[Olyy]

I love Schonert, think he's a fantastic player, but you do have to wonder about the injury list
I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't retain/wouldn't be surprised if he retired at the end of his current contract (is that this season or next?)

Ramont's only 19, would imagine we'd look to get him out on loan next season and bring him in for Prem cup games

[RinTin]

Schonerts age plays against him too when thinking about next season - 34 in September. By the looks of it his contract runs until the end of 2026. Injury combined with age are the issues. Such a shame as he has been very good for us.

I'd be very happy with Asher, WGJ and Harper as the senior tightheads and Raymont as the younger guy coming through.

[Yareet]

Schonerts age plays against him too when thinking about next season - 34 in September. By the looks of it his contract runs until the end of 2026. Injury combined with age are the issues. Such a shame as he has been very good for us.

I'd be very happy with Asher, WGJ and Harper as the senior tightheads and Raymont as the younger guy coming through.

Isn't Raymont a year behind Patreece Bell?

[DavenportSharky]

Recognition finally for WGJ

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... e-31071505

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-benc ... y-players/
Beats even Big Ted!!

[exileneal]

Schonerts age plays against him too when thinking about next season - 34 in September. By the looks of it his contract runs until the end of 2026. Injury combined with age are the issues. Such a shame as he has been very good for us.

I'd be very happy with Asher, WGJ and Harper as the senior tightheads and Raymont as the younger guy coming through.

Isn't Raymont a year behind Patreece Bell?

Yeah Bell and AOF are pretty much the same age and Raymont is a year younger.

If Schonert is able to stick around for another year then I would hope Bell and Raymont both get shipped out on loan for some game time. That’s if the A League/Rookie League doesn’t get pulled together in time for next year which I think I read somewhere they were hoping to do?

[RinTin]

My only thinking with Bell is he is Irish. He may head to a province for a senior contract in due course and push for senior Irish honours.

[Olyy]

Have heard rumours that both he and Wooton are being eyed up by IRFU academies

[Clutch]

Raymont held up against Obano. He looks like he will be ready soon. Question is can Harper step up further.

[Lord Elpus]

Glaws have signed Loader.

[RinTin]

Jamie Shilcock has signed for Brive in Pro D2 for next year

Can't blame him for cashing in, but what a waste of young English talent. Brive may get to the Top 14 next year, but it's unlikely.

Caleb Muntz (Fiji Fly Half) has signed for Provence. Another waste of a very good player.

Both should be playing in top leagues.

[Olyy]

Tigers will be scrabbling around for some senior 10s then, with Pollard off too

Did see a rumour saying they were looking at Jacob Umaga, which would be.....interesting

[Clutch]

They are playing in a top league. Pro D2 is. Not much different to prem and top 14 ive heard.

[RinTin]

They are playing in a top league. Pro D2 is. Not much different to prem and top 14 ive heard.

Top league in France is Top 14. Pro D2 is full of mercenaries and players nearing retirement.

Very exciting to watch, but the standard isn't the same. It's the difference between the Premier League and Championship. Championship looks good until you seen them against the league above.

[poyntonshark]

Like when Sale recently played Doncaster.......what.......no.......how many?





Just teasing

[RinTin]

https://all.rugby/transfers/sale

Interesting... This guy makes a couple of mistakes, but nothing major. I can't see him being wrong about both JL and Louw, although I do hope he is.

[FarnhamShark]

Having pretty much resigned myself to losing both Jean-Luc and Dan, I'd be delighted if we can keep Dan - I think he'd be easily the harder of the two to replace.

[Evo]

If I had to choose.....would prefer to lose JL than Dan,

[dinogyro]

Might just be me, but JL's workrate seems to have dropped off a bit lately. He doesn't seem to be making those powerful carries much.

[Yareet]

Malins confirmed back to Saracens.

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

What were your other two wishes?

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/03/14/m ... ant-to-be/

[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.

What were your other two wishes?

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/03/14/m ... ant-to-be/

Well one is to keep the Du Preez's - Article states:

Marius joins a long list of his countrymen to have made the switch to Sale in recent years, with the Du Preez brothers and Ernst van Rhyn among his future teammates.

Hopefully the club stating facts.

[Yareet]

Malins confirmed back to Saracens.

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

What were your other two wishes?

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/03/14/m ... ant-to-be/

Well one is to keep the Du Preez's - Article states:

Marius joins a long list of his countrymen to have made the switch to Sale in recent years, with the Du Preez brothers and Ernst van Rhyn among his future teammates.

Hopefully the club stating facts.

“Brothers” only needs 2

[45jumper]

I know next to nothing about him but some SA rugby fans seem to rate him highly - https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/s/goAyMegnQY
Seems to be a defensively excellent hard runner. Happy with that, could be a good foil for RMW coming through.

[RinTin]

He looks as though he almost always plays 12. We finally have a 12!

Hopefully we haven't broken the bank to get him.

[RinTin]

What were your other two wishes?

https://www.salesharks.com/2025/03/14/m ... ant-to-be/

Well one is to keep the Du Preez's - Article states:

Marius joins a long list of his countrymen to have made the switch to Sale in recent years, with the Du Preez brothers and Ernst van Rhyn among his future teammates.

Hopefully the club stating facts.

“Brothers” only needs 2

You're ruining my optimism!

[SSR]

He looks as though he almost always plays 12. We finally have a 12!

He has scored 1 try this season, not going to sort our try scoring problems , but might
firm up our defence a bit. We are going to need more magic than that.

[exileneal]

My South African (Durban) Sharks supporting colleague (Louw played for them up to 2022) - “He’s utter s***.”

Of course opinions are like a***h**** etc but not the most ringing endorsement.

[Yareet]

My South African (Durban) Sharks supporting colleague (Louw played for them up to 2022) - “He’s utter s***.”

Of course opinions are like a***h**** etc but not the most ringing endorsement.

My South African (Emirates) Lions supporting teammate (Louw plays for them at the moment) - “He won’t let you down, that’s a solid signing”

Of course opinions are like a***h**** etc but not the worst endorsement.

[poyntonshark]

I have spoken to several South African friends and former colleagues. "He won't let you down" was about the best any of them could muster, but not one called him a bad player.

I doubt that he alone will transform our back play, but Naya didn't set a very high bar for him to be able to improve it.

[SSR]

Lets hope he turns out to be a better buy than Sam Hill.

[Oh Danny Boy]

I have spoken to several South African friends and former colleagues. "He won't let you down" was about the best any of them could muster, but not one called him a bad player.

I doubt that he alone will transform our back play, but Naya didn't set a very high bar for him to be able to improve it.

Maybe a new coach replacing Deacon would be able to bring out the best in our team? Radical thinking I know, more of a hope than a reality

[FarnhamShark]

Plenty of us would agree with you!

[RinTin]

HUGE NEWS!!

We are apparently set to sign Edwill Van der Merve from the Lions according to Fissler. He is a phenomenal talent who would have more Boks caps if it weren't for the riches they have on the wings.

[Bucks1861]

“ Springbok winger Edwill van der Merwe is the latest South African who is set to walk the familiar path to join Sale Sharks when his contract runs out later this year. The Premiership side announced last week that they have signed his Lions team-mate Marius Louw, and now Van der Merwe, who won his first test cap against Wales last summer, is set to follow him.

The 28-year-old who started his career with the Stormers has scored six tries in 14 appearances for the Lions this season, which is the same as he scored in 18 appearances in the last campaign.”

Interesting. However, IMHO I’m not sure that another wing option is our top priority.

[45jumper]

Exciting signing! Must mean that TOF is on his way though, surely no need for 4 wingers who could be first choice?

[RinTin]

4 experienced wingers isn't a bad thing. Ene and Wills aren't ready yet. Flats wouldn't expect to be first choice. I'd imagine he'll start being used as a back up 15 more.

What positions do we need cover? As I see it we are well stacked everywhere at the moment. We've got another centre, resigned a lot of younger lads, LCD appears to be staying, only 1 DP appears to be off (TBC). Maybe another second row? I'd be pushing Burrow to fill that role after some great U20's performances.

[Olyy]

Yeah, I wouldn't have thought we'd be after a winger either - maybe Flats is leaving?

Sounds like a good player, but a bit concerning on the EQP numbers front - think we're toeing the line at the moment (averaged 16 at Christmas, I think?)

Waisea for Louw is non-EQP for non-EQP but I'd expect Louw to play a lot more, possibly a first choice midfield combo with RdP
If Roebuck's international career keeps rising he'll encounter more international stand downs - so we'd be looking at a non-EQP wing partnership of Reed/EvdM
Hill hasn't played much this season so if Bamber steps into his role (or ideally cements himself as a starter) if Hill does leave it won't change much
Burry will join Turry on international stand downs (though Turry is centrally contracted and needs his hip managed more anyway) - depends whether we lose a du Preez twin, and if we do then who do we sign to replace? Or do we promote from within? Ideally would need an EQP player here

If (and it's a big if) Quirke can get/stay fit then that helps as we're playing Warr every game regardless - a fit Quirke means we can rotate Warr out and bring through Nye (or Hanson) on the bench

[Bucks1861]

From Planet Rugby this morning

“ Sale swoop for another Lion

The Lions winger who has scored six times in 14 appearances so far this season, has caught the eye of Sale Sharks who recently announced the signing of Marius Louw.

Sale are renowned for its South African contingent with the Du Preez brothers Jean-Luc, Dan and Robert all currently on their payroll as well as Ernst van Rhyn. Previously the likes of Faf de Klerk, Lood de Jager, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Akker van der Merwe, Cobus Wiese and Coenie Oosthuizen all played for the Manchester-based outfit.

The report adds that they will face stiff competition from the Durban-based Sharks who are also eager to add the fleet-footed winger to their books while the possibility of Van der Merwe remaining at the Lions is still on the table.”

[eBike]

Hooker Joseph Dweba has been announced as playing for Exeter next season.

[Yareet]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/englands ... ve-career/

Apparently Exeter have gone in for Raffi. Headline is misleading as nothing else is confirmed other than Baxter wants a scrum half.

It also says Raffi is our third choice, with Gus cementing the first choice shirt for us.... It's all linked to Rugbypass believing Raffi won't get a look in for us when fit, without them actually considering the fact he hasn't started for us that much because he's been injured. Poor journalism all in all.

OT but Raffi's replacement at Chiefs has been announced https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 28xyl58l6o

[FarnhamShark]

Is it confirmed that Aaron Reed is staying, and that a move to Scotland is off the table? If so, he and Van der Merwe would surely be the fastest pair of wings in the Prem. Nice change.

[SSR]

Assuming Fissler is correct and Edwill VDM is signed , is Roebuck on one wing and the
other two rotate or is Roebuck our new 13 in training?

[Bucks1861]

Roebuck could make a really interesting #13, but I think England would have a big say where he plays.

[Bucks1861]

“ Gloucester Rugby have announced the shock immediate departure of hooker George McGuigan who has left the Gallagher Premiership club by mutual consent to sign for the Ospreys on a short-term deal.”

If my memory serves me right Gloucester paid a transfer fee to Falcons to get him released. I wonder if he might turn up with us next season as he could be looking for a return north; plus a long, or longer term contract?

[Bucks1861]

“ Ospreys head coach Mark Jones says Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu is dealing with a personal matter after not yet playing.

He has got a personal matter at the moment where we are allowing him to spend time with his family. We feel that is important and we are giving him the time to get that right. Once that is bottomed out we will see where he is at and where we can go next with him."

I wonder if this reason is why he didn’t settle with us?

[Bronzbronx]

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-win ... speedster/

[Oh Danny Boy]

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/sharks-win ... speedster/

That's a shame, although wing wouldn't be my biggest concern. I would like to see any spare funds go to a new
1 Outhalf
or
2 Centre

[SSR]

Vermeulen signing probably changes our expectations on a top flight back signing.

[RinTin]

Vermeulen signing probably changes our expectations on a top flight back signing.

I doubt Vermeulen was something that happened over night. We were clearly gunning for both at the same time so I’d wager there are still funds there for another back.