2023-2024 transfers

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Jono Kitto has been released by Leicester Tigers.

 

[Groundhog]

Zebo confirmed to leave Munster after this season. Meh, he doesn't owe us anything, and likewise I don't think I'll miss him greatly. Frustrated and wowed me in equal measure at times. If we get O'Halloran I'll consider it a positive exchange. I honestly feel that in the wake of this news, and no directives from camp Joe we can start Conway, move Zebo to the wing, or drop him for Sweetnam if Sweets keeps his performances up and sorts his defensive positioning a bit.
EDIT: Ugh Jesus I can already see the usual brigade of "if it was a Leinster player" types kicking up. Embarrassing.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

27, starter for his province that reached the business end of both trophies last year, guaranteed a spot in Japan, will struggle to get a start for any contending French sides... Where's the ambition, why not at least delay it a year or two and play an RWC in his prime?

 

[Groundhog]

27, starter for his province that reached the business end of both trophies last year, guaranteed a spot in Japan, will struggle to get a start for any contending French sides... Where's the ambition, why not at least delay it a year or two and play an RWC in his prime?

Agree to an extent. Only thing I can think of is him wanting to settle in France long term and it will be easier to move a young family now than after the World Cup when his kids are settled in school etc.
Not a huge loss for Ireland maybe, but he was a big man for Munster. The kids who come to the games have always loved him, he was the first face on a lot of our ad campaigns, a Lion and a feature in some of our great moments in relatively tough times for Munster. He will be missed, but I'm sure the IRFU had to look at it from the point of view that we're well covered in the back three for years to come. There was at least some negotiating with the IRFU that went on, but no point breaking the bank. Both province and nation can replace him, and I worry for him he will be seen as more disposable in France, managed worse and ultimately not fit in a lot of French sides.
Would any other player in Ireland in his position (as you say will hit the next World Cup in his prime) have moved? Probably not, no, but I kind of saw it coming for a good while, it's just the kinda guy he was and that's no insult.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Agree to an extent. Only thing I can think of is him wanting to settle in France long term and it will be easier to move a young family now than after the World Cup when his kids are settled in school etc.
Not a huge loss for Ireland maybe, but he was a big man for Munster. The kids who come to the games have always loved him, he was the first face on a lot of our ad campaigns, a Lion and a feature in some of our great moments in relatively tough times for Munster. He will be missed, but I'm sure the IRFU had to look at it from the point of view that we're well covered in the back three for years to come. There was at least some negotiating with the IRFU that went on, but no point breaking the bank.

I didn't mean for that to sound as critical as it did, with his personal life always being the biggest factor and criticising a guy for leaving home to start a new life elsewhere is ******* to say the least but from a point of view focusing solely on his rugby career it doesn't make all that much sense to me!

 

[Groundhog]

I didn't mean for that to sound as critical as it did, with his personal life always being the biggest factor and criticising a guy for leaving home to start a new life elsewhere is ******* to say the least but from a point of view focusing solely on his rugby career it doesn't make all that much sense to me!

Yeah makes zero sense to me too, so I can only assume it was a non rugby decision I suppose most guys that age also don't have families either, so he's making decisions at 27 most guys wouldn't have to make until their 30's

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads as someone who knows Simon personally here is facts.
He didn't get central deal. Again it understandable given competition there.
He wants to play abroad at some stage.
He will move to South of France as it's close to Elvira home in Madrid. Well closer. They've 2 young kids and well it big money deal (rumoured to be €450k) and well it understandable.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Lads as someone who knows Simon personally here is facts.
He didn't get central deal. Again it understandable given competition there.
He wants to play abroad at some stage.
He will move to South of France as it's close to Elvira home in Madrid. Well closer. They've 2 young kids and well it big money deal (rumoured to be €450k) and well it understandable.

Any idea on the club? Will there be Irish banging about Toulouse again?

Only starting one game on the summer tour may have had him thinking his place in Ireland squads were less than guaranteed, I would agree with that too with the emergence of a few players in Munster and Leinster and Stockdale providing stellar competition. (Barry Daly has since caught up to some coattails too) Best of luck to him anyway! I might even like him better in the black and red of my second team than I ever did for Munster!

 

[munstermuffin]

Any idea on the club? Will there be Irish banging about Toulouse again?

Only starting one game on the summer tour may have had him thinking his place in Ireland squads were less than guaranteed, I would agree with that too with the emergence of a few players in Munster and Leinster and Stockdale providing stellar competition. (Barry Daly has since caught up to some coattails too) Best of luck to him anyway! I might even like him better in the black and red of my second team than I ever did for Munster!

No more like Racing or Pau.
Honestly Ireland isn't an issue on why. I think IRFU wouldve offered deal if forced as Zebo marketability nearly pays for deal itself.
Rumours are Dillane and Tiernan will arrive in an offset. Add in Conway is a 15, Wooton coming through and Stephen Fits has high prospects. We will be ok. Life goes on

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No more like Racing or Pau.
Honestly Ireland isn't an issue on why. I think IRFU wouldve offered deal if forced as Zebo marketability nearly pays for deal itself.
Rumours are Dillane and Tiernan will arrive in an offset. Add in Conway is a 15, Wooton coming through and Stephen Fits has high prospects. We will be ok. Life goes on

Pau? Christ, I'd stay away from small French cities if I was him, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse are the available only places I'd recommend for an Irish boy to be going in France, maybe Clermont because they know how to drink. Having visited Castres, Albi and Carcasonne I wouldn't dream of living in a minor French city no matter how pretty they are!

Obviously just an opinion regardless of offers this!

 

[Groundhog]

Racing emerging as the forerunner by the looks. Really don't know if he'd suit them, but hey.

 

[munstermuffin]

Pau? Christ, I'd stay away from small French cities if I was him, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse are the available only places I'd recommend for an Irish boy to be going in France, maybe Clermont because they know how to drink. Having visited Castres, Albi and Carcasonne I wouldn't dream of living in a minor French city no matter how pretty they are!

Obviously just an opinion regardless of offers this!

It's about the $$$$

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Pau? Christ, I'd stay away from small French cities if I was him, Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux and Toulouse are the available only places I'd recommend for an Irish boy to be going in France, maybe Clermont because they know how to drink. Having visited Castres, Albi and Carcasonne I wouldn't dream of living in a minor French city no matter how pretty they are!

Obviously just an opinion regardless of offers this!

He plays most of his rugby in Limerick. Anywhere in France can only be an improvement.

 

[FrenchFan]

Racing? Poor Simon. No taste.

 

[JJFlash]

Racing? Poor Simon. No taste.

No taste, whatsoever! Pau, however, in my opinion, are a solid club(and popular among some Irish players!!), a beautiful part of the world, and establishing themselves in the Top14. Would be a good choice indeed!

 

[munstermuffin]

No taste, whatsoever! Pau, however, in my opinion, are a solid club(and popular among some Irish players!!), a beautiful part of the world, and establishing themselves in the Top14. Would be a good choice indeed!

Well in a twist nothing signed yet AND pressure on IRFU to offer a CC. It's argument is back to Heaslip and Bowe who's CC contracts take up 18% of overall value or something. Think the Heaslip 3 year deal has been proven to be an awful awful decision by IRFU that was wrong and is causing problems across board. But don't think Zebo scenario should be linked. In back 3 it is too congested for anyone to be indispensable.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Heaslip is three months into that contract and reportedly is due back for before the 6 nation's, if he gets anywhere near his form of last season after that he'll still be a starter 80+% of the team, at his best he's the best backrow we have imo. I imagine if it looks like he won't play anymore he'll be bought out of his deal for less than it's worth, not worth his own time going through rehab in vein as an already successful businessman who could easily expand.

I don't think Zebo is worthy of a CC, don't renew Bowe, Kearney or Trimble but as a wing I think Schmidt's moving away from solid based on his summer tour selections and Stockdale and Earl's are better in my books anyway, Carbery, Conway, TO'H and Payne make it very hard to justify one as a 15 too.

 

[munstermuffin]

Heaslip is three months into that contract and reportedly is due back for before the 6 nation's, if he gets anywhere near his form of last season after that he'll still be a starter 80+% of the team, at his best he's the best backrow we have imo. I imagine if it looks like he won't play anymore he'll be bought out of his deal for less than it's worth, not worth his own time going through rehab in vein as an already successful businessman who could easily expand.

I don't think Zebo is worthy of a CC, don't renew Bowe, Kearney or Trimble but as a wing I think Schmidt's moving away from solid based on his summer tour selections and Stockdale and Earl's are better in my books anyway, Carbery, Conway, TO'H and Payne make it very hard to justify one as a 15 too.

See I'd disagree as many would on Heaslip. And he is not indispensable either with a massive congestion there it was madness to give him 3 years. And it is a decision that is causing issues in all the negotiations the IRFU have. Is Heaslip worth the massive wage. Given all circumstances I have to sadly say no.

On Zebo I agree with you and the Heaslip thing is seperate. But 100% fact across all provinces (Leinster included) there is guys who see that Heaslip issue grudgingly and IRFU are really struggling in negotiations

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

See I'd disagree as many would on Heaslip. And he is not indispensable either with a massive congestion there it was madness to give him 3 years. And it is a decision that is causing issues in all the negotiations the IRFU have. Is Heaslip worth the massive wage. Given all circumstances I have to sadly say no.

On Zebo I agree with you and the Heaslip thing is seperate. But 100% fact across all provinces (Leinster included) there is guys who see that Heaslip issue grudgingly and IRFU are really struggling in negotiations

Fair enough, I'd just say that Heaslip was given that contract off the back of last season's EOYT where it could easily be argued that he was Ireland's best player and presumably on recommendation of medical professionals and they're yet to be proven wrong. I reckon we'll see Heaslip in Japan, a long rehab will hopefully rejuvenate him. He's in a competitive area but at his best I'd say he's as good a rugby player as Murray or Sexton are in their positions.

 

[Groundhog]

Heaslip like Zebo is a definite in the squad when fit, but definitely not indispensable with the raft of backrow talent coming through. Even fit he'd have a dogfight on his hands to start for Leinster these days. I don't think many people view Heaslip in as high a regard as Alpha, but letting your captain leave the country isn't a good look for the IRFU either. He shouldn't and won't get another one I'd say, and I don't know how much he's on, but a CC at the least is understandable.
These long central contracts do seem to be shortsighted in the cases of Bowe and Robnoxious (honestly you wouldn't give Healy one on this form, but hindsight and all that), but the nature of central contracts is they offer security to guys on the fence worried about injury destroying their earning potential. That means a relatively long contract to make passing up on France worth it.