TRANSFER RUMOURS!!

[richardt84]

RugbyPass linking us with Werner Kok and also a snippet on McCloskey.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... nother-10/

Ulster are set to sign Olympic sevens bronze medalist Werner Kok when his £160,000-a-year contract with United Rugby Championship rivals the Sharks runs out at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old made over 280 sevens appearances for South Africa and won bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016, two years after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The winger and outside centre, who has played 15s since 2020, has scored five tries in 12 appearances for the Durban-based Sharks this season. He has played for Western Province and Toulouse.

Ulster and Ireland inside centre Stuart McCloskey is still thinking about a potential switch from Ravenhill to Bayonne next season after having talks with the Top 14 outfit.

The Bangor-born 31-year-old is due to be under contract to Ulster next season, but bosses desperately need to slash the wage bill at the club to cover losses from last season.

Sources have claimed it would be a massive wrench for Ulster’s player of the year in 2016, who has twice been named in the URC dream team, to leave Ireland and move to France.

[Neill_M]

RugbyPass linking us with Werner Kok and also a snippet on McCloskey.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/fissler- ... nother-10/

Ulster are set to sign Olympic sevens bronze medalist Werner Kok when his £160,000-a-year contract with United Rugby Championship rivals the Sharks runs out at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old made over 280 sevens appearances for South Africa and won bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016, two years after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The winger and outside centre, who has played 15s since 2020, has scored five tries in 12 appearances for the Durban-based Sharks this season. He has played for Western Province and Toulouse.

Ulster and Ireland inside centre Stuart McCloskey is still thinking about a potential switch from Ravenhill to Bayonne next season after having talks with the Top 14 outfit.

The Bangor-born 31-year-old is due to be under contract to Ulster next season, but bosses desperately need to slash the wage bill at the club to cover losses from last season.

Sources have claimed it would be a massive wrench for Ulster’s player of the year in 2016, who has twice been named in the URC dream team, to leave Ireland and move to France.

Slightly left field that one re the player, the concept of actually signing someone doesn't fit with the Ulster are broke narrative etc.

[justinr73]

We let about ten leave last season and brought in SK, Ewers and French.

Bit short of options on the flanks.

Kok’s scored 5 in 12 for a losing side this season from the right wing, is a busy, all-action player and wouldn’t command top dollar.

And he’s got a funny name.

Sign him up.

[MightyRearranger]

The way I'd think of it is he'd be taking lukes contract. Someone who can cover wing wouldn't be the worst given we don't have much after Jacob, Bobby and maybe Ethan.

[Dharper]

WK whenever I’ve seen him gives 100%, plays with real intensity, and has an edge to him. Might be a v decent signing if the finances work, and push standards off the pitch.

SMcC would be turning his back on Ire selection, although he may be 4th choice, he is featuring fairly regularly for ire the last 12mths, and henshaw has a poor overall injury profile as well.
I reckon he’ll stay, maybe leave at end of contract.

[Columbo]

Well it hasn’t been a great couple of weeks for online ‘ITK’-artists… Neil Fissler ended up with egg on his face when Huw Jones ‘done deal at Montpellier’ turned out to be ..er.. not done - I mention in passing that he is the source of the Kok rumour..

Also a rake of Munster rumours faltering, Gallagher has already gone elsewhere, Cronin extended with Leicester, Milne now expected to stay at Leinster and sounds like the Grobelaar move is off (if it was ever on)

In Connacht sounds like Thornbury, Daly and Boyle are off, and maybe also Butler and Farrell - Daly was linked with Munster to add to their enormous list of centres developed elsewhere. Thornbury is a good player but horrible injury profile, and I have to say I like Boyle and have been a bit surprised to see him drop out of the picture so much this season. Thornbury might be a good pick-up for us if the rumours about AOC are correct?

In Leinster seems like Healy is extending another year and Milne staying on, so may be that Byrne moves on. Also seems to still be talk of movement in their out-half and back row ranks…

[jean valjean]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

[Neill_M]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

Who is the strangler?

[Neill_M]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

Leinster fans forum speculating around Roux.

[Hans Indaruck]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

Who is the strangler?

The Dublin Strangler = AOC . Refers to his second (I think) match for Ulster when in a (literally) choke tackle his opponent went unconscious!

[Neill_M]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

Who is the strangler?

The Dublin Strangler = AOC . Refers to his second (I think) match for Ulster when in a (literally) choke tackle his opponent went unconscious!

[justinr73]

Quinn roux and Jack dunne both out of contract this year. Either would be a useful pick up with the strangler leaving.

Dunne played a lot last season but has been generally conspicuous by his absence this term.

He chose Exeter over Connacht so they could be in for him again.

Thornbury supposed to be leaving Connacht but has apparently not stood out for Blackrock when playing for them this season.

[Neill_M]

Pablo Ordas
@Pablordas
En quête d’un centre international, les décideurs bayonnais s’étaient intéressés à Stuart McCloskey, mais la piste s’est refroidie, ces derniers temps. En revanche, comme d’autres écuries du championnat, ils discutent avec Manu Tuilagi.
https://rugbyrama.fr/2024/03/12/transfe ... 821625.php via
@RugbyramaFR
Translated from French by
In search of an international center, Bayonne decision-makers were interested in Stuart McCloskey, but the trail has cooled in recent times. On the other hand, like other teams in the championship, they are talking with Manu Tuilagi.

From Twitter.

In other news Jason Jenkins joining the Sharks (of Durban) after he leaves Leinster.

[Neill_M]

Anscombe to Gloucester confirmed, Burns to Munster surely a done deal now.

[DodgyEverything]

Werner Kok to Ulster confirmed