Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 4:54 pm
RugbyPass have Leicester signing Billy Searle and Hamer-Webb. Both reasonable additions in areas with little depth.
Still need a starting 10- hopefully Bailey- and a big carrying 8 I reckon. Possibly depth at tighthead, hooker and scrum half too…
Also seen some speculation that Hayden Thomas might come in as defence coach. Close to Parling from playing days apparently and it would be very sensible for him to get away from the mess at Exeter given everyone but Baxter gets the blame…
Billy Searle, hmm, don't really see the point. Would rather give the younger 10s the opportunity. He is only 29 and has some experience but really just a safe pair of hands in the short term.
Hamer-Webb is a good back up for Radwan and OHC. Decent acquisition of that comes off.
Haydn Thomas is a highly rated coach. Has coached attack, defence and kicking across Exeter Chiefs, Exeter Uni and England A. Would be a good pick up for the defence gig.
I'm expecting:
1 x hooker
1 x TH
1 or 2 x FH
1 x Wing
1 x FB
I think Moro might be the only 8 we're getting. Potentially leaving the marquee spot open.
Let's not denigrate having a safe pair of hands at 10, even if only for the short term! The young 10s are both gambles rather than major prospects and I think Searle's underrated - he'll never trouble an England selection, but if he had Welsh/Scots connections/interest, he'd have had caps.
I'm hopeful of Bailey as well, but it could be that we're not able to get him and Searle is what we're able to get. If that's the case, I do think we could do much worse.
Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 4:54 pm
RugbyPass have Leicester signing Billy Searle and Hamer-Webb. Both reasonable additions in areas with little depth.
Still need a starting 10- hopefully Bailey- and a big carrying 8 I reckon. Possibly depth at tighthead, hooker and scrum half too…
Also seen some speculation that Hayden Thomas might come in as defence coach. Close to Parling from playing days apparently and it would be very sensible for him to get away from the mess at Exeter given everyone but Baxter gets the blame…
Billy Searle, hmm, don't really see the point. Would rather give the younger 10s the opportunity. He is only 29 and has some experience but really just a safe pair of hands in the short term.
Hamer-Webb is a good back up for Radwan and OHC. Decent acquisition of that comes off.
Haydn Thomas is a highly rated coach. Has coached attack, defence and kicking across Exeter Chiefs, Exeter Uni and England A. Would be a good pick up for the defence gig.
I'm expecting:
1 x hooker
1 x TH
1 or 2 x FH
1 x Wing
1 x FB
I think Moro might be the only 8 we're getting. Potentially leaving the marquee spot open.
Let's not denigrate having a safe pair of hands at 10, even if only for the short term! The young 10s are both gambles rather than major prospects and I think Searle's underrated - he'll never trouble an England selection, but if he had Welsh/Scots connections/interest, he'd have had caps.
I'm hopeful of Bailey as well, but it could be that we're not able to get him and Searle is what we're able to get. If that's the case, I do think we could do much worse.
Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 6:28 pmI'm hopeful of Bailey as well, but it could be that we're not able to get him and Searle is what we're able to get. If that's the case, I do think we could do much worse.
Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 6:28 pmI'm hopeful of Bailey as well, but it could be that we're not able to get him and Searle is what we're able to get. If that's the case, I do think we could do much worse.
I could get behind Searle arriving as backup/competition for Orlando Bailey were he to come in. The ability to have that steady hand should we need it.
If we sign another experienced 10 as the first choice and then Searle you have to wonder what the bloody point is. Volavola is staying for another year. Titcombe is then lucky to be the traveling reserve and Threlfall is back at Notts hoping for a PRC chance.
Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 6:25 pm
Daily Mail reporting via l’equipe that Farrell has requested release from Racing. Linking Sarries, Leicester and Bristol.
Can’t think of a worse fit than Bristol but could see him going back to Sarries.
You’d have to be a bit stupid to sign a 34 year old on big wages who has just had a massive injury hit season. That’s before you consider the 75% kick success, zero running game and lack of ability to pass off the left hand.
Tim Hoyt is apparently going to Worcester. Hopefully they can make something of him. In other former age grade news, Alex Groves has earned a contract with Western Province in the Curry Cup - he had open heart surgery in 2024 and has been getting back to his level with Caldy.
Rumours of Paddy Jackson coming back to the Prem. I'd rather take Farrell than have him at Leicester.
Puja wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 9:42 pm
Rumours of Paddy Jackson coming back to the Prem. I'd rather take Farrell than have him at Leicester.
Puja
Bit of a Hobson's Choice but morally, absolutely.
Searle looking better by the second...
Puja
Jackson has a contract until 2026 and is now 33. He's also been struggling with injury and no doubt on a wedge in France. Be one of the stupidest signings in the club's history given sponsors would drop us so fast and I can't imagine the women's team would be in the least bit impressed (recruitment for the women's team would be more than a little awkward as well).
Searle would be better than blowing a fortune on Farrell or the shit bag Jackson.
As an aside young Threlfall picked up player of the match after helping mastermind Notts coming from behind to see off Hartbury 54-33. I think at one point in the first half Hartbury were 33-7 up. Threlfall with 7/8 conversions and you against Bazalgette who's generally considered one of the better flyhalfs in the Champ. Another season on loan in the Champ with some PRC thrown in and if the signs are still positive then I'd hope we'd be promoting up into the senior side as at least third choice.
Jackson has a contract until 2026 and is now 33. He's also been struggling with injury and no doubt on a wedge in France. Be one of the stupidest signings in the club's history given sponsors would drop us so fast and I can't imagine the women's team would be in the least bit impressed (recruitment for the women's team would be more than a little awkward as well).
Bristol confirm their departure a:
SENIOR SQUAD
Yann Thomas (129 apps)
Jake Heenan (122 apps)
Siva Naulago (45 apps)
Max Malins (36 apps)
Josh Caulfield (36 apps)
Deago Bailey (19 apps)
Sam Edwards (4 apps)
SENIOR ACADEMY
Harry Rowson (12 apps)
Andrew Turner (11 apps)
Aaron Tull (8 apps)
Jacob Cusick (2 apps)
A few there that could do a job for Worcester! With only 3 signings confirmed (unless I forgot some) , and only 1 of those ready for 1st team rugby, we're looking weak next year.
jimKRFC wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 12:28 pm
Bristol confirm their departure a:
SENIOR SQUAD
Yann Thomas (129 apps)
Jake Heenan (122 apps)
Siva Naulago (45 apps)
Max Malins (36 apps)
Josh Caulfield (36 apps)
Deago Bailey (19 apps)
Sam Edwards (4 apps)
SENIOR ACADEMY
Harry Rowson (12 apps)
Andrew Turner (11 apps)
Aaron Tull (8 apps)
Jacob Cusick (2 apps)
A few there that could do a job for Worcester! With only 3 signings confirmed (unless I forgot some) , and only 1 of those ready for 1st team rugby, we're looking weak next year.
jimKRFC wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 12:28 pm
Bristol confirm their departure a:
SENIOR SQUAD
Yann Thomas (129 apps)
Jake Heenan (122 apps)
Siva Naulago (45 apps)
Max Malins (36 apps)
Josh Caulfield (36 apps)
Deago Bailey (19 apps)
Sam Edwards (4 apps)
SENIOR ACADEMY
Harry Rowson (12 apps)
Andrew Turner (11 apps)
Aaron Tull (8 apps)
Jacob Cusick (2 apps)
A few there that could do a job for Worcester! With only 3 signings confirmed (unless I forgot some) , and only 1 of those ready for 1st team rugby, we're looking weak next year.
Where's Malins off to? Back to Sarries to replace Goode?
jimKRFC wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 12:28 pm
Bristol confirm their departure a:
SENIOR SQUAD
Yann Thomas (129 apps)
Jake Heenan (122 apps)
Siva Naulago (45 apps)
Max Malins (36 apps)
Josh Caulfield (36 apps)
Deago Bailey (19 apps)
Sam Edwards (4 apps)
SENIOR ACADEMY
Harry Rowson (12 apps)
Andrew Turner (11 apps)
Aaron Tull (8 apps)
Jacob Cusick (2 apps)
A few there that could do a job for Worcester! With only 3 signings confirmed (unless I forgot some) , and only 1 of those ready for 1st team rugby, we're looking weak next year.
Where's Malins off to? Back to Sarries to replace Goode?
Yeah, was announced in January, this period at Bristol was cut very short...
Forgot we also have Rubiolo and Max Pepper joining. So two premiership ready signings.
FKAS wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 6:11 pm
Bristol have signed Tom Jordan to replace Malins. An excellent signing that.
Had Jordan and Rubiolo as our prem ready players. With one of the smallest squads, only having 5 come in, and 11 out it would leave us really thin if that's it.
FKAS wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 6:11 pm
Bristol have signed Tom Jordan to replace Malins. An excellent signing that.
Had Jordan and Rubiolo as our prem ready players. With one of the smallest squads, only having 5 come in, and 11 out it would leave us really thin if that's it.
and Max Pepper.
There's always likely to be more leaving than coming in due to development players not establishing themselves and moving on. That being said I'd expect Bristol to be announcing a few more signings after that leaving list.
FKAS wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 9:49 pm]
and Max Pepper.
There's always likely to be more leaving than coming in due to development players not establishing themselves and moving on. That being said I'd expect Bristol to be announcing a few more signings after that leaving list.
That, plus academy graduates aren't usually counted as being new signings
Ruaridh McConnochie and Louis Schreuder are going to retire end of this season. Good club men and probably the right time for them - wish them all the best.
