Leicester Tigers 2016/17 Squad/Transfers/Contract thread 2

[strawclearer]

Pundit Arena recently published a list of their top 5 No.8's...

1. Kieran Read
2. Billy V
3. Taulupe Faletau
4. Jamie Heaslip
5. Facundo Isa

Assuming the top 3 are un-signable, what do we think of 4 and 5? I think Heaslip is out of contract in the summer. At 33 will he be looking for another couple of years at Leinster - or will he be looking for a payday in France - or might he be of interest to us?

Isa is also out of contract in June apparently. Only 6'2" and 16st10lbs so maybe not the big hitting 8 we need but, at 23...?

[RagingBull]

Isa would be having to give up Argentina to come to us though.

[strawclearer]

I must admit, I'm more interested in Heaslip. If we're now looking for an interim 8 before Freddie T is ready, I can't think of any better than Heaslip - nor a better coach/mentor in the same way as Marcos is for Genge. Wishful thinking, of course, but the future is invented first in the imagination!

[RagingBull]

Added Thacker to the rumoured out section although apparently in contract for next season.

[strawclearer]

Added Thacker to the rumoured out section although apparently in contract for next season.

Really hope that's a rumour which doesn't come to pass.

[kpj tiger]

Added Thacker to the rumoured out section although apparently in contract for next season.

Really hope that's a rumour which doesn't come to pass.

^This

Also regarding the No.8 issue and assuming the Fifita deal isn't happening along with Isa, Beaumont, Read etc I'd like to see us go with somebody like Magnus Bradbury from Edinburgh, he is a strong lad with a bright future and you would image he wouldn't cost anywhere near what the aforementioned players would cost

[kpj tiger]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/heaslip ... -leinster/

Positive news in the hunt for an 8?

[strawclearer]

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/heaslip ... -leinster/

Positive news in the hunt for an 8?

It's been well-rumoured for a while that he'd be looking for (probably) his final contract somewhere lucrative - see my post at the top of this page. I think the journalist is struggling to find a story!

[LE18]

He's been a great player but I think he is over his best now?

[kelmat]

He's been a great player but I think he is over his best now?

It was intimated to me on Saturday by a prominent person that there was going to be quite a bit of an overhaul for next season with a few leaving, who you would not really think of.

Thats all I could get out of him at this stage. Must admit though, i can see a few going myself, some of these guys must be thinking about game time and how much is "not enough" I know we have been looking at full backs and ball carrying 8's and from what I can gather the ones we have been looking are going to cost a few bob, so the present wage bill has got be "trimmed" to accommodate anything of quality coming in

[RagingBull]

I can see a few going TBH aswell.

I would like for us to use academy more TBH.

Personally i can see going.
Rizzo (34 prob return to Italy to see out his final years playing)
Brugnara (Same as Tiz last season can see him going to Italy COS will prob want him since he was in the italian A team in the summer)
Balmain (Gone completely off the radar having a hooker ahead of him @ TH).
Croft
Harrison (I really don't get why he has been on the bench lately)
Smith
Tait (Bayonne interested apparently still and on a big wedge from what i hear)

Also think we might struggle to keep
Logo, Thacker, Roberts and Owen.
Logo will prob be chased by the french teams.
Thacker has shown enough to gather interest from other clubs.
Roberts as above can see a welsh team or Lower team chasing him.
Owen depends if he doesn't mind playing 2nd fiddle @ 10 to Freddie and likes 12.


Would like to see brought up
Betts
White
Thacker
Yayawayawa (Honestly would give him time ahead of Brady now)
Worth (Def one to keep)
As depth options.

And then look to sign
At least 1 Prop (two if Logo goes).
Number 8
Centre
Full Back
And a 10 if Owen Goes.

[strawclearer]

Would like to see brought up
Betts
White
Thacker
Yayawayawa (Honestly would give him time ahead of Brady now)
Worth (Def one to keep)
As depth options.

Geordan would agree with you!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38239290

[Hot_Charlie]

Worth is no surprise and is the reason we don't need to recruit a specialist 15. He's probably going the best young prospect at 15 alongside the slightly older Haley at Sale by the end of this season.

[trendylfj]

Agree with much of what you are thinking but would deffo not like to see go

1. Harrison - he provides a lot of cover including kicking and I think he is a better SH than Kitto.
2. same applies to Logo, Croft and Owen.

The rest of your might go list is fine by me plus I would not worry if Roberts goes as well.

I have always though our squad is on the large size especially now we don't have 6 or 7 away with England

[Iain]

I have heard whispers of at least two players leaving who are not on Raging Bull's list. No idea if they were wide of the mark though.