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2023-2024 transfers

Rory Scholes to the Irish rugby's equivalent of Last Chance U (Connacht) confirmed. Tidy bit of business. Thought he was quality before he left Ulster.
 
mkersyshull said:
Does that fuel rumours Moriarty is off?
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Don't think it des anything to reduce them but we were short of a back row and it's getting late for further transfers.

My guess is he'll see out the last year of his contract and then he'll be off to Wales.

All we need now is another back 3 player (not convinced we will get one mind you).
 
Well, happy is a relative term - gotta combine a little with realism.

If anything we're overstocked at prop - but Afoa, Ruskin, McAllister and Hohneck look OK to me (then there's Denman, Balmain, Orr and I think one other I can't remember).
Hibbard and Matu'u are OK, although not sure who is third choice tbh.

I keep seeing people go on about how poor the 2nd row is but I don't think it's so bad. Thrush has been excellent, Slater is a good addition (if he can stay fit) while Savage and Galarza don't let us down (Keep expecting Denton to push through but doesn't seem to happen). Sure, we can want for a world class 2nd row pairing (or even just one to go with Thrush) but how many of them are there available?

Ah yes, number 9 - I was a pretty vocal critic of Box-kick Willie last season but to be fair, he got a lot better once Fisher left, although he's got less than no pace.
Braley is OK too.
The real story I think though is Vellacott - I expect him to break through to become first choice and from what I saw last year, he looks to have some class.
Again, would I like a world class S/H? yeah of course but we're clearly not getting one so....

The point about the back three is that we were short last season with no FB cover (Hook played there when Marshall was injured). Woodward has come in, which is good but with May gone (not so bothered about that tbh), we're back how we were only now were missing a wing instead of an FB. We've got a few guys who are half decent (e.g. Purdy) or who an play on the wing (Thorley) but they're back-up really and we need a proper winger imho.

Well you did ask :)
 
I don't get to anywhere near as many games as I want to so have to rely on BT Sport or highlights. My point is why should we just "make do"? You're basically suggesting that half the pack are "acceptable in the absence of anything better", with one or two showing promise.

I remember the era around the time of 'professionalism' when we had one of the best packs in the country. Few of them were capped but they were tough and consistent.
 
Big_Grumper said:
I don't get to anywhere near as many games as I want to so have to rely on BT Sport or highlights. My point is why should we just "make do"? You're basically suggesting that half the pack are "acceptable in the absence of anything better", with one or two showing promise.

I remember the era around the time of 'professionalism' when we had one of the best packs in the country. Few of them were capped but they were tough and consistent.
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It's a fair question.
I'm a season ticket holder and so I get to see them as much as anyone I guess, but am not from around the area so maybe that tempers my thinking (been watching them for six years, this will be my seventh - before that I lived near Reading so watched LI (not much fun) and before that I was still playing).

I'm not sure I'm saying that the pack are merely acceptable, I think they're better than that tbh - Hibbard, Afoa, Thrush, Moriarty and Rowan (to a slightly lesser extent - as he does what he does very well but he's limited imho) have all been excellent and most of the other guys put in a decent shift. Ma'afu (just f*ing awful) and Latta (merely acceptable) have been jettisoned, which is good but I really wished we could have kept Kvesic (no idea what he did to fall so out of favour as to not feature one he was fit - a real loss).
I completely take your point about the side from years gone by but as I understand it, the core of Gloucester's previous pack heritage was home grown and it just doesn't seem to be an option any more (often lamented by the older supporters I know). In the absence of that option then I think degree of stability is the next best thing - during my time it's felt like virtually a revolving door of changes with multiple 'revolutions' (cited by Jim Hamilton as his main reason for leaving) and it hasn't worked.
So to keep the core of the side seems sensible as I personally think that the collective is more valuable than a host of incoming stars (also quite pleased to hear Ackerman talking along the same lines).

I personally think Fisher (and Taylor) has been the problem in the last couple of years - the tactics, particularly in multi-phase attack in the backs has been awful and we relied on individual moments of inspiration to make scores rather than anything structured.
I'd have liked another scrum half but it seemed clear early on that we weren't getting one so not much to be done - I really do think Vellacott has that much potential though and I'm hopeful that Ackerman will work on a meritocracy (something else Fisher seemed to avoid) and so my bet is for that to be the biggest surprise for the season.

I also think it's to the club's credit that they live within their means and that inevitably means some compromise when it comes to signing players, especially with the French sides having so much buying power.

I appreciate I'll be mocked for it but I'm pretty optimistic for the season (always am at this time of year) - we're obviously not winning the Premiership but I think we'll see progress and the top 6 will do me for now.

Still want another wing though :)
 
I still don't understand why Slater would go to Gloucester, feels like a backwards step.
Abroad or to a higher ranked club? Sure, but why Gloucester?
Was he forced out? Or at least a "well you're not in our first XV plans for next season whereas Gloucester assure us you will be there so if you wanna go then...."
 
TRF_Olyy said:
I still don't understand why Slater would go to Gloucester, feels like a backwards step.
Abroad or to a higher ranked club? Sure, but why Gloucester?
Was he forced out? Or at least a "well you're not in our first XV plans for next season whereas Gloucester assure us you will be there so if you wanna go then...."
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Higher ranked clubs don't want him, no future at Leicester, hardly played in recent times so overseas won't consider him - not brimming with options when you think about it.

Besides, Gloucester are on the up and he wants in :)
 
ALJ said:
Probably true in terms of May but I don't think this is really about the move itself but the precedent it set.

Better that the loophole is closed imho.
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ALJ said:
Probably true in terms of May but I don't think this is really about the move itself but the precedent it set.

Better that the loophole is closed imho.
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Agreed, as @curtbob said too, this appears to be a suits everyone scenario, so all gravy here.

But also better to close the loophole as this quote from the article suggests:
"It is hoped the change will protect smaller clubs from having their young players on low salaries poached, and will ensure the competitiveness and equity of the league."

Is this a first? Or does anyone know of any examples that fit the description of the scenario in the above quote? I.e. where a smaller club has unfairly lost out.
 
TRF_Olyy said:
I still don't understand why Slater would go to Gloucester, feels like a backwards step.
Abroad or to a higher ranked club? Sure, but why Gloucester?
Was he forced out? Or at least a "well you're not in our first XV plans for next season whereas Gloucester assure us you will be there so if you wanna go then...."
Click to expand...
Yeah think he will be at Gloucester for 2 seasons max before taking a nice payday elsewhere. That's presuming he stays fit and hits decent form.

ALJ said:
Higher ranked clubs don't want him, no future at Leicester, hardly played in recent times so overseas won't consider him - not brimming with options when you think about it.

Besides, Gloucester are on the up and he wants in :)
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Still cant see Gloucester finishing higher than 9th.
 
Mumbles119 said:
Is this a first? Or does anyone know of any examples that fit the description of the scenario in the above quote? I.e. where a smaller club has unfairly lost out.
Click to expand...
We've seen an increasing number of contracted players transferring between clubs.
I'm not sure what this problem this ammendment is supposed to solve though - I can't think of any cases where a player has moved against the will of the club who holds the contract*, and it seems that 1 year's salary is a fair transfer fee, and prevents insane level transfer fees we see in other sports (though maybe remaining duration, rather than 1 year would be fairer).

If it reduces the number mid-contract transfers then I guess it'll be a good thing; if it just means that only those with rich sugar daddies can afford to do so, then it wil further unbalance the premiership.


* Let's face it, rugby is not really a sport where you can carry a player who doesn't want to be there; see George Ford last year, despite having England and Lions places to play for, never looked fully committed to the cause for Bath.
 
Which Tyler said:
We've seen an increasing number of contracted players transferring between clubs.
I'm not sure what this problem this ammendment is supposed to solve though - I can't think of any cases where a player has moved against the will of the club who holds the contract*, and it seems that 1 year's salary is a fair transfer fee, and prevents insane level transfer fees we see in other sports (though maybe remaining duration, rather than 1 year would be fairer).

If it reduces the number mid-contract transfers then I guess it'll be a good thing; if it just means that only those with rich sugar daddies can afford to do so, then it wil further unbalance the premiership.


* Let's face it, rugby is not really a sport where you can carry a player who doesn't want to be there; see George Ford last year, despite having England and Lions places to play for, never looked fully committed to the cause for Bath.
Click to expand...

Certainly looked committed at Twickers against us, in fact without him you would've lost the game Im sure.
 
ALJ said:
It's a fair question.
I'm a season ticket holder and so I get to see them as much as anyone I guess, but am not from around the area so maybe that tempers my thinking (been watching them for six years, this will be my seventh - before that I lived near Reading so watched LI (not much fun) and before that I was still playing).

I'm not sure I'm saying that the pack are merely acceptable, I think they're better than that tbh - Hibbard, Afoa, Thrush, Moriarty and Rowan (to a slightly lesser extent - as he does what he does very well but he's limited imho) have all been excellent and most of the other guys put in a decent shift. Ma'afu (just f*ing awful) and Latta (merely acceptable) have been jettisoned, which is good but I really wished we could have kept Kvesic (no idea what he did to fall so out of favour as to not feature one he was fit - a real loss).
I completely take your point about the side from years gone by but as I understand it, the core of Gloucester's previous pack heritage was home grown and it just doesn't seem to be an option any more (often lamented by the older supporters I know). In the absence of that option then I think degree of stability is the next best thing - during my time it's felt like virtually a revolving door of changes with multiple 'revolutions' (cited by Jim Hamilton as his main reason for leaving) and it hasn't worked.
So to keep the core of the side seems sensible as I personally think that the collective is more valuable than a host of incoming stars (also quite pleased to hear Ackerman talking along the same lines).

I personally think Fisher (and Taylor) has been the problem in the last couple of years - the tactics, particularly in multi-phase attack in the backs has been awful and we relied on individual moments of inspiration to make scores rather than anything structured.
I'd have liked another scrum half but it seemed clear early on that we weren't getting one so not much to be done - I really do think Vellacott has that much potential though and I'm hopeful that Ackerman will work on a meritocracy (something else Fisher seemed to avoid) and so my bet is for that to be the biggest surprise for the season.

I also think it's to the club's credit that they live within their means and that inevitably means some compromise when it comes to signing players, especially with the French sides having so much buying power.

I appreciate I'll be mocked for it but I'm pretty optimistic for the season (always am at this time of year) - we're obviously not winning the Premiership but I think we'll see progress and the top 6 will do me for now.

Still want another wing though :)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'd agree with Gloucester not having home grown options coming through in the pack?

They had Mullis, Walker, Knight and Seville in the U20 World Cup squad and Ludlow who was good last season. All home grown AFAIK?

Ackermann will be a quality addition though and will likely occupy the hole Fearns didn't fill.

Who is the reserve 8 now Kalamafoni's gone?
 
BPM said:
I'm not sure I'd agree with Gloucester not having home grown options coming through in the pack?

They had Mullis, Walker, Knight and Seville in the U20 World Cup squad and Ludlow who was good last season. All home grown AFAIK?

Ackermann will be a quality addition though and will likely occupy the hole Fearns didn't fill.

Who is the reserve 8 now Kalamafoni's gone?
Click to expand...
Probably Ackermann unless he outplays Moriarty or Morgan, in which case one of them.
 

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