Transfer news, rumours, suggestions, frenzied speculation, and outright lies - Season 2023-24

[Banquo]

I kinda want to punch their social media PR guy

a- spending a lot of cash on it, and b- its like top trumps for tweenies.

I'm getting old, let me hate things for young people!

Oh, I'm in full agreement. Alas, supporters expect this sort of stuff.

[jimKRFC]

Josh Carrington, full back, from Cardiff Met and Will Ramply (lock, Nottingham) both sign for Bristol.

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... n-2025-26/

[FKAS]

Scotland hooker George Turner to Quins after his spell in Japan.

[Puja]

Josh Carrington, full back, from Cardiff Met and Will Ramply (lock, Nottingham) both sign for Bristol.

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... n-2025-26/

BUCS really has become an excellent pathway for English rugby. I don't know who set up the current structure or whether it was even a plan at all, but it's working very well.

Puja

[Banquo]

Josh Carrington, full back, from Cardiff Met and Will Ramply (lock, Nottingham) both sign for Bristol.

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/ ... n-2025-26/

BUCS really has become an excellent pathway for English rugby. I don't know who set up the current structure or whether it was even a plan at all, but it's working very well.

Puja

Yep we should have a couple with us next season

[Mikey Brown]

Scotland hooker George Turner to Quins after his spell in Japan.

Fantastic. Immensely physical and really handy around the field.

That is assuming he’s still up to it fitness wise. We seem to have a habit of buying perpetually injured/broken forwards after their peak. He’s had quite a few concussions I think.

[Which Tyler]

Rugby Confidential: Inside the minefield facing free agents this summer, Bath bolter lined up for England call and Saracens star signs new deal

[Banquo]

Rugby Confidential: Inside the minefield facing free agents this summer, Bath bolter lined up for England call and Saracens star signs new deal

unfortunately there are basically too many pro players. All this was predictable from when squad size limits were imposed, and now there will be less dual regging that increases the cost pressures- season long loans are pretty unaffordable too for full time pros.

[Which Tyler]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

[Banquo]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

[FKAS]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

I think it was advised but never implemented as quite frankly it's unworkable without there being an exemption for players 24 or under or some other stupid workaround. 35 players would never be enough considering you need at least 6 senior props and 3 senior hookers and even that is cutting it short based on most squad. If you included an under 24 exemption that surely leaves the process open to a legal case for restriction to work and age discrimination.

[Banquo]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

I think it was advised but never implemented as quite frankly it's unworkable without there being an exemption for players 24 or under or some other stupid workaround. 35 players would never be enough considering you need at least 6 senior props and 3 senior hookers and even that is cutting it short based on most squad. If you included an under 24 exemption that surely leaves the process open to a legal case for restriction to work and age discrimination.

Maybe, the original proposal iirc was 35 plus 12 19-24 yo. It does look like clubs had started to go down something like that route judging by the way squads now are published. The aim was to prevent warehousing and promote young EQPs over overseas non marquee players....but the path to hell is paved with good intentions. The CHAMP RUGBY (:)) restrictions very much have teeth around dual reg and eqps....tangential but kinda related.

[Stom]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

Well, wages at the top of the game keep going up, while the budget isn't rising...something has to give.

[Banquo]

There are squad size limits?
I must have missed that.

Unless you mean the 35-man limit that never emerged

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

Well, wages at the top of the game keep going up, while the budget isn't rising...something has to give.

quite

[FKAS]

was meant to be in pgp, was it cut out somewhere? sneaky if so.

Whatever, still too many pro players, thought it does appear prem squads have shrunk season on season, notwithstanding the non limit (maybe the threat was enough).

Well, wages at the top of the game keep going up, while the budget isn't rising...something has to give.

quite

Number of games has reduced and with no crossover between international and Prem games (mostly) the need for a deeper squad of senior players isn't what it was. Most sides are happy to use the PRC as a development competition.

Not sure many of the teams in the league this season are paying up to the salary cap.

[Banquo]

Well, wages at the top of the game keep going up, while the budget isn't rising...something has to give.

quite

Number of games has reduced and with no crossover between international and Prem games (mostly) the need for a deeper squad of senior players isn't what it was. Most sides are happy to use the PRC as a development competition.

Not sure many of the teams in the league this season are paying up to the salary cap.

.be interesting to actually know tho...

[FKAS]

quite

Number of games has reduced and with no crossover between international and Prem games (mostly) the need for a deeper squad of senior players isn't what it was. Most sides are happy to use the PRC as a development competition.

Not sure many of the teams in the league this season are paying up to the salary cap.

.be interesting to actually know tho...

I have long thought more transparency around salary cap spend would help ease doubts over another potential Sarries debacle.

Bath and Tigers would have probably both expected to pay up to the cap this season but both have then seen players leave early. Regan Grace and Jacques du Plessis allowed to leave Bath early whilst Tigers saw Simmons and Watson retire whilst Beets never arrive. Tigers did bring Radwan in as a replacement.

Wouldn't surprise me if all clubs weren't maximising the potential spend under the cap and sticking more to the basic £6.4m.

[Banquo]

Number of games has reduced and with no crossover between international and Prem games (mostly) the need for a deeper squad of senior players isn't what it was. Most sides are happy to use the PRC as a development competition.

Not sure many of the teams in the league this season are paying up to the salary cap.

.be interesting to actually know tho...

I have long thought more transparency around salary cap spend would help ease doubts over another potential Sarries debacle.

Bath and Tigers would have probably both expected to pay up to the cap this season but both have then seen players leave early. Regan Grace and Jacques du Plessis allowed to leave Bath early whilst Tigers saw Simmons and Watson retire whilst Beets never arrive. Tigers did bring Radwan in as a replacement.

Wouldn't surprise me if all clubs weren't maximising the potential spend under the cap and sticking more to the basic £6.4m.

…and even then, is that affordable, to close the circle.

[FKAS]

.be interesting to actually know tho...

I have long thought more transparency around salary cap spend would help ease doubts over another potential Sarries debacle.

Bath and Tigers would have probably both expected to pay up to the cap this season but both have then seen players leave early. Regan Grace and Jacques du Plessis allowed to leave Bath early whilst Tigers saw Simmons and Watson retire whilst Beets never arrive. Tigers did bring Radwan in as a replacement.

Wouldn't surprise me if all clubs weren't maximising the potential spend under the cap and sticking more to the basic £6.4m.

…and even then, is that affordable, to close the circle.

More affordable than the spend has been in the past I think, though I haven't been through all the published accounts to review them.

[Banquo]

I have long thought more transparency around salary cap spend would help ease doubts over another potential Sarries debacle.

Bath and Tigers would have probably both expected to pay up to the cap this season but both have then seen players leave early. Regan Grace and Jacques du Plessis allowed to leave Bath early whilst Tigers saw Simmons and Watson retire whilst Beets never arrive. Tigers did bring Radwan in as a replacement.

Wouldn't surprise me if all clubs weren't maximising the potential spend under the cap and sticking more to the basic £6.4m.

…and even then, is that affordable, to close the circle.

More affordable than the spend has been in the past I think, though I haven't been through all the published accounts to review them.

well published accounts including this years spends arent in existence yet, and more affordable seems more like code for losing a bit less cash, but we`ll see I guess

[FKAS]

…and even then, is that affordable, to close the circle.

More affordable than the spend has been in the past I think, though I haven't been through all the published accounts to review them.

well published accounts including this years spends arent in existence yet, and more affordable seems more like code for losing a bit less cash, but we`ll see I guess

Slashing the budget dramatically ends up in an Exeter style situation. I suspect most teams are just managing with a bit less each year. If I could be bothered to do the research I'd be looking at trend spend over time and whether that was making any impact on the bottom line and relative league position.

[Banquo]

More affordable than the spend has been in the past I think, though I haven't been through all the published accounts to review them.

well published accounts including this years spends arent in existence yet, and more affordable seems more like code for losing a bit less cash, but we`ll see I guess

Slashing the budget dramatically ends up in an Exeter style situation. I suspect most teams are just managing with a bit less each year. If I could be bothered to do the research I'd be looking at trend spend over time and whether that was making any impact on the bottom line and relative league position.

You'd hope the club's boards would do the same.

[Captainhaircut]

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…

[FKAS]

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.

[Captainhaircut]

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.