LEICESTER TIGERS 2018/19 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD PART 1

[Leicestertinytiger]

Mike Williams rumoured "For Sale!" looks like he might unfortunately be on his way to Sale Sharks.
http://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/rugb ... /20367.htm

Apparently this was to accommodate Mafi in the cap for next season but we are offloading other players instead of Williams now, expecting him to still be a Tiger next year

Who is now being offloaded instead? Is Mafi still coming?

[kpj tiger]

Mike Williams rumoured "For Sale!" looks like he might unfortunately be on his way to Sale Sharks.
http://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/rugb ... /20367.htm

Apparently this was to accommodate Mafi in the cap for next season but we are offloading other players instead of Williams now, expecting him to still be a Tiger next year

Who is now being offloaded instead? Is Mafi still coming?

From what I gather Dom Ryan leaving has freed the room up and Mafi should be announced once Castres have finished their involvement in the top 14

[strawclearer]

Apparently this was to accommodate Mafi in the cap for next season but we are offloading other players instead of Williams now, expecting him to still be a Tiger next year

Who is now being offloaded instead? Is Mafi still coming?

From what I gather Dom Ryan leaving has freed the room up and Mafi should be announced once Castres have finished their involvement in the top 14

Really hope this is right. We've seen Williams' class and, hopefully, a full pre-season from Bakewell together with serious competition from Denton for the 6 shirt will spur him on. He's either a good actor or the Tigers badge means a lot to him - be good to keep him imho.

[kpj tiger]

Who is now being offloaded instead? Is Mafi still coming?

From what I gather Dom Ryan leaving has freed the room up and Mafi should be announced once Castres have finished their involvement in the top 14

Really hope this is right. We've seen Williams' class and, hopefully, a full pre-season from Bakewell together with serious competition from Denton for the 6 shirt will spur him on. He's either a good actor or the Tigers badge means a lot to him - be good to keep him imho.

I should add what I've said I heard from somebody else, but they are usually a reliable source

[WildGoose]

Yes, I do agree about that being important, I was more thinking of Simpson as an "as well as". And think we'll see much less of Youngs if he stays fit, RWC19 the following season too...

Harrison is in the Matt Smith category for me, fantastic servant one club man.

Are the 2 youngsters coming through going to be better than him, yes without a doubt, but the presence of Harrison means they don’t have to be rushed

Absolutely - he's not going to be setting the world on fire but he will happily see out his career at Tigers and is a more than capable stand-in when Youngs isn't around. You don't get many players in that bracket these days.

[TTRITH]

So are we looking at

4. Mafi, Fitz, Wells
5. Spencer, Kitch, Voss
6. Kalamafoni, Williams, Mapalangi
7. O'Connor, Evans
8. Denton, Thomson

IMO there's probably 2 too many players there, the pathway needs to be shorter to get the likes of Reffell and Lewis through before we lose them.

[Leicestertinytiger]

So are we looking at

4. Mafi, Fitz, Wells
5. Spencer, Kitch, Voss
6. Kalamafoni, Williams, Mapalangi
7. O'Connor, Evans
8. Denton, Thomson

IMO there's probably 2 too many players there, the pathway needs to be shorter to get the likes of Reffell and Lewis through before we lose them.

I imagine Voss was signed on a short term deal. If he does stay I imagine he will be played more in the development squad. But yeah we are looking like we have one extra player who isn’t needed in the back 5, hence why the Williams rumour made sense. Can’t imagine Wells, Fitz or Kitchener leaving.

[RagingBull]

The pathway looks good IMO.
Voss also possibly away on a season loan.
AI period we will most likely be missing this season.
Mafi, Kalamafoni, Mapapalangi, Denton which will open up the door for some players especially if injuries happen.

The A league is being expanded so I expect Lewis and Reffell to be playing in them and the Prem cup thing.

[TTRITH]

The A league is being expanded so I expect Lewis and Reffell to be playing in them and the Prem cup thing.

When you say expanded? Lasting the full season?

[strawclearer]

More from MO'C on building the squad...

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/spor ... tt-1577037

[JP14]

What if they play Williams as a lock next season? That is his preferred position and what I think is his best position.

[RagingBull]

The A league is being expanded so I expect Lewis and Reffell to be playing in them and the Prem cup thing.

When you say expanded? Lasting the full season?

22 games according to Cohen at the fans forum was the PRL aim.

[tripeandonions]

Could Adam Thompstone convert to a 7?
Seems to possess many of the attributes.

[RagingBull]

Why would we need him to play 7 though?

[JP14]

Ridiculous notion in my opinion!