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Most of us may be on our Christmas holidays but the rugby rumour mill takes no days off! There are new stories emerging every single day of players set to switch clubs, countries and even codes, so let’s break down 5 of the biggest rumours of the last 7 days…
This one popped up out of nowhere in the French press of all places; rugbyscope.fr reported that Saracens utility back Alex Lozowski, who has previously represented England, is to switch allegiances to represent Italy. The reports have since been rubbished by other sources, but the intrigue remains.
Lozowski is primarily a centre, which is not a position of weakness for Italy, although his time spent playing fly-half would offer something different from their current crop and many feel Paolo Garbisi would benefit from an additional playmaker in the side. URC side Bentton are also seeking new centres having lost both Brex and Menoncello to France over the past 2 seasons.
Rating: 2/10 - a bolt from the blue but would certainly be interesting!
When the Ospreys lost Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake on the same day, it looked as if the writing was on the wall for the region’s existence. Multiple players continue to be linked with a move away from Bridgend, but last week the press reported that Wales outside half Dan Edwards was set to rebuff the advances Leicester Tigers and sign a contract extension.
Is this evidence the Ospreys will survive the WRU’s proposed cull? Further clues they might is their CEO Lance Bradley - after a couple of weeks of uncharacteristic silence on social media - has started firing off some very bold twitter posts suggesting all may not be lost after all. On the other hand, it is also suggested in some parts that Edwards is only staying because the WRU have guaranteed his salary and a spot at another region if the Ospreys are cut.
From A Leicester point of view, missing out on signing Edwards from a beleaguered Welsh side after having missed out on fellow Welshman Sam Costelow last year in a similar manner speaks to the off field problems at the club. James O’Connor was always a short term fix and wasn't signed until very late in the day, whilst prodigy Charlie Titcombe has headed out on load to Japan.
Despite the historic success and the biggest fanbase in the UK, Leicester continue to post record losses and their hunt for a new head coach last season after Michael Cheika walked out after one year in the job was a public embarrassment. Even their women’s team is in dire straights.
Rating: 8/10 - if the WRU have made him guarantees, as Wales’ first choice 10, expect him to stay.
One signing Leicester Tigers do look likely to pull off is Wales number 8 Aaron Wainwright from the Dragons. Wainwright has been fiercely loyal to the Dragons, having been linked to a move to England multiple times over the years, but has continued to perform excellently for the Gwent region despite the team around him being woefully uncompetitive at times.
Fans won’t begrudge him moving on, but they will begrudge the WRU disruption that has driven him away. Rumours are that the Dragons matched Leicester’s wage offer, but the player opted to make the switch. With Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake both also leaving, Wales 3 best ball carrying forwards have now all been lost to England in as many weeks.
Team Wales are now rapidly approaching a full starting pack that is based abroad. Meanwhile, the Dragons are set to sign a non-Welsh player to replace Wainwright. When the whole justification for the WRU’s reforms is to concentrate talent in Wales, this exodus only exposes their flawed proposals even further.
From a Leicester point of view, a player like Wainwright who has an excellent attitude and carries well above his weight is sure to be a success in England. It does however give them a selection headache, having just handed a contract extension to another Welsh back rower in Ollie Cracknell, who is a very similar style of player.
Rating: 10/10 - Even the BBC are reporting this as a done deal.
It is well known Joey Carbery is set to leave European champions UBB having failed to win over their sizeable yet easy-going fanbase during his time in France. A move to Connacht was mooted but with the Galway side opting for Leinster’s Cairan Frawely as their new 10 instead, Ulster have now moved into pole position for Carbery’s signature.
The move makes sense for all parties, including the IRFU who are looking to both build depth at 10 and redistribute talent more evenly between the provinces. The fly-half jersey at Ulster is winnable for Carbery, but in his current position he is looking to prove doubters wrong rather than being welcomed with anticipation.
Rating: 5/10 - still nothing concrete but it makes sense.
This one has been bubbling along for some time now. Reports of double World Cup winning Springboks centre Jesse Kriel leaving his current home in Japan and heading to Europe - either to the French TOP 14 or the English PREM - once again surfaced in the run up to Christmas and Midi Olympique reported his CV has been circulated to multiple clubs.
As yet there have been no suggestions of Kriel returning home to South Africa, unlike his long term centre partner Damian De Allende who has spoken openly about wanting to finish his career at the Stormers. Given Kriel’s natural home is the badly struggling Bulls in Pretoria, you can see why he’s not keen on a comeback just yet!
Rating: 3/10 - the lack of a specific club being mentioned makes this one feel like agent talk.
While the Welsh Rugby Union continue to insist there isn’t money to support professional rugby in Wales (whilst simultaneously offering to pay every single players wages) they continue to add to the executive team in the boardroom.
We know a new ‘technical director’ is due to come in on big wages, but now they are advertising for a ‘Head of Corporate Affairs’ which appears to be a public communications role. The WRU are know for their atrocious PR and media relations, so it’s hard to argue this role isn’t needed.
The job description also includes a humorous line about being an experienced crisis manager - at least they’re honest!