Squad for next season, as it stands

Prop
Jon Golding
Laurence Ovens
Micky Ward
Keiran Brookes
Grant Sheills

Hooker
Rob Vickers
Alex Walker
Matt Thompson

Second Row
James Hudson
Tim Swinson

Flanker
Will Welch
Brent Wilson
Ed Williamson
Josh Afu

Number 8
Filipo Levi
Peter Browne
Alex Gray

Scrum Half
Micky Young
Hall Charlton
Chris Pilgrim
Harry Peck

Fly Half
Jimmy Gopperth
Tom Catterick

Centre
Rob Vickerman
Tane Tu’ipolutu
Gcobani Bobo
Michael Tait

Wing
Charlie Amesbury
Danny Williams
Uche Udouza (????)

Fullback
Alex Tait

Confirmed (Leaving)
Adam Balding (Worcester)
Tom Biggs (Bath)
Mark Sorenson (Northampton)
Carl Hayman (Toulon)
Rob Miller (Sale)

Rumoured (Leaving)
Chris Micklewood (released ????)
Spencer Davey (released ????)
Rob Miller (Sale)

Have I missed anyone out?

Looking like we need a good few quality additions.
Bates mentioned a back up kicker and a ball carrier at the talk in.
Fullback is looking a bit light, although Amesbury can cover if needs be.
As is the second row, if one of Hudson or Swinson is injured and Sorenson leaves.
And we need to replace Hayman.

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Formerly Super 14.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2010 12:09 by Super14.

Good idea to start that now S14. Looks about right off the top of my head, people can update as news arrives.

Excellent summary. The only omission I can think of is Oduoza

He is there.
Walker only signed on a 1 year i think.

Should be good enough to win promotion

For me its - Prop, 2nd row, back row, and a utility back (Tom May mould)
Bates appear last year to sign players who could play more than 1 position so we had cover for 2 places with 1 player eg - Amesbury for Wing and FB, Afu Flank or 8 etc

I dont much hope in us signing top players.
Hope that Hayman stays and his wages are subsidised so that our small budget is eaten up even more

Think we require a prop(th),levi to move up to 2 nd row, another large back row player but mobile with it, Tom may would be ideal and another quality outside back.

Thought Will Welch had signed a new deal?

Amazingly I agree with Birdie

Add 2 props too that list now

Jnr is going to be a prop more than a hooker, no?

Yes True CS! but we could still do with another IMO.

Aye, I never thought he would be the answer or straight replacement for CH. Another support player though.

I seem to think Thumper & Bates were targetting a front row, a back row & potentially a centre/utility, the latter two both to be ball carriers.

The above team will be unaffordable in ND1 so if the club have any sense they will STOP the recruitment plans NOW until they know what division they'll be playing in next season.

I can't say any decent players signing for us at the minute anyway so talk around how many players we might need and in what positions is premature.

Presumably both the club and the player would want a release clause if we are relegated, as good expensive players wouldn't want to play for us in the Championship and we couldn't afford them.

Good players just wouldn't take that chance, why would they?

It depends on what other offers they have, if any.

I agree with Leipy, get people signed up with a release clause incase the worst happens
We have to concentrate on staying up but we still have to plan for next season or risk missing out on any potential targets and setting us back next season

It hacks me off a bit that other clubs seem to be building there squads up while we are playing this game of wait & see who we have left.

Bath signed Biggs on 17th Feb, lets see when we get our 1st player in from another club.

Bath have the considerable backing of Andrew Brownsword, they can afford to be generous with the cheque book.

And Bath are not threatened with relegation.

Why would a decent signing want to sign for Falcons if, in a few weeks time he's then told we can't afford him anymore as we're relegated.

We won't secure any big signings any time soon, get used to it.

DG has it right I would say - I reckon the club will have pretty much agreed terms with some players but they'll be hanging back waiting to see if we can pull away from the bottom.

Relegation clauses arent that attractive to players i;d assume because by then alot of teams budgets have been spent and just a few extra squad players brought in on the cheap maybe so hard to get a good deal elsewhere.

Quote:

Super14
Squad for next season, as it stands
Prop
Jon Golding
Laurence Ovens
Micky Ward
Keiran Brookes
Grant Sheills

Hooker
Rob Vickers
Alex Walker
Matt Thompson

Second Row
James Hudson
Tim Swinson

Flanker
Will Welch
Brent Wilson
Ed Williamson
Josh Afu

Number 8
Filipo Levi
Peter Browne
Alex Gray

Scrum Half
Micky Young
Hall Charlton
Chris Pilgrim
Harry Peck

Fly Half
Jimmy Gopperth
Tom Catterick

Centre
Rob Vickerman
Tane Tu’ipolutu
Gcobani Bobo
Michael Tait

Wing
Charlie Amesbury
Danny Williams
Uche Udouza (????)

Fullback
Alex Tait

Confirmed (Leaving)
Adam Balding (Worcester)
Tom Biggs (Bath)
Mark Sorenson (Northampton)
Carl Hayman (Toulon)
Rob Miller (Sale)

Rumoured (Leaving)
Chris Micklewood (released ????)
Spencer Davey (released ????)

Have I missed anyone out?

Looking like we need a good few quality additions.
Bates mentioned a back up kicker and a ball carrier at the talk in.
Fullback is looking a bit light, although Amesbury can cover if needs be.
As is the second row, if one of Hudson or Swinson is injured and Sorenson leaves.
And we need to replace Hayman.

Edited for the confirmed departures of Sorenson and Miller and the re-signing of Welch.

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Formerly Super 14.

Bates now at last refers to Levi as a 2nd row not No8
Afu is No8
Walker is rumoured to be leaving
I thought Odouza was pay and play?

how can they justify micklewood leaving he has hardly played

Probably realised he is shite in training.

Quote:

ladybird1922
Probably realised he is shite in training.

Seem very harsh words Ladybird

Especially since Chronicle Live says

"Falcons rugby director Bates was delighted to finalise the signing of the South African utility back today, tipping him to cause problems for more recognised Kingston Park names." -

was the way he was described in June last year when he came to the Falcons.

He was expected to do really well as a Falcon - I understand he was injured fairly early on - which may add to his not playing.

Micklewood also had avery good game on monday for dev. team at Fullback and at Fly half

He did a lot of good things, but he did kick the ball dead and then straight out which gave Leeds field position to get the scores that won them the game.

yeah good point alas But see Blind touch judge post That's what won the game

Very harsh by me. DG annoyed me. Sorry. Well i have also heard and seen hin playing well at Dev level but think that coaches seem to view him as not being good enough to start or bench for 1st xv.

You never know he might well stay - not seen anything on him going? Shame he been injured but he does look a good player in dev games and did pre season.

"DG annoyed me"



I'm flattered Birdie, truly I am.

Can't see where I've annoyed you mind.

Your general posts

Thanks for the clarification.

Ditto.

Bird dont rise to him . Just ignore his inane comments like every one else does.come on FALCONS. he hates that as well!!.

I thought you were ignoring me Angel?

Can I also add to the list of departing players, Laurence Ovens.

He'll not be missed, not one I've been impressed with, but he'll need to be replaced.

Granted DG, but he was hailed as the try scoring machine in his first few games.
Maybe the BS got to him?

DG . Your starting to repeat yourself and that is a very poor trait. You seem to have a few of them ???

Angel,

You'll not be missed, not one I've been impressed with, but you'll not need to be replaced.

Wasn't it suggested that Ovens was homesick and going back to Bath? Before his injury he was doing well when he came on, at Leicester our scrum was going backwards when Micky came on for Hayman but then Ovens came on and stablisied it. Shame he might be leaving.

See you are at it again!!!. You should get some help and by god you need it .

Maybe thats why this Joe guy from Tynedale is coming in (allegedly)..

Too easy

Its only just begun !!.

DG & Angel, can you both please bu99er off somewhere else.