Nail Briggs ----> Sale Sharks

[RagingBull]

Confirmed.

[sapajo]

That was nailed on

[4071]

Replacing Marc Jones, who is heading to Bristol.

[physiodan]

Will the last player to leave welford road please turn off the lights

[Iain]

Oh noes Tigers must be doing something terrible why didn't we move heaven and earth to keep hold of every player there is clearly something wrong people clearly don't want to play for us any more its the start of a big decline we shouldn't be giving players to anyone you have to ask yourself how hard we tried to keep him he was never given proper opportunities this is all Cockers fault we have gone backwards under Cockers those titles we won were just because we had good players you must be blind if you can't see the decline clear out the coaching staff and start afresh.

[DCATsOLDMAN]

Methinks man speak with forked tongue firmly in cheek

Seriously, though, Neil slipped down the pecking order, so it is not surprising that he is going. But will everyone see it that way?

[Knightonian]

Careful people RC appears to be trusting in our academy for 3rd and 4th choice

Which with 2 dead cert internationals means game time

It would appear the future is Thor son of Troy

[Iain]

Methinks man speak with forked tongue firmly in cheek

Seriously, though, Neil slipped down the pecking order, so it is not surprising that he is going. But will everyone see it that way?

Anyone sensible will see that the pecking order is already Youngs, Ghiraldini, Thacker. You could argue Farnsworth ahead of Briggs too. Even if we wanted to keep him, you'd have to question his ambition under these terms if he chose to stay.

However this is the forum, and I'm sure this will all be used as evidence that Cockerill is on the more sinister wing of the illuminati or something.

[tigerburnie]

I'd just say thanks Neil and I hope the move works out well for you.

[sapajo]

It would appear the future is Thor son of Troy

At hooker or No7 ?

[RagingBull]

If Thacker is getting played more at 7.

I suspect we will sign another Squad hooker and promote Farnworth.

[longlivethecrumbie]

Oh noes Tigers must be doing something terrible why didn't we move heaven and earth to keep hold of every player there is clearly something wrong people clearly don't want to play for us any more its the start of a big decline we shouldn't be giving players to anyone you have to ask yourself how hard we tried to keep him he was never given proper opportunities this is all Cockers fault we have gone backwards under Cockers those titles we won were just because we had good players you must be blind if you can't see the decline clear out the coaching staff and start afresh.

You forgot to mention 'one for the future' and 'why are we letting our young, talented players leave'

[kornboy130]

Oh noes Tigers must be doing something terrible why didn't we move heaven and earth to keep hold of every player there is clearly something wrong people clearly don't want to play for us any more its the start of a big decline we shouldn't be giving players to anyone you have to ask yourself how hard we tried to keep him he was never given proper opportunities this is all Cockers fault we have gone backwards under Cockers those titles we won were just because we had good players you must be blind if you can't see the decline clear out the coaching staff and start afresh.

Actually a someone who has bemoaned our signing policy/academy usage recently - I'm pretty chuffed we seem to be going with Thacker and looking to bring him through behind an aging Ghiraldini and England Hooker Tom Youngs.

That split of:

1st Choice: Great player
2nd Choice: Great/Good player
3rd Choice: Bright (preferably academy produced) Youngster looking to become 1st choice

is something I'd like to see in every position.

[tigerburnie]

Leo has shown he could easily be our first choice at 2, never mind the aging, reminds me of another number 2 we had until he retired recently.

[RagingBull]

Number 2.