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

[SthrnTiger]

On a more positive note, does the immediate departure of Henry mean that Ford is fit for the weekend. Surely we would not be releasing fly half cover for an important match if we did not have our 2 first choice options fit.

I hope Ford is fit but doesnt look like an immediate release expect the announcement was done now because Pau announced he’s signing.

[jgriffin]

Henry being more of a running 10 I guess he didn't fit, and not being strong at 15 meant a rejig of priorities.

[GB72]

On a more positive note, does the immediate departure of Henry mean that Ford is fit for the weekend. Surely we would not be releasing fly half cover for an important match if we did not have our 2 first choice options fit.

I hope Ford is fit but doesnt look like an immediate release expect the announcement was done now because Pau announced he’s signing.

Could be. I did not see reference to leaving at the end of the season, just an early release from contract and, as with others, assumed that was immediate.

[tigercub21]

You see this is something i really did not want to see happen. I’ve said and thought it many times but a stable,steady squad is what all the top teams have. We already have 10 announced leavers and let’s assume there are more to come. Now i don’t think it will be to the extent of last seasons turnover however it’s still a fair amount of players to be leaving. Which also begs the question as to why are players like henry signed for one season and not planning for the future?

[TigerFeetSteve]

On a more positive note, does the immediate departure of Henry mean that Ford is fit for the weekend. Surely we would not be releasing fly half cover for an important match if we did not have our 2 first choice options fit.

I hope Ford is fit but doesnt look like an immediate release expect the announcement was done now because Pau announced he’s signing.

Could be. I did not see reference to leaving at the end of the season, just an early release from contract and, as with others, assumed that was immediate.

It clearly says on the Tigers club statement he's joining Pau NEXT season, the Pau Twitter says he's joining for the next 2 seasons. (Their season is already over)

So unless there's been a massive fall out I doubt he's left before Saturday, more he's been allowed to leave 1 year into a 2 year deal i.e. released early from the contract.

The Mercury article on it was a bit confusingas it added him to the list of Enever, Gienga, Hardwick, Taufua, Wallace who have left during the season

[Scott1]

I don't mind the turnover this season. The nucleus of the squad is still here and we've added quality. We are not completely rebuilding again which always seems to be the case.

[tigercub21]

I hope Ford is fit but doesnt look like an immediate release expect the announcement was done now because Pau announced he’s signing.

Could be. I did not see reference to leaving at the end of the season, just an early release from contract and, as with others, assumed that was immediate.

It clearly says on the Tigers club statement he's joining Pau NEXT season, the Pau Twitter says he's joining for the next 2 seasons. (Their season is already over)

So unless there's been a massive fall out I doubt he's left before Saturday, more he's been allowed to leave 1 year into a 2 year deal i.e. released early from the contract.

The Mercury article on it was a bit confusingas it added him to the list of Enever, Gienga, Hardwick, Taufua, Wallace who have left during the season

The press release on the tigers twitter and app state he has been granted an early release from his contract.

[RagingBull]

You see this is something i really did not want to see happen. I’ve said and thought it many times but a stable,steady squad is what all the top teams have. We already have 10 announced leavers and let’s assume there are more to come. Now i don’t think it will be to the extent of last seasons turnover however it’s still a fair amount of players to be leaving. Which also begs the question as to why are players like henry signed for one season and not planning for the future?

If it was early release then he was signed for more than 1 years.
Got to remember a lot of these signings made were not just Borthwick, but McGinty, Glynn and Murphy.

I suspect Borthwick now having complete control is now creating his squad that he wants.
when you look at current confirmed leavers

Jordan Taufua (Lyon) - Was looking out when contracts was being done but fell through was always off.
Tomas Lavanini (Clermont) - Bit of a given in terms of price no doubt
Facundo Gigena (London Irish) - Rumoured did not like Borthwick's style
Blake Enever (Western Force) - Borthwick wasn't a fan
Mamukashvili - Short term plug
Tom Hardwick - Fell out with Borthwick
Luan De Bruin (Edinburgh) - Sadly short term plug that someone dropped the ball in not getting onto a longer deal
Jake Kerr (Bristol) - Borthwick rated others
Luke Wallace (Harlequins) - Short term option to help back row numbers
Zak Henry (Pau) - My guess is just not the 10 Borthwick likes, will do well in Top 14 IMO

[kk20gb30]

Firmly believe that this is Steve Borthwick (re)shaping the squad to his requirements ; a good thing and to be expected.

[TigerFeetSteve]

Could be. I did not see reference to leaving at the end of the season, just an early release from contract and, as with others, assumed that was immediate.

It clearly says on the Tigers club statement he's joining Pau NEXT season, the Pau Twitter says he's joining for the next 2 seasons. (Their season is already over)

So unless there's been a massive fall out I doubt he's left before Saturday, more he's been allowed to leave 1 year into a 2 year deal i.e. released early from the contract.

The Mercury article on it was a bit confusingas it added him to the list of Enever, Gienga, Hardwick, Taufua, Wallace who have left during the season

The press release on the tigers twitter and app state he has been granted an early release from his contract.

Exactly, so if in a 2 year contract he can be released after 1 year. Doesn't just mean because it says early it doesn't mean immediate.

With Hardwick, Mamukashvilli, Wallace, Enever all say in the club statements in addition to saying early release all said they were leaving immediately (apart from Enever's which says leaving at the end of the week)

Gienga it doesn't state that, but talks about having enough cover for the remainder of the season.

Taufua it states he will be joining Lyon for the remainder of the season.

Yet Henry's statement says he's joining Pau next season. Nothing about an early departure mid season, so my reading is we signed him on a 2 (or more) year contract and we're letting him go after 1 year, which would be after our last game.

[mol2]

Given that last season and this season have blurred into one and this is really Borthwick's first full season in charge and with it control over signings I would have been very surprised if quite a few changes had not occurred.

This is even more likely given we lost a number of players as a consequence of the salary cuts forced by covid and had to make some urgent signings. Some will have worked out others were stopgaps until the players the coaches really wanted came out of contract elsewhere and the money available - I should imagine that will not have been easy to juggle.

Hopefully a few signings to come and perhaps a surprise quality player or two. Certainly need a bit more gas in the backs. Nadolo is a giant on the wing but has he the gas any more? Late career conversion to second row? (only kidding) We don't seem capable of running the ball out of our own 22 in the way others do against us. Some of that is a reflection of our defensive errors but also our need to be able to attack from deep at times which is a bit more about personnel in the backs, not just attacking structures.

[TigerFeetSteve]

On a different note Simon McIntyre (age 30) is leaving Wasps. He's primarily a Loosehead, but can play Tighthead. 30 is not too old for a prop and as squad depth rather than starter.

Ok we primarily need a Tighthead, but with Leatigaga able to do both, and also McIntyre too (though perhaps to a lesser extent)

Our props would be as follows
LH
Genge
Van Wyk
McIntyre
Whitcombe

TH
Cole
Heyes
Leatigaga
Hurd

So even if losing Genge and Heyes during the AI's we have depth in each position to cover injuries. I'm feeling less like we need a specialist TH now the club have said Leatigaga is due back by the start of preseason.

[TheChild]

On a different note Simon McIntyre (age 30) is leaving Wasps. He's primarily a Loosehead, but can play Tighthead. 30 is not too old for a prop and as squad depth rather than starter.

Ok we primarily need a Tighthead, but with Leatigaga able to do both, and also McIntyre too (though perhaps to a lesser extent)

Our props would be as follows
LH
Genge
Van Wyk
McIntyre
Whitcombe

TH
Cole
Heyes
Leatigaga
Hurd

So even if losing Genge and Heyes during the AI's we have depth in each position to cover injuries. I'm feeling less like we need a specialist TH now the club have said Leatigaga is due back by the start of preseason.

McIntyre has had a lot of problems with injury recently. He was out for a very long time (was it a year or possibly more) with lasting concussion and he’s had other injury issues. He’s a good player but think he struggles a bit with fitness. He’s a good impact player off the bench but might struggle for anything much more. I said to my husband last night I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s retiring.

[TigerFeetSteve]

On a different note Simon McIntyre (age 30) is leaving Wasps. He's primarily a Loosehead, but can play Tighthead. 30 is not too old for a prop and as squad depth rather than starter.

Ok we primarily need a Tighthead, but with Leatigaga able to do both, and also McIntyre too (though perhaps to a lesser extent)

Our props would be as follows
LH
Genge
Van Wyk
McIntyre
Whitcombe

TH
Cole
Heyes
Leatigaga
Hurd

So even if losing Genge and Heyes during the AI's we have depth in each position to cover injuries. I'm feeling less like we need a specialist TH now the club have said Leatigaga is due back by the start of preseason.

McIntyre has had a lot of problems with injury recently. He was out for a very long time (was it a year or possibly more) with lasting concussion and he’s had other injury issues. He’s a good player but think he struggles a bit with fitness. He’s a good impact player off the bench but might struggle for anything much more. I said to my husband last night I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s retiring.

True, but he may (if he comes at the right price) be worth a punt. With Whitcombe & Hurd coming on leaps and bounds I don't see him playing week in and week out. Just primarily backup when we have internationals away. So he may prefer the senario we can offer him

[johnthegriff]

Tigerfeetsteeve, sounds like a wonderful suggestion. sign a 30 year old injury prone prop who is discarded by Wasps then wonder why a very promising young James Whitcombe leaves to get game time.