New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Captainhaircut]

Oh, absolutely - if Sinckler comes back to the Premiership, it'd only be a good thing for England. There's no such thing as "too many tighthead prop options".

Not sure about if he'd go to Newcastle though. He's a very good player, but I don't know how valuable he'd be as a star amongst lesser lights - to my mind, he seems to be at his best when matched with other quality players, rather than when he's having to set the standards himself.

Puja

They have committed to paying up to the cap plus a marquee player and apparently started with sotutu and Onyama-Christie so fancy they’ll put out a decent side .

[Puja]

Oh, absolutely - if Sinckler comes back to the Premiership, it'd only be a good thing for England. There's no such thing as "too many tighthead prop options".

Not sure about if he'd go to Newcastle though. He's a very good player, but I don't know how valuable he'd be as a star amongst lesser lights - to my mind, he seems to be at his best when matched with other quality players, rather than when he's having to set the standards himself.

Puja

They have committed to paying up to the cap plus a marquee player and apparently started with sotutu and Onyama-Christie so fancy they’ll put out a decent side .

Talk is cheap, unlike buying a whole squad in from scratch. They will be paying over the odds for any players of real quality because they'll have to sell them on the project (and the early adopters will be most expensive, as no-one wants to be first) and prize them away from existing contracts elsewhere. So while I have no doubt they'll be paying up to the cap plus a marquee, they will get much less value out of that amount of money than a Saracens will, who can sell players on their reputation and pedigree as a top quality club, as well as having a stable coaching staff and a high-quality stadium and training ground that's not just promises on paper. Plus Newcastle will have to spend some of that cap on buying squad depth, because their academy production line has been thoroughly rinsed over the last couple of years, so they won't have the home-grown prospects to provide backup

They will either end up with a good first XV and very thin squad cover behind it (like Bristol did when buying a team), or strength in meh (like Leicester did when we decided to sack off using our academy for half a decade and instead pay to bring in Jason Spice) - either way they'll be mid-table at best for a couple of season while things sort themselves out.

Puja

[FKAS]

https://share.google/B6k7j9TLHiiYjHTuJ

Interview with Joe Heyes about his relationship with Will Stuart and refinding his love with rugby.

[fivepointer]

Sela starts for Bath in Toulon this weekend. guess we're going to find out soon enough if he's ready to make the step up.

[Puja]

Glaws are apparently repatriating Dan Robson for next season - he'll be 35 by the RWC, but so will Spencer and I think I'd prefer Robson. Good additional option for England to have regardless.

Puja

[Danno]

Glaws are apparently repatriating Dan Robson for next season - he'll be 35 by the RWC, but so will Spencer and I think I'd prefer Robson. Good additional option for England to have regardless.

Puja

I'd honestly thought he'd already retired until I caught up on the Cup highlights from last weekend.

I'm sure he'll make the '27 squad with that choice of club.

[Captainhaircut]

Doesn’t sound good for Will Joseph. In better news, Clark and Clement both back this weekend.

“Max Llewellyn and Will Joseph both left the field during Gloucester Rugby's Round 1 victory over Castres Olympique.

Following early assessment, a knee injury for Llewellyn has ruled him out of action until the latter part of the 2025/26 season.

Joseph continues to be assessed, but like Llewellyn, is not expecting to return to action quickly.“

[Epaminondas Pules]

Finn Carnduff has gone under the knife and faces a few more months out sadly. Not sure if already posted but saw the news today.

[FKAS]

Finn Carnduff has gone under the knife and faces a few more months out sadly. Not sure if already posted but saw the news today.

Ah balls. Poor sod has had feck all luck. This will be his third op in just over 12 months.