[Halifaxshark]

Newcastle Red Bull Sharks

[RinTin]

Just realised we have poached the Drua's starting 11 in Loganimasi, while Newcastle have signed Drua's starting 14 in Nasova. Looking forward to seeing them line up opposite each other next season.

[SSR]

Just realised we have poached the Drua's starting 11 in Loganimasi, while Newcastle have signed Drua's starting 14 in Nasova. Looking forward to seeing them line up opposite each other next season.

Harry Hill : Loganimasi or Nasova, which is best ? Only one way to find out ...

[SSR]

So, assuming we have no late signings, is this our starting 15 next season ?

1.Smith
2.LCD
3.AOF
4.Lavanini
5.Bamber
6.EVR
7.Curry ( Ben )
8.Canacaivata
9.Warr
10.GF
11.Loganimasi
12.RMW
13.Marchant
14.Roebuck
15.Carpenter

[RinTin]

Personally I'd go Rodd over Nicky Smith. Smith off the bench is a great role for him imo.

[RinTin]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/alex-san ... oadblocks/

Few bits in this article. Axe getting close to again discussing transfer specifics...

Christ to be confirmed shortly, but no Lavanini mention.

[Olyy]

Interested to see who the 9 is - can't think of us being linked to anyone bar Faf

[RinTin]

Interested to see who the 9 is - can't think of us being linked to anyone bar Faf

Apparently we offered for Faf a few weeks ago and he turned us down.

Tom James would have been a handy one for next year. Experienced, EQP, good form. Sarries jumped in there first.

[poyntonshark]

Personally I think he has more potential than Wills. Another Shark off to Red Bulls.

Not overly concerned with Obi leaving. He did OK when required, but never really showed that he was ready for Prem rugby. My only concern with keeping Wills over him is that Wills is perfectly suited to the box kick game. (Of course, the club may have had little say in the matter, if Obi wanted to go, and Newcastle wanted him)

[SSR]

Have there been any sneaky hints about who is the scrumhalf we are currently chasing ?

[Flumpty]

Have there been any sneaky hints about who is the scrumhalf we are currently chasing ?

I don't think that Peter Stringer is under contract at the moment

[SSR]

Stringer, isn't he that young Irish scrumhalf ? I thought we needed a more mature replacement.

[SSR]

Fissler on RugbyPass now implying that Lavanini won't be coming to us also implys that
Tshiunsa ( spelling? ) is instead of Lavanini ( as I read it ).

[RinTin]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... borthwick/

As mentioned by @SSR . Our transfer dealings are an absolute joke. So many public failures.

Tom Curry the big one there. See sense please England and give him the summer off. This is, again, the issue with the central contracts as the RFU are effectively paying him in advance, meaning the expectation is that he plays if he's fit.

Harry Wells replacing Tshinuza at Chiefs. Proper enforcer second row, rate him a lot.

[SSR]

It does look like we missed out on Wells who I also would have preferred to an injured hybrid.

[Olyy]

Wells far more the kind of lock we should've been recruiting

Hope we're still recruiting a second row if CT is instead of, not as well as, Lavanini

[SSR]

When does Sale usually confirm transfers , is it Fridays ?
Just a little surprised we have not confirmed Tshiunza signing yet.
To be truthful, a little disappointed as I don't see he addds anything other than a large medical
bill.

[RinTin]

When does Sale usually confirm transfers , is it Fridays ?
Just a little surprised we have not confirmed Tshiunza signing yet.
To be truthful, a little disappointed as I don't see he addds anything other than a large medical
bill.

Deal likely confirmed internally over the weekend given Sale were down in Exeter. Get documents sorted and in order, then announce later this week.

[Olyy]

https://www.salesharks.com/2026/03/26/s ... -tshiunza/
Tshiunza confirmed - only a one year deal

Still think it feels like a waste of a non-EQP spot - constantly injured and another hybrid player when what we really need is a proper dedicated lump of a lock

Hope it works out, he did look very good at age grade before all the injuries - Chiefs fans don't seem particularly cut up about him leaving, though

[Alex]

The one year deal is a bit worrying, unless it's for him to prove his fitness. Like Olyy says we still need a lump in the second row or we're looking very lightweight for next season.

[SSR]

Just been looking at the Offy. Is Nye Thomas still with us or still at Caldy ?
Does not seem to have been mentioned recently.

[Evo]

Obviously take Raffi out of the mix, and hypothetically envisage that Gus has a hammy in pre season......where does that leave us............we will surely sign a first team SH to be no'1/2.....as much as I'm a fan of Hanson

[Olyy]

Just been looking at the Offy. Is Nye Thomas still with us or still at Caldy ?
Does not seem to have been mentioned recently.

Looking at his stats on All.Rugby it looks like he's been at Donny for a bit this season as well as Caldy, but came back for a couple of Prem cup games - only on the bench though, definitely feels like he's been overtaken


Surely we can't be at the cap already? If we are then that's a serious error in recruitment/contract negotiation
A 9 is an absolute necessity - would love a lock too, but feel like with Tshiunza coming in then they'll leave it at that,
For some reason we just don't seem to really put much emphasis on dedicated second rows - we've lost so many over the past couple of seasons and added so few

[Flumpty]

Well that's a no from Mr Daly

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... jk8eyrm70o

[SSR]

Well that's a no from Mr Daly

Not unexpected but still a big shame.

[Yareet]

I know Rob’s played a lot for us but I’m not sure we we need to replace him with Daly, Marchant and Lozowski

[Olyy]

We could definitely do with some depth at 15 - we don't want to be in a position where TOF ever wears that shirt again

I suppose Lozowski can cover - only three starts there but definitely a better skillset for the position than our other possibles
and maybe they'll use Ollie Davies there more too?

[AndaleManito]

Just been looking at the Offy. Is Nye Thomas still with us or still at Caldy ?
Does not seem to have been mentioned recently.

Looking at his stats on All.Rugby it looks like he's been at Donny for a bit this season as well as Caldy, but came back for a couple of Prem cup games - only on the bench though, definitely feels like he's been overtaken

Surely we can't be at the cap already? If we are then that's a serious error in recruitment/contract negotiation
A 9 is an absolute necessity - would love a lock too, but feel like with Tshiunza coming in then they'll leave it at that,
For some reason we just don't seem to really put much emphasis on dedicated second rows - we've lost so many over the past couple of seasons and added so few

I can't believe we've spent up to the cap already, unless we do indeed have Lavanini as reported. Otherwise we do need a 4/5 and a 9.

My thoughts on our transfers:

Player in - Player out (not as good- equal= improvement+) - takes into account both skill and availability/fitness

Harper - Francis: (+)
WGJ (probably) - Dlamini: (=)
SiMac (probably) - Smith: (+)
Hill (Never replaced) - Lavanini (-)
Half a Curry - Tshuinza (=)
Dan du Preez - Canakaivata: (+)
Quirke - -) (surely we reaaaallly need a top quality 9, arguably most important position
Rob du Preez - Marchant + Lozowski (=)*
Ene (and TOF getting on) - Loganimasi (+)

*Rob is such a valuable Prem player - covers 10, 12, 13, place kicker, leader, near international quality but not current international, clearly well liked by all, can't remember him ever being significantly injured - what we get out of him due to his (lack of) injury record, necessitates replacement by more than one player who have an injury record.

Of course I've made lots of assumptions there, not going to do a tally as all very subjective.

Backs with above 9 on their back should overall be strengthened, once they have some time together - which I guess is the focus given the thoughts around our team attack and backs defence being generally poor the past few seasons.

But going into another season without a top quality 9 and only 1 proper dedicated lock (Bamber) is a head scratcher to say the least....

[Yareet]

Just been looking at the Offy. Is Nye Thomas still with us or still at Caldy ?
Does not seem to have been mentioned recently.

Looking at his stats on All.Rugby it looks like he's been at Donny for a bit this season as well as Caldy, but came back for a couple of Prem cup games - only on the bench though, definitely feels like he's been overtaken

Surely we can't be at the cap already? If we are then that's a serious error in recruitment/contract negotiation
A 9 is an absolute necessity - would love a lock too, but feel like with Tshiunza coming in then they'll leave it at that,
For some reason we just don't seem to really put much emphasis on dedicated second rows - we've lost so many over the past couple of seasons and added so few

I can't believe we've spent up to the cap already, unless we do indeed have Lavanini as reported. Otherwise we do need a 4/5 and a 9.

My thoughts on our transfers:

Player in - Player out (not as good- equal= improvement+) - takes into account both skill and availability/fitness

Harper - Francis: (+)
WGJ (probably) - Dlamini: (=)
SiMac (probably) - Smith: (+)
Hill (Never replaced) - Lavanini (-)
Half a Curry - Tshuinza (=)
Dan du Preez - Canakaivata: (+)
Quirke - -) (surely we reaaaallly need a top quality 9, arguably most important position
Rob du Preez - Marchant + Lozowski (=)*
Ene (and TOF getting on) - Loganimasi (+)

*Rob is such a valuable Prem player - covers 10, 12, 13, place kicker, leader, near international quality but not current international, clearly well liked by all, can't remember him ever being significantly injured - what we get out of him due to his (lack of) injury record, necessitates replacement by more than one player who have an injury record.

Of course I've made lots of assumptions there, not going to do a tally as all very subjective.

Backs with above 9 on their back should overall be strengthened, once they have some time together - which I guess is the focus given the thoughts around our team attack and backs defence being generally poor the past few seasons.

But going into another season without a top quality 9 and only 1 proper dedicated lock (Bamber) is a head scratcher to say the least....

Assuming those in-comings are correct, wouldn't Lavanini be another dedicated lock?

[AndaleManito]

Looking at his stats on All.Rugby it looks like he's been at Donny for a bit this season as well as Caldy, but came back for a couple of Prem cup games - only on the bench though, definitely feels like he's been overtaken

Surely we can't be at the cap already? If we are then that's a serious error in recruitment/contract negotiation
A 9 is an absolute necessity - would love a lock too, but feel like with Tshiunza coming in then they'll leave it at that,
For some reason we just don't seem to really put much emphasis on dedicated second rows - we've lost so many over the past couple of seasons and added so few

I can't believe we've spent up to the cap already, unless we do indeed have Lavanini as reported. Otherwise we do need a 4/5 and a 9.

My thoughts on our transfers:

Player in - Player out (not as good- equal= improvement+) - takes into account both skill and availability/fitness

Harper - Francis: (+)
WGJ (probably) - Dlamini: (=)
SiMac (probably) - Smith: (+)
Hill (Never replaced) - Lavanini (-)
Half a Curry - Tshuinza (=)
Dan du Preez - Canakaivata: (+)
Quirke - -) (surely we reaaaallly need a top quality 9, arguably most important position
Rob du Preez - Marchant + Lozowski (=)*
Ene (and TOF getting on) - Loganimasi (+)

*Rob is such a valuable Prem player - covers 10, 12, 13, place kicker, leader, near international quality but not current international, clearly well liked by all, can't remember him ever being significantly injured - what we get out of him due to his (lack of) injury record, necessitates replacement by more than one player who have an injury record.

Of course I've made lots of assumptions there, not going to do a tally as all very subjective.

Backs with above 9 on their back should overall be strengthened, once they have some time together - which I guess is the focus given the thoughts around our team attack and backs defence being generally poor the past few seasons.

But going into another season without a top quality 9 and only 1 proper dedicated lock (Bamber) is a head scratcher to say the least....

Assuming those in-comings are correct, wouldn't Lavanini be another dedicated lock?

Yes quite right, but I can't see anything official that he's coming to us yet

[Olyy]

Latest rumours are that he isn't - he's either gonna stay in Super Rugby or go to Japan

[Bucks1861]

Scrum half news courtesy of Fissler.

“ Sale Sharks have emerged as the suitors for Chiefs scrum-half Xavier Roe as Alex Sanderson looks to complete the mini rebuild of his squad for next season. Roe, 27, who toured the United Kingdom with All Blacks XV in the autumn, recently made his 50th appearance in the Super Rugby Pacific for the Chiefs, and was someone that Saracens had previously taken a look at.

The Sharks are losing Raffi Quirke to Newcastle Red Bulls next season and missed out on Alex Mitchell when he decided to stay at Northampton Saints. It appears they are finally closing in on their man.”

[SSR]

Lets hope that it's not another case of "Many a slip twixt .... ".

[eBike]

Both our Fijian imports started for Fijian Drua in this morning's defeat at the Blues. No8 Canakaivata looked busy and winger Longanimasi looked rather dangerous.