Let's not add.
Rumours:
Luke Fitz in advanced talks with Bayonne and Castres supposedly have Wanneberg and Marcel Garvey next season.
Nothing about Van Niekerk leaving Toulon,i thought that was to happen,class act,would be a great signing for somebody.
True.
Van Niekerk extended for 2 more years few weeks ago.
About Top 14 wages, according to Mourad Boudjellal in "L'Equipe" :
- for next season average wages are in decrease of 15%
- Fijians and Argentinians (because of the 4Nations that will overlap with Top 14) are at their lowest.
- J.I.F.F. (young players from french academies) are needed so wages are up.
- No big "star" has never been paid with 7 numbers in Top14.
- Foreign "stars" were paid between 600.000 and 800.000 € before, now it's more something like 500.000 to 600.000 € of net salary.
In the meantime, the LNR pushed up the salary cap from 8,2 M€ to 9,4 M€.
(salary cap includes wages of all employees of the club and will include now players commercials rights and their medias rights)
Last edited by Hellboy; 21st-April-2012 at 08:38.
"Mayol, it's like the Canterbury Crusaders fans, but under steroids !" Andrew Mehrtens 2007
Not sure what difference that would make if he could top up his salary by another 100 to 200 grand a year in France.
As an Irish fan i think he should head off and experience something new for two years or so. Somebody might finally decide on his best position too seeing as they won't be getting order from on high to play other players in the centre.
I agree, I think he should do a Tommy Bowe, would do him the world of good.
"It is understood he received offers from other clubs to continue playing for another year or two but preferred to finish his career with Munster."
Charlie Mulqueen on Mick O'Driscoll's impending retirement
17/04/2012
Wouldn't disagree at all. He could do with a long run in one position playing 80 minute rugby.
I'm just saying I have been told he has no intention of leaving, not opinion.
Is it true that Stade Francais have put in a bid for both Cara O'Sullivan AND the drummers?
Is it true that they are learning 'Paris in the Springtime' as we post?
I think we should be told.
Das ist nicht nur nicht richtig, es ist nicht einmal falsch! "Not only is it not right, it's not even wrong!"[Wolfgang Pauli]
Moneybags Toulon get mermoz now as well.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...691420,00.html
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
"Playing against ROG, your big game plan is to try and pressure him but he’d dump it off to Wally and next thing you’re five metres behind the gain line because he was an absolute freak." Rory Best, Irish Examiner, May 2012
"Mayol, it's like the Canterbury Crusaders fans, but under steroids !" Andrew Mehrtens 2007
I know someone who knows him very well. A very nice pile I'm led to believe.
He is on 260/280k, being offered 200k. I would expect some pay as play element will bridge the gap. Given his injury history I don't see any French club paying 400k+ for his services. With tax implications etc I don't expect he'd be much better off in France unless he gets massive money.
Some new names in the boxes.. Others should follow.... Transfers are open till the end of June !
Agen :
In : Steve Malonga (flanker, Castres), Rémy Vaquin (flanker, Racing), Mathieu Lorée (scrumhalf, Racing), Roux (center, La Rochelle)
Out : Dewald Senekal (lock, Bayonne), Maxime Machenaud (scrum-half, Racing Metro), Brice Dulin (winger, Castres), Sheklashvili (prop, ?), Ahotailoha (center, Bayonne?), Lassalle (lock, ?), Chavet (lock, retire),
Bayonne :
In : Dewald Senekal (lock, Agen), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (centre, Toulon)
Out : Julien Audy (scrum-half, Oyonnax), Yoan Huget (winger, Stade)
Biarritz :
In : Eugen van Staden (prop, Sharks), Ben Broster (prop, London Wasps), Thomas Synaeghel (prop, Montpellier),
Thibault Dubarry (lock, Brive), Aled Brew (winger, Newport)
Out : Yvan Watremez (prop, Montpellier), Romain Terrain (hooker, Perpignan), Sylvain Marconnet (retire)
Brive :
In : Tonita (flanker, Perpignan)
Out : Vasil Kakovin (prop, Toulouse), Thibault Dubarry (lock, Biarritz), Antonie Claasen (flanker, Castres), Alexandre Bias (flanker, Montpellier), Mathieu Bélie (scrum-half, Racing Metro)
Castres :
In : Christophe Samson (lock, Toulon), Antonie Claasen (flanker, Brive), Piula Faaselele (flanker, La Rochelle), Daniel Kirkpatrick (fly-half, Hurricanes), Brice Dulin (winger, Agen), Pedrie Wannenburg (flanker, Ulster)
Out : Steve Malonga (flanker, Agen), Chris Masoe (n°8, Toulon), Vincent Inigo (center,?), Mathieu Nicolas (ailier, Grenoble), Florian Denos (fullback, Oyonnax), Kiril Koulemine (lock, ?), Scott Murray (lock, ?), Garcia (centre, Bordeaux), Alexandre Albouy (scrumhalf, ?).
Clermont :
In : Damien Chouly (n°8, Perpignan), Conor McCan (fly-half, Ontario Blues), Napolioni Nalaga (winger, Western Force), Stanley (center, Auckland Blues)
Out : Gonzalo Canale (Aironi or Stade Français), White (flanker, Glasgow), Alexandre Audebert (?), Lionel Faure (prop, ?), Brent Russel (?), Goujon (flanker, La Rochelle), Murimurivalu (winger, La Rochelle)
Montpellier :
In : Yvan Watremez (prop, Biarritz), Charles Geli (hooker, Perpignan), Alexandre Bias (flanker, Brive), James Beattie (n°8, Glasgow), Matt Carraro (centre, Bath), Shontayne Hape (& / or) René Ranger
Out : Masi Matadigo (flanker, Racing-Metro), Bost (flanker ?), Schvelidze (prop, ?), Tuilevuka (center, ?)
Racing Metro :
In : Dimitri Szarzewski (hooker, Stade Francais), Masi Matadigo (flanker, Montpellier), Maxime Machenaud (scrum-half, Agen), Mathieu Bélie (scrum-half, Brive), Alex Cuthbert (shall sign soon)
Out : Nicolas Durand (scrum-half, Toulon), Francois Steyn (fullback, Sharks), Rémy Vaquin (flanker, Agen), Mathieu Lorée (scrum-half Agen), Lionel Nallet (Lyon ?), Matthieu Bousses (Agen), Coetze (prop, Brive), Galindo (retire), Juan-Martin Hernandez (Auckland Blues or Stade Français ?),
Stade Francais :
In : Nicolas Bezy (fly-half, Toulouse), Jerome Porical (fullback, Perpignan)
Out : Dimitri Szarzeswki (hooker, Racing Metro), Tom Palmer (lock, London Wasps), Byron Kelleher (released), Roncero (prop, retire), Gurruchaga (flyhalf, ?), Milloud (prop, retire), Tiesi (centre, ?)
Perpignan :
In : Sona Taumalolo (prop, Chiefs), Romain Terrain (hooker, Biarritz), Luke Charteris (lock, Newport), Alastair Strokosch (flanker, Gloucester), Luke Narraway (flanker, Gloucester), Lifeimi Mafi (centre, Munster), Sofiane Guitoune (fullback, Albi)
Out : Benoit Bourrust (prop, Cardiff Blues), Charles Geli (hooker, Montpellier), Damien Chouly (n°8, Clermont), Kevin Boulogne (scrum-half, Pau), Rudy Coetzee (centre, Grenoble), Jerome Porical (fullback, Stade Francais), Maxime Mermoz (Toulon),
Toulon :
In : Andrew Sheridan (prop, Sale), Gethin Jenkins (prop, Cardiff Blues), Gareth Delve (n°8, Melbourne Rebels), Chris Masoe (n°8, Castres), Nicolas Durand (scrum-half, Racing Metro), Frederic Michalak (scrum-half, Sharks), Guy Armitage (centre, London Irish to Academy not pro), Delon Armitage (fullback, London Irish), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan)
Out : Eifion Lewis-Roberts (prop, Sale), Christophe Samson (lock, Castres), Dean Schofield (lock, Worcester), Fabien Cibray (scrum-half, Lyon), Julien Dumora (fly-half, Lyon), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (centre, Bayonne), Matt Henjak (Dax ?), Joe El Abd (Oyonnax), Jone Tawake (?), Seva Rokobaro (Aix), Chris Chesney (Oyonnax or retire), Christian Loamanu (winger, ?)
Toulouse :
In : Vasil Kakovin (prop, Brive), Yoan Huget (winger, Bayonne), Pierre Spies (Bulls)
Out : Nicolas Bezy (fly-half, Stade Francais), Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Dax ?), William Servat (retired), Nicolas Vergallo (scrumhalf, Agen ?), Falefa (prop, ?)
Lyon : (PROD2 next year)
In : Huw Bennett (hooker, Ospreys), Sebastien Chabal (n°8, free), Fabien Cibray (scrum-half, Toulon), Julien Dumora (fly-half, Toulon)
Out : Sebastien Petit (prop, Narbonne), Brice Salobert (scrum-half, Carcassonne), Lee Thomas (fullback, London Wasps)
Bordeaux-Bègles :
In : Karolis Navickas (lock, Sale), Johan Kitshoff (flanker, Western Province), Lachie Munro (fullback, Blues)
Out : Julien Turini (prop, Aix-en-Provence), Boris Bethery (hooker, Dax), Gerard Fraser (fly-half, Beziers)
Grenoble : (top 14 next year)
In : Shaun Sowerby (n°8 Toulouse) , Rudy Coetzee (centre, Perpignan), Florian Ninard (winger, La Rochelle), Mathieu Nicolas (winger, Castres), Ben hand (lock, Australie), Aaron bancroft (N.Z.), Florent Fourcade (flanker, Albi)
Out : Alexis Driollet (flanker, Aix-en-Provence) James Lakepa, Hugo Dupont, Jonathan Quinnez, Tone Kopelani, Johan Dalla Riva, Jone Daunivucu.
Lyon are the first team mathematially releguated in Pro D2
And another ProD2 team shall join Top 14 too after their playoffs.
Last edited by Hellboy; 24th-April-2012 at 12:19.
"Mayol, it's like the Canterbury Crusaders fans, but under steroids !" Andrew Mehrtens 2007
Dean Mumm to Exeter
The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves
Incase people don't know you Dean Mumm is he's been second row for Waratahas for years now. Check out his hand off on Marcel Coetzee last month on Rugbydump is you haven't seen it yet! Faceplant city!!!
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...421-1xdlf.html
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/fo...rom=public_rss
Former Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom loses Japanese club
contract due to failed medical test
Within the past year, Rocky Elsom has gone from Wallabies captain to
being sacked by his Japanese club for failing a medical test.
Elsom's downward trajectory hit a new low when Kobe tore up his two-year deal
at the weekend for being unable to satisfy their requirements in testing.
The injury-prone backrower, who managed just six
Super Rugby games in
the past two years with New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies, was to have
started playing for Kobe in October in Japan's Top League.
But The Daily Telegraph has been told Elsom
will now seek a lifeline in France, where the medical requirements are
apparently not as stringent.
He slipped quietly to Japan straight after the Waratahs' Mad Monday
celebrations after a disastrous season.
Having been appointed captain by former coach Michael Foley, Elsom managed
just five games because of hamstring and shoulder injuries.
He never reached the required number of games to activate the second-year
clause of his contract with the Waratahs and signed with Kobe, who also signed
former NRL star Craig Wing on a $1.5 million two-year deal.
Elsom spoke to Wing before signing with Kobe, but had also arranged to have
stints in Europe between January and July over the next two years. However, with
his history of injuries and latest setback, Elsom's future is clouded.
French club Narbonne, who have former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer
on the board, loom as the most likely destination for Elsom.
The latest saga continues a wretched 12 months for the 29-year-old, who was
axed as Wallabies captain three weeks before last year's Rugby World Cup.
He went on to play most of the World Cup games including the semi-final
defeat to the All Blacks, Elsom's last of 75 Tests.
Rumour has it,Elsom will sign for Toulon.
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
The guy was here yesterday.
Not done yet.
Question's about some medical issues...
(Elsom just had been fired from Japan for that).
Still in Toulon : Rudi Wulf back from the Blues and North Harbor to Toulon in october (after the ANZC)
And hooker Deon Fourie could join us too.
Clearly, Boudjellal built an All Star Team for the next 2 seasons, to play both Top 14 and H.Cup at 100%.
All-in for some silverware.
Fail won't be tolerated, even here in Toulon.
Rumors Boudjellal already got contacts with future majors investors.
"Mayol, it's like the Canterbury Crusaders fans, but under steroids !" Andrew Mehrtens 2007
I always wonder if there's more than meets the eye with Rocky...
\"There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples; my philosophy is kindness\".
Dalai Lama
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19555873
11 September 2012Last updated at 11:30 GMT
Glasgow Warriors sign Josh Strauss as Viliami Ma'afu leaves
Glasgow Warriors have signed South African Josh Strauss, but fellow No 8 Viliami Ma'afu is to leave the club.
The Warriors say Ma'afu, who did not feature in either of Glasgow's opening two Pro12 fixtures, is departing "due to family and personal reasons".
Continue reading the main story“Josh views Glasgow Warriors as a club where he can progress”Gregor TownsendGlasgow Warriors head coach
Strauss, 25, has signed a three-year deal, having spent last season with the Lions in his homeland.
"Josh is an outstanding player who will be a fantastic asset," coach Gregor Townsend told the club website.
"He's a signing who will excite both the rest of the squad and our supporters, who doubtless will have enjoyed watching him lead from the front with the Lions in Super XV.
"Technically, he has all the elements you'd want to see in a No 8. Ryan Wilson has been in excellent form these past 12 months, and having that level of competition is great for all concerned.
"Josh is here first and foremost to make an outstanding contribution on the field, but we also see him as someone who will be a very positive and inspirational influence for our young back-row players as they make strides in the game."We're delighted Josh views Glasgow Warriors as a club where he can progress and achieve his ambitions, and we look forward to seeing him in a black and blue shirt in the very near future."Tongan Ma'afu did not make any competitive appearances for Glasgow
Strauss, who has also represented Lons-le-Saunier and Boland, added: "I'm really excited to have signed for Glasgow Warriors, and can't wait to get on that plane and hit the ground running with my new club and team-mates.
"I've had a number of really positive conversations with Gregor Townsend, where he's explained how ambitious the club are to move forward on and off the field.
"There are a lot of top players in the squad, especially in the back row, and I know I will have to fight hard to prove my worth and earn selection."
Glasgow thanked Tonga cap Ma'afu "for his excellent professionalism and wish him and his family every success in the future".
And they added: "Viliami wishes to make clear that his reasons for leaving the club are purely personal."
Looking ahead to Friday's match against Ospreys in Wales, Townsend said: "We have to be physical down there, they're a team who play on the edge in terms of aggression.
"The players have won there before so they know what to expect."
Also related to this story
Thats a very decent signing.
Otaga Daily Times 2/5/2012
Taz-Where did you get that information as I have seen nowhere that he(Penney) was ruled out?
Editor - The writer stands by the Penney information.
Otaga Daily Times 3/5/2012
Editor-- This article originally said Rob Penney had missed out on the Munster coaching job. That information was incorrect.
a bit of an exodus from the Lions st this stage....very good signing for Glasgow .....helps a bit after losing worlds best 2nd row....
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy