So i have not been around for a few, like so many around the country and the world i have been in lock down with my family passing the time with house work set by the wife, homeschooling and to mix it up a bit going for some daily exercise. At the weekends i chat with friends on Zoom and enjoy a quiz or some games and a few beers.
I was in the middle of one of these quizzes with some friends and my friend John hinted that he reads the blog after i was asked some rugby related questions during the quiz. it then dawned on me that i had not blogged for some time and that i should get back to it.
So here we are John a new blog.
What has been going on in the world of rugby, well you would think that as we are currently in a lock down situation the rugby world would be pretty slow and quiet with not much going, but you would be wrong there has been some rumours of some big transfers and plenty of other news from around the rugby world.
Finn Russell turned down offers from some Premiership clubs including Bath and Bristol to re sign for Racing 92 for a reported £850,000 a year deal for the next 3 years!! Is he worth that? No way, yes he is good but he is not worth that sort of money. Racing 92 have also added Wallaby duo Kurtley Beale and Luke Jones.
Ben Te'o has hinted that he wants to return to England and has reportedly been approached by Bath Rugby.
Alex Goode is reportedly on his way out of Saracens with a big money link to Japan next season, Along with Isiekwe who has reportedly signed a deal to move to Leicester Tigers.
Lets stay on Saracens for a while, they have had to move a lot of players around for next season so they stay out of trouble when playing in the championship next season.
They have kept a number of high profile players but not sure how many games they will play.
They have let go of some surprises and have also loaned out some players to help keep there books in order.
Props, Figallo, Lamositele and Carre are all out and off to other clubs away from the Premiership.
Hooker , Singleton is on loan at Gloucester.
Locks, Rhodes, Kruis, Skelton and Isiekwe are all of to other clubs.
Back Row, Earl is on loan to Bristol.
Scrum Half, Ben Spencer is out on his way to Bath, this for me is one of the big surprises in that he is a class player and i am surprised that Saracens did not loan him out or try and keep him. A player on the edge of the England Team and with a big future. Bath has landed a great signing with that.
Centre, Tompkins has signed for Cardiff, Not really a surprise there, having been capped for Wales in the Six Nations and showing that he is a world class player he would of been putting his future at risk by staying with Saracens.
Fullback, Alex Goode another big shock, the player that should of been in the England Team, One of the best players to not wear the England jersey. A move for him to Japan shows that he has given up on playing for England and wants top get the most out of the last years of his career.
Fullback, Matt Gallagher has gone to Munster
Fullback, Malins has been put on loan to Bristol.
Joe Gray will return to Harlequins during the Season and Liam Williams will head over to the Scarlets.
This transfer and loan list is most properly not complete yet and i expect a few more big moves from players.
Saracens won't be able to get ride of all the big paid players without breaking salary cap in buying them out of there contacts but expect some players to want to get loaned out to Premiership Clubs.
Some other news from around the Premiership, Kvesic has signed for Worcester, Sam Hill has signed for Sale. Big news coming into Exeter is that they have signed Scotland international Jonny Grey from Glasgow which will boost there pack.
Jonny May is out of the Tigers and back to Gloucester, shock move from the England international who has been scoring tries for fun at Welford road.
There have been some big moves from around the the Premiership and Europe with big signings being made across the leagues.
If anything it is going to make next season very interesting with all sides boosting there rosters and with Saracens not involved it is going to be a wide open season and very competitive.
And who knows in 18 months time when we are into the following season Saracens might have to work very hard to get back into the top of the table if all other teams have been able to boost there rosters and Saracens have not been able to do that.
Opmerkingen