[Olyy]

Yeah he'd a fantastic prospect, most clubs would bite your hand off to sign him

Seem to remember, when he renewed at Racing, talk of a get out clause if he wanted to leave for an English club - but that might be what the optional extra year mentioned is

[Dave L]

I do wonder if the Jonny Hill to Racing deal has hit the buffers post Stuart Lancaster leaving. You'd have thought he was the major advocate for it happening.

Do Racing want another injury prone, just above average Englishman on their books? Given his form for us JH isn't an upgrade on say Will Rowlands (I know he's Welsh). You'd wouldn't have blamed them on pulling the plug.

[Olyy]

Nayacalevu has left Ospreys

[RinTin]

Nayacalevu has left Ospreys

Saw he wasn’t in their squad again this week.

I feel sorry for the guy, he’s obviously got a lot going on away from rugby.

Likelihood of us being liable for his wages for the rest of the season?

[Bucks1861]

Official confirmation

“ Sharks sign Edwill van der Merwe

Meanwhile, the Sharks have confirmed the long-touted signing of Springboks winger Edwill van der Merwe from the Lions ahead of next season.

Van der Merwe reportedly attracted interest from Sale Sharks, who announced the signing of his Lions team-mate Marius Louw.

[SSR]

B*gger! I thought we had signed him, then realised it was the other ones.

[JohnJ of HM]

Nick Schonert leaves with immediate effect. Been excellent when fit but injured all too often lately.

[RinTin]

Lots of hubbub around Hoskins Sotutu being English qualified and potentially heading to the premiership.

With JL leaving (as we all expect) surely we could be a logical destination? The signing of Vermeulen sort of goes against this theory annoyingly.

Sotutu would be an EQP, so ticks the box, and the RFU are supposedly considering throwing him into the Enhanced EPS mix to cover salary and get him over here.

Still leaves us with the second row dilemma I suppose. JL being able to cover 4-8 well is a real strength of his.

[Olyy]

He's a very good player, don't get me wrong, but why would England be clammering after him so hard that they'd throw a central contract at him? Backrow is England's strongest position and has plenty of promising youngsters coming through too

If he were to sign for us (very unlikely imo, if it's England it'll be Gloucester, with them rumoured to be losing both Ackermann and Mercer) then great, but I think he'll stay in NZ, play for Fiji next year and then maybe go to Japan or France for the ¥¥¥/€€€

[Elgar]

I wonder if Vermeulen is more of a replacement for Hill or Beaumont and so whether we might still look for a closer replacement of any DP twins that leave.

[RinTin]

I believe Vermeulen is a squad player to cover the Curry's (one gametime being managed, the other now an international regular). In fact, both may tour with the Lions this summer so would need rest post tour. He also pushes EVR into the second row more regularly so helps fill that gap. JV doesn't play second row.

The Hoskins matter is just something that crossed my mind. The RFU offering an EPS contract would be for the initial 12 months as with everyone else. The fact NZ pundits are so concerned about losing him shows how good he is in my opinion.

[Bucks1861]

From RugbyPass

“ England and Lions hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has signed a new deal that will keep him at Sale Sharks for the next two years after turning down offers from the Premiership and France.

Truro-born Cowan-Dickie, 31, has rediscovered the form this season that, four years ago, made him the best hooker in the world before a torrid two-year spell of neck, shoulder, and arm injuries.

The former Exeter Chiefs star, who won two Premiership titles and the Champions Cup during his time at Sandy Park, has become Steve Borthwick’s choice in the middle of the front row after starting four of England’s five Six Nations games.”


Delighted!

[RinTin]

Nice to see some loyalty from a player! Unless of course offers abroad were non existent...

Given he is back in the England Squad he's receiving tidy match fees each time he plays, plus our salary on top. Staying in England makes sense.

[RinTin]

Apparently we have signed Reuben Logan from Northampton Saints (Son of Kenny and Gabby).

Young number 8.

[Bucks1861]

From Fissler Confidential this morning

“ Premiership clubs are taking notice of Doncaster Knights head coach Joe Ford, and one of them is rumoured to be his former club, Sale Sharks.

Ford, 34, who played fly-half like his brother, England and Sharks ace George, is the son of Oldham Rugby League coach Mike. He became Knights head coach last year after the departure of Steve Boden.

Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson has been linked with several coaches in recent weeks ahead of a potential strengthening of his coaching set-up at the end of the season, and Ford played for the club between 2013 and 2016.”

Now that’s interesting

[RinTin]

Si Mac has signed up for an additional season.

His performance vs Toulouse shows what he can offer. Very happy with this.

[Olyy]

Yeah, really really happy with that one

[RinTin]

I’ve noticed Ali Crossdale is out of contract at Perpignan at the end of the season. He’s been there since Wasps collapsed.

27, English, wing and fullback. Would be a very handy recruit. Has the ability to spark something from nothing.

I am keen on another back 3 man if possible. That, and lock, are 2 areas we could be weak next year. Unless a wild Le Roux Roets suddenly appears….

[ledzepsfr]

Slightly off thread, but Leinster's salary cap must be blown out of the water already....

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/ce824y7epkjo

[SSR]

The only thing stopping Leinster from signing more players is the ground capacity.

[ageinghoody]

Slightly off thread, but Leinster's salary cap must be blown out of the water already....

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/ce824y7epkjo

Do they even have a salary cap?

[Yareet]

Slightly off thread, but Leinster's salary cap must be blown out of the water already....

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/ce824y7epkjo

Do they even have a salary cap?

No

https://www.the42.ie/urc-salary-cap-6681136-Apr2025/

[Ashtonshark]

I’ve noticed Ali Crossdale is out of contract at Perpignan at the end of the season. He’s been there since Wasps collapsed.

27, English, wing and fullback. Would be a very handy recruit. Has the ability to spark something from nothing.

I am keen on another back 3 man if possible. That, and lock, are 2 areas we could be weak next year. Unless a wild Le Roux Roets suddenly appears….

Alty Grammar man too (pre-Sedbergh)

[Olyy]

Christian Wade is joining Wigan Warriors at the end of the (Union) season!
Don't think anyone was expecting that - bit surprised he's not sticking around the get the try record, unless he's backing himself to get 13 more this season, which would be quite something

[Lord Elpus]

I am keen on another back 3 man if possible. That, and lock, are 2 areas we could be weak next year. Unless a wild Le Roux Roets suddenly appears….

Ah yes - Le Roux Roets. Whatever happened to him?

[Evo]

I do feel as if there is a couple of eye catching signings in the melting pot...

[Bucks1861]

So hope so

[ledzepsfr]

Slightly off thread, but Leinster's salary cap must be blown out of the water already....

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/ce824y7epkjo

Do they even have a salary cap?

No

https://www.the42.ie/urc-salary-cap-6681136-Apr2025/

Can't read this as it's behind a paywall.

[ledzepsfr]

Christian Wade is joining Wigan Warriors at the end of the (Union) season!
Don't think anyone was expecting that - bit surprised he's not sticking around the get the try record, unless he's backing himself to get 13 more this season, which would be quite something

Ashy won't mind hahaha

[RinTin]

Just tuning into the KOKO show (Australian Rugby podcast with Ashley-Cooper, Giteau and Drew Mitchell) which I highly recommend to all.

They had Pierre Schoeman on and he was asked how he came to be at Edinburgh. Long story short, he got an offer but wasn't sure so called a saffer mate playing in the UK, happened to be Jono Ross with us. He went on to say that Sale actually then tabled a better offer than Edinburgh but, due to Edinburgh coming to him first, he decided to go with them.

What could have been. I think our main 2 looseheads at that point were Harrison and Taurus??

[ejndavid95]

Al confirms JLdP leaving for Bordeaux in his pre-match interview...great player for the club! Will be an emotional exit by the sounds of things

[Olyy]

[Bucks1861]

A Fissler comment today:

“ Northampton Saints are poised to part company with inside centre Burger Odendaal when his contract runs out at the end of the season, sparking a scramble to sign the South African.

Odendaal has spent the last two seasons at Franklin’s Gardens and is understood to be attracting interest from his former club the Lions, as well as the Sharks, Worcester Warriors and Ealing Trailfinders.”

Got to believe that’s the Durban based franchise, rather than us.

[Olyy]

From what I've been reading about the guy we have signed maybe we should've waited out for Odendaal instead

[RinTin]

OOTP Jack Metcalfe set to leave Newcastle. Forgot they signed him! His career has not gone to plan since leaving us unfortunately.

[Olyy]

Showed a lot of promise in his run of games with us, wonder how his career would've turned out if he stayed to grown in a backline with Reed/Roebuck/Carpenter rather than chasing money at Ealing

[Olyy]

Doherty got two tries today (and Neild one) for Falcons - be interesting to see if he comes back, think someone mentioned above (or maybe in another thread) that he's technically out of contract at the end of this season (signed a 1yr deal with an optional 2nd)

I'd like to see him back, if he's happy to play second Fiddle to Rob
Feel like we don't have much depth in the centres

[poyntonshark]

One of RMW or Louw will likely be playing second fiddle to Rob, then there's both Bedlows and Luke James if he ever stays fit. All previously deemed too good to loan to Newcastle.

Although I do agree we need to be much stronger in the centres.

[Dave L]

Our centres debate is forever interesting.

We’ve gone from being concerned about having no 12 at the start of the season to almost having a surfeit for next season given the signing of Louw and RMW’s development. Luke James also looked good at 12 when he had a run of games (fitness permitting) and Sam Bedlow is a solid back up option (again mixed fitness).

13 looks a bit threadbare now. If Rob has to play 10 who do we pick? Addison looks like age and injury has withered him. We’re not sure is Doherty will return etc

We’re still faced with the Tom Curtis conundrum.

[SSR]

I am not sure about RMW. Seems to be coming along nicely but where do the
management see him as a starting option longer term? Overall, before we get a look
at Louw we do seem to have a missing link in attack rather than defence. Are we relying on
the wingers to get us breaks or do we need a flyhalf that can glide through and set the
centres free? GF can do it as we saw in the last couple of weeks, but is Curtis capable of doing it?

[RugbyMarvel]

Re the centre debate, I would like RMW to add that string to his bow (Tuilagi always looked his best at 13) but it’s just bloody difficult to defend that channel. I see RMW / RDP potentially being the starting partnership; RMW has started to perform really well, he is EQP and if we want to keep him we need to play him. If RDP goes down, it does become an issue as if you move RMW / Doherty / L James / Louw there then a totally different game plan is required as we use him as a secondary playmaker there. They could well be relying on RDP to stay fit at this rate.

Back up fly half wise, we need to start considering finding a new back up. Curtis hasn’t impressed in his opportunities and clear that the coaches think that.

Main issue for me is the uncertainty around DDP, now we know JLDP is leaving. Unless they’re going to give Logan a run at 8, we need someone. Even if we do give him a run, I really don’t see Vermulen or Van Rhyn as long term options at the base of the scrum.

Other issue around lock / back row is the fact we don’t know what is happening with Hill, Beaumont, Andrews or Le Roux Roets. Feels like we only have Bamber and Van Rhyn locked in as senior players there.

[Olyy]

I'm hoping RMW stays as first choice 12 - he's growing nicely with consistent game time there


Didn't another thread say both Bedlows and Addison are out of contract this season?

[RugbyMarvel]

Think they are all out of contract yes, as well as Doherty. I like Bedlow but he can be inconsistent.

Dream signing would be bringing Marchant over but so unlikely.

[DavenportSharky]

I’m not too worried about centres. RDP looks indestructible. Luke James is class and it’s such a shame we have seen so little of him recently. RM-W looks comfortable at first team level and is being lauded like Asher and Pollock. We have signed a SA centre who presumably is fit and not coming over to watch from the sidelines. How many do we need?
I’d let Conor stay with Dimes. I’d pension off Sam Bedlow and Will Addison and try and develop Curtis and/or the younger Bedlow.
I think back 3 is less covered. Neither of our star wings play 15. Luke James is the only real cover there for JC. We have 3 senior wings and 2 lads only seeing prem cup time.

[RinTin]

Agree re lack of concern for centres going into next season. It really is the back 3 I would like to see reinforced.

Apparently we were interested in Loader, didn't work out. We went for Edwill Van Der Merve, missed out. We are clearly in the market for one so I would expect someone to join.

[RugbyMarvel]

Unsure what our back 3 issues are if we retain the current 3 senior wingers and Carpenter, with some academy boys coming through. If TOF leaves then we do need someone.

Easy win, bring Sam James back. 13 and 15 cover. Done. But leaving Paris might be a big call. 2 year contract at market rate might entice him though.

[dinogyro]

Hasn't RDP played about 69 consecutive games for us, or something? Just by law of averages, he has to be 'needing a rest' shall we say, soon?

[RinTin]

Unsure what our back 3 issues are if we retain the current 3 senior wingers and Carpenter, with some academy boys coming through. If TOF leaves then we do need someone.

Easy win, bring Sam James back. 13 and 15 cover. Done. But leaving Paris might be a big call. 2 year contract at market rate might entice him though.

One is aging, one will likely have international stand down periods (deservedly so), we have no reliable back up 15 (Luke out too much, Flats not showing much when at 15 and Addison hardly ever there when fit). Ene and Wills are next off the block, but neither are there yet. One more back 3 man would be ideal.

It’s easy to be on a high right now with the way these guys played recently, but Flats and Reed both blow very hot and cold at times. If Carpenter gets an injury we’re buggered. If the budget is there it’s sensible to bring someone on board.

[Major Bloodnok]

Hasn't RDP played about 69 consecutive games for us, or something? Just by law of averages, he has to be 'needing a rest' shall we say, soon?

I think it's 70 now, but not consecutive – he hasn't played any PRC games.