Richie Gray to Castres

Rumors are circulating that Richie Gray is leaving Sale early and moving to Castres on a 3 year deal!

Anyone got any positive leads on this? Seems to be Twitter rumor just now and some speculation in forums...

In yesterday's Herald and I mentioned it last week that he was being schmoozed by the Castes mafiosi !

Was mentioned in the Torygraph that Richie (not really the size and shape to pull off 'incognito' very easily) has met with Castres reps both here and in France but it was also mentioned that Sarries and Gloucester were also very interested.

Any of those choices would be better than where he currently is. Shame he was schmoozed by Diamond in the first place, really.

Wouldn't be elegible for the Marquee signing or the Rand exchange program, so not sure how Sarries could fit him in the cap? Glos makes sense with Hamilton leaving

Gray’s move to Castre is confirmed –

“As we announced Friday, the 2nd line Scottish international, Richie Gray (23 years, 28 caps), committed with Castres Olympique. Holder this weekend when the victory of the XV of thistle against Ireland (12-8), the future ex-Sale will be the colors of the CO for the next three seasons. He replaces Joe Tekori, departing towards Toulouse.”

Love Google Translate

Good move considering his current position. Maybe he can persuade Evans to retire from the International game.

Hopefully it will be the making of him - I mean, look what happened to Hines (new lease of life and all that).

Good luck to the boy!

Hmm. I thought that Tekori was a no. 8?

Castres currently 4th in the Top 14 - he could have done a lot worse.

Let's hope he flourishes and puts the bad times at Sale behind him.

Aye much better place for him to be I think. Sale has added a real hard edge to him this year - which has to be commended - but he is a seriously talented player and needs to be in a top team.

Concerned that he will have to play a lot more games, and will probably get a very short off-season after the lions tour, but Beattie seems to be managing with it the extra demands this season.

This is a better move than Sale, but I still think he's have been better staying at Glasgow.

I've no idea who is advising him. It isn't Rowen Shepherd is it? If so, he's dropped another ball advising Richie Gray.

Still, Castres are currently 4th in the T14 and seemingly on the up. I'd still have rather seen him go to Toulouse or Clermont.

Contract must have been a monster from Castres as he knocked back 400 g from the SRU last year to take Brian Kennedy's money. Hope he does not get into Max Evans' drinking club over there !

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Contract must have been a monster from Castres as he knocked back 400 g from the SRU last year to take Brian Kennedy's money. Hope he does not get into Max Evans' drinking club over there !

To my understanding the Jeff marquee signing is limited to £300k, so for him to turn down £400k for a lower offer shows it's not about money.

It was a ridiculous move in the first place, as he could and should have gone to one of Europe's big teams. Personally I feel he's made a mistake in turning down Glaws

Who is going to replace Big Jim for you, Honkers?

You sure it's 400k? I'm sure 250k was quoted at the time. He was offered around 250k by Glasgow but Sale offered a little more.

George Carlin wrote:Who is going to replace Big Jim for you, Honkers?

It now looks increasingly likely that Nick Kennedy is staying at Toulon, so we're only really being linked with Hudson. As fine a player as he is, he's no replacement for Big Jim who is simply talismanic! We do have 2 very promising youngsters coming through in Tom Savage and Elliott Stooke, but Stooke is a good season away from being a first teamer and Savage isn't a middle jumper, so our boiler room could be an issue next season...

Big Al Kellock might be worth a look for Glaws.

Bags of experience, supposed to be a good leader and there's nothing about rucks he doesn't know about, through years of close observation.

Glasgow have Ryder and Swinson forming a very hard working and effective duo, with Gray jrn and Nick Campbell (both have big futures) in reserve.

Captain_Sensible wrote:Gray’s move to Castre is confirmed –

“As we announced Friday, the 2nd line Scottish international, Richie Gray (23 years, 28 caps), committed with Castres Olympique. Holder this weekend when the victory of the XV of thistle against Ireland (12-8), the future ex-Sale will be the colors of the CO for the next three seasons. He replaces Joe Tekori, departing towards Toulouse.”

Love Google Translate

Tremendous name

Not sure Castres is the right place to further his career. Would rather have seen him at Gloucester or Quins. Any ideas what he's earning?

funnyExiledScot wrote:Big Al Kellock might be worth a look for Glaws.

Bags of experience, supposed to be a good leader and there's nothing about rucks he doesn't know about, through years of close observation.

Glasgow have Ryder and Swinson forming a very hard working and effective duo, with Gray jrn and Nick Campbell (both have big futures) in reserve.

Quality!

Not a bad idea though....

Marquee player must have been with his club for two full seasons, from memory, so Gray would not qualify as that for Sale or any other English prem team