LEICESTER TIGERS 2020/21 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD EPISODE V: Borthwick Strikes Back

[TigerFeetSteve]

Much appreciated. Tell me, this Rowntree youngster, any relation?

https://www.leicestertigers.com/player/jack-rowntree

Oldest son I think. A tighthead though.

Good article on him here

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/feature ... -rowntree/

[Old Hob]

Thanks. No mistake is there? Absolute look alike. And if he's as good as his Dad...

[ABClub]

Any knowledge why McGinity got the farewell?

"The decision has been taken now, with recruitment finalised for 2020/21, to allow the new team led by head coach Steve Borthwick to have the best possible opportunities, time and resource in looking ahead to strengthening the squad for the future."

Rumours are that Richard Wilks will replace him. Richard (brother of academy manager Dave) is director at Green Room Sports Management the agency that represents Borthwick as well as Cole, Youngs x 2 and Ford x 2. Prior to setting up GRS with Ben Lewitt (formerly of this parish) he worked with Simon Cohen.

My guess would be Borthwick and McGinity had different opinions about recruitment and Borthers wanted Wilks instead.

[Tiglon]

I'm not sure Borthwick is completely sold on Reffell just yet, it may be that he doesn't think he's ready to be starting every week, therefore another 7 is needed. With Reffell and Wallace we have two players at opposite ends of their careers and perhaps Borthwick thinks we need someone in the middle who is first XV quality right now.

I know some on here think very highly of Wallace, but with all due respect you aren't likely to get in the top 4 with him in your starting line up week in week out. He's a good squad player but that's it, so if Reffell isn't viewed as being ready, someone else is needed.

Reffell is the best 7 we have, looks the part in every game & when our back row is balanced does not look out of place in the league (he wins more pens than he gives away at the breakdown) what you do need is at least 2 "starting" quality 7's it's such a demanding, specialist & attrional position.

I didn't say I don't think Reffell is good enough. But when we tend to start with someone out of position at 7 instead of Reffell it suggests that Borthwick isn't convinced yet.

[voice of the crumbie]

Any knowledge why McGinity got the farewell?

"The decision has been taken now, with recruitment finalised for 2020/21, to allow the new team led by head coach Steve Borthwick to have the best possible opportunities, time and resource in looking ahead to strengthening the squad for the future."

Rumours are that Richard Wilks will replace him. Richard (brother of academy manager Dave) is director at Green Room Sports Management the agency that represents Borthwick as well as Cole, Youngs x 2 and Ford x 2. Prior to setting up GRS with Ben Lewitt (formerly of this parish) he worked with Simon Cohen.

My guess would be Borthwick and McGinity had different opinions about recruitment and Borthers wanted Wilks instead.

Or maybe in these days where we need to save cash anywhere we can Wilks commands less of a salary than Mc Ginity but with a similar background in Sports Management.

[TigerFeetSteve]

https://twitter.com/EgertonSport/status ... 02785?s=19

Clearly suggests that Van Staden is well in the works, though not a sure thing as yet.

[anz3001]

Wasn’t that long ago Sale were looking SA heavy. What are we a third SA, a third Argentine and third British?

[kpj tiger]

Wasn’t that long ago Sale were looking SA heavy. What are we a third SA, a third Argentine and third British?

South Africans and Argentine players are relatively cheap and are looking for clubs away from home at the moment so it would be stupid not to go down that route

[longlivethecrumbie]

Wasn’t that long ago Sale were looking SA heavy. What are we a third SA, a third Argentine and third British?

South Africans and Argentine players are relatively cheap and are looking for clubs away from home at the moment so it would be stupid not to go down that route

Plus, some have either EU or British passports (don't ask me to quote who, as I don't know) so won't count as overseas. Until we can start producing the sort of players SB wants through the Academy, and in decent volume (a la Sarries) we will rely on more overseas players than we'd like.

[RagingBull]

Still over a half English.
45 man senior squad
24 English (McPhilips, Potter and Porter born in England)
7 SA (If Van Staden comes, Also counting De Bruin)
5 Argentine

Also not including senior academy in the numbers despite a large chunk of them playing regularly).

[Scott1]

Didn’t we have 11 academy players in the Bath 23? That’ll do me!

[10mill]

Just saw BBC confirmation that Taufua leaves tigers

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc. ... n/55816928

[sam16111986]

Didn’t we have 11 academy players in the Bath 23? That’ll do me!

From memory:
T Youngs, Cole, Wells, Martin, B Youngs, Ford, Steward, Clare, Heyes, Green, JVP?

I like how we are using the development team a lot more. Producing our own and supplementing them with talent from overseas where necessary.

[RagingBull]

So these are the players who signed new deals during the Covid pay cut.
Sam Apland-Robinson x2
George Worth x2
George Ford x2
Ellis Genge x2
Ben Youngs x2
Tom Youngs
Tom Hardwick
Johnny McPhillips
Ben White
Tommy Reffell
Jordan Olowofela
Harry Wells
Nephi Leatigaga
Facundo Gigena
Hanro Liebenberg
Jaco Taute

add in the new players
Zack Henry
Shalva Mamukashvili
Nemani Nadolo
Cyle Brink
Matt Scott
Harry Potter
Blake Enever
David Williams (Loan from Nottingham)
Luke Wallace
Guy Porter
Kobus Van Wyk
Kini Murimurivalu
Matias Moroni
Jasper Wiese
Ryan Bower
Joaquin Diaz Bonilla
Richard Wigglesworth
Luan de Bruin 7 months deal.
Julian Montoya

There is a potential (1 year deals not included) that the rest might well be out of contract.
Clare, Kerr
Heyes, Cole,
Lavanaini (confirmed), Green
Coghlan, Lewis, Taufua (confirmed)
Simmons

[Scott1]

Shocked that we re-signed Hardwick and Olowefela. McPhillips too tbf