Transfers rumours

[DuncTheDoodle]

Ulster were targeting him when they ended up with Jared Payne. Things got pretty far advanced from what I heard. He's 30 now, if he waits for the World Cup he'll be 32, not too many decent pension toppers at that age.

Ospreys too, apparently. How things change. We were also one step away from signing Muliaina too once.

God that's depressing to remember considering we now sign a three-cap Canadian and I get excited.

 

[big ginger 8]

Lote Tuqiri --> Connacht

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Lote Tuqiri --> Connacht

for real

 

[big ginger 8]

for real

Yeah Leinster can't renew his contract and Connacht have a number of injuries including Danie Poolman out for the season. I believe Pat Lam said something about him. Though the other rumour is that he was in Dublin Airport today waiting for a flight to Abu Dhabi.

 

[j'nuh]

John Afoa confirmed to be moving to the Premiership: http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-breaking-news/12863/john-afoa-to-join-a-premiership-club/

Also, Matthew Morgan getting interest from Saints and Tigers: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/ospreys-matthew-morgan-being-watched-6371494

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wonder where Afoa will end up?
Probably Sarries or Saints, thinking about it, though maybe Glaws will throw a chequebook at him.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Wonder where Afoa will end up?
Probably Sarries or Saints, thinking about it, though maybe Glaws will throw a chequebook at him.

Whoever signs him is getting a terrific player.......................when he plays. Ulster have been very accommodating to him in allowing him extended time back in NZ with his family. Apparently his wife didn't settle in Belfast. I don't know how true that is but that's the word around the forums.

Ulster could be in a bit of trouble up front with both their starting props gone. I suspect the IRFU will mandate that Declan Fitzpatrick is to be their top tighthead. I think they'll need to bring in a top backup. At loosehead do they trust Callum Black or bring someone in. As was said a few days ago, Jack McGrath has been linked to the Belfast based province.

 

[Ospreylian]

Lee Byrne to Newport................seems unlikely to me?

http://www.rugby-transferts.com/top-14/0023280-lee-byrne-de-retour-au-pays-de-galles.html

Just did a Google translate of this page as my French isn't up to scratch these days. Here is a couple of the translated lines:

"Lee Byrne (33), the rear of the Welsh MAATS, will most probably swimsuit Clermont next season"

"But international rear (46 selections with the XV Leek) seems to favor a return to Wales."

I wonder how many selections Byrne would have achieved with the XV Leek, had he remained at the Ospreys.

 

[Draggs]

Are we calling ourselves XV Leek in a novel way of trying to beat the SH teams?

 

[Ospreylian]

Are we calling ourselves XV Leek in a novel way of trying to beat the SH teams?

Yeah, we'll change our name to XV Leek moments before the All Blacks game kicks off next year as part of another desperate attempt to rattle them (a move so ingenious it will rival the response to the Haka in 2008, and the 13 man lineout of last year).

They simply won't know what hit them.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Afoa to Glos could be good.

I can't see Sarries getting away with having him and Johnston.

 

[Patchey]

I presume Glos would be very interested considering the state of their front row. Not sure how much financial clout they've got but I'm guessing they're well within the salary cap.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Afoa to Glos could be good.

I can't see Sarries getting away with having him and Johnston.

I reckon Matt Stevens might retire at the end of this season.

 

[j'nuh]

EDIT: Afoa --> Gloucester confirmed (http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/john-afoa-to-leave-ulster-for-gloucester-1.1617044)

Get the **** in. Very happy. Not entirely sure why this news broke in the middle of the night though. :huh:

Hibbard too, please? Pretty please?

Before edit:

Ryan Walkinshaw (owner of Gloucester) posted this on his twitter:

Could @gloucesterrugby have the best front row in the @premrugby next season.... Highly likely ;-)

Someone asked whether Gloucester had signed Ayerza, Youngs and Cole, to which he responded:

no, we have signed far better.

Sounds like multiple front row signings?

 

[Peat]

Very surprised he didn't end up back home or in the south of France i.e. fighting for for international honours and staying with his homesick wife and young family, or or earning the biggest bucket of cash known to man. The Premiership seems an odd halfway house. Hey ho. Good luck to him.

As for Ulster - in Humph we trust. A lot of cold water has been poured over the McGrath rumour, not least by Anscombe. I'd rather have Moore if one of them was going, Calum Black and Paddy Mac (when fit) are about the level we need and capable of developing, while Deccie Fitzpatrick and Ricky Lutton probably aren't - Lutton might be better than the Staypuft man too and could keep developing, hope he's given a decent crack. Fair amount of talk over the possibility of a foreign prop, but there's a lot of positions we need for our foreigners...

 

[j'nuh]

Hibbard and Afoa --> Gloucester.

Afoa apparently for four years.

This has made my week.

"Hey Freddie, you know that front 5 platform you wanted...?"

 

[ratsapprentice]

I can't see Rupert or Huia being retained...?!?

This is also just as much about retaining Fred as it is about shoring up the scrum.

I may just be being a bit cynical, but the four year deal for a 30 year old (although not that old for a prop) could be about getting round the salary cap.
He could be on a contract that says he gets payed all of the 4 years even if he retires through injury as long as he completes his first two years or something?
Because the cap is just per season.

 

[Patchey]

Backing up the idea of Glos having the best front row next seasonn, Hibbard is apparently signing there too!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25229561

 

[j'nuh]

I can't see Rupert or Huia being retained...?!?

This is also just as much about retaining Fred as it is about shoring up the scrum.

I may just be being a bit cynical, but the four year deal for a 30 year old (although not that old for a prop) could be about getting round the salary cap.
He could be on a contract that says he gets payed all of the 4 years even if he retires through injury as long as he completes his first two years or something?
Because the cap is just per season.

Rupert - no... maybe? We'll have Afoa, Puafisi and Knight in all likelihood, but Harden may come into it if Knight doesn't want to be 3rd-choice at the club. There's also Tom Heard knocking on the door and Yann Thomas who was transitioning to tighthead, but might not be anymore. They could also potentially act as third-choice. And I'd be surprised if we kept Edmonds.

As for Afoa's salary, I very much doubt what you say. I don't think Gloucester are basing their selection strategy around the notion of players having career-ending injuries. Afoa was apparently on 400k euros at Ulster. He will definitely be our marquee signing. So it isn't as if playing around the rules will make a difference to what's available under the salary cap anyway. 4 years of marquee signing salary for a 31 year old prop is about as good as you can get for job security.

 

[ratsapprentice]

But you're also signing Hibbard... who is just as big a signing in my books.
I wouldn't be so sure he is your marquee signing.