Squad Changes 2013-2014 Season & Transfer Rumours Thread

[Mersey Tiger]

Kornboy's link to the French "Independent" confirms that Schuster is coming, and goes on to say "Il remplacera l'international italien Martin Castrogiovanni, recruté par Toulon".

Now I know that I only scraped my French 'O' Level with a Grade 6, but I translate this as "He (Schuster) replaces the Italian international Martin Castrogiovanni, who has been recruited by Toulon".

So maybe Castro IS going to Toulon, despite all the recent denials?

(I know this is covered by another thread, but the two do overlap here).

Anyone with a better French translation?

[kornboy130]

Martin Crowson has tweeted he'd be "very surprised" if Castro didn't end up at Toulon.

It was probably cheaper for Boudjellal to pay Castro back.

I don't know what this means for our anonymous Romanian Prop or Seb Taofifenua or whether we're signing all 3 to replace Castro, Brookes and Bower.

[FrontRowUnionMember]

http://www.lindependant.fr/2013/05/15/s ... xtor=RSS-5

Schuster is confirmed as signing and gives and interview.

Will be interesting how he feels about us signing one of the players currently ahead of him at his own club.

Taofifenua's not really ahead of Schuster, they're not actually in direct competition. Looking back over Perpignan's previous five games, Taofifenua has benched three times and started the other two at Loosehead, Schuster has benched three times and started once at Tighthead.

[DickyP]

I'd avoided this thread for while, and coming back to it I remember why: it really is the repository of of wild speculation, inaccuracy and idiocy.

Be back in another two months.

[Off Piste Tiger]

I'd avoided this thread for while, and coming back to it I remember why: it really is the repository of of wild speculation, inaccuracy and idiocy.

Be back in another two months.

Will look forward too it.

[4071]

I can't offer substantive proof but one of the players has told me that Andy Forsyth is off to Sale...

Sale reported that one two weeks ago.

[Southernsoftie]

I missed the Forsyth move

Posted elsewhere that Andy Symons has signed for Tasman to play ITM cup under Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald. Article below.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/spor ... he-sharks/

[FrontRowUnionMember]

That article paints a picture of a player with big potential.
I had assumed this was a short term deal, one ITM season and back to Tigers, but sounds as though he is quite settled out there, maybe for the long term.
Big ball carrying 12, with the skillset to play 10, 12 and 13 and a big kicking game, sounds a bit like a new Billy Twelvetrees. Still got four senior options in Allen, Tuilagi, Bowden and Smith, but lacking depth beyond with both Symons and Forsyth gone. Have we missed out there?
Could there be room in the budget left for a centre/fullback option?

[4071]

That article paints a picture of a player with big potential.
I had assumed this was a short term deal, one ITM season and back to Tigers, but sounds as though he is quite settled out there, maybe for the long term.
Big ball carrying 12, with the skillset to play 10, 12 and 13 and a big kicking game, sounds a bit like a new Billy Twelvetrees. Still got four senior options in Allen, Tuilagi, Bowden and Smith, but lacking depth beyond with both Symons and Forsyth gone. Have we missed out there?
Could there be room in the budget left for a centre/fullback option?

"The second season I got some good opportunities, just not as many as I was hoping for

Now isn't that a surprise...

[kornboy130]

Constantin Pristavita is the prop from Romania we are believed to have signed.

Schuster, Taofifenua and Pristavita would be satisfactory business for me.

[rich1576]

If you look at my other thread it's Schuster.

Announced on Sky Sports and Merc websites

[kornboy130]

If you look at my other thread it's Schuster.

Announced on Sky Sports and Merc websites

If you look on the first page of this thread you'll note we're in the market for more than one prop - with Castro, Brookes and Harris leaving.

[rich1576]

Not according to the Merc

[kornboy130]

Not according to the Merc

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Leice ... story.html

If you mean the above article, at no point does it suggest we are not looking at other options.

Schuster has signed - I'd be amazed if we don't see at least 1 more prop join.

[FrontRowUnionMember]

So looking possible...
Taofifenua (21) to replace Brookes (22)
Schuster (27) to replace Castro (31)
and possibly Pristavita (20) to replace Harris (22).

With Bower also rumoured on here to be off, we could be looking at 4 out 3 in, with a general lowering of the average age. Three U20 International props on the books too in Pasquale, Brugnara (both Italy) and Sears-Duru (Canada).

As I have said on the Castro thread, we do typically tend to field 4 young props in the LV, with the occasional swapping in of any senior prop in need of gametime. With three of the usual candidates leaving in Harris, Bower and Brookes, Balmain is going to need some company, so this Romanain may be brought in to replace Harris for just that reason.

20 years old, and whilst reasonably tall at 6ft2, he needs to bulk out that 17st frame a bit to match his height. Usually props over 6ft tend to weigh in some way north of 18st (maybe nearer 19st) at the top level. Young though, and the Romanians have historically, like the Georgians, been physically big and powerful scrummagers, hence why the French clubs seem to collect these Eastern European props. I don't iamgine he'd be expensive, more of a project, so no reason with the amount leaving that we won't invest in more than just Schuster and Taofifenua.

Boris (33), Ayerza (30), Schuster (27), Cole (26), Mulipola (26), Balmain (21), Taofifenua (21) and Pristavita (20).

Beyond the props, interested to see what we do regarding back row resources outside of the usual suspects. Jooste has already gone, but will Deacon, Thorpe and Noone follow. Will we keep a couple or, maybe just one, or bin all three and utilise England U20 flanker Harry Wells when needed?