Five Test level locks that could fit the bill as mystery Leicester Tigers signing
While Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby Geordan Murphy has poured icy-cold water over the rumoured signing of Saracens second row Maro Itoje, the Irishman did confirm that the club are finalising a deal for a player in that position.
“That (Itoje rumour) is not true. Like everything this season, we have been attached to quite a few rumours. Maro Itoje is a fantastic player but is not in our plans at present,” said Murphy. “We actually are in the process of finalising someone in that position and we will release that when we are ready, hopefully early next week.”
Many clubs, cash strapped due to the pandemic, are off-loading their squads, leaving a glut of off-contract players desperately looking to find a home before the new season begins. Despite being hit in their collective pockets, clubs looking to acquire players are at a distinct negotiating advantage, knowing that as squad sizes contract across Europe, the more players are bound to be looking for new employers.
Likewise, there’s been a significant sea-change in attitudes the player salaries in recent months, with a widespread acknowledgement within the sport that the current financial model is broken: largely due to ever-inflating player wages. Just this week, the Myner Report into the Premiership salary cap revealed that in 2013/14, there were just five players in the league with a total cost to their employing club – including such extra costs as agents’ fees and image rights – of at least £300,000. In the space of just six years, that number had risen to 99 players. What’s more, the 24 best-paid players for the 2019/20 season cost their various clubs a total of £14million, an average of £583,000 apiece.
But who are Leicester Tigers signing in the second row? If they were looking to spend significant funds, there are a number of world-class players that going off-contract. Here are five off-contract locks that could fit the bill.
NICK ISIEKWE
The towering Saracens young gun has been linked with another of clubs following the news of the red and blacks enforced relegation; including Sale Sharks and Gloucester, but Welford Road could yet be the perfect landing spot for the 22-year-old who’s eager on add to his three England caps to date.
DEVIN TONER
‘Big Dev’ Toner is coming off contract at Leinster, and after missing out at the Rugby World Cup, it seems his international career is drawing to a close. Leinster head coach Leo Cullen, a friend and former teammate of Geordan Murphy, last month admitted the future of Toner (and a number of other veterans) was unclear. At 33, Toner could be tempted by a year or maybe two in the Premiership.
LEONE NAKAWARA
Fired by Racing 92 last year for not turning up for the new season, Nakawara was quickly snapped up by former club Glasgow Warriors in the PRO14. That contract was only to the end of the season, however, and TOP14 clubs, hen-pecked by JIFF protocols, may look past the maverick Fijian, despite his undeniable abilities. His family are based in Fiji, where he currently resides, and he may wish to seek out employment closer to home in Japan or at a Super Rugby franchise.
SCOTT FARDY
Fardy got a one-year extension of a contract in 2019 with Leinster, but at 35 and with no formal contract or retirement announced, it’s unclear what the future holds for the grizzled Australian. One thing is clear, he’s been in fine form for Leinster and he plays a lot younger than his age profile suggests. One more go around the block?
GEORGE KRUIS
Although the smart money is that England lock Kruis is heading to Japan, he is yet to officially confirm the move. He’s definitely leaving Saracens, but if Kruis fancied a further crack at England, he would have to stay local. Could Leicester Tigers be a good fit for a one or two year contract?
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments