- Thu May 14, 2020 10:46 am
#12425
Updated 11/08/20
Hi all - as clubs begin to return to training, I've put together a list of who I think is out of contract to give us a list of squad strength, who is expected to leave or confirmed leavers and any additions. Where the contract length has not been stated I've guessed but I think a lot of these based on announcements are largely accurate.
I'll attempt to edit this as news comes in.
LH – Dell, Hobbs-Ayowemi, Elrington, Goodrick-Clarke
TH – Kepu, Hoskins, Cilliers, Chawatama
Academy – Green, Baker
Outgoing – Believe Hobbs-Ayowemi, Elrington, Chawatama, Cilliers are possibly all at end of contract. Danny confirmed by Saints as joining on the 26/06. Cilliers confirmed by Irish as leaving back to SA.
Incoming - Tarek Haffar joins on Academy terms.
Hookers
Porecki, Ma’atu, Fainga’a, McMillan (Short Term)
Academy – Ben Atkins
Outgoing – Believe Fainga’a is out of contract. McMillan contract already expired. Porecki confirmed he is off back home, assume a club to be announced. Fainga’a expected to retire / go back to Australia, now confirmed by LI.
Incoming – Previously linked to Max Crumpton of Harlequins in Rugby Paper, but he has been forced to retire. RugbyInsideLine quoted that we have beaten Quins to Matt Cornish of Ealing and he's been spotted at Hazelwood (thanks, Instagram!). Joe Vajner joins the Academy. Cornish confirmed and Argentinian media saying we’ve signed Augustin Creevy.
Locks
Van Der Merwe, Coleman, Botha, Madison, Nott
Academy – Munga, Collingridge
Outgoing – Van Der Merwe confirmed as leaving on Season Ticket Holder Zoom call. Madison confirmed (3/6/20) as returning to Ealing. Believe Nott may be out of contract. Collingridge from the Academy is confirmed as going. Botha, rumoured as wanting to stay in Japan and not come back to Irish, is now confirmed as leaving with Simmons coming in.
Incoming – Whilst listed above, Botha formally comes back to LI from Japan. TRP says we are favourites to sign Matías Alemanno of the Jaguares, however since then he has been linked with Beziers and Gloucester, signing for Gloucester. TRP are now linking us to Rob Simmons, Wallaby international, which is now confirmed. De Chaves joins on a short term deal for the season restart.
Flankers
O’Brien, Cowan, Mafi, Ioane, Gilsenan, Northcote-Green, Curtis-Harris, Cooke
Academy – Donnell, Smart, Moore-Aiono, Rossiter
Outgoing – Believe Ioane, Gilsenan, Northcote-Green are all out of contract. Rumour that Finn Rossiter is leaving to go to Barts and start his medical education, now confirmed by Irish.
Incoming – Ruck.co.uk linked Irish with Calum Clark of Saracens but as with most Ruck rumors this went nowhere. Zinzan Brooke confirmed his son Lucas Brooke has signed a 2 year Academy contract. Also joining the Academy is George Davis who can also play Hooker.
8
Tuisue, Rogerson
Academy – Belcher
Outgoing – Believe Rogerson may be out of contract. Jack Belcher is confirmed as leaving.
Incoming – Ruck had rumoured Irish as interested in Sergio Parisse before he ‘turned us down’.
Scrum-Half
Meehan, Phipps, Steele, Brand
Academy – Englefield
Outgoing – Believe Meehan, Steele are out of contract. Steele confirmed via social media he is leaving London Irish, TRP saying to Harlequins.
Incoming – With the Yorkshire RFU Academy shutting, Theo Smurdon (who also plays 10) is someone we are looking at as per TRP.
Fly-Half
Jackson, Myler, Brophy-Clews, Atkins
Outgoing – Believe Myler, Brophy-Clews may be out of contract. Myler confirmed to be leaving by the club.
Incoming – TRP linked Irish and a host of clubs to Issac Lucas, former Queensland Red and Aus U 20 Fly Half / Utility Back. TRP has also linked us with Noel Reid but local news in Agen has him signing for the local team there (now confirmed).
Centres
Hepetema, Rona, Williams, Stephenson, Campbell, Macken
Academy – Cokanasiga
Outgoing – Believe Stephenson, Macken are out of contract. Campbell seems to be confirmed as leaving to the US as per a Blair Cowan Instagram (!) post to him and his partner. Campbell now confirmed by LI and Stephenson is off too.
Incoming – On Rugby Network message boards, we have been linked with England international Piers Francis but he is staying at Saints. Daily Mail linked us with Alex Lozowski on loan, but has re-signed with Sarries with a year's sojourn in France. Curtis Rona linked by the Australian Daily Telegraph with a return to Rugby League in Canberra. Will Joseph, brother of Jonathan, joins the Academy. Ross Neal rejoins on a short term deal for the season restart. Kyle Eastmond is someone being linked to us between a cryptic Neil Fissler tweet and Ben Coles of the Telegraph.
Wings
Loader, Naholo, Fowlie, Tuatagaloa (Short Term)
Academy - Hassell-Collins
Outgoing – Believe Fowlie is out of contract. Tuatagaloa is already confirmed as leaving to Rouen Normandie in France.
Incoming – Wingers Michael Dykes and Alex Harmes join the Academy. Charlton Kerr of England 7s has been signed and in XVs can play wing or full back.
Full Back
Parton, Veitokani, Stokes (Short Term)
Academy – Partington
Outgoing – Stokes short term contract should be at an end unless he has been extended - however this week (10/08) he was spotted in training photos. Partington confirmed leaving to Hartpury. Veitokani confirmed by club as leaving.
Incoming – Nick Abendanon was rumoured by Rugby Paper to be a possible short term signing to cover the restart of this current season but is staying in France in the Pro D2. Dec let slip Tom Homer has a medical ahead of rejoining, now confirmed as signing.
Hi all - as clubs begin to return to training, I've put together a list of who I think is out of contract to give us a list of squad strength, who is expected to leave or confirmed leavers and any additions. Where the contract length has not been stated I've guessed but I think a lot of these based on announcements are largely accurate.
I'll attempt to edit this as news comes in.
- Rumoured / Confirmed Leavers - Hobbs-Ayowemi (Confirmed - Northampton), McMillan (Confirmed), Porecki (Confirmed - Waratahs), Fainga'a (Confirmed), Cilliers (Confirmed), Botha (Confirmed - Japan), Van der Merwe (Confirmed), Madison (Confirmed - Ealing), Botha, (Confirmed - Japan), Collingridge (Confirmed), Rossiter (Confirmed - University), Belcher (Confirmed), Steele (Confirmed), Myler (Confirmed - Ospreys), Rona, Campbell (Confirmed), Stephenson (Confirmed), Tuatagaloa (Confirmed - Rouen Normandie), Stokes, Partingon (Confirmed - Hartpury), Veitokani (Confirmed)
- Rumoured / Confirmed Joiners - Haffar (Confirmed - Academy), Cornish (Confirmed), Creevy (Confirmed), Vajner (Confirmed - Academy), Simmons (Confirmed), De Chaves (Confirmed - Short Term), Lucas, Brooke (Confirmed - Academy), Davis (Confirmed - Academy), Smurdon (Academy), Eastmond, Joseph (Confirmed - Academy), Harmes (Confirmed - Academy), Dykes (Confirmed - Academy), Kerr (Confirmed), Neal (Confirmed - Short Term), Homer (Confirmed)
- 62 Total Players
- 59 Senior plus 3 Loan / Short Term
- 14 Academy
LH – Dell, Hobbs-Ayowemi, Elrington, Goodrick-Clarke
TH – Kepu, Hoskins, Cilliers, Chawatama
Academy – Green, Baker
Outgoing – Believe Hobbs-Ayowemi, Elrington, Chawatama, Cilliers are possibly all at end of contract. Danny confirmed by Saints as joining on the 26/06. Cilliers confirmed by Irish as leaving back to SA.
Incoming - Tarek Haffar joins on Academy terms.
Hookers
Porecki, Ma’atu, Fainga’a, McMillan (Short Term)
Academy – Ben Atkins
Outgoing – Believe Fainga’a is out of contract. McMillan contract already expired. Porecki confirmed he is off back home, assume a club to be announced. Fainga’a expected to retire / go back to Australia, now confirmed by LI.
Incoming – Previously linked to Max Crumpton of Harlequins in Rugby Paper, but he has been forced to retire. RugbyInsideLine quoted that we have beaten Quins to Matt Cornish of Ealing and he's been spotted at Hazelwood (thanks, Instagram!). Joe Vajner joins the Academy. Cornish confirmed and Argentinian media saying we’ve signed Augustin Creevy.
Locks
Van Der Merwe, Coleman, Botha, Madison, Nott
Academy – Munga, Collingridge
Outgoing – Van Der Merwe confirmed as leaving on Season Ticket Holder Zoom call. Madison confirmed (3/6/20) as returning to Ealing. Believe Nott may be out of contract. Collingridge from the Academy is confirmed as going. Botha, rumoured as wanting to stay in Japan and not come back to Irish, is now confirmed as leaving with Simmons coming in.
Incoming – Whilst listed above, Botha formally comes back to LI from Japan. TRP says we are favourites to sign Matías Alemanno of the Jaguares, however since then he has been linked with Beziers and Gloucester, signing for Gloucester. TRP are now linking us to Rob Simmons, Wallaby international, which is now confirmed. De Chaves joins on a short term deal for the season restart.
Flankers
O’Brien, Cowan, Mafi, Ioane, Gilsenan, Northcote-Green, Curtis-Harris, Cooke
Academy – Donnell, Smart, Moore-Aiono, Rossiter
Outgoing – Believe Ioane, Gilsenan, Northcote-Green are all out of contract. Rumour that Finn Rossiter is leaving to go to Barts and start his medical education, now confirmed by Irish.
Incoming – Ruck.co.uk linked Irish with Calum Clark of Saracens but as with most Ruck rumors this went nowhere. Zinzan Brooke confirmed his son Lucas Brooke has signed a 2 year Academy contract. Also joining the Academy is George Davis who can also play Hooker.
8
Tuisue, Rogerson
Academy – Belcher
Outgoing – Believe Rogerson may be out of contract. Jack Belcher is confirmed as leaving.
Incoming – Ruck had rumoured Irish as interested in Sergio Parisse before he ‘turned us down’.
Scrum-Half
Meehan, Phipps, Steele, Brand
Academy – Englefield
Outgoing – Believe Meehan, Steele are out of contract. Steele confirmed via social media he is leaving London Irish, TRP saying to Harlequins.
Incoming – With the Yorkshire RFU Academy shutting, Theo Smurdon (who also plays 10) is someone we are looking at as per TRP.
Fly-Half
Jackson, Myler, Brophy-Clews, Atkins
Outgoing – Believe Myler, Brophy-Clews may be out of contract. Myler confirmed to be leaving by the club.
Incoming – TRP linked Irish and a host of clubs to Issac Lucas, former Queensland Red and Aus U 20 Fly Half / Utility Back. TRP has also linked us with Noel Reid but local news in Agen has him signing for the local team there (now confirmed).
Centres
Hepetema, Rona, Williams, Stephenson, Campbell, Macken
Academy – Cokanasiga
Outgoing – Believe Stephenson, Macken are out of contract. Campbell seems to be confirmed as leaving to the US as per a Blair Cowan Instagram (!) post to him and his partner. Campbell now confirmed by LI and Stephenson is off too.
Incoming – On Rugby Network message boards, we have been linked with England international Piers Francis but he is staying at Saints. Daily Mail linked us with Alex Lozowski on loan, but has re-signed with Sarries with a year's sojourn in France. Curtis Rona linked by the Australian Daily Telegraph with a return to Rugby League in Canberra. Will Joseph, brother of Jonathan, joins the Academy. Ross Neal rejoins on a short term deal for the season restart. Kyle Eastmond is someone being linked to us between a cryptic Neil Fissler tweet and Ben Coles of the Telegraph.
Wings
Loader, Naholo, Fowlie, Tuatagaloa (Short Term)
Academy - Hassell-Collins
Outgoing – Believe Fowlie is out of contract. Tuatagaloa is already confirmed as leaving to Rouen Normandie in France.
Incoming – Wingers Michael Dykes and Alex Harmes join the Academy. Charlton Kerr of England 7s has been signed and in XVs can play wing or full back.
Full Back
Parton, Veitokani, Stokes (Short Term)
Academy – Partington
Outgoing – Stokes short term contract should be at an end unless he has been extended - however this week (10/08) he was spotted in training photos. Partington confirmed leaving to Hartpury. Veitokani confirmed by club as leaving.
Incoming – Nick Abendanon was rumoured by Rugby Paper to be a possible short term signing to cover the restart of this current season but is staying in France in the Pro D2. Dec let slip Tom Homer has a medical ahead of rejoining, now confirmed as signing.
Last edited by Stevie J on Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:03 pm, edited 47 times in total.