Transfer news, rumours, suggestions, frenzied speculation, and outright lies - Season 2023-24

[Scrumhead]

Neil Fissler is going to wank himself down to a nub if so

What a dreadful image.

Christie’s a good player - certainly not in the same category as an overweight player in their 30s looking for a last pay day.

[Puja]

Neil Fissler is going to wank himself down to a nub if so

What a dreadful image.

Christie’s a good player - certainly not in the same category as an overweight player in their 30s looking for a last pay day.

He would only be one year younger than Weepu was, who wasn't significantly overweight when he left NZ! But I take your point.

I was wondering if he might look to explore his Scottishness if he moved, but he benched against England last year, so would only be available in July 2027, which is probably too close to the RWC (and I don't know if the All Blacks XV game vs Georgia in Nov 2024 was a capturing one; if it was he couldn't even make the RWC).

Puja

[FKAS]

Neil Fissler is going to wank himself down to a nub if so

What a dreadful image.

Christie’s a good player - certainly not in the same category as an overweight player in their 30s looking for a last pay day.

He would only be one year younger than Weepu was, who wasn't significantly overweight when he left NZ! But I take your point.

I was wondering if he might look to explore his Scottishness if he moved, but he benched against England last year, so would only be available in July 2027, which is probably too close to the RWC (and I don't know if the All Blacks XV game vs Georgia in Nov 2024 was a capturing one; if it was he couldn't even make the RWC).

Puja

Weepu added that weight pretty swiftly when he moved abroad though there was other health related things going on for him at the time.

Christie at 29 already surely isn't going to be interesting Scotland in a couple of years time. Be more than a whiff of desperation around calling him in for the world cup at 31.

[Which Tyler]

Max Green (SH) to Quins


A few more contract extensions at Newcastle - with these, and that piece in the Times, we're surely expecting an announcement soon - probably not wanting to be buried by Lions news

[Danno]

A few more contract extensions at Newcastle - with these, and that piece in the Times, we're surely expecting an announcement soon - probably not wanting to be buried by Lions news

Good point there. Hopefully the thing all gets signed and tied up in a nice PR bow next week

[Puja]

George McGuigan signs up for the Red Bull experience. Odd career - he's consistently looked incredible at Newcastle, even in some highly ropey teams, England have never looked interested, but they're possibly justified as this is now the second time that he's gone away to a bigger club and not looked the same player, before ending up turning back up at Newcastle.

Puja

[FKAS]

George McGuigan signs up for the Red Bull experience. Odd career - he's consistently looked incredible at Newcastle, even in some highly ropey teams, England have never looked interested, but they're possibly justified as this is now the second time that he's gone away to a bigger club and not looked the same player, before ending up turning back up at Newcastle.

Puja

To be fair to him injury ruined his time at Glaws and with two younger and better hookers at Glaws they weren't going to keep him around.

Solid pro, proper Steve Diamond signing. Bet he has a good season if he can stay fit.

[jimKRFC]

Bristol looking to retake the "big spenders" title by signing Georgian Rugby international Luka Ivanishvili

I know he has a 'tash but that's about it....

[FKAS]

Bristol looking to retake the "big spenders" title by signing Georgian Rugby international Luka Ivanishvili

I know he has a 'tash but that's about it....

Presumably the Heenan replacement. Georgian international who plays 6 and 8. Interesting one from Bristol.

[twitchy]

[FKAS]

How long until he's no longer Welsh tied? Has he got an English family member. Even if he doesn't represent England he'd then count as EQ up to the point he represents Wales again.

[Which Tyler]

Assuming that's LRZ... If he's coming to the UK, then Newcastle (gives you wings) is the obvious option.
Gloucester may be an option as well - rumours of "first refusal", and they've certainly got space under the cap, but have they got the money itself? Looking at their transfers - it's certainly realistic that they could afford him, looks like they're losing 7* capped players, with 2** incoming.

Otherwise, as he's interested in widening his horizons, then I could see NRL appealing - otherwise France or Japan if he's good at languages. No-one else in the UK will have both room under a cap, and the finances available at this point in the season (unless it's been known for a fair while, and only being announced now)





* <10: Mercer, Wade
10-30: Tuisue, Vivas
30+: Carreras, Anscombe, Harris

**: Byrne (22), Laulala (53)

[twitchy]

An incredible stat. He has only missed one welsh win while away.