Transfers 2014/2015 Season

First topic message reminder :

Well silly season is almost upon us so thought I would keep tabs on the comings and goings.  Will put the confirmed transfers, unconfirmed transfers (rumours) and out of contract players into various columns.  Please post any news or rumours and I will keep the original post updated.

Confirmed
Jon Davies (Scarlets) to Clermont
Regan King (Clermont) to Scarlets
Ian Evans (Ospreys) to Toulon
John Afoa (Ulster) to Gloucester
Rory Kockott (Castres) to Toulon (reportedly trying to cancel deal to stay at Castres)
Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) to Gloucester
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) to Toulon
Sebastien Vahaamahina (Perpignan) to Clermont
Guilhem Guirado (Perpignan) to Toulon
Robin Copeland (Blues) to Munster
Armitev (Northampton) to Russia (unconfirmed club)
Qera (Gloucester) to Toulouse
Casey Laulala (Munster to France (Club unconfirmed but thought to be Racing Metro)
Tom Court (Ulster) to London Irish
Andre Pretorius (Blues) to Worcester
Zac Guildford (New Zealand) to Clermont
Sivivatu (Clermont) to Castres
Aled Brew (Biarritz) to Dragons
Lee Byrne (Clermont) to Dragons
Dwayne Peel (Sale) to Bristol
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester) to Exeter
Dan Evans (Dragons) to Ospreys
Ieuan Jones (Dragons) to Blues
Jean-Philippe Genevois (Biarritz) to Perpignan
Benoit Cabello (Clermont) to Perpignan
Sakiusa Matadigo (Racing) to Perpignan
Jonathan Wisniewski (Racing) to Grenoble
Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) to Toulon
Josh Turnbull (Scarlets) to Blues
Nick Abendanon (Bath) to Clermont
Anthony Perenise (Bath) to Bristol
Craig Mitchell (Exeter) to Blues
Hoani Tui (Exeter) to Lyon
Tavis Knoyle (Gloucester) to Blues
Marland Yarde (London Irish) to Harlequins
Neil Cochrane (Wasps) to Edinburgh
Henry Thomas (Sale) to Bath
Josh Matavesi (Worcester) to Ospreys
Nick Auterac (Saracens) to Bath
Boris Stankovich (Leicester) to Dragons
Bradley Davies (Blues) to London Wasps
Moray Low (Glasgow) to Exeter
Chris Cussiter (Glasgow) to Sale
Matt Stevens (Saracens) to Sharks
Sam Smith (Harlequins) to Worcester
James Gaskell (Sale) to Wasps


Unconfirmed
Martin Moore (Leinster) to France
Freddie Burns (Gloucester) to Leicester
Matthew Morgan (Ospreys) to Leicester/Northampton/Dragons
Toby Flood (Leicester) to Toulon/Toulouse
Niki Genova (Leicester) to Castres
Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) to Japan
Anthony Allen (Leicester) to Leinster
Lote Tuquiri (Leinster) to Connacht
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) to Castres
Brice Dulin (Castres) to Racing Metro
Antonie Claassen (Castres) to Racing Metro
Eion Griffin (Connacht) to London Irish
Gavin Henson (Bath) to Dragons



Out of Contract
Adam Jones (Ospreys)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Rob Hawkins (Leicester)
Louis Deacon (Leicester)
Daniel Bowden (Leicester)
Scott Hamilton (Leicester)



Retiring
Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster)
Andrew Sheridan (Toulon - unconfirmed)
Steve Borthwick (Saracens)
Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) - might be playing on for another season.
Sebastien Bruno (Toulon)
George Chuter (Leicester) moving to Worcester coaching
Johann Muller (Ulster)
Mike Tindall (Gloucester - unconfirmed)
Ian Gough (London Irish - unconfirmed)
Will James (Gloucester)

Bit late on that one Artful. We've been sending players to Newcastle, in el Mahdi and Balmain. After Balmain and Young ended up as a touch average we've gone off the Newcastle academy a bit. Only Parling, Flood and Tait remain from the Falcons contingent. Parling is probably off after the RWC when his contract is up and Flood could be gone this summer.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'm not wholly sold on Denton yet. He tends to play his best when with a hard 6 (Brown or Strockosh) and come in on his big carries off the 10s shoulder or amongst the centres. That's just not how Tigers operate. The 8 tends to carry far more off the 9 and is required to plough through traffic and make the hard yards, in defence It's all about the tight, rucking and mauling hard all game. There's no hard edged 6, the 6 is out in the wide channels targeting the oppositions strike runners and supporting the backs attacks (Croft and Mafi are our 1st and 2nd choice). He might well be a success but there's going to be some adapting required and he'll miss a third of every season with Scotland call ups.

That's certainly true of last season and maybe even the start of this but if you watch Edinburgh now, Solomons has straightened him out and he gets stuck into rucks far more and carries at first receiver from Laidlaw. It has helped that Du Preez (6) and Rennie (7) are specialists in their positions and the back row is now well balanced. Plenty of time to teach the pup new tricks.

Only Parling, Flood and Tait - just all of Falcons best players then

Artful_Dodger wrote:Only Parling, Flood and Tait - just all of Falcons best players then

...after we'd stolen Visser and Swinson.

We gave you Clegg back! (slightly damaged goods by then).

Dunno Artful that Wilkinson chap was pretty good as well. Woods was a good player before retirement also.

To be honest the squad is pretty good. If we can keep Flood, Benjamin and Goneva all we need then is an upgrade at 8 with Waldrom likely to go. We've got a young squad and they are developing nicely so as long as we don't lose any first teamers we should keep coming together nicely. Of course a couple of squad players might need to go in order to get under the cap but we have some good academy players coming through that can take up the strain.

Have heard that Bowden has turned down a three year contract from Tigers as the other terms are apparently not to his liking. He was rumoured to have originally signed a quite cheap deal when he first joined in order to facilitate the move so might consider this the time for a move to a contract more reflecting his market rate.

Sam - Goneva is a real find. Tigers should definitely try to keep him. Benjamin still needs a bit of game time, but I am not sure that Tigers have had their moneys worth out of him yet!

I think you can move Tom Court to London Irish as being confirmed.

I thought Bowden was finally looking good for Tigers. Not sure what they'd do if they lost him and Allan was to go as well.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Dunno Artful that Wilkinson chap was pretty good as well. Woods was a good player before retirement also.

To be honest the squad is pretty good. If we can keep Flood, Benjamin and Goneva all we need then is an upgrade at 8 with Waldrom likely to go. We've got a young squad and they are developing nicely so as long as we don't lose any first teamers we should keep coming together nicely. Of course a couple of squad players might need to go in order to get under the cap but we have some good academy players coming through that can take up the strain.

Have heard that Bowden has turned down a three year contract from Tigers as the other terms are apparently not to his liking. He was rumoured to have originally signed a quite cheap deal when he first joined in order to facilitate the move so might consider this the time for a move to a contract more reflecting his market rate.

With croft returning Jamie Gibson could potentially be brought along at 8 ? he certainly has the build for it.

yappysnap wrote:I thought Bowden was finally looking good for Tigers. Not sure what they'd do if they lost him and Allan was to go as well.

Doubt there will both go, Bowden may be waiting to see the Allen situation.

unconfirmed
Beattie to Tigs (rugby Paper acting like a near done deal apparently), prob every number 8 will be linked to them.

From planet rugby -
Northampton Saints have confirmed that American forward Cam Dolan is joining the club, while Russian Vasily Artemyev is exiting Franklin's Gardens

Also from Planet rugby -
According to reports in the French press, former France fly-half Lionel Beauxis will not have his contract at Toulouse renewed when it expires at the end of the season.

Saints just tweeted that Wood, Day, Dickinson, Nutmeg and Haywood have all re-signed. Wonder who will be leaving then?

Nutmeg?

Gibson isn't a physical enough ball carrier for the Tigers game plan. He's naturally abrasive and his jackling skills are continuing to improve so he's really. Newby replacement, a 7 that can cover 6 or 8 in an emergency.

Can't see Bowden and Allen both going. One might leave and in Hempetema and Pohe we have some talented young options to step up so I wouldn't be too worried if we didn't chase a replacement. A Pohe and Manu midfield is still something I hope comes to pass. In an emergency young Owen Williams could also cover 12, he's certainly big enough.

Goneva was a great find, at 28 (29 by the end of the season) he may be of the opinion that a three year deal on France style money might be a good career move though I do rather hope he decides to stay. Benjamin is starting to repay Cockers faith in him. Give him a run in the side and I think Lancaster will be interested.

Munster is said to be interested in signing Andrew hore on a short stint (mike sherry cover).

Take Rory Best off your list he has just re-signed for Ulster for 2 years

Bathite wrote:Nutmeg?

Ben Nutley Yap, One of the twins from Moulton College. A young flanker who broke through with Some solid 1st team showings a couple of seasons ago where he was compared in style to a young Mad Dog but since then has struggled a little to cement a place in the match day squad but is one for the future, with some decent potenial.

I hope that helps

Damn phone! Yep Nutley is who I meant. He had a big first season but has fallen off quite a bit now.

Similar to Craig the lanky flanker who is now out with a shoulder injury. Not really seen either of them or the young openside Harrison at all since a season or two back when they all were seeing game time.

South West Saint wrote:

Bathite wrote:Nutmeg?

Ben Nutley Yap, One of the twins from Moulton College. A young flanker who broke through with Some solid 1st team showings a couple of seasons ago where he was compared in style to a young Mad Dog but since then has struggled a little to cement a place in the match day squad but is one for the future, with some decent potenial.

I hope that helps

I know Ben Nutley, just was baffled by the accidental nickname!

Ollie Smith has taken a coaching job at London Welsh. He's been on a short term trial as their backs coach and has taken the job full time now.

Clermont Auvergne have admitted defeat in their bid to lure Leigh Halfpenny to the club while the likelihood of Alun-Wyn Jones moving to the Top 14 side also looks to be decreasing.

Both Halfpenny and Jones' contracts are up at the end of the season and the duo have long been linked with a move to the Top 14. But a source close to Clermont has told Wales Online that Halfpenny's wage demands have proved to be a stumbling block.

"They viewed the wage demands put forward by his management for Halfpenny's services to be excessive," the source said. "Interest in him has waned. There is a strict budget for players at Clermont and, as it stands, he doesn't fit into the plans which have been drawn up for the next campaign.

"The club was happy to sign the centre Jonathan Davies from the Scarlets. His primary reason for joining Clermont wasn't the money but for the quality of the rugby we can provide."

And Jones' Wales commitments, in the lead up to the 2015 World Cup, may see Clermont delay their approach for the British & Irish Lions lock, according to the same publication. Clermont have extended Jamie Cudmore's contract by a further year and have signed French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina ahead of next season.

Interesting one, Geoff. Can't blame the Lilliputian for wanting to cash in on his current renown - however, with Byrne and Button, Clermont don't really need him at 15 and he isn't a better wing than Malzieu, Nalaga or Sivi.
 
If he wanted to play for Clermont then he wasn't being well advised if told to hold out for the big bucks. Maybe it's all foreplay for Toulon to finally give him a call.

Losing Wilko Toulon could probably afford Flood at 10 and Halfpenny at 15. Flood deals with the day to day 10 business and halfpenny keeps on with the metronomic kicking.

Dean Mumm has signed on again with the Chiefs for another 2 years.  Just waiting on this lot now, whose contracts are all up at the end of the season:

Tom Cowan-Dickie
Dave Ewers
Kai Horstmann
Tom Johnson
James Phillips
Jason Shoemark
Ceri Sweeney
Haydn Thomas
Hoani Tui
Damien Welch
Romana Graham

TJ, Ewers and Welch rumoured to be nearly there

Mumm has been immense for you guys, what a signing

I thought Ewers two year deal had already been announced?

Wilko has hinted he might stay on for one more year whilst Delon Armitage has renewed his Toulon contract. Maybe Halfpenny will be left out in the cold by the big French teams.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I thought Ewers two year deal had already been announced?

Wilko has hinted he might stay on for one more year whilst Delon Armitage has renewed his Toulon contract. Maybe Halfpenny will be left out in the cold by the big French teams.

Not quite yet, Sam, altho I believe it's pretty much in the bag.

Bathite wrote:Mumm has been immense for you guys, what a signing

He has indeed, Bathite, has led from the front and seemlessly taken over the captaincy from Tom Hayes

How old is Mumm? Will this be his last contract or do you think he'll want to head off to France for a bit of a top up after this?

Oh and only rumours but pretty strong none the less that Quins will be saying good bye to Big Mo Fa'Asavalu at the end of the season and to Sackey.

Our token signing will hopefully be Molenar for a couple more seasons.

yappysnap wrote:How old is Mumm? Will this be his last contract or do you think he'll want to head off to France for a bit of a top up after this?

He's 29, yappy, so I would imagine he'd go another contract in two years time. France might well be a destination then for a bit of pension improvement!

Denton has re-signed at Edinburgh until 2016

If that's the case then I guess the Beattie rumour is getting stronger.

Just cant see waldrom signing a new contract.

TBH if Beattie were to come I wouldn't be to disappointed.

But the list of number 8s is falling for tugs if Ewers and Denton have resigned.

Also tugs been doing talks with priestland now and have asked permission to approach Burns.

If Waldrom leaves Tigers who would have him?? No8 is a position of strength for most clubs and I can't see many teams spending the money of the guy with his ropey fitness and hot/cold play.

Rumours are bath, also some French teams also japan maybe a move closer Nz.

Have removed Denton. Also put Court on confirmed trasnfers.

yappysnap wrote:If Waldrom leaves Tigers who would have him?? No8 is a position of strength for most clubs and I can't see many teams spending the money of the guy with his ropey fitness and hot/cold play.

Perhaps he'll replace Mo...   

Cardiff need an 8.

Couldn't see the need for waldrom to come to bath at all and i'd hope we are past buying leicesters old has beens. Bath have 1)Houston, 2)Fearns, 3)Koster and 4) Sisi all very good or very good prospects.

yappysnap wrote:If Waldrom leaves Tigers who would have him?? No8 is a position of strength for most clubs and I can't see many teams spending the money of the guy with his ropey fitness and hot/cold play.

Hes actually incredibly fit despite his body fat ratio. Unfortunately it takes a huge amount of energy to pull around that much blubber.

Lets face it Bath payed Lewis Moody a small fortune despite it being ta badly kept secret that he was entirely reliant on pain killers to get through a game and had had a string of very serious injuries in preceeding series.
They also werent afraid to sign Sam "deceptive pace" Vesty.

Waldroms a good player still in the not being put out to pasture just yet age bracket. Tigers wont be able to keep paying him big wages under the cap, doesnt mean others wont look at a guy whos unlikely to be overly troubled by England selectors but who has consistently been one of the Jeffs best players in his position. So long as he doesnt do a Halfpenny he will get a contract somewhere decent whether here or in France.

Welly wrote:Rumours are bath, also some French teams also japan maybe a move closer Nz.

We won't touch him, no need for him. Just some muppet assuming we are linked to him because he's an over the hill Tiger!

We signed two 8s this year and have loads of cover

Houston (top pick)
Fearns (back up)
Sisi (promising youngster)
Skuse (promising youngster)
Koster (been on loan with Bristol, on development, will compete next year at 8)

Just some talk from a friend at the scarlets and another at blues Lee Byrne could be at blues next season and brew and luke chartris at scarlets just a whisper

Not intended to be a wum at all, but why would those players be interested in those moves?

Tigers are now openly playing favourites between Preistland and Burns

The two to scarlets because money is available now with JD going amd priestland close to a move to wasps and they feel brew would bring finishing power thats been left by north, they feel chartris would add a lot to the scarlets front 5 and not able to settle well in france due to injuries hes picked up and looking to come home. The reason behind them not investing in a new 10 is because their happy with shingler and are really impressed with josh lewis who has put in a number of MOTM performances for LLanelli RFC , as for Byrne too the blues he's who their hoping to bring in to replace Halfpenny

I get why it makes sense for the clubs, but why for the players?

yappysnap wrote:If Waldrom leaves Tigers who would have him??

Someone with a lot of food.

welshboii15 wrote:The two to scarlets because money is available now with JD going amd priestland close to a move to wasps and they feel brew would bring finishing power thats been left by north, they feel chartris would add a lot to the scarlets front 5 and not able to settle well in france due to injuries hes picked up and looking to come home.  The reason behind them not investing in a new 10 is because their happy with shingler and are really impressed with josh lewis who has put in a number of MOTM performances for LLanelli RFC , as for Byrne too the blues he's who their hoping to bring in to replace Halfpenny

I can see Brew coming to us and Lee going to the Blues. But why would we sign Charteris as we have a lot of depth at lock. The best thing this season has been our second row partnership of Jake Ball and George Earle with Snyman who was a gem last season and Timani as great cover.
I wouldn't be annoyed it we signed Luke because he is such a great player, it just Why do we need to sign him. I'm pretty sure Luke said he is happy in France anyway. I wouldn't like to see a player of either Jake or Earle's ability to be dropped to the bench; especially Jake he is a great prospect and needs to stay 1st choice at the Scarlet's
Brew would be a great signing, we are short on wingers at the moment and he would bring great strength to our current back 3.
I think Lee Byrne is a very likely option for the Blues as well, he has had a good time in France but I think he is a bit of a home bird; Dragons have been linked with him as well but if (when) Halfpenny leaves, Byrne will be a likely replacement. H e has expressed how much he wants to be back in the set up and the best way for him to do that is in Wales.

Plus we would have Waldrom any day if no one else wanted him, i think he is a great players. There is a McDonald 2 minutes away from the stadium to try and tempt him