BUY, BUY, BUY, BYE, BYE, BYE
How good is it to be back? And yet it seems only yesterday that we were watching Gloucester capitulate at the penultimate hurdle once again and waving goodbye to Leeds as they fell through the trapdoor that they’d be glancing nervously at all season.
In the meantime of course we’ve had to endure another woeful England tour – although admittedly this one was livened up somewhat with scurrilous accusations – and endless talk of the new laws. We’ve not even played a game under the ELVs, and already it’s getting tiresome hearing about them.
So what news of the clubs on the eve of the kick-off? Well, following the mass of movements that went on last season to prepare for the World Cup, this close season has been decidedly disappointing. There are a few exceptions of course. Worcester have added a proper megastar to their ranks in Chris Latham in the hope that he has a slightly bigger impact than Rico Gear. Not so big news but a tidy signing for the Warriors nonetheless is Hal Luscombe who has joined his former national coach from Quins.
As for Quins, in an effort to prove they really are going to be one of the big boys from now on, the signature of Nick Evans made a big statement. It was needed too, not least because Adrian Jarvis had figured life in Bristol was preferable to the Big Smoke. As we’ve now come to expect of Bristol, he’s joined by another batch of players plundered from National One including Junior Fatialofa from Exeter Chiefs and Vunga Lilo from Cornish Pirates.
Arguably Bath have made the most astute signings bringing in Stuart Hooper from Leeds and Justin Harrison from Ulster to fill the void left by the departure of Steve Borthwick to Saracens. Robbie Kydd has also returned to the club from Northampton. And, proving they’ve not been put off following Chev Walker’s stint at the club, they also snapped up Shontayne Hape from Bradford Bulls.
They will have to make do without Olly Barkley who took the now well trodden path to Kingsholm where he’ll be joined by Welsh centre Matthew Watkins from Scarlets and All Black Greg Somerville. Bit of a mass exodus when it comes to depatures though as Ryan trims his squad. Among the depatures we’ve got Karl Pryce scuttling back to league, Chris Paterson back to Edinburgh, Leon Lloyd and Christian Califano retiring and Jeremy Paul being released back into the wild again.
Newcastle have been hitting the headlines in the transfer world, but not for the right reasons. Considering they’ve often been labelled as a side that’s all about the backs, they could be lacking something this term after Mat Tait joined Sale, Toby Flood headed to Leicester and Matt Burke retired. To compensate, they’ve brought in Tane Tu’ipulotu from Wellington and Danny Williams from Leeds rugby league. Is it enough? A tough season ahead we reckon.
The Falcons’ fellow favourites for the drop, Northampton, have typically brought in a good few new faces but it remains to be seen if Ben Foden, Lee Dickson, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe et al are going to be enough to keep them up.
No such worries at Leicester with the capture of Flood and Derick Hougaard greatly improving their lot at number ten and Craig Newby adding considerably to their forward options.
Sale are desperate to make up for lost time by matching their Tait swoop with the signing of Dwayne Peel from Scarlets.
London Irish reckon they’ve got a decent enough squad it seems having brought in just a few new players to help them improve on seventh place. Elvis Seviali’i comes in from Sale, James Buckland signs from Wasps and Chris Hala’Ufia arrives from Quins.
Finishing up our lengthy Rucker transfer update (don’t expect this every week) we’ve got two London clubs. Wasps, never ones to splash the cash, have prudently brought in Serge Betsen, Mark Robinson and Jeremy Staunton.
Saracens, not a club you’d ever accuse of being prudent in the past, have gone and proved us all wrong by making three very wise additions in Michael Owen, Wikus van Heerden and Borthwick.
And now, on with the rugby…