Transfer news, rumours, speculation, insinuations, and outright transfer slanders - Season 2025/26

[Which Tyler]

Wrong DuPreez - rumour is for Dan, who's exclusively an 8

[Mikey Brown]

Have either Du Preez ever really been a lock or is that just Sale wanting to cram ball carriers in to their pack?

[FKAS]

Have either Du Preez ever really been a lock or is that just Sale wanting to cram ball carriers in to their pack?

Jean-Luc is happy at lock, 6 or 8. He's at Bordeaux now.

[Captainhaircut]

I’m sure I’ve seen Dan Du Preez play lock. Maybe I imagined it.

Anyway, Newcastle have signed Zach Henry. Interesting signing. Could come back like Searle and show us a much more complete game. Played 50 games for Stade so must have done ok over there.

They’ve also signed Max Hicks- Kiwi 6 who looks a bit of a genetic freak.

[Which Tyler]

I’m sure I’ve seen Dan Du Preez play lock. Maybe I imagined it.

Jean Lu dP has 50-odd starts at lock, Dan has 0. I don't think he's ever worn 19 either (not impossible he's come off the bench at lock, or covered there after starting 8)
There's also a JP, a Ruan, a Phillip, a Dries, and a Gysbert - all Du Preez, and all saffer locks

[FKAS]

Occupied positions by Dan on start team :
Back Row : 156 times ( Number 8 99%, Openside Flanker 1% )

From AllRugby doesn't mean he hasn't moved there mid game or something. He's 6ft5 and about 18 stone so it's not like he couldn't do a job there.

Zach Henry will add some ball in hand fluency to the NRB attack. His kicking for goal is decent and he can cover 15 as well. He's got plenty of experience over in France and played a bit for Tigers. He's a Bristol boy originally and given how he likes to play I did wonder if he'd end up back there. Not a high profile 10 for NRB but an experienced EQ option that should be an improvement on what they have.

[Puja]

I’m sure I’ve seen Dan Du Preez play lock. Maybe I imagined it.

Anyway, Newcastle have signed Zach Henry. Interesting signing. Could come back like Searle and show us a much more complete game. Played 50 games for Stade so must have done ok over there.

They’ve also signed Max Hicks- Kiwi 6 who looks a bit of a genetic freak.

Henry's a good pick-up - he's a good player who was just the wrong one for that Leicester side when he played there. Good runner, metronomic kicker, EQ - pretty much the perfect signing for Red Bulls. Only on a 1 year contract, interestingly - I wonder if Newcastle have their eye on a truly marquee name at 10 after the RWC?

Puja

[Puja]

Fissler reckons that Sale have failed to sign Kpoku and he will be staying at Toulon, and also that Qukns are going to hire Mark Mapletoft away from the RFU.

I think, from an England supporter perspective, we're very much hoping that he's wrong about one and right about the other. Qujns fans may feel differently.

Puja

[Captainhaircut]

Sale have had a nightmare in the market. They should have had CCS and Kpoku who could have been cornerstones of their pack for a decade. Feels like they’ve cheaped out.

Kpoku staying in France is not good.

[FKAS]

Sanderson's tendency to open his mouth around transfers probably hasn't helped Sale much. Entertaining for neutrals but mouthing off about having funds for five world class players really is an invitation for agents to take the Mick.

I'm very much in agreement with Puja about Fissler being wrong about one and right about the other. Having a piss poor Quins team doesn't do much for the league though, the expectation is that Glaws and NRB will be much improved next season. Having Quins sit bottom of the league as poor as this season won't help anybody.

[twitchy]

Exe need a second row.

[FKAS]

Exe need a second row.

Injuries or for next season?

[Puja]

Exe need a second row.

Mind, that's who Kpoku left to go to France!

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Exe need a second row.

Mind, that's who Kpoku left to go to France!

Puja

Yeah but he’d only been with them a few weeks. He left Sarries academy and joined Exeter academy before the offer from Racing.

[Puja]

Awful news for Saints: http://www.rugbyrebels.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7664

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Oof. That’s rough. He was going to be getting caps soon too surely.

[FKAS]

Lozowski to join Sale for next season. Can't get more like for like replacement with Rob du Preez I don't think.

[Captainhaircut]

Lozowski to join Sale for next season. Can't get more like for like replacement with Rob du Preez I don't think.

I think you’re missing the one clear divergence. RDP has played a million games in a row- he’s probably the most durable player in the league. Lozowski has had a terrible few years with injury which is unlikely to improve given he’ll be 33 when he joins.

Good player but doesn’t feel like someone who will drive Sale forward in any way.

[FKAS]

Lozowski to join Sale for next season. Can't get more like for like replacement with Rob du Preez I don't think.

I think you’re missing the one clear divergence. RDP has played a million games in a row- he’s probably the most durable player in the league. Lozowski has had a terrible few years with injury which is unlikely to improve given he’ll be 33 when he joins.

Good player but doesn’t feel like someone who will drive Sale forward in any way.

True Rob du Preez has generally been unbreakable for Sale. Lozowski still managed 14 games last season. Issue for him is he tends to only pick significant injuries. He'll be able to rotate with Marchant at least.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, on paper a good RDP replacement but would seem an odd signing as hopeful first choice with Marchant already on the way.

[TheNomad]

It’ll be a real shame if Kpoku doesn’t come back here in time to give himself a shout for the World Cup - he can’t be too far off given the depth at lock

As for the J Willis to Munster rumours - just, why? Has SB done something to upset the Willis boys? I don’t get it.

This England group + Willisx2 and Kpoku would be looking extra tasty.

[jimKRFC]

It’ll be a real shame if Kpoku doesn’t come back here in time to give himself a shout for the World Cup - he can’t be too far off g1iven the depth at lock

Really don't understand the Kpoku love in... He is just bang average. Don't see that he offers anything over another lock, certainly shouldn't be talked about over options playing in the prem.

[FKAS]

It’ll be a real shame if Kpoku doesn’t come back here in time to give himself a shout for the World Cup - he can’t be too far off g1iven the depth at lock

Really don't understand the Kpoku love in... He is just bang average. Don't see that he offers anything over another lock, certainly shouldn't be talked about over options playing in the prem.

How many 6ft8 and 19+ stone locks do we have that are mobile enough to play 6 and good enough at 19 to be playing first team rugby fairly regularly. The guy is an a outlier in terms of physical ability. Now he's not the finished article but at his age few locks are. There's a lot to work with though.

[FKAS]

As for the J Willis to Munster rumours - just, why? Has SB done something to upset the Willis boys? I don’t get it.

The Irish golden generation is fading, Munster are struggling and presumably Munster plus a saucy IRFU central contract is a lot of cash to lure him over to the Emerald Isle.

I'd imagine the RFU are fairly consistent in saying you need to play in the Prem before you get a central contract. We aren't using them to bring players back.

[jimKRFC]

It’ll be a real shame if Kpoku doesn’t come back here in time to give himself a shout for the World Cup - he can’t be too far off g1iven the depth at lock

Really don't understand the Kpoku love in... He is just bang average. Don't see that he offers anything over another lock, certainly shouldn't be talked about over options playing in the prem.

How many 6ft8 and 19+ stone locks do we have that are mobile enough to play 6 and good enough at 19 to be playing first team rugby fairly regularly. The guy is an a outlier in terms of physical ability. Now he's not the finished article but at his age few locks are. There's a lot to work with though.

IMHO (not that it really matters) he's picked because he's 6ft8 and 19 stone.... His carrying is rubbish for someone that size, his work rate is low (becuse he's huge) and if he's "not the finished article" then give him a couple of years and pick some who offers more now. If you look at his highlights he doesn't beat tacklers, it seems most of his metre made come from being tall and falling forward

i'd level the same charge at Massi White as well - big lad, runs hard and can tackle, but can't pass and isnt effective if his oppo can takle him. Just had a look at can't find (on page page one of google) a clip of him passing*....


*Possibly due to poor google-fu skills.