Transfers Rumours

[munstermuffin]

Cronin and Varley could compliment eachother very well here but will be interesting to see how would it work if we did make the signing.

Carr would be welcome here too but I don't think that move would happen and I think he will be going abroad.

 

[tinchy17]

Saracens really do need another back rower. Kelly Brown and Jacques Burger will probably be at the World Cup.

 

[Peat]

Both Andress and Ryan mooted as Botha replacements.

I'd rather switch Court to THP tbh. Him and Deccie will do fine.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

I think Ulster fans overrate Declan Fitzpatrick but Tom Court could do a good job at tighthead if he's trained up. He's quickly becoming a very solid player having looked like a tub of lard when he first arrived in Belfast. If Botha does leave and Court moves to 3, would Ulster look to recruit a new loosehead? Paddy McAllister is young and talented but he'd need a better foil than Bryan Young if Tom Court switches position.

 

[munstermuffin]

Lads having worked with and followed Timmy Ryan I really don't think he'd be a good signing. If that is the Ryan your on about. I think he had excellent potential and even when we sent him to Toulon we were hoping that maybe he'd return a superb prop but for some reason he has just hit a roadblock and doesn't look like that same bit of potential anymore

 

[Peat]

Yes, I am talking about Timmy, and yes, I agree with you.

If Botha goes we definitley need a new prop. I'm not sure whether at loose or at tight. Bryan Young has recovered from his bad form at the start of the season and looks the part but trying to get by with only two looseheads and the constantly changing Tom Court strikes me as a bad idea. I also think the IRFU might step in and tell Ulster which side Court is playing (I suspect they'd say tight) should Botha goes, which definitley impacts on who we sign. I wouldn't be completely surprised if Jerry Cronin is brought in to the set up on a more regular basis. Depends on how much they trust young Paddy Mac to an extent.

 

[Conal]

we may just have to man it out a few years with the guys we have got in ulster at the moment let the develop
court as are tight head and are young props arnt half bad lets let them learn their trade cronin mcallister young fitzpatrick and macklin
might pay of in a few years as they might get good or we could spend the money we save now on not buying a new prop and lure hagan north mabey?? or get another big niq

 

[munstermuffin]

The only thing I'd say though is Ulster seem to be producing decent youngsters

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Steve Diamond confirmed as "Director of Sports" at Sale Sharks

 

[mohamed_ali12]

Anotherrrrrr Bath rumour, seem to be chasing Francois Louw

http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/rugby/Louw-answer-Bath-s-quest/article-3096491-detail/article.html?

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Steve Diamond confirmed as "Director of Sports" at Sale Sharks

In a related rumour, a couple of players Diamond coached for the Russia national team could be joining him at Sale. Viktor Gresev and Vasya Artemiev are supposedly on his list of targets. A rumour on another message board says that Northampton are also interested in both players (the Jim Mallinder-Steve Diamond link?) and Leinster are still monitoring Artemiev.

It would be great to see Artemiev and Gresev play in a major European league as it would boost Russian rugby. From what I've seen of both, they're well capable of making the step up. As far as I know Kirill Kulemin of Castres is the only Russian playing top tier rugby at present.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'll admit i've not heard of either of those player, but apparently Russia has a fair few decent forwards - a little 'unrefined', but get them a good forwards coach and the could excel

 

[Feicarsinn]

Artemiev was on the same schools team as Luke Fitzgerald. He spent a while in the Leinster academy but never really broke through. He definitely has the makings of a pro winger. He has a decent turn of pace and is a very good finisher. Not a bad addition to any Premiership side.

 

[cardiffboos]

Cardiff Blues rumours

Out:
Paul Tito (retire), Ben Blair(due to injury), Tom Davies Cardiff RFC, Dan Parks Bayonne, Tom Shanklin(retire), Martyn Williams(retire),
and the worst of all Leigh Halfpenny contract up could be off to the ospreys 8(

In: (rumours)
Morgan Stoddard, Rhys Priestland both Scarlets, Dan Lydiate Dragons, Tom Slater(acadamy), Charlie Faumina Auckalnd , Kristian Dacy(acadamy)

 

[munstermuffin]

Dan Parks ???? Lasting only 1 season

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Cardiff Blues rumours

Out:
Paul Tito (retire), Ben Blair(due to injury), Tom Davies Cardiff RFC, Dan Parks Bayonne, Tom Shanklin(retire), Martyn Williams(retire),
and the worst of all Leigh Halfpenny contract up could be off to the ospreys 8(

In: (rumours)
Morgan Stoddard, Rhys Priestland both Scarlets, Dan Lydiate Dragons, Tom Slater(acadamy), Charlie Faumina Auckalnd , Kristian Dacy(acadamy)

I highly doubt that Halfpenny will leave the Blues for the club that told him that he would never make it in rugby ... yet he's already been on a Lions Tour and is a key member of the squad :lol:

Parks leaving is also quite a possibility by the sounds of it, there is a clause in his contract for the Blues to get rid of him. It would further speculate that if the Blues were to get rid of him then James Hook may be his replacement. By the sounds of it, the Blues will need a fly half and Hook will be the man they will chase for him. Tom Slater is already signed up to the Blues, he's the only fit scrum half the Blues currently possess. I can't see Stoddart or Priestland leaving the Scarlets for the Blues.

As for retirements its pretty easy to see Nugget retiring, simply because of his age but I think he said that he would retire after the 2011 WC. Shanklin will probably follow suite but to be honest the Blues would have to look at replacing him. Ben Blair's knee looks like its on a string and the latest set back has meant its unlikely he will play for the Blues again.

Dacy has some talent, thought he was already signed up to the Blues!

 

[cardiffboos]

Was only on a one year contract, think we dreamed of getting hook when his O's one ended this summer

 

[cardiffboos]

your right cymro the Halfpenny one seems very odd and i can;t see it myself, but his contract is up in the summer.

Stoddard like King has left the Scarlets, and with us offering him the 15 shirt something the Scarlets won't it out of all of them the one i think has the most truth in it, the auckland guy is THP by all accounts hope he is good and its true, thats what we need the most

 

[TRF_Cymro]

your right cymro the Halfpenny one seems very odd and i can;t see it myself, but his contract is up in the summer.

Stoddard like King has left the Scarlets, and with us offering him the 15 shirt something the Scarlets won't it out of all of them the one i think has the most truth in it, the auckland guy is THP by all accounts hope he is good and its true, thats what we need the most

God help us if Stoddart plays 15, he's a winger, his defense is suspect. Nothing is 100% confirmed with him and King leaving, the latest news is that King might stay with Scarlets. Charlie Faumuina looks a decent player, playing some decent rugby, but then again so did Filise and well ... looked where that got us.

 

[cardiffboos]

there was a link on a scarlets forum to a local rag in Clemont saying they signed him, they are all up in arms thats this has come out on the morning of there biggest game for a fair few years,

mind you he is 30 maybe one last big payday before going back to NZ to put his feet up, couldn't blame him