[RinTin]

Nothing special; umm..

Just spend 90 seconds on this.

Not too many recent clips in there at all. You can't base him on his form of seasons prior - surely we've learned our lesson on that front with Naya?

[Alex]

Don't think there would be money in the budget for it and if there was then surely it would be better spent elsewhere.

Ethan Caine seems to be pretty highly thought of and if we have signed Jibulu from Quins then we should be ok going forward.

[Bucks1861]

From Fissler

“ Sale Sharks have agreed terms on a new contract with rising England front row star Asher Opoku-Fordjour that will keep him in the North-West for at least the next three years.

The Coventry-born 20-year-old spent time with Worcester Warriors and Wasps before moving to Sale in November 2022 when the former Premiership and European champions went out of business.”

[Olyy]

Really great news (if/when confirmed) - think he's already under contract for another season but he's gonna have every agent under the sun blowing up his phone, so good to get him locked down asap

[Alex]

Looks like we were interested in Ben Loader

Cherry and Whites boss George Skivington has seen off Leicester Tigers, Sale Sharks, Bath, Saracens and Harlequins to lure back Loader, who hopes to rekindle his England ambitions at Kingsholm next season.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stormers ... ish-rugby/

[RinTin]

Balls.

How about LRZ?

[Olyy]

He'll be a good fit at Gloucester tbf, and they'll be after a first choice player so will be spending as such - especially with Hathaway likely off soon (if he wants to play international rugby)

Really do rate Loader, shame I have to actively root against him now he's a Gloucester player
Be interesting to see if he plays some more 15 at Gloucester, he was really growing into that role at London Irish before they went under

[Olyy]

Radwan has just joined Tigers with immediate effect, on a multi year deal

Feel for the Budgies haemorrhaging more players, that is quite a pickup by Tigers!

[Yareet]

Radwan has just joined Tigers with immediate effect, on a multi year deal

Feel for the Budgies haemorrhaging more players, that is quite a pickup by Tigers!

I assume he was agreed for next season but Watson's news means Tigers can claim an injury joker and need a winger.

[RinTin]

Adding to the Watson point I would suggest Newcastle are running pretty close to major financial issues. Cashing in on Radwan may help them greatly.

Lets see if he can do it for Tigers.

[Olyy]

Radwan has just joined Tigers with immediate effect, on a multi year deal

Feel for the Budgies haemorrhaging more players, that is quite a pickup by Tigers!

I assume he was agreed for next season but Watson's news means Tigers can claim an injury joker and need a winger.

Aye, Harry Simmons retired as well a few months ago so they'll have a spare bit of cash floating around/injury dispensation in the cap or however it's swung

[RinTin]

Naya has signed for Nice for next season. No takers yet for the remainder of this year.

[Olyy]

Didn't expect that, they're dead last in ProD2 so likely to be a div 3 side next season - despite being poor for us I thought he showed enough for Fiji in the AIs that he'd land in ProD2 or Japan

Though, based on social media posts, I have a feeling his family still live in France, so wonder if his kids are in school in Toulon or something so he wants to be closer

[RinTin]

I didn’t realise his family were still out there. Makes sense I guess seeing as he’s been based on France for so long. Does explain a lot about his form here, must be very hard to settle.

[Lord Elpus]

I didn’t realise his family were still out there. Makes sense I guess seeing as he’s been based on France for so long. Does explain a lot about his form here, must be very hard to settle.

He was crap in France too.

[RinTin]

I didn’t realise his family were still out there. Makes sense I guess seeing as he’s been based on France for so long. Does explain a lot about his form here, must be very hard to settle.

He was crap in France too.

He was good in France. Starting 13 for Toulon for years, regular for Stade Francais for a long time before then too.

[dinogyro]

Alex says Waisea not signed for Nice and currently has a knee injury.

[RinTin]

4 minutes 40 seconds in. Go earlier for the Jonny Hill Racing chat.

L'Equippe reporting Naya has signed for 2 years, done deal. Even reports he could link up this season. https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... ce/1534052

French media are basically running with it as Nice wouldn't have kept it quiet. Sale just haven't formalised an announcement yet is my opinion.

[RinTin]

Bath linked to Carreras from Glos.

Loader going to Gloucester, Radwan gone to Tigers, Carreras at Bath. Quins well stocked, as are Exeter and Saints. With that in mind are we now effectively front runners for Arundell if he wants to come back to England? We have space in the squad definitely, can show him a first team spot is his if he wants to take it and that man can change a game in a heartbeat. His form isn't great currently but I would take him 100%

[Dave L]

Arundell has already signed for Bath

[RinTin]

Has he?? All rugby news outlets reported that he is set to sign, or being lined up. Nothing has been confirmed anywhere that I can see. These stories were all from mid December too, with nothing in the last month.

[RinTin]

Reedy has committed to us for 3 more seasons.

[Olyy]

Really happy with that, was worried he might be tempted to move beyond the wall

[SSR]

Not convinced by Arundel but I am convinced by Reedy.
Great re-signing.

[RinTin]

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/cash-flush ... more-boks/

As I hoped, Simon appears willing to throw a lot more into the club as a result of the business sale.

[Deron Swift]

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/cash-flush ... more-boks/

As I hoped, Simon appears willing to throw a lot more into the club as a result of the business sale.

Brilliant news, with so much talent leaving at the end of the season, Alex & Co must be looking forward to the 6 Nations break to survey who they can entice to a small town in Cheshire

[Bucks1861]

Fissler today

“ Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu has returned to the South of France after signing a two-year deal with Nice after being told he was surplus to requirements by Premiership outfit Sale Sharks, as exclusively revealed by RugbyPass.

Outside centre Nayacalevu, 34, signed a one-year deal with the Sharks with the option for a second year as a replacement for Manu Tuilagi but has struggled to break into the team, only playing 21 minutes since November.

Nayacalevu, who made 185 appearances for Stade before spending two years in Toulon, joins Nice, who are 14 points adrift of Valence Romans at the bottom of the Pro D2 table, and the Romans hammered them 57-34 on Friday.

Former England lock Jonny Hill was in Paris last week. He is understood to be putting the finishing touches on a move to Racing 92, where he will join Stuart Lancaster at La Defense Arena.

Hill, 30, a Lions tourist in 2021, has agreed to a two-year deal with Racing just a year after a serious patella injury scuppered a move to another Top 14 outfit, Lyon, who ironically are directly below them in the table.

The ex-Exeter Chiefs man used the visit to the French capital to take in Paris Saint-Germain’s brilliant 4-2 win over Manchester City in the Champions League before returning to the North West.

[Flumpty]

Arundell has already signed for Bath

The accountant at Bath must surely be up for Player of the Season

[RinTin]

Taine Basham has just signed for Cardiff. Makes sense for him if he wants to keep Wales hopes alive.

Cardiff have Dan Thomas and Thomas Young out of contract this year, and Faletau is no spring chicken. Works for all involved.

[DavenportSharky]

What poor outside recruitment last year. Nayacelavu, Roets and Addison. Very few starts between them. Seems to be quite a bit of incoming activity already announced by other clubs but not us. Suppose we will have to wait for season ticket renewal time but there is probably going to be quite a bit of bad news to suffer too. Looks like a lot of salary will be funding academy to first team squad elevation and non international capped to capped elevation.

[Yareet]

What poor outside recruitment last year. Nayacelavu, Roets and Addison. Very few starts between them. Seems to be quite a bit of incoming activity already announced by other clubs but not us. Suppose we will have to wait for season ticket renewal time but there is probably going to be quite a bit of bad news to suffer too. Looks like a lot of salary will be funding academy to first team squad elevation and non international capped to capped elevation.

Other than Naya, were they hired as starters?

[RinTin]

Roets was, he was recruited before we decided to keep hold of Andrews. He was also recruited when Jonny Hill was still linked to Lyon. It hasn't worked out.

We have some huge recruitment failings in recent history - Jason Woodwood and Veainu as standout examples imo.

[FarnhamShark]

Roets - injured, or simply not good enough?

[Clutch]

To be fair a lot of those are punts. By definition they aren’t that likely to work out. Roets could come good next year if he’s fit and conditioned. Big if though.

[RinTin]

Has there been anything recent linking us to Marius Louw again? I know Fissler said previously a deal was done back in October I think.

He's hardly featuring for the Lions, especially not in a meaningful role, and will be 30 later this year. Mistake in my opinion if we were planning to offer him big bucks.

[Olyy]

He's hardly featuring for the Lions, especially not in a meaningful role, and will be 30 later this year. Mistake in my opinion if we were planning to offer him big bucks.

Perfect replacement for Nayacalevu then

[RinTin]

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.

[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.

The article is riddled with inaccuracies:

"Former England international" - this may be Sharky specs but it seems clear that Raffi is still in the england reckoning and it is injury that is keeping him out of the 23. Even watching the most recent BTS Youtube video, Borthwick highlights how good it is to have seen Raffi play a string of games.

"Gus Warr is now firmly established as the Sharks’ first-choice" - nope, again not my perspective. When fit, Raffi starts. He's just not been fit.

"Nye Thomas has been the main backup off the bench" - laughable. I like Nye but how many times has he played when Raffi has been available?

[RinTin]

Yup. It's disappointing from Fissler of all people.

[RinTin]

Santi Carreras to Gloucester confirmed for next season. Back up 10, winger, fullback, international quality and still only 26. Maybe planning for life post Fin?

Their backline options are mad.

[Major Bloodnok]

Santi Carreras to Gloucester confirmed for next season. Back up 10, winger, fullback, international quality and still only 26. Maybe planning for life post Fin?

Their backline options are mad.

To Bath, surely?

[RinTin]

Santi Carreras to Gloucester confirmed for next season. Back up 10, winger, fullback, international quality and still only 26. Maybe planning for life post Fin?

Their backline options are mad.

To Bath, surely?

Maybe....

[Bucks1861]

“ Sale Sharks and Bayonne are locked in three-way a tug-of-war with the Stormers to land Springbok lock Salmaan Moerat when his contract runs out at the end of the season.”

That would be a good addition

[RinTin]

Very good potential addition!

Latest rumour says Exeter are close to signing centre Chocobares from Toulouse…. Plays both 12 and 13 equally well and is a very good player. He’d be one hell of an addition for us, but again we’re no where to be seen.

Silly season has started based on what has come out today.

[RinTin]

Luke James has signed a contract extension - now contracted to end of 25/26 season.

[Maccshark]

Excellent re Luke, really pleased for him.

[Bucks1861]

Fissler today

“ Sale Sharks have made a move to keep England scrum-half Raffi Quirke after RugbyPass revealed that Exeter Chiefs had offered him a contract to make the switch to Devon next season.

Fissler Confidential understands that the Sharks were dragging their heels until the Chiefs interest was made public, and they have now moved to keep him in the North-West but have had to dig deep to match the money on offer elsewhere.

Quirke, 23, who was on Harlequins’ wanted list if they needed to replace Danny Care, was offered around £200,000, almost double his current salary, to leave the Sharks but is now expected to confirm he is staying.“

As others have said, a made up sorry from Fissler as click bait. Doesn’t reflect well on him IMHO.

[RinTin]

Agree. His very weak rumour gained a lot of traction and I think ruffled some feathers. This style of apology is similar to what I get from the wife - as I do in that instance, I accept.

[RinTin]

Bath have just confirmed signing of Dan Frost at hooker from Exeter. EQP, 27, lots of prem experience and very dynamic. He would have been a good option for us surely!

Hopefully LCD stays and stays fit.

[Alex]

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