Gloucester approach Stephen Jones (Wellies), Gloucester also bid £100k for Ben Morgan

http://www.rugby-transferts.com/etranger/premier-ship/0014784-stephen-jones-sur-le-depart-de-llanelli.html

Stephen Jones (photo) , emblematic flyhalf for Wales, could leave Llanelli at the end of the season to afford a new challenge.

Barred by the outbreak of the Scarlets Rhys Priestland, the former opener Clermont (2004 to 2006), now aged 34, could start in other places to get more playing time

The English club Gloucester greatly appreciate his profile. Jones could bring all his experience to help Cherries and White and the young Freddie Burns, who recently extended his contract to move forward.

Gloucester also bid £100k for Ben Morgan's services to release him at the end of the season, according to the front page of todays rugby paper.

Interesting it's being reported in France and not here, might be a good move for him to get a nice contract to see his career out away from Wales.

Alyn there was an article on this discussed here last week, it's even been reported on sky sports


I shall merge the threads shortly

rugbydreamer wrote:Alyn there was an article on this discussed here last week, it's even been reported on sky sports


I shall merge the threads shortly

Oh and the Ben Morgan thing in todays rugby papaer?

Sorry

on second thoughts I'll leave it now you've added teh Ben Morgan bit.

Can't believe Gloucester are trying to buy Ben out of his contract. Hope to God we make them offer a looooad more then that for him if we do decide to let him go (doubt we will)

You hadn't included teh Ben Mogs bit Alyn when I saw it, shall leave it here for you now

Well it is good for both players.

Noooo! Burns is playing well, leave him be.
Wouldn't mind Glos getting Morgan, but only if saints can pinch narraway

To be honest I would be a bit upset if Stevo did leave us again. I thought when he came back it was for good, and I thought he had said he wanted to see out his days in a Scarlets jersey. That said if he did leave us I can think of far worse places to go than Glaws. I think their style of rugby will suit him.

As for Ben Morgan, I think there may well be numerous people asking and offering to buy him out of his contract. It will be interesting to see what happens come the end of the season.

Morgan to Glaws?
They want two England number 8s?

Seems a lot to pay someone who will go missing for half the season if he does live up to promise, and a lot t pay him if he doesnt.

It does sound very likely that Narraway is off to Saints and Glaws are keen to sign a ball carrying 8. We've been looking at the Tongan 8 Sione Kalamafoni from Nottingham, who is a similar type of player - both would be nice!

Glaws is Morgan's spiritual home after all!

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Morgan to Glaws?
They want two England number 8s?

Seems a lot to pay someone who will go missing for half the season if he does live up to promise, and a lot t pay him if he doesnt.

If he does remain in the EPS Glaws would get £100k compensation as every club does with each player, so this would cover the transfer fee. So there is definite sense behind it.

Didnt realise Narraway was off, makes perfect sense then.

Glaws is Morgan's spiritual home after all!

No, it's Waldrom you want! Please!

I can't see Steve going as he's stated quite a few times that he wants to see out his days with the Scarlets, and competition with Priestland won't be a huge problem as Rhys will be missing with the Wales squad for half the season and Stevie's int career is winding down, and Rhys will play 15 sometimes.
Also weird that Glous would be aiming to buy a 34 year old as their main FH.

Seems to have a bit of the same authenticity that the JD2 to Blues story had (just before he stated he loved the Scarlets and was def not moving)

I'm of the same opinion as you Priest, will be happier once the players have put their names to paper though and sign up for us again!

Also weird that Glous would be aiming to buy a 34 year old as their main FH.

More likely he'd be an experienced mentor to the exciting but still only 20 Freddie Burns. I'd expect Jones to be benching it most of the time but playing in some of the bigger games where maybe Glaws need a little bit more guidance and tactical savvy with the flair of Burns to come off the bench later on. Week in week out Burns is a top notch young 10.

HongKongCherry wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Morgan to Glaws?
They want two England number 8s?

Seems a lot to pay someone who will go missing for half the season if he does live up to promise, and a lot t pay him if he doesnt.

If he does remain in the EPS Glaws would get £100k compensation as every club does with each player, so this would cover the transfer fee. So there is definite sense behind it.

True but they would get less Sky/Aviva money to make up for it.

Ahh i see - still can't see the transfer happening and come to think of it the Western Fail and a few other places were convinced he was going to Leicester but it was all rubbish (as usual) and he signed a new contract stating he wanted to stay til he retired.

Maybe Gloucester garaunteed him the twelve shirt

Morgan's heading for The Rec, remember - you read it here first.

Jones would be great burns needs a bit of time and is shaky. Morgan is what we need a ball carrier and a second row is biggest priority. Can't play brown due to scrummaging weakness. James dreadful also.

Our lack of depth kills us. Dawiduik and wood and harden been excellent but exhausted. Dawiduik should start lawson can't scrum

PJHolybloke wrote:Morgan's heading for The Rec, remember - you read it here first.

Really? You've already got Carl Fearns who should eventually get a chance in his preferred no.8 position. Indeed, I am hoping that Fearns and Morgan will be competing with each-other for the England no.8 jersey in the very near future.

Craig is a very ambitious man Cumbrian, he wants to build a 1st XV squad that can compete at all levels, AP, HC and yes even the LV.

McGeechan likes to rotate his players and make sure they don't get over-stressed, to do that and compete he has to have effectively 2 top drawer XV's to select from.

That's why Craig is lobbying for an increase to the salary cap and I'm pretty confident he, along with the other campaigners, will get some leeway for next season.

Fearnsy's knee is causing all sorts of trouble for the medical team but with a bit of luck he'll be right soon enough, and when he is fit, being able to cover the back row will ensure he gets plenty of game time even at 8 and with Morgan in the same squad (probably).

It looks like this rumour is gathering pace. TRP have been reporting it for a while, but you normally take their stories with a pinch of salt. Today, however, the Telegraph and ESPN are suggesting its near a done deal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9080168/Gloucester-to-buy-England-No-8-Ben-Morgan-from-Scarlets-as-Tom-Palmer-and-James-Haskell-head-home.html

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/159538.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

If this is true it makes perfect monetary sense. The transfer fee would be convered by the EPS payment and his £160k wages would be covered by Voyce leaving who is presently on just shy of £200k!!

HKC why are you paying Voyce such a ridiculous salary?

Ben Morgan would be an excellent signing for Gloucester.

Gloucester are one of the sides I am always most wary of. They have the potential to be excellent. Just look at that backline. Pack is decent too.

Beshocked, 2 words... Dean Ryan!! He signed Voyce on a 3 year contract (which is rare) which increased year on year. He was intended to be our front line winger, but Sharples and May have come through ahead of him. Barring his first year he has actually been a decent signing for us, if a costly one!!

I must admit I am pretty excited about next season. We've got a few costly players leaving which leaves us with some cash to spare. We need strength in depth in certain positions, but a decent 9 is in order and we're being heavily linked to Jimmy Cowan. Our Directors have made it known we are able to have a marquee player with a salary of up to £300k but only if they are the right one. Cowan would add the experience to a very young backline and should help Burns develop too.

The key for us is to develop consistency, but I do feel that will come with the more game time the youngsters get. Sarries are still the team to beat though!

So Ben Morgan is in for next season, plus a backline of:

Cowan
Burns
Sinbad
Twelvetrees
Trinder
Sharples
May/Morgan?

Let the good times roll!

Why would the Scarlets let him go though?

He has a year left on his contract and they have put ahuge amount of time and effort to turn him in to a rugby player. He was 21st and lazy when he arrived so it has taken some time.

Ben Morgan will leave for sure after his contract expires, so we might as well cash in on him now (100k + is a lot of money for us) Ben would be a huge loss, and our gameplan does rely of him getting over the gainline for for quick ball. However Gilbert and Murphy have played well at 8 us this season. Also we have Craig Price coming through at Llanelli. Probably Nigel Davies thinks the money we get off Gloucester would be better spent on a TH & lock and we can cover the loss at 8.

doctornickolas wrote:Why would the Scarlets let him go though?

He has a year left on his contract and they have put ahuge amount of time and effort to turn him in to a rugby player. He was 21st and lazy when he arrived so it has taken some time.

I guess it comes down to how tight money really is within the region. I know £100k is not a huge amount of money when your talking sports teams, but I guess when you couple that with how much we would be paying him for the year remaining on his contract, and the fact he is now non-welsh qualified (so taking up space in our quota) I could understand if they did agree to the move. Personally I really hope it doesn't happen, but I would not be too suprised if the Scarlets do agree to his move.

Be really gutted if he moved, am still a little annoyed he chose England (even though he's English) over Wales as he's been one of the few bright lights in that England team so far.

I'm not sure what the rules are in rugby, but it's possible Scarlets can't prevent Morgan leaving if he offers to pay up his contract.

If Gloucester are going to spend big money on an All Black is it really sensible to spend it on a SH? Robson looks like he's coming on nicely. I'd be tempted to splash the cash on a top class 6/7.

Robson is a decent prospect, but he is 4th choice SH at the moment. If Cowan is to come I'd fully expect Rory Lawson to leave. We're after a decent 6 to replace Strokosch, but we're covered at 7 with Qera, Hazell and Cox.

So spend the big bucks on a 6. At SH have a look at Micky Young, Joe Simpson or even Joel Hodgson.

DaveM wrote:So spend the big bucks on a 6. At SH have a look at Micky Young, Joe Simpson or even Joel Hodgson.

No don't look at him! He's rubbish, won't come good ever and couldn't possibly improve your squad.

Surely Hodgson is going to Tigers?

But Glaws need an experienced 9, so as good as those few are they would only add to Lewis & Robson.

HongKongCherry wrote:Surely Hodgson is going to Tigers?

Well it's worked well for Micky Young.

I'm not sure what the rules are in rugby, but it's possible Scarlets can't prevent Morgan leaving if he offers to pay up his contract.

When Dupuy asked to leave Tigers to sign for Stade I seem to remember Tiger insisting that Stade buy out the final year of his contract which got them a rumoured £150k. I'd presume it would be a similar issue with Morgan in that Scarlets will only let him leave if someone buys out the final year of his contract.

You're safe Cumbrian we don't need a young talented 9/10 we've got one of each in Harrison and Ford. Unfortunatly for Young he has been injured at the wrong times where as Harrison hasn't and has been in sparkling form.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

I'm not sure what the rules are in rugby, but it's possible Scarlets can't prevent Morgan leaving if he offers to pay up his contract.

When Dupuy asked to leave Tigers to sign for Stade I seem to remember Tiger insisting that Stade buy out the final year of his contract which got them a rumoured £150k. I'd presume it would be a similar issue with Morgan in that Scarlets will only let him leave if someone buys out the final year of his contract.

You're safe Cumbrian we don't need a young talented 9/10 we've got one of each in Harrison and Ford. Unfortunatly for Young he has been injured at the wrong times where as Harrison hasn't and has been in sparkling form.

I never understood the Micky Young move from the outset TBH. He was never going to be first choice ahead of Youngs and those in the know have been able to see Harrison has got something about him. So aside from international windows there was always a chance he was going to be 3rd or even 4th choice SH at Tigers.

I think Young would have had a great chance to cement the 2nd place spot during the RWC period and put pressure on Youngs when he returned. However, Young was injured for much of that and Harrison started getting game time off the bench and showed that he could translate his footballing and creative abilities to the top level. It helps that Harrison plays a similar style to Youngs (both are converted 10s so like to take on defences and put runners into gaps) but what Harrison lacks in explosive pace (Youngs major strength) he makes up for in a better passing range.

Young was always going to be up against that but he was injured and has then struggled to adapt to bullying a pack of international forwards. His ban really didn't help either, interesting to see that Tigers were furious about it as the evidence isn't great (not been released in public domain) but any attempt to see the verdict overruled could see the ban increased if it was ineffective so Tigers are stuck with the punishment.

He'll be a good third choice next year then probably leave after that, which is a shame as with Grindal going we'll need another stop gap signing until the next 9 comes off the converyor belt (probably Steele the Scotland under 20 scrum half).

Morgan spotted in Bath yesterday.

He'd be daft not to have a look.

Morgan spotted in Bath yesterday.

He'd be daft not to have a look..

For when the next train to Leicester departs?

HERSH wrote:Morgan spotted in Bath yesterday.

He'd be daft not to have a look.

Popped into the Pig and Fiddle for a spot of open mic 'music' did he?

HERSH wrote:Morgan spotted in Bath yesterday.

He'd be daft not to have a look.

He's a bit early ahead of the weekend, but then again us Glaws fans can be a bit fanatical and daft!

On a serious note, that would be the one thing Bath don't need is another 8! Your backrow already lacks balance and your focus should be on props who can actually prop!

HongKongCherry wrote:

HERSH wrote:Morgan spotted in Bath yesterday.

He'd be daft not to have a look.

He's a bit early ahead of the weekend, but then again us Glaws fans can be a bit fanatical and daft!

On a serious note, that would be the one thing Bath don't need is another 8! Your backrow already lacks balance and your focus should be on props who can actually prop!

I agree, but to be fair Catt did destroy Euan Murray once he came on for Flats.

HERSH wrote:

I agree, but to be fair Catt did destroy Euan Murray once he came on for Flats.

I'll take your word for it, I'm yet to be impressed by Catt - Harden will tear him a new one on Saturday

Why don't you resign Jordi Pasqualin. He looked pretty good from what i saw.

Oh and the Tongan guy is Sione Kalamafoni hes more of a 6 so id imagine he would be a straight replacement for Strokrotch

Pasqualin is a local lad and a decent enough player, but re-signing would be a step backward at this time. He was our 3rd choice SH when he left and he'd be the same if he came back. We need a front line SH to ignite our backs. Rory Lawson is an excellent defensive SH (no better example than against Saints last weekend) but he is far too slow at getting the ball out and he never, ever makes a break.