Transfers 2012/13

[cyRil]

I'm glad Spratt is back, always liked him and Irish mates rate him too. As long as Cai stays put I'll be happy enough.

 

[welshglory]

Not too happy with that signing to be honest, I would have rather retained Gareth Owen to cover 12 when Beck is with Wales than bring back Spratt.

We don't know if Owen will be the same player that he was/could have been. He wasn't that great in the games that he did play anyway tbh. I don't think he fits into the game plan/culture the O's are building now either. Spratt has always been at least solid, Owen... not so much.

I think it's a good signing to be honest, he's a much better back up centre than most of the other Pro 12 sides have, and he's an experienced professional. It's also good to have a centre who can play on the outside as well as inside.

 

[j'nuh]

Rob Cook (Cornish Pirates) ---> Gloucester

At first I was dubious about this, but considering Olly Morgan's injuries and that Jonny May would be better focused on becoming a winger, and how Cook already turned down Sale (hahaha), he'll make a fine addition to Gloucester.

There's a guy on the Gloucester forum that was asking for this to happen, saying that it might, nearly a month ago. Everyone seemed to laugh it off, and some think the guy might even be RC's agent. Whatever the case, he turned out to be right. Now he's whispering that there's a Pirates openside flanker called Phil Burgess that might be on the way, but "there's another club ending in 'ter interested" (which comes a day after Cockerill announcing he's in the market for another flanker, and how Craig Newby is injured). I wouldn't give it a second thought if he hadn't turned out to be right on Rob Cook though!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

how Cook already turned down Sale (hahaha)

I've seen this mentioned (on forums) elsewhere, and in passing in an article (but with nothing from him/pirates/sale about it).
I don't believe it for a second, to be honest, as we've already got a load of fullbacks/players who can play there, don't know why we'd have needed him to come in to be behind Miller, MacLeod, Cueto, Amesbury, Jennings, Addison etc.

 

[psychic duck]

I've seen this mentioned (on forums) elsewhere, and in passing in an article (but with nothing from him/pirates/sale about it).
I don't believe it for a second, to be honest, as we've already got a load of fullbacks/players who can play there, don't know why we'd have needed him to come in to be behind Miller, MacLeod, Cueto, Amesbury, Jennings, Addison etc.

Well none of those until recently were specialist full back until Miller moved there from fly half permanently, never heard of Jennings so he's presumably a rookie, Addision is a wing/centre, Cueto is a wing, MacLeod is a fly half, yes than can cover full back but they would be better in their primary positions. I think it would have been very plausible that Sale wanted Cook to take Tuculet/Tommy Bell's place in the squad, especially after looking at the Sale Sharks squad on Wikipedia they have a very small amount of backs.

Also Cook was named the full back in the Championship Dream Team, I don't think he would have been behind any of those makeshift full backs you named, although after Miller's breakthrough last season he would have likely been second choice full back.

 

[j'nuh]

I've seen this mentioned (on forums) elsewhere, and in passing in an article (but with nothing from him/pirates/sale about it).
I don't believe it for a second, to be honest, as we've already got a load of fullbacks/players who can play there, don't know why we'd have needed him to come in to be behind Miller, MacLeod, Cueto, Amesbury, Jennings, Addison etc.

Apparently the Cornish Pirates head coach said he had an offer:

"He turned down the chance to go to Sale last season because it wasn't right for him but Gloucester should suit his style of play well. Cookie signed a contract for this season but he had a release clause to move to the Premiership if it happened. Unfortunately for us it did."

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/story-16520406-detail/story.html

He also said:

"My hope is that our agreement to release Rob while at this very early stage in his new contract will be reciprocated by his new club, and we can establish a relationship that will open the door for dual-registered or loan players to come to the Mennaye."

Which is an exciting thought. There are worse teams to have this kind of relationship with!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Well none of those until recently were specialist full back until Miller moved there from fly half permanently, never heard of Jennings so he's presumably a rookie, Addision is a wing/centre, Cueto is a wing, MacLeod is a fly half, yes than can cover full back but they would be better in their primary positions. I think it would have been very plausible that Sale wanted Cook to take Tuculet/Tommy Bell's place in the squad, especially after looking at the Sale Sharks squad on Wikipedia they have a very small amount of backs.

I see where you're coming from in that they're mostly make shifts, but MacLeod and Cueto have both played a lot of fullback for Sale, and Addison used to be a 12/15, he's only played win for a season or so now.
Jennings is a 13/15, a rookie yes but when they're that far down the pecking order that's all they need to be. Miller will be first choice 15 with MacLeod 2nd choice (covering 10 and 15 from the bench, most likely, and rotating in for either Miller or Cipriani when injured/rested).

 

[TPenn]

Not too happy with that signing to be honest, I would have rather retained Gareth Owen to cover 12 when Beck is with Wales than bring back Spratt.

Spratt has done well for London Irish by all accounts, whereas Owen is still living off his potential. If it's as cover, then it makes sense to have someone who, whilst maybe not as naturally gifted, is more consistent and less likely to be injured when you need him.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Hywel Stoddart (Newport RFC) ---> Dragons

 

[Draggs]

Hywel Stoddart (Newport RFC) ---> Dragons

Not disappointed here. We have a very good back row (Lydiate, Evans, Faletau; I'll put it up against any other region) and a decent second choice one (Groves, Waters, Stoddart/Ieuan Jones).

 

[dullonien]

Not disappointed here. We have a very good back row (Lydiate, Evans, Faletau; I'll put it up against any other region) and a decent second choice one (Groves, Waters, Stoddart/Ieuan Jones).

Pity the front five is so dire.

 

[Draggs]

Pity the front five is so dire.

Front five, never heard of it.
Just a myth, like reliable Turk goalkickers.
I see a Dragons' domination of the Amlin, and Tonderai Chavhanga will be declared king of Newport. Conquerors of Europe, et al.

 

[psychic duck]

We don't know if Owen will be the same player that he was/could have been. He wasn't that great in the games that he did play anyway tbh. I don't think he fits into the game plan/culture the O's are building now either. Spratt has always been at least solid, Owen... not so much.

I think it's a good signing to be honest, he's a much better back up centre than most of the other Pro 12 sides have, and he's an experienced professional. It's also good to have a centre who can play on the outside as well as inside.

True, I see your point. But I would have thought it would have been cheaper to keep a player than sign a player with a year left on his contract. I don't think he is that special a player though, certainly not an international standard player. He may be decent as a back up to Beck, but I would only call him a good signing if he has been signed cheaply.

Spratt has done well for London Irish by all accounts, whereas Owen is still living off his potential. If it's as cover, then it makes sense to have someone who, whilst maybe not as naturally gifted, is more consistent and less likely to be injured when you need him.

Spratt was crap when I saw him play against Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup, he was decent in the other match I saw him play though. But I don't think you can say he has done well for London Irish when he was fifth choice centre behind Hape, Joseph, Ansbro and Shingler and London Irish, and only got 4 starts in the Premiership. You must have had low expectations for him if you think not even being able to make the bench for the London Irish first choice side is doing well.

Not disappointed here. We have a very good back row (Lydiate, Evans, Faletau; I'll put it up against any other region) and a decent second choice one (Groves, Waters, Stoddart/Ieuan Jones).

Waters was a good pick from the Principality Premiership, better than some of the Dragons supposedly more well known foreign signings such as Tuilagi and Castle. I wonder whether Stoddart could be another good pick from that league.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Tom Arscott (Worcester) ---> London Welsh

 

[Tonga_rugby]

Lionel Pardo (Spain, Flanker, 23 years, USAP Espoirs) ---> AS Béziers Hérault (ProD2)

 

[Draggs]

Rob Evans and Samson Lee have signed three and five year contracts with the Arsecelts, respectively.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Nick Runciman (Gloucester) ---> London Welsh
Gareth Evans (Plymouth Albion) ---> London Welsh

 

[SelimNiai]

Apparentley Bristol will confirm signing of Michael Tagicakibau this morning. Club say a rumour but on his Twitter (what else?) he has confirmed he's Bristol-bound.

Now confirmed on OS http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/7874/mike-tagicakibau-joins-bristol-rugby/

 

[Howzy]

wow london welsh are splashing out now they have been DEFINATLY promoted

 

[Draggs]

Daniel Thomas has signed a five year development contract with the Scarlets; looks like the Turks are investing in their future.