nacewa, Halwell and Spooner. The latter, a very skilled pivot who scored a mountain of points against Ireland for Australia in '99, was unlucky with injury. The other two turned out to be very astute signings indeed. Kirchner isn't the dud that some purport him to be.

Replace 'some' with 'most'.

Hagz · 29-04-2013 6:07pm

Yep, shattered my collarbone 4months ago and it's still gonna take another 3-4 months to get back to where I was.

jacothelad · 29-04-2013 6:13pm

Hagz wrote: »

Yep, shattered my collarbone 4months ago and it's still gonna take another 3-4 months to get back to where I was.

Tierra Del Fuego by the sound of it......:D

irishbucsfan · 29-04-2013 6:15pm

Not Playing Tiddlywinks Vinny wrote: »

Roux is an absolute ruck inspector, always looks to smash lads and falls off too many tackles, even carrying isn't extremely effective. Needs to dramatically improve if to be a starting Lock.

Ruck inspector? Arrives with plenty of force from what I've seen.

Hagz · 29-04-2013 6:16pm

I wish I knew what that meant, but I'll thank you anyway.

.ak · 29-04-2013 8:01pm

Hagz wrote: »

Yep, shattered my collarbone 4months ago and it's still gonna take another 3-4 months to get back to where I was.

Owch!

opinionatedfan · 29-04-2013 8:12pm

Broke my collarbone a few years back, took 4 months before it felt normal, another few months before I was back to previous strength levels and i stopped compensating for it.

thomond2006 · 30-04-2013 12:09pm

Toulon confirm the signature of Bryan Habana on a two-year contract: http://www.rctoulon.com/fr/news/article/habana-renforce-le-rct/

molloyjh · 30-04-2013 1:15pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Toulon confirm the signature of Bryan Habana on a two-year contract: http://www.rctoulon.com/fr/news/article/habana-renforce-le-rct/

Are they losing any of their foreign players? Their line-up for the HEC SF was a bloody disgrace with only 3 French players in the side. It's exactly like English Premiership soccer at this stage. I can tell you I certainly would not be at all happy if Leinster fielded a team of foreign players like that.

thomond2006 · 30-04-2013 1:22pm

molloyjh wrote: »

Are they losing any of their foreign players? Their line-up for the HEC SF was a bloody disgrace with only 3 French players in the side. It's exactly like English Premiership soccer at this stage. I can tell you I certainly would not be at all happy if Leinster fielded a team of foreign players like that.

Yes, they are definitely losing Luke Rooney. David Smith will probably negotitate a release as well, he's been in the doghouse for a while.

A lot of Toulon fans are not happy about the foreign influx, there's a few good products from their academy like Pierrick Gunther and Vincent Martin that showed up really well at the start of the season and now they cannot get a game. Orioli is the only academy product that is first choice when fully fit.

Toulon are investing in their youth structure though, they plan to start a new program in Nice. The current JIFF rules mean 55% of the squad has top have been developed through a French academy, similar to the 'homegrown' rule in the EPL. This percentage is supposed to increase over the next few years. Apparently there are employment laws that block a restriction based on being French Qualified, although I'm not certain on that.

Not to defend Toulon, but Racing Métro will have few French players in their lineup next season as well. It's not good for the national team that the likes of Wisniewski will be watching the likes of Sexton from the bench.

Transfers for next season (including transfer rumours!)

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