Transfers rumours

[coonor]

Hagen is a very good player and should be starting for Ireland after the world cup. By going to Leinster he will improve his scrummaging under the higher levels of coaching such as Greg Feek and he will gain more top level club experiences by playing in the H-Cup. A blow for Connacht but Hagen has to prove himself to be the next Ireland 3 and he can do that at Leinster. I think Maguire should go to Connacht. He was solid for the u-20 last year and he is a 21 stone prop that had the upper hand against every nation at scrum time for Ireland. I think either Mike Ross or Stan Wright should be moving on soon aswell as if Hagen is stuck behind them he may never play in the H-Cup.

 

[lucky number 7]

I Wouldn't be entirely shocked if the IRFU don't pull the plug sooner or later. They're draining them so much now.

Its the proving ground of young talent... send them out west let them improve and harden up then just whistle when they are needed if they are deemed to be good enough

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Carl Fearns to Bath is floating around

 

[Draggs]

Craig Mitchell is leaving the Ospreys for Exeter.
Welsh-qualified Aaron Jarvis (Bath) joining Ospreys.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Cedric Heymans to Racing Metro
Nathan Hines to Stade Francais
Max Evans to Castres
Alun Wyn Jones to Clermont Auvergne or Toulouse
Luke Burgess to Toulouse
Ryan Davis to Wasps

 

[coonor]

Cedric Heymans to Racing Metro
Nathan Hines to Stade Francais
Max Evans to Castres
Alun Wyn Jones to Clermont Auvergne or Toulouse
Luke Burgess to Toulouse
Ryan Davis to Wasps

Leinster are having a little problem at lock and if this Hines move is to go ahead we will need to find a replacement of high standard. Touhy would have been a great signing. I don't see anyone else that really stands out so a foreign player may be needed.
There seems to be a real problem at The Ospreys. How long is Bowe's contract for as if the Ospreys begin to decline he may want to return to Ulster who are improving and could do with a world class player in the back 3.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Losing Hines would be a bloody massive loss. Our problems at second row after Nathan and Leo are well documented. Toner is a good player, but I don't think he'll ever be the top quality player we need. He's just not good enough in the loose.

Ed O'Donohoe hasn't delivered at at all. No help there.

Sheriff is a good prospect but he's seen **** all game time. I'm worried that he may never kick on.

I really hope that Kev can come good in the second row. He may be a touch on the small side, but I think he has a real future as a lock.

 

[coonor]

Connacht have announced that the Irish-qualified Matthew Jarvis and James Loxton will join the province for next season.

Matthew Jarvis has been signed from the Ospreys and is set to join Connacht next season. The 20-year-old, who can play at out-half, centre or full-back, has been capped by Wales at underage level and played against the Ireland Under-20s in both 2009 and 2010.
The 1.93m, 91kg Neath-born flyer qualifies to play for Ireland as his grandmother hails from Cork. He played for the Ospreys against Connacht in the Magners League last November.

Speaking about his new deal, Jarvis said: "I am very excited at moving to Ireland and playing for Connacht. Connacht have a long history of developing exciting young talent who have gone forward to play for the national team.

"I am also looking forward to working with and learning from Eric Elwood. He was a great 10 for both Connacht and Ireland and if I can't learn and develop from Eric then I'm in the wrong job.

"My grandmother was born in Cork. I have always considered myself as 50% Irish, this has now presented me with an exciting opportunity to play in Ireland and hopefully one day for Ireland."

James Loxton will also join Connacht for next season. The 1.75m, 84kg utility back can play on the wing or at full-back. Loxton, who was born in Berlin, qualifies to play for Ireland as his mother is from Crossmolina, County Mayo.

The 21-year-old has been capped by Wales at Under-18 and Under-20 level, and lined out against the Ireland U-20s last year in Athlone. He has been signed from the Cardiff Blues.

"I have really enjoyed my time with theBlues but once I was presented with the opportunity to play for Connacht in Ireland, it was one I couldn't refuse," explained Loxton.

"Connacht have big plans for the future and I want to be part of that vision. They play an open, expansive and exciting brand of rugby which will suit my game as a wing/full-back.

"I would like to thank the Blues for developing me from a junior International to a regional player and I look forward to continuing that progress in Ireland.

"My mother was born in Crossmolina in Mayo, I go on holiday there every summer and I'm delighted at the prospect of playing professional rugby where my ancestors were born and bred."

http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/22262.php

 

[Conal]

Leinster are having a little problem at lock and if this Hines move is to go ahead we will need to find a replacement of high standard. Touhy would have been a great signing. I don't see anyone else that really stands out so a foreign player may be needed.
There seems to be a real problem at The Ospreys. How long is Bowe's contract for as if the Ospreys begin to decline he may want to return to Ulster who are improving and could do with a world class player in the back 3.

hands and thoughts off are touhy ! alread stole boss from us

 

[coonor]

hands and thoughts off are touhy ! alread stole boss from us

Touhy already signed an extension with Ulster so theres no hope there

Munster seem to be hogging all the locks but i'm sure they wouldn't mind swapping one off them for a talented centre.

 

[Conal]

would be an idea and a half
wiuld work for both parties howevr i would like to think toner will develop into a good second row

 

[Feicarsinn]

Agreed. I'd be a bit embarrassed if we were to sign Tuohy. He's a great talent, Ulster need to hang onto him. We just need to find our own Locks.

 

[coonor]

Ye Ulster have some good locks and have a really solid pack all together. Hopefully Bowe will see he will win nothing more at the Ospreys and come back to Ulster aswell

 

[munstermuffin]

Really won't be surprised if Donnacha Ryan or maybe Micko will be moved on. Nagle and Foley look to be given more time and well IRFU think Ryan can be a international class lock and will look to get him time.

In Hines though, as good a lock as Cullen it is Hines that is the real rock in that 2nd row for scrummaging and there isn't many locks in his mould.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'd shoot myself if we signed Mick O'Driscoll.

 

[munstermuffin]

No Feic if anyone I'd expect Ryan but even that a bit of long shot

 

[Feicarsinn]

Wouldn't be too happy about either it must be said. That said, Donnacha wouldn't be the worst signing. I always though that he could have been alot more than he is, but he was so starved of game time in his formative years that I think he's missed the boat. A good club player, but you won't challenge for a HC with him starting.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agree a squad man but if IRFU want him in he will be put in like it funny how provincal coaches are sometimes made pick lads. Leinster do need a big name though and then maybe blood Kev McLaughlin in there too

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

We just need to find our own Locks.

I know what you're getting at second row is one position where Leinster have struggled to produce a top class player since Cullen, Casey and O'Kelly came along all at once. Toner looks like a decent player but he's not the type of player you can build a team around. I don't think the failure to develop a lock from the academy is too big an issue though. Leinster are churning out stacks of players in every other position. No team in Europe can develop a team completely from their own academy. Teams like Toulouse tend to bring through a smattering of their own academy graduates and surround them with top young talents signed from other clubs. Maybe Leinster should do the same........

......with that in mind, I'd love to see Leinster make a play for Dave O'Callaghan from Munster. He's a ball playing second row more in the mould of Nathan Hines than Leo Cullen. Another option I'd like to see pursued is Leinster chase Brive's France u20 monster Sebastian Vahaamahina. He's both massive and has a terrific engine.

 

[munstermuffin]

Snoop keep hands off Foley but I agree with what your saying in yerms of bring in a good prospect and think long term but I still think a short term option is needed to like people don't realize what effect Rocky Elsom had on all the other Leinster backrows in terms of development etc