Transfers rumours

[psychic duck]

@Amiga I would be first to say Duck has agenda and we've had run ins in past but again I have to side with him.

You say about repayments for Stadiums and all that but I would say each would have various conditions and terms for example I'm not up to date on Millenium Stadium but IRFU only had repayments for a share along with FAI, Failte Ireland (Sports Sector), Government and lotto funding and other grants/private funding. My point is whole thing is hard to track.

Regards AWJ, if WRU can pay Warburton even near figure said then I'm 100% sure that they could easily match or outdo Ospreys offer for AWJ. My question is why AWJ signed with Ospreys and what is terms in central contracts offered.

Now I'm not saying RRW are perfect and I'm not saying WRU are totally wrong. My point is until clarity is out there it'll be messy.
Like what is the Central Contract system they are adapting?
In Ireland POC is on central contract but IRFU can't just pick him up and tell him play for Leinster next year because they own him. Why are WRU saying this about SW?
Also IRFU don't lease POC to Munster so what does this mean when WRU "lease" SW to Cardiff?
And regards funding I agree if RRW jump from Pro12 they should be cut of all funding from WRU but they haven't yet so why should their funding be cut?
The WRU are making it a lot messier than need be and until they come out with explanations things will only get worst and more tension between all parties

The WRU could have waited a week for 31 January deadline to pass when there'll be more clarity and final decisions being made.

 

[munstermuffin]

The WRU could have waited a week for 31 January deadline to pass when there'll be more clarity and final decisions being made.

What's the deadline about exactly I'm not 100% up to speed on it all. Like what are possibilities

 

[dullonien]

We do have conflicting information from the report yesterday. Dullonien, considering the highly bitter environment between the parties and the constant stream of comment and statements coming out, I think you need to take a more cynical view on the media games that are being played to influence the public, especially when in this particular case rather fanciful figures are being floated about. There are plenty of reasons why an agent might be manipulating the truth in these circumstances.

Warburton won't play for the Cardiff Blues next season, not unless a new agreement is managed to be sorted out.

Certainly, but I think there's often elements of truth in many of the reports. I have no trouble believing that there were teams out there willing to pay big bucks for Warburton. When fit he's a player of the highest calibre, and a true professional in everything he does. His injury woes will of course count against him, but that hasn't stopped teams in the past. When Wilkinson signed for Toulon for what was then an insane amount of money, he still had a reputation of being hugely injury prone. Roberts and Jenkins had similar issues and were picked up on big deals in France. Big names put bums on seats, and at this moment in time the current Wales captain and recent series winning Lions Captain is a very big name indeed.

Maybe £700k was overboard, but maybe as Snoop said it was including things like a house and cars etc. I've heard a few rumours that with all the added 'freebies' Halfpenny's deal is worth considerably more than what the press have revealed, and this is the way many French clubs are approaching things so that the players lose less to tax.

 

[psychic duck]

What's the deadline about exactly I'm not 100% up to speed on it all. Like what are possibilities

The regions have set a 31 January deadline to sign a new participation agreement with the WRU. If they are unable to agree terms by then, they will start planning an Anglo-Welsh league with Premiership Rugby, which would leave Warburton without the option of playing for a region or an English club.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jan/25/wales-sam-warburton-welsh-rugby-union-central-contract

 

[TRF_Cymro]

 

[Patchey]

From what I gather, centrally contracted players cannot play in the premiership (PRL/RFU rules).

Well from a Premiership watchers POV thats a bit annoying. There were some rumours about him going to Saints a while back that got me a little bit excited.

From a general rugby POV of course its much better he stays in Wales. Thought I'd get that in before anyone jumps on me for endorsing the player drain.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Greig Laidlaw was spotted at Sale's Carrington training centre recently.
We don't currently have a "marquee player" for next season, have a rich owner, and are losing Peel...................!!!

 

[munstermuffin]

Greig Laidlaw was spotted at Sale's Carrington training centre recently.
We don't currently have a "marquee player" for next season, have a rich owner, and are losing Peel...................!!!

Would be a great season but come on Olyy he'd be no marquee player.

 

[j'nuh]

Yeah, I'd imagine Braid would be on more £££ at the very least?

Would be a good signing though.

The list of fly-halves that have been linked with Gloucester:
Danny Cipriani
Stephen Brett
Tom Heathcote
Charlie Hodgson
Sam Davies
Rhys Priestland
Olly Barkley
Matthew Morgan
Santiago Fernandez
Johan Goosen
Nicolas Sanchez

Also, Mark Atkinson of Bedford Blues being linked with a move to Glos to replace Ryan Mills at 12. 6'6 and ~16 stone according to the Blues website.

 

[ratsapprentice]

By "linked", do you mean someone mentioned their name on shed-web?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Marquee players are only for one season, so I'd imagine Braid would've been this year's - we're not exactly courting the likes of JdV or Israel Folau so the marquee player would just be your highest paid eligible player, which I imagine Laidlaw would be.


You could make that Gloucester 10 list easier by saying "Every flyhald in the world."

 

[Patchey]

Who linked Johan Goosen to Glos? That's an odd one.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Goosen to Glos seemed viable... apparently it stalled after visa issues.
I know that's strange as he's a Saffer, but the volume and conviction of the rumours seemed somewhat legit.
But it's not on the table anymore anyway.

 

[Patchey]

Just struck me as odd considering where he is in his international career etc.

From that list I can only really see Brett, Heathcotte, Davies and Preistland as realistic.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Heathcote would be a great signing for them.
The dude has the potential to be a really, really good premiership player.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, I'd imagine Braid would be on more £££ at the very least?

Would be a good signing though.

The list of fly-halves that have been linked with Gloucester:
Danny Cipriani
Stephen Brett
Tom Heathcote
Charlie Hodgson
Sam Davies
Rhys Priestland
Olly Barkley
Matthew Morgan
Santiago Fernandez
Johan Goosen
Nicolas Sanchez

Also, Mark Atkinson of Bedford Blues being linked with a move to Glos to replace Ryan Mills at 12. 6'6 and ~16 stone according to the Blues website.

**** me, I hope not.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's not happening, but they supposedly got quite far into negotiations before stalling.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Apparently it was due to a work visa, which is rubbish. It started as a random thread on Shedweb, that Fissler picked up on and it ran. There wasn't many if any truly credible sources to it.


Teddy Thomas is now going to Union Bordeaux-Begles, strange to pick them over Toulouse if true.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Heathcote would be a great signing for them.

Agreed - also makes sense as he's not getting a massive amount of game time at Bath with Ford there.

 

[j'nuh]

By "linked", do you mean someone mentioned their name on shed-web?

Most were actually reported:
Cipriani - In TRP, Citizen reports it is unlikely now due to transfer fee.
Brett - Nearly everywhere. It's believed he's the likeliest first-choice signing to replace Burns.
Heathcote - In TRP not too long ago. Also would need a transfer fee, but he's out of favour at Bath so it probably wouldn't be a substantial one.
Hodgson - Admittedly, this was mostly wishful thinking and little substantiation.
Davies - Obvious rumour given Nigel Davies. He's believed to be the likeliest second-choice signing, which I would be over the moon about.
Priestland - Commonly reported that Tigers, Wasps and Glos were looking at Priestland a while back. Wasps are favourites now, if he even leaves Wales at this point.
Barkley - ex-Glos player. Was quite mild hearsay amongst Glos fans, but I reckon the rumour will kick up a notch now that it was announced on Sky today that he's left Grenoble and is likely to move back to England with immediate effect.
Morgan - been linked with a move to the Premiership for ages, initially to Tigers, but now Tigers have Burns. Hearsay has it that he was approached but his wage demands were too high.
Fernandez and Sanchez - Not sure where these came from, but they were on a list that the Citizen produced of all the fly-halves linked with Glos.
Goosen - As you said, it seems Glos were after him but visa troubles put a stop to the move. Gutted about that.

You have to remember that Gloucester are after two fly-halves. Burns, Taylor and Bentley are expected to leave Kingsholm. So it makes sense that there's so much speculation.