LEICESTER TIGERS 2018/19 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD PART 7

[RagingBull]

Andy Forsyth has signed for Coventry.

With Smithy retiring I expect that means another centre is incoming on top of EW Viljeon.

Alternatively, a fullback could be signed freeing up Worth to cover centre.

Tigers have known about this for some time his cap has been spent already pretty much.

[kpj tiger]

Personally I think our centre stocks are fine for next season,

12: Reid, Taute, Eastmond
13. Tuilagi, Viljoen, SAR

that's 3 decent sets of centres before dipping into development/academy stocks

[Leicestertinytiger]

Personally I think our centre stocks are fine for next season,

12: Reid, Taute, Eastmond
13. Tuilagi, Viljoen, SAR

that's 3 decent sets of centres before dipping into development/academy stocks

If Johnny Williams was still available I’d be tempted to grab him. Great player with potential, guess it also depends on Thacker and Eastmonds contracts.

[kpj tiger]

Personally I think our centre stocks are fine for next season,

12: Reid, Taute, Eastmond
13. Tuilagi, Viljoen, SAR

that's 3 decent sets of centres before dipping into development/academy stocks

If Johnny Williams was still available I’d be tempted to grab him. Great player with potential, guess it also depends on Thacker and Eastmonds contracts.

Agreed, Johnny Williams would go straight in as our starting 12 IMO

[ABClub]

Andy Forsyth has signed for Coventry.

With Smithy retiring I expect that means another centre is incoming on top of EW Viljeon.

Alternatively, a fullback could be signed freeing up Worth to cover centre.

Tigers have known about this for some time his cap has been spent already pretty much.

Fair. Cheers, RB.

There have been several rumours of a fullback being brought in so perhaps Worth will cover. I'd be happy with that as well as I think centre could be his best position. SAR has also stated that 13 is his preferred position.

Is there any word on Andre Dunn's visa situation? I'd happily see him back involved.

As a side note it will be interesting to see how Terrence Hepetema does with LI back in the Prem next season. Not a player I'd necessarily want back at Tigers with good backs coming through but nice to see him work his way back via Mitre 10 and Championship rugby.

[Dangerous4]

Eastmond will have to play far better next season than he has this, to convince me he was good enough to come here. Unlucky with injuries,, maybe, but nevertheless he seems very average.

[MikeR]

Completely agree Dangerous . Injury prone , poor defence - a very average player on the basis of what we have seen this season . Will be lucky to get his contract renewed .

[FrontRowUnionMember]

10. G Ford, Hardwick, (Reid/Worth)
11. May, Walker?, Olowofela
12. Reid, Taute, Eastmond, (Hardwick/Worth)
13. Tuilagi, Viljoen?, (Aspland-Robinson)
14. Holmes, Aspland-Robinson, (Veianu)
15. Veianu, Worth, (Holmes)

Fair amount of flexibility there, that assuming Viljoen is coming, there’s not much need for a 6th senior specialist centre. If Scarlets don’t want him, I wouldn’t mind Blommetjies being added to the specialist fullback spots though, or JJ Taulagi as a leftfield punt.
Beyond that you have possible academy promotions too, Costelow, Du Randt, Browning, Steward etc.
Pretty set I’d say.

Pack, assuming Coghlan and Liebenberg join, maybe we’re still a back row player light, depending on Denton’s future and how close Reffell is viewed to being ready to step straight in for Thompson if unavailable. I’d be happy with adding Wallace, if Denton stays too.
I know others still feel another second row is required too.

But it’s getting closer to looking a lot better.

[sam16111986]

Andy Forsyth has signed for Coventry.

With Smithy retiring I expect that means another centre is incoming on top of EW Viljeon.

Alternatively, a fullback could be signed freeing up Worth to cover centre.

Maybe. Depends who's available at what price. Even without Forsyth we have five centres plus Worth, Hardwick and SAP who can all cover there. At 15 there's TV, Worth, Holmes and Owolofela. We've got Steward on the way through plus a couple of promising wingers. A bit more experience back there might be nice though.

[Scott1]

Yes I expect another BR to come in if Denton sadly retires too. I'd guess he's on a decent wage too so it should be a like for like with an international coming in,or a decent SR player.

[JP14]

Yes I expect another BR to come in if Denton sadly retires too. I'd guess he's on a decent wage too so it should be a like for like with an international coming in,or a decent SR player.

Get one from France methinks, hopefully one that’s easy to work with fitness wise, I’m thinking Toulouse’s Selevasio Tolofua (brother of Christopher who is at Saracens).

[RagingBull]

Denton is not on the kind of money that Selevasio Tolofua is on that's for sure.

Denton isn't on that much, was more to do with it being a 3 year contract.

[Dangerous4]

If Denton does have to retire, he will certainly require replacing. I hope it doesn't come to that.

[Goshengareth]

I hope that too. But it does seem to be sadly heading in that direction. Fingers crossed whatever happens he ends up safe and well.

[JP14]

Denton is not on the kind of money that Selevasio Tolofua is on that's for sure.

Denton isn't on that much, was more to do with it being a 3 year contract.

That maybe the case but relatively speaking I’m pretty sure it’s safe to presume that Tolofua is cheaper than the other backrowers at Toulouse.