LEICESTER TIGERS 2022/23 - Prisoner of Oadby Pre-Season

[Rugbygramps]

Heading Rugby Paper that saints are winning race to sign Jack Willis.

Wouldn’t really be any different to us losing two open sides during the international window, but possibly using cap freed up by Biggar

[Tigers86asw]

Summary of other blindside rumours;

Willis to saints after Bears and Tigers struggled for salary cap space.

Barbeary to Saracens or Toulouse- we are not mentioned.

Umaga was going to head to Toulon but now looking elsewhere.

Biggar now taking Umagas place at Toulon.

Tigers heavily linked with Ben Loader of Irish- great pick up I think. End of season- possibly to replace Watson?

Parton heading to Sarries to replace Malins.

[Rugbygramps]

Would happily take the other Willis to add squad depth. Experienced quality player sometimes overshadowed by his brother.

[Tigers86asw]

Would happily take the other Willis to add squad depth. Experienced quality player sometimes overshadowed by his brother.

Think he’s going to Ulster. Agree good player but doubt we have me space in squad for him as specialist 8, reason why I can’t see us getting Barbeary

[RagingBull]

Unless someone is off it's hard to see how we could fill in another back rower of that quaility
6. Hanro, Martin,
7. Reffell, Cracknell, Ilione
8. Wiese, Jansen
Certainly space for another ball carrier but how much cap can we get in it?
Especially with us already missing Reffell and Wiese to internationals a fully fit Willis is another likely international so doesn't even cover those depths.

Honestly someone like Kvesic might make sense though should be cheap, 30 so plenty in the tank covers 7 and 8.

Loader would be perfect wing option for us if possible, great under high ball, good finisher.

[markharbtiger]

Unless someone is off it's hard to see how we could fill in another back rower of that quaility
6. Hanro, Martin,
7. Reffell, Cracknell, Ilione
8. Wiese, Jansen
Certainly space for another ball carrier but how much cap can we get in it?
Especially with us already missing Reffell and Wiese to internationals a fully fit Willis is another likely international so doesn't even cover those depths.

I think this is spot on RB. However, I haven't seen as much of Ilione in the senior squad as I feel he deserves. Maybe his development is longer term?

[Rugbygramps]

Agree with all the previous posters and no point in spending money for the sake of it, even if we had any.
Loader would be an excellent pick up another who I’m a fan of is Sleightholm if he ever became available

I was reading of a possible exodus of New Zealand players, just below All Black squad level, hence Bridge to Montpellier, also the increasing influence of the ARL in Aussie rugby union, so who knows what may become available

[Rugbygramps]

Unless someone is off it's hard to see how we could fill in another back rower of that quaility
6. Hanro, Martin,
7. Reffell, Cracknell, Ilione
8. Wiese, Jansen
Certainly space for another ball carrier but how much cap can we get in it?
Especially with us already missing Reffell and Wiese to internationals a fully fit Willis is another likely international so doesn't even cover those depths.

Honestly someone like Kvesic might make sense though should be cheap, 30 so plenty in the tank covers 7 and 8.

Loader would be perfect wing option for us if possible, great under high ball, good finisher.

Didn’t realise Kvesic is only 30, seems to have been round for ever.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Saints offloading Biggar early is huge in terms of developing cap space.

They signed Smith at a time he'd take a big discount. Biggar is a better player than Smith, but Smith currently available year round.

Biggar gone leaves Saints plenty of space to hoover up the best few players left to sign from Wasps and Worcester. Whereas other teams are possibly scraping round to pull an offer of 50k for players Saints can probably afford 100k plus salaries for one or two guys now.

[Rugbygramps]

Saints offloading Biggar early is huge in terms of developing cap space.

They signed Smith at a time he'd take a big discount. Biggar is a better player than Smith, but Smith currently available year round.

Biggar gone leaves Saints plenty of space to hoover up the best few players left to sign from Wasps and Worcester. Whereas other teams are possibly scraping round to pull an offer of 50k for players Saints can probably afford 100k plus salaries for one or two guys now.

Arguably Smith also fits the style Dowson and Vesty are looking to develop at Saints. Personally I think they should be looking for some decent props.

[TigerFeetSteve]

I'd also add that we shouldn't be in the business of adding signings for signings sake.

Any signing should be filling a gap in our squad. With Pollard injured and Hegarty shortly off, 10 seems our shortest position.

With Burns rumoured off at the end of the season, Gopperth not going to be a long term signing there is future development from signing a 10. Atkinson is certainly IMO the priority signing if we can get it.

[Tigers86asw]

Key point with all this is Reffell. If he leaves at the end of the season then it seems we will have missed out on Willis but if he stays then we won’t notice.

[kpj tiger]

Saints offloading Biggar early is huge in terms of developing cap space.

They signed Smith at a time he'd take a big discount. Biggar is a better player than Smith, but Smith currently available year round.

Biggar gone leaves Saints plenty of space to hoover up the best few players left to sign from Wasps and Worcester. Whereas other teams are possibly scraping round to pull an offer of 50k for players Saints can probably afford 100k plus salaries for one or two guys now.

Assuming he wasn't marquee

[Scott1]

Unless someone is off it's hard to see how we could fill in another back rower of that quaility
6. Hanro, Martin,
7. Reffell, Cracknell, Ilione
8. Wiese, Jansen
Certainly space for another ball carrier but how much cap can we get in it?
Especially with us already missing Reffell and Wiese to internationals a fully fit Willis is another likely international so doesn't even cover those depths.

Honestly someone like Kvesic might make sense though should be cheap, 30 so plenty in the tank covers 7 and 8.

Loader would be perfect wing option for us if possible, great under high ball, good finisher.

Kvesic is a great shout!

[TigerFeetSteve]

Saints offloading Biggar early is huge in terms of developing cap space.

They signed Smith at a time he'd take a big discount. Biggar is a better player than Smith, but Smith currently available year round.

Biggar gone leaves Saints plenty of space to hoover up the best few players left to sign from Wasps and Worcester. Whereas other teams are possibly scraping round to pull an offer of 50k for players Saints can probably afford 100k plus salaries for one or two guys now.

Assuming he wasn't marquee

I don't think you state who is marquee till you put in your financials for the season. I'm guessing he was planned to be marquee but as it is if he's gone then only ⅓ of his wages have been paid to him so assuming hes not paid 3 times more than anyone else it makes sense swapping who is listed as their marquee