[Olyy]

He's very good around the pitch but his lineout is poor, I'm a bit surprised that Bath have gone for him considering how much they love a strong setpiece
Then again maybe a different coaching set up will change that - Oghre's setpiece has improved tenfold since going to Bristol

Rumours that they're losing two senior hookers, with Frost and Tuipulotu taking the spots
Guessing Annet and Faiva - which would make sense as it boosts their EQP numbers too

[Flumpty]

Good job they had plenty of room in the salary cap to make this signing!

The accountant at Bath is very, very good at working with figures, OR, Bath are very very good at negotiatimg salaries with their players.

[Lord Elpus]

Even though the home dressing room at the Wreck is as big as the Blackpool Tower ballroom it'll still be a tight squeeze.

For away games they charter a train rather than a 'bus.

[RugbyMarvel]

Rugby Meet (Italian Paper) suggesting Fischetti to Gloucester but more importantly, Cannone Brothers interested in top 14 / Premiership.

If the Cannone brothers fancied Manchester, they’d be reasonably high on my light. Strong carriers, dynamic, like them.

[exileneal]

Rugby Meet (Italian Paper) suggesting Fischetti to Gloucester but more importantly, Cannone Brothers interested in top 14 / Premiership.

If the Cannone brothers fancied Manchester, they’d be reasonably high on my light. Strong carriers, dynamic, like them.

If they fancied rugby in Manchester over the South of France, given the climate and financial reasons to choose France, then I’d give them an HIA.

[Olyy]

Seen someone say that Ted Hill might be one of the players leaving Bath - if that's true, and we're losing the du Preez twins, he would be an amazing player to sign

[RinTin]

Bath have officially confirmed Carreras, Frost and a scrum half called Van De Linde who they appear very excited about.

utility back, hooker and scrum half.... All positions I would love to see stocked further. Bath recruiting well.

[SSR]

All positions I would love to see stocked further

Don't worry , they will probably sign a few more next week.

[RinTin]

All positions I would love to see stocked further

Don't worry , they will probably sign a few more next week.

https://www.bathrugby.com/content/bath-sign-arundell

Lottery numbers for Friday please @SSR ?

[SSR]

Bath have a cunning plan to replace some of the missing teams of the premiership.
Multiple Bath teams each with their own Cap. Bath, Bathe and Paddling Pool for the
youngsters

[RinTin]

Bath have a cunning plan to replace some of the missing teams of the premiership.
Multiple Bath teams each with their own Cap. Bath, Bathe and Paddling Pool for the
youngsters

Maybe 'Spa' for the over 33's?

[Flumpty]

All positions I would love to see stocked further

Don't worry , they will probably sign a few more next week.

Maybe they all get multiple Dyson products "gifted" to them each week, in lieu of a Sterling salary.

[RinTin]

Dan Kelly has signed for Munster - another centre option gone.

[dinogyro]

All positions I would love to see stocked further

Don't worry , they will probably sign a few more next week.

Maybe they all get multiple Dyson products "gifted" to them each week, in lieu of a Sterling salary.

Or free trips to his factory in Thailand?

[SSR]

Gatland gone, perhaps a Defence Coach going spare ?

[RinTin]

Malins confirmed back to Saracens.

Come on Sale, just announce 1 person for next year. I'll even take Marius Louw at this point.

[SSR]

That would be a new Louw for Sale.

[DavenportSharky]

Gatland gone, perhaps a Defence Coach going spare ?

Howley gone but Forshaw retained

[poyntonshark]

That would be a new Louw for Sale.

[Bucks1861]

LC-D

“ Exeter Chiefs are believed to be in the running to sign out-of-favour Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba after Rob Baxter denied that he has held talks with England star Luke Cowan-Dickie about a return to Sandy Park.

Truro-born Cowan-Dickie, 31, is out of contract at Sale Sharks at the end of the season, and the rumour mill has been in overdrive that he was being lined up for a dramatic return to Devon, where he left for Manchester in 2023.

“I can categorically say we are not in transfer negotiations with him if he wants to give me a call and ask about the scenario at Exeter. I’m more than happy.

“But I have not been contacted by him or his agent. If he is doing to knock on the door and the contract is right, we’ll discuss things, but that honestly has not happened,” said Chiefs boss Baxter.

Cowan-Dickie is likely to now stay with the Sharks for at least the next 12 months but could have an escape clause inserted, which will allow him to leave in 2026 if a French club comes in for him.

[SSR]

Dweba confirmed to Exeter Chiefs for less than we offered apparently.
Not sure what that implies.
Expect LCD will be confirmed before long ( or we will be short at 2 ).

[Flumpty]

Dweba confirmed to Exeter Chiefs for less than we offered apparently.
Not sure what that implies.

Many, many people prefer Devon to Manchester - it's not all about money !

[Olyy]

Did we offer anything for Dweba?
Stories at the time were he wanted out, his club wanted rid (and were willing to waive any contract buyout/transfer fee), but no one wanted him

[RinTin]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/exeter-c ... -stormers/ - article says we offered £300k per season.

Maybe he doesn't get on with some of our existing SA contingent on a personal level?

Weird one though. We are performing much better, whereas Exeter feel like a club in crisis.

[Olyy]

FOR DWEBA?!
F**king hell, someone take the chequebook away from Axe

I know we want some signings but Jesus Christ

[dinogyro]

I'd love to see Akker VDM scuttling up to the try line for a retirement season or two with us.

[Alex]

I thought the rumour was that we were interested in/have signed Nathan Jibulu from Quins

[SSR]

Isn't Nathan Jibulu one of Quins Academy products. Is he further along the development
line than our own Academy products?

[Yareet]

Isn't Nathan Jibulu one of Quins Academy products. Is he further along the development
line than our own Academy products?

Short answer is yes. At least in my opinion.

It’s not a straight comparison as we have a definite first choice 2 in LCD with others behind him. Quins have more of a stable of 4/5 Prem-standard 2s.

Nevertheless, Jibs was already seen by some fans as one of the top 2 2s.

Jibs was also in the squad for the A game v Australia. Didn’t make the 23 but only lost out to Curtis and Langdon.

Along with Anyanwu, Jibs is the loss Quins fans are feeling most.

[45jumper]

Isn't the £300k figure for Dweba from last season? I'd be really happy with Jibulu, huge potential.

[RinTin]

Isn't the £300k figure for Dweba from last season? I'd be really happy with Jibulu, huge potential.

Yes - I've seen nothing about us offering to take him again for 25/26 season.

[RinTin]

Reports that Salmaan Moerat has rejected our offer and is staying with the Stormers next year.

We reportedly put £330,000 a season on the table (same as Bayonne) but he is staying put, extending with SA Rugby to the next world cup.

[SSR]

Thinking of 2024/25 years "new" signings, not many have made a significant contribution.
McElroy has shown promise as a sound backup.
Le Roux Roets has not shown anything.
Naya has been a big disappointment.
Addison has not shown enough to claim a starting place.
We still have a lot of long term injuries within our Senior players.
We have also a few younsters who have been regularly injured and/or not fulfilled promise.
I am not hopeful of anything significant being achieved by this Season end.
Call-ups have severely disrupted our season with its bizarre timetable. We don't have the
depth of squad to survive success.
Is this year a write-off except for clarifying who will/won't be with us next year?
Day Zero again?

[RinTin]

Our recent transfer record is much more miss than hit. Last 3 seasons or so we have had so many come who just haven't lived up to expectation. Only guys who really seem to have kicked on and done what were needed were LCD and Andrews. Lots of wasted pennies there.

Flip that on it's head though and we have made some very successful signings in the years prior such as 3xDP, Ford, Manu, Ross, Wiese, Akker, Coenie, Faf, Yarde.

2018 - 2021 we couldn't go wrong! Then it all went Pete Tong.

[Lord Elpus]

Get Dimes back as a "scout"

[Yareet]

Our recent transfer record is much more miss than hit. Last 3 seasons or so we have had so many come who just haven't lived up to expectation. Only guys who really seem to have kicked on and done what were needed were LCD and Andrews. Lots of wasted pennies there.

Flip that on it's head though and we have made some very successful signings in the years prior such as 3xDP, Ford, Manu, Ross, Wiese, Akker, Coenie, Faf, Yarde.

2018 - 2021 we couldn't go wrong! Then it all went Pete Tong.

Doesn’t that just reflect the fact that once there was less money post-Covid, we brought in fewer and less heralded players?

[Alex]

Well that solves the hooker questions!

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/02/18/s ... er-jibulu/

[RinTin]

Our recent transfer record is much more miss than hit. Last 3 seasons or so we have had so many come who just haven't lived up to expectation. Only guys who really seem to have kicked on and done what were needed were LCD and Andrews. Lots of wasted pennies there.

Flip that on it's head though and we have made some very successful signings in the years prior such as 3xDP, Ford, Manu, Ross, Wiese, Akker, Coenie, Faf, Yarde.

2018 - 2021 we couldn't go wrong! Then it all went Pete Tong.

Doesn’t that just reflect the fact that once there was less money post-Covid, we brought in fewer and less heralded players?

Manu and Ford were post covid.

To me it shows we are not scouting very well, or are taking too many risks.

Add to this the fact that players rumoured to be on our radar have been going elsewhere (Kelly, Dweba, Moerat, was Loader on it too??) and something doesn't appear right with our recruitment/ scouting.

I'm absolutely not saying a team needs to recruit to improve, especially with the great homegrown players we have, but it does help.

[RinTin]

Well that solves the hooker questions!

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/02/18/s ... er-jibulu/

Brilliant news!

Just looked into the rumour mill around him. Article came along in November saying we pipped Exeter to him! Guess that's why Chiefs turned to Dweba.

Love the young EQP core we have at Sale.

[Olyy]

To me it shows we are not scouting very well, or are taking too many risks.

Feels like our foreign scouting isn't great atm - I know Dimes (and Axe) semi-joked about Jono and Faf doing all their scouting for them, but I guess there was more than a sliver of truth in it

Feels like we panic into signing players at the moment - Manu is going , quick sign Nayacalevu!
Cobus is going? Quick, sign La Roets!

Signings feel reactionary rather than us properly finding who we want

[RinTin]

Final sentence sums up my opinion as well.

[Oh Danny Boy]

I know, from me, it comes across as a scratched record but I have to ask, are there plans to replace Deacon?

[Clutch]

Can't see Deacon being around after this year. Even I have lost patience and I have blamed several other reasons before him! Still partially convinced it isn't that simple still!

On the subject of recruitment. We don't play an exciting brand of rugby so no 3/4 with any flair would be wanting to come to Sale. has to be a factor, which means that we have to take punts on people. If we do change attack coaching then that may make us more appealing.

Forward recruitment tends to be pretty good. Roets not so much but he is a project player. I don't mind us taking punts and we have been a bit unlucky that none of our punts have worked. Also have to consider the success ratio for signings across all sports is much smaller than you'd think.

[RinTin]

Gloucester sign Ross Byrne at 10.

More significantly.... they have also signed Will Joseph at 13 from Quins. Good signing imo.

[Olyy]

I know they've lost Carreras but he only played 10 when Anscombe was unavailable - can't imagine Byrne would move to be second choice somewhere, is Anscombe gonna be moving on? His partnership with Williams is one of the best 9/10 pairings in the league

W.Joseph is a great pickup - gotta question what Quins are doing losing both him and Jibs!
Again, though, didn't think it was a position they'd be recruiting in - maybe Chris Harris is off?

[RinTin]

Add in Quins losing Anwanyu as well! 3 young England prospects out the door.

Glos have Anscombe, Seb Atkinson, Llewelyn as 10, 12, 13. Breaking that will be difficult, but I guess Joseph isn't first choice for Quins so can't expect to be at Gloucester initially either?

[Olyy]

Is WGJ out of contract at the end of this season?
If so I hope we get him signed back up (/that the WRU allow him to play outside of Wales)
His forced move to Wales last time really didn't work out - seems much better for both parties if he's allowed to stay here!

[RinTin]

Ospreys have signed Naya with immediate effect until the end of the season. The ordeal is over.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ospreys- ... ayacelevu/

Still think it's a real shame it failed this badly.

[Olyy]

Be interesting seeing what kind of form he has there

[DavenportSharky]

Is WGJ out of contract at the end of this season?
If so I hope we get him signed back up (/that the WRU allow him to play outside of Wales)
His forced move to Wales last time really didn't work out - seems much better for both parties if he's allowed to stay here!

Bit of a queue forming at tighthead. Schonert. Asher, WGJ, Harper, Raymont……
When they are all fit who should we keep?