Transfers & Rumours Non-Tigers 2022

[Robespierre]

Alun-Wyn Jones is due to play the last match of his career for Toulon tomorrrow at 5pm Clermont's Stade Michelin.

It will only be his fifth match for Toulon for whom he signed as a short term World Cup joker, and according to coach Pierre Mignoni and his team mates, he's certainly left an impression on the club. They use the word "guerrier" to describe him, which few would disagree with (except maybe one or two on this forum!).
For those of you who understand French, this article is well worth reading.

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/2023/11/17/top ... 584309.php

[sam16111986]

The SRU are trying to lure Alex Coles north. Apparently he’s Scottish Qualified and they’ve hardly got a surplus of decent locks up there. He’s on the last year of his contract as well.

Wouldn't be SQ until the end of 2025 as he has three England caps from 2022. Earliest he could make his debut would then be 2026 6N. With Lawes likely to retire you'd have thought he'd have a better offer from Saints than the SRU.

[trendylfj]

The South African has this news re Tom Curry - very sad if it turns out to be serious for Tom - really like him as a player who I would have at Tigers in a flash.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/r ... mber-2023/

[Tigers86asw]

Itoje’s wages being halved by Sarries. Who knew that they would actually comply with the salary cap? Apparently not happy, rumours off France. He’s on 800k at the moment.

[sam16111986]

Itoje’s wages being halved by Sarries. Who knew that they would actually comply with the salary cap? Apparently not happy, rumours off France. He’s on 800k at the moment.

Yeah and it being made public smacks of Sarries putting pressure on the RFU to bring in hybrid contracts.

As the salary cap is due to go back up they could adjust their squad and use some of the rise to make it work if they wanted I'm sure.

[Tigers86asw]

Itoje’s wages being halved by Sarries. Who knew that they would actually comply with the salary cap? Apparently not happy, rumours off France. He’s on 800k at the moment.

Yeah and it being made public smacks of Sarries putting pressure on the RFU to bring in hybrid contracts.

As the salary cap is due to go back up they could adjust their squad and use some of the rise to make it work if they wanted I'm sure.

Agreed. It’s all been made public for a reason; either Sarries pressing the RFU or Itoje’s agent doing the same thing. Sure another side in the prem would pay him a lot, even if not 800k. He’s a guaranteed starter for England and that’s would at least 200k a year.

Have no sympathy at all. Sarries are part of the reason for the wages in England are not sustainable. You reap what you sow.

[jgriffin]

Despite Baxter making light of it, Chiefs have been staring at significant losses (£4m last year), as I said over a season ago. I got scoffed at on here for suggesting that the money people surrounding the club - and the season ticket buyers - were going to be thinner on the ground. The former because the club nose dived after the euro win, and the latter because the cost of living climbed as did the price of tickets. Tony Rowe dragged in money year on year, but the end of that may soon come when the assets are all sold. Chiefs needed a couple of big seasons to keep the crowds, didn't happen. I would not be surprised if a total buy-out didn't come in the next year.

[sam16111986]

Itoje’s wages being halved by Sarries. Who knew that they would actually comply with the salary cap? Apparently not happy, rumours off France. He’s on 800k at the moment.

Yeah and it being made public smacks of Sarries putting pressure on the RFU to bring in hybrid contracts.

As the salary cap is due to go back up they could adjust their squad and use some of the rise to make it work if they wanted I'm sure.

Agreed. It’s all been made public for a reason; either Sarries pressing the RFU or Itoje’s agent doing the same thing. Sure another side in the prem would pay him a lot, even if not 800k. He’s a guaranteed starter for England and that’s would at least 200k a year.

Have no sympathy at all. Sarries are part of the reason for the wages in England are not sustainable. You reap what you sow.

Sarries are also offering between £400k and £450k according to reports. He's not going to be going poor and any team that wants to sign him is going to have to be offering £700k a year plus so that's 800k in Euros. He'd be one of the best paid players in France or Japan on those figures. Not going to be easy to find a club who's got that big a hole in their budget to fill.

[Jimmy Skitz]

the financial state of English Rugby mean the RFU need to do one thing, let England players play in France, take that financial burden off of the clubs that cannot cope with it

[Tigerbeat]

the financial state of English Rugby mean the RFU need to do one thing, let England players play in France, take that financial burden off of the clubs that cannot cope with it

Not sure that will be good for the English game with top players moving away....less attractive for the club fans?

[Tigers86asw]

the financial state of English Rugby mean the RFU need to do one thing, let England players play in France, take that financial burden off of the clubs that cannot cope with it

Not sure that will be good for the English game with top players moving away....less attractive for the club fans?

It’s not a long term solution.

[kk20gb30]

I'm afraid , in all professional sport money and winning are the deciding factors , and more than not go hand in hand - however unsavoury on occasions.

[Darc Tiger]

Earl out for 6-8 weeks
Lozowski has done his ACL
Tom Curry out for the season for hip surgery!

[Old Hob]

Despite Baxter making light of it, Chiefs have been staring at significant losses (£4m last year), as I said over a season ago. I got scoffed at on here for suggesting that the money people surrounding the club - and the season ticket buyers - were going to be thinner on the ground. The former because the club nose dived after the euro win, and the latter because the cost of living climbed as did the price of tickets. Tony Rowe dragged in money year on year, but the end of that may soon come when the assets are all sold. Chiefs needed a couple of big seasons to keep the crowds, didn't happen. I would not be surprised if a total buy-out didn't come in the next year.

Total buy out or collapse?

[jgriffin]

Despite Baxter making light of it, Chiefs have been staring at significant losses (£4m last year), as I said over a season ago. I got scoffed at on here for suggesting that the money people surrounding the club - and the season ticket buyers - were going to be thinner on the ground. The former because the club nose dived after the euro win, and the latter because the cost of living climbed as did the price of tickets. Tony Rowe dragged in money year on year, but the end of that may soon come when the assets are all sold. Chiefs needed a couple of big seasons to keep the crowds, didn't happen. I would not be surprised if a total buy-out didn't come in the next year.

Total buy out or collapse?

The real estate still has value, and I don't know whether they still gain rents from all of it. I expected David Lloyd to buy out the estate, then lease the stadium to the club at one point. Chiefs' success surfed a wave of incoming money that started with the MetOffice, but such moments have their time - as house purchase prices skyrocketed, demand began to fall from commuters etc. I think Chiefs' have got stuck with several such moments - getting too pricey, not enough success on the pitch, Rowe ageing and exhausting sources of finance etc. The only person making money is my brother Mike, whose house at the end of the suspension walk is rented out to the ladies team forwards.