LEICESTER TIGERS 2020/21 SQUAD/TRANSFERS/CONTRACT THREAD EPISODE VI: The Return of the Burns

[kpj tiger]

Can’t imagine Van Wyk will be around long term. Has show very little in his time here and, to be honest, looks disinterested and half arsed. Would think he’d have signed a 2 year deal, so think 1 more year - with Browning out on loan again - and hopefully we have a ready made replacement

I would be surprised if he upped sticks and left NZ during Covid for a 1 year contract

[RunTigerRun]

Historically we find out leavers before the last home game. Recently hasn't been the case though.

I would be surprised if we make announcements before we announced leavers but who knows.

Thanks RB - will be interesting to see what happens!

[RichieB]

Aside from the importance of league table position, SB should use these last couple of games to see which players have the ability and attitude to step up next season. Adequate players just aren’t good enough. Anyone in the senior team and some in development team need to be able to perform at the standard expected.

That standard is significantly higher now and even higher next season than it was last season, therefore the players have to be better.

I’m sure he’ll know at least a couple of dozen players he is confident about moving forward. There are a handful who still need to prove they are worthy or unfortunately also show they aren’t worthy. I know it is harsh, but this is professional sport and if the likes of Van Wyk, Henry and a few others don’t take their chances then that makes a decision fairly straight forward (subject to contractual agreements obviously).

[sam16111986]

Ben Youngs is a England certainty currently and possibly will remain so till Eddie leaves
So in International periods we would only be left with 2 9's which is a pretty specialist position.

Thinking out loud... Simmons is a specialist 9. Someone on here mentioned he was told his box-kicking was not good enough to be a 9. In Wigglesworth we have a specialist box-kicker on the coaching team...

Simmons was a fullback who got converted to 9 in the Tigers academy. I'm fairly certain he made his debut at 15 Vs Bath back 2017.

[trendylfj]

Ben Youngs is a England certainty currently and possibly will remain so till Eddie leaves
So in International periods we would only be left with 2 9's which is a pretty specialist position.

Thinking out loud... Simmons is a specialist 9. Someone on here mentioned he was told his box-kicking was not good enough to be a 9. In Wigglesworth we have a specialist box-kicker on the coaching team...

Simmons was a fullback who got converted to 9 in the Tigers academy. I'm fairly certain he made his debut at 15 Vs Bath back 2017.

JVP, White, Wiggleworth, Simmons is decent cover for when BY is away - and if one goes still leaves us with 2 frontline and one backup but I don't know enough about Law and Edwards as further cover to comment. If we are discarding Simmons as a back up SH

[Traveller]

I think the key piece of recruitment for next season is a top class attack coach. Not a criticism of Borthwick at all. He's made it pretty clear that this season was about the fundamentals of forward play, defence, kick chase. Didn't want to waste the young Australian coaches time. But if this season has proven anything it is that top class coaching makes a difference - and will attract excellent players who want to become better, and retain excellent players who want to develop. Waters in the S & C department. Borthwick himself with the forwards. If Hartley, Ben Youngs and Itoje all say Borthwick is the best in the business, then that is good enough for me. In fairness to the much criticised Mike Ford. He clearly has considerable pedigree as a defence coach. So, for me, I'm more interested in the recruitment of a top class attack coach than I am another winger, centre or prop.

[Loob19]

I really have no idea who the new centre coming in is but, is there a chance it could be Ollie Lawrence from Worcester? I know he was considering leaving Worcester and could he fit our profile - the only negative is that he could shut out Dan Kelly.

I’m just thinking out loud but, he would be a nice signing in my view.

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday.

[Crofty]

I think the key piece of recruitment for next season is a top class attack coach. Not a criticism of Borthwick at all. He's made it pretty clear that this season was about the fundamentals of forward play, defence, kick chase. Didn't want to waste the young Australian coaches time. But if this season has proven anything it is that top class coaching makes a difference - and will attract excellent players who want to become better, and retain excellent players who want to develop. Waters in the S & C department. Borthwick himself with the forwards. If Hartley, Ben Youngs and Itoje all say Borthwick is the best in the business, then that is good enough for me. In fairness to the much criticised Mike Ford. He clearly has considerable pedigree as a defence coach. So, for me, I'm more interested in the recruitment of a top class attack coach than I am another winger, centre or prop.

I second this!

[TigerFeetSteve]

Hopefully we'll find out at least the leavers today, hopefully also extensions and new signings.

[sam16111986]

I really have no idea who the new centre coming in is but, is there a chance it could be Ollie Lawrence from Worcester? I know he was considering leaving Worcester and could he fit our profile - the only negative is that he could shut out Dan Kelly.

I’m just thinking out loud but, he would be a nice signing in my view.

Hope you all have a great Bank Holiday.

I think Lawrence is under contract and he nearly always plays 13 for Worcester so wouldn't impact Kelly but at the same time would be less use for us as both Scott and Moroni look better at 13 so a 12 for us would be more beneficial. Would allow us to build two centre partnerships and rotate them. Francois Center from Wuss would be a better bet though he's probably older than we would like to sign now.

At a guess we'll be looking at players in their early to mid twenties who maybe have some more potential to reach. Like the South African forwards we've signed who are just outside squad recognition but have the ability to contribute to the first team and the ability to develop further. If it's a player that has maybe been overlooked and had to drop down a level ala Dolly or Kelly then double bonus.

[sapajo]

As I said on another thread Harri Doel would be a great signing a Chesney Kolbe in the making and has pace that we are so bereft of.

[RagingBull]

He signed a new deal like week ago

[BrightonTiger]

Jordan Olewafela has been persuading Kuridrani to join at the end of his 1 year contract with Western Force.....

[kpj tiger]

Jordan Olewafela has been persuading Kuridrani to join at the end of his 1 year contract with Western Force.....

Kuridrani of 5 years ago would be awesome, having watched the Force a bit this season I'm not sure he's the same player he once was

[BrightonTiger]

Jordan Olewafela has been persuading Kuridrani to join at the end of his 1 year contract with Western Force.....

Kuridrani of 5 years ago would be awesome, having watched the Force a bit this season I'm not sure he's the same player he once was

Wait until Aled Walters gets his hands on him