Transfers 2012/13

[cyRil]

London Welsh have released the following yesterday (Duck is on the ball and has already updated the OP):

Tom French
Liam Gibson
Will Hurrell
Gary Johnson
Vili Ma'asi
Saul Nelson
Shawn Pittman
Mike Powell
Guillermo Roan
Ben Russell
Ben Stevenson
Edd Thrower

Hope he gets picked up by Blaengarw 5ths.

 

[SelimNiai]

Bristol's released list;

Louis Silver (Doncaster Knights)
Jason Harris-Wright (Connacht)
Darren Barry
Daniel Montagu
Mark Irish
Jake Caulfield
Matty James (Nevers Rugby)
Henry Vanderglas (Grenoble)
Mark Davies
Sean Marsden (Hartpury College)
Darren Crompton (Hartpury College)
Josh Ovens (returns to parent club)
James Letherby
Will Helu

Very shocked that Dan Montagu has left, was a key part of our back row. He'd only recently signed a new deal but the club say it was a "squad progression decision after the playoffs".

Edit: We have announced the signing of George Biagi from Aironi http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/7855/george-biagi-signs-for-bristol-rugby/

 

[psychic duck]

Gareth Delve has changed his mind on a pre contract he signed with Toulon, and will not play for them next season

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal is expected to ask for compensation, and was not happy about it, just like the tantrum (of which he has many) he had when Gorgodze did the same thing.

​http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2011-2012/rct-delve-ne-viendra-pas_sto3316335/story.shtml

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Hope he gets picked up by Blaengarw 5ths.

Signed for Moseley.

 

[dullonien]

Gareth Delve has changed his mind on a pre contract he signed with Toulon, and will not play for them next season

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal is expected to ask for compensation, and was not happy about it, just like the tantrum (of which he has many) he had when Gorgodze did the same thing.

​http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2011-2012/rct-delve-ne-viendra-pas_sto3316335/story.shtml

So where's he going? I wonder if this has anything to do with being involved with the Wales setup over the last couple of weeks. Maybe he's impressed in training and the management have had a word about possibly returning to play for one of the Welsh regions. I'm hoping so, because all of the regions bar the Dragons could do with his quality at 8. The Blues still have Rush, but he's been far from his best last season, and have a couple of young players coming through (Hamilton looks good). The Ospreys have Stowers and Bearman, but Stowers in particular hasn't set the world alight. The Scarlets have lost Morgan, and only have Murphy really.

 

[Peat]

psychic duck - Botes hasn't been confirmed yet. Herring and O'Connor have though.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Dan Browne (Grenoble) ---> London Welsh

http://london-welsh.co.uk/rugby_newsroom_article.asp?id=1260

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Bulls backrower CJ Stander has signed for Munster:

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10573.php

 

[Teh Mite]

Dan Browne (Grenoble) ---> London Welsh

http://london-welsh.co.uk/rugby_newsroom_article.asp?id=1260

Hahahahahahahahahajaha! They have their Gavon Henson after all!

 

[big ginger 8]

Bulls backrower CJ Stander has signed for Munster:

http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/10573.php

Good signing for them doesn't say if he's a project player or not.

 

[big ginger 8]

Well I already know he's better than Borlase pity it's for the position where we hold the most depth.

 

[Jockstap]

he is a project player
http://www.munsterfans.com/threads/31732-Welcome-to-our-new-Project-player-CJ-Stander

he takes the allocated project player spot of Peter Borlase who's been got rid of

Is he any good?

 

[Darwin]

Is he any good?

CJ Stander is very good - I'm shocked that he is leaving the Bulls. He is only 22 - he made his Super Rugby debut this season, and has played in all the Bulls games this season I think (and started in most of them). He captained the South African under 20 team a couple of years ago, and I though he looked like he could be a future Springbok (though they do have great depth in the loose-forwards). He is a strong ball runner, capable of playing all three loose-forward positions, and seems to have a good nose for the try-line. He is a great acquisition in my opinion.

 

[Jockstap]

CJ Stander is very good - I'm shocked that he is leaving the Bulls. He is only 22 - he made his Super Rugby debut this season, and has played in all the Bulls games this season I think (and started in most of them). He captained the South African under 20 team a couple of years ago, and I though he looked like he could be a future Springbok (though they do have great depth in the loose-forwards). He is a strong ball runner, capable of playing all three loose-forward positions, and seems to have a good nose for the try-line. He is a great acquisition in my opinion.

Cheers. Good stuff.

 

[Groundhog]

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

Really looking forward to Connachts next season with some of the good signings they have made recently. Truly a club on the rise.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

True. With Dan Parks at the helm, it's only a matter of time before they dominate Europe!

 

[TRF_Cymro]

He will love the goal kicking conditions in Connacht.

 

[Peat]

Michael Heaney and Sean Doyle have joined Ulster.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Michael Heaney and Sean Doyle have joined Ulster.

Hardly inspiring signings. Heaney is a strange one. He was cut loose from the academy and went and had a spell with Doncaster. I guess he must have impressed if Ulster have re-signed him, albeit on a short term basis. Most likely he'll just be cover while Pienaar is away for The Rugby Championship.

As for Doyle, I'd never heard f him until this morning. He's an Australian openside who's played for New South Wales A. He's Irish qualified, but I don't hold out much hope of him being anything more than a very marginal player. If you can't get a spot in one of the Australian Super Rugby franchises considering their lack of players you probably aren't up to much. Ulster should be delighted if he's around the same level as Willie Faloon. Then again, Leo Auva'a shows that there are Celtic League standard players who can slip through the net down south I guess.