Richie gray signs for castres

He's off after 1 year at sale.

A better move I guess but surprised that one of the top teams in France didn't come in.

Castres are mid table usually?

Castre are top 4 at present I believe.

Yes, one of the worst kept secrets in rugby is now out.

Castres are currently 4th in the league and have had a reasonable season - one of the few teams to have toppled Toulon. They need to beef up their pack a little, though - I see that they've lost Joe Tekori to Toulouse this month.

Castres also need to ship on another player called Maxwell Evans and get a decent Squashed Goblin replacement.

Not sure what to say about this, was hoping the rumour was unfounded. I don't think its the right move for Richie at this point. He should have been looking at Glasgow or a top three english or french side.... not sure Castre fits into that profile.

I see Sale are replacing him with that big russian from London Welsh. Might be a decent swap for Sale.
And they've signed two others.

To be honest, I think his last 2 signings have been pretty odd. Sale was a strange one, and now Castres? I agree with flyhalffactory in the sort of teams he should have been targetting.

Is he in danger of becoming a journey man? Albeit, one that is excellent for his country?

Danger of not developing as he should down to a dodgy agent. He could play for a top European team.

Castres are a good team though, they've had a very good season, but like any mid-table French side that comes good the vultures are circling over some of their better players. Also, their coaches are leaving at the end of the season. Besides Tekori, I've also heard Toulouse are after Rory Kockott. He'll be expected to fill the void left by Tekori in terms of being their go to ball carrier and enforcer in the tight exchanges then.

This is definitely a step up from Sale, the Top14 is a tougher competition and Castres are a better side. But with some of the high-profile exits in terms of coaches and players, he could be making the same mistake as last time and joining a side that has peaked the year before he arrives.

Castres are a bit misleading, they come across as mid tablers, but they are consistently in the play offs at the end of the season. I think a lot of peoples perception of them comes from the fact that they treat the Heineken cup as no more than an annoyance that distracts them from the top 14.

I would be confident that hes not going to end up in another relegation battle like at sale, even if hes unlikely to win the Buccleur Brennus

Imperialbigdave wrote:I would be confident that hes not going to end up in another relegation battle like at sale, even if hes unlikely to win the Buccleur Brennus

Oh no. It's a definite step up in quality from Sale. Castres are formidable at home.

I think it is a good move

Sale was a disaster for him

Castres will have him developing the grunt he needs, will be combative and competitive and will be there or there abouts in terms of the league. Also some of the top French teams seem a little bit dis-jointed so Castres could be a good home for him

Good move

I'm much happier with him at Castres - of course you'd rather a a bigger French team but they are there or there abouts.

It's an improvement for Gray, but he should have stayed at Glasgow. The Sale move was a really poor piece of advice.

Hopefully Castres can be a better fit, although I'd have far rather seen him go to Sarries or Leicester. They'd have better ironed out some of the technical aspects of him game, although frankly put neither need him.

Neither Sarries or Tigers would touch him after this season. He's been an awful signing for Sale and the worst value for money signing in the AP. Sale will be glad to offload him from the wage budget.

A move to the Top 14 will be good for him. The player rotation will allow him to build to the required physicality slowly. Currently he is nowhere near the standard of an international enforcer and doesn't call the lineout.

His lineout skills have probably been his main improvement this season, certainly in a Scotland jersey, but this has not been a good year for him at all.

He needed to be a luxury in a big and meaty well established pack, in the sort of environment where his mobility and ball carrying can be accommodated. Instead he was employed as the enforcer in a frankly flimsy pack, and more often than not his only role was to run around and tackle, with zero front foot ball to work with. He has to take the blame for his share of Sale's failure this season. Terrible terrible decision to move there, as pretty much all of us Scots said at the time. He should have stayed with Glasgow - their game plan would have suited him.

Agree with FES - living proof that you can hire good players but if you don't use them well and run a game plan that takes into account their strengths then you can't expect it to work.

French club rugby is slow and heavy and he will have to improve his physicality first and foremost. He might lose a little dynamism but will hopefully pick up some of the solidity that international play requires.

Castres will be fine to help him learn his craft. He'll grow as a person in France too - let's remember that he's just a young man and living away from the UK for the first time.

George Carlin wrote:He'll grow as a person in France too - let's remember that he's just a young man and living away from the UK for the first time.

Ah yes, just like Mark Bennett. Left for France a toddler, returned a boy.....

I think he needed to go south to toughen up a bit. Its been too easy for him in Scotland. I thought Sale a good move as he could get back to Glasgow quickly and easily but it turned out to be poor. Hopefull Castre will be a good move for him.

too many scots become comfortable as big fish in a small pond

TJ wrote:too many scots become comfortable as big fish in a small pond

On this point I think it'll be interesting to see how Ross Ford gets on at Sarries (if the rumours are true). So far I don't feel he's met his potential as a player, and it'll be great to see how he copes in that environment. Sarries have certainly improved Kelly Brown considerably.

Ross Ford was one I was thinking of. A couple of years ago might have been better for him. Hopefully it will be the making of him

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:He'll grow as a person in France too - let's remember that he's just a young man and living away from the UK for the first time.

Ah yes, just like Mark Bennett. Left for France a toddler, returned a boy.....

That's Glasgow's Young Foetus Player of the Season you're talking about...

How old is Ross Ford?
I didnt know he was going to Sarries, i think that may signal the end of Jaime George at Sarries then.

GeordieFalcon wrote:How old is Ross Ford?

29 I think

Would be an odd move for Sarries with Brits signed on and two former England age grade hookers on the books. Jamie George is a substantial unit and has some mobility about him. He should be starting in the AP not third choice. I agree with GF I think he'll be off, Bath were interested previously.

Good luck to him, I did not understand him going to Sale in the first place, they are always likely to be fighting relegation. Glasgow have done very well without Gray so he has made a place available for another Scottish forward.

Sale finished 6th last season, they qualified for the HEC (a serious challenge outside of the RABO). They were on the up with a young squad and were making ambitious signings. They weren't definite relegation contenders at all. London Welsh and Worcester were the massive favourites for the drop with expectations of Wasps and LI low as well. Sale was in theory a good move, the coaching change was the major blow to the club this season if Diamond had remained in charge they would have been much higher up the league.

FES funnily enough Saracens did actually put in a offer for Gray before he decided to play for Sale! I certainly wanted him to come to play for us.

Where did you hear that Ross Ford is rumoured to going to Sarries?

I haven't heard this. I want Jamie George to get more gametime.

I agree Sam. That's what worries me.