Rumoured De Villiers move to Munster, anyone heard anything about this?

Gingervitis

This is most likely rumour, but i've heard on a few fora (mainly munsterfans and planetrugby) that Jean De Villiers has done a deal with Munster, to be announced in the next fortnight. Rumour is can be a terrible thing, but there's no harm in some idle speculation, especially with Tipoki gone at the end of the season?

Just wondering if anyone else has heard this...

barnesd

It's been around for a while. Not sure Munster need him.

bleg

been around for a while alright. steyn was also rumoured. until official confirmation they'll remain rumours.

thomond2006

My first thought was that I hope De Villiers does come to Munster, but then I realised that as a centre, he would be in the team at the expense of Keith Earls.

As one poster said we don't need him.
We're 7 points clear in the ML, odds-on to retain the HC, have a settled 1st XV playing to the best of their ability and have players like Buckley, Fogarty, Ryan, MOD, Ronan, Murphy and Hurley that can come in and do a good job for the team in the Magners League while the internationals are away or being rested, how can you improve on that?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Stick_man

Would be an immense signing, arguably the best 12 in the world. But as others have said who would he force out? Dowling?

[Jackass]

11. De Villiers
12. Mafi
13. Earls
14. Howlett
15. Warwick

Nice.

Orizio

thomond2006 wrote: »

My first thought was that I hope De Villiers does come to Munster, but then I realised that as a centre, he would be in the team at the expense of Keith Earls.

As one poster said we don't need him.
We're 7 points clear in the ML, odds-on to retain the HC, have a settled 1st XV playing to the best of their ability and have players like Buckley, Fogarty, Ryan, MOD, Ronan, Murphy and Hurley that can come in and do a good job for the team in the Magners League while the internationals are away or being rested, how can you improve on that?

Well Tipoki is gone so your going to need someone to replace him and compete with Mafi and Earls for the center berths - might as well get the very best in. De Villiers is far far superior to the backs you mentioned above. Besides we can play Earls full-back, or on the wing.

A team can have only 5 international players yes - right now its Tipoki, Mafi, Warwick, Nick Williams and ???. Pucciariello?

Aidric

De Villiers would be a super signing. It's healthy to have someone of his skill in a squad.

thomond2006

From all your posts, looks like De Villiers plays wing too. Wouldn't mind him on the wing but would pretty lousy on Ian "Workhouse" Dowling.

Also read about Steyn, well if we had him, we would have 2 players that can drop a goal from inside their own half!! :P

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

From all your posts, looks like De Villiers plays wing too. Wouldn't mind him on the wing but would pretty lousy on Ian "Workhouse" Dowling.

Also read about Steyn, well if we had him, we would have 2 players that can drop a goal from inside their own half!! :P

Steyn's awful. Fantastic talent, has a world cup medal at what 22? But he's so arrogant and deluded about his own best position he'd be a liability.

De Villiers is a 12 isn't he? Or is he an outside centre?

gosplan

I can't see how it would impact on Earls that much. After all, Earls wasn't even first choice centre this year!!

bleg

he's first choice now though i'd say although it'd be nice to have tipoki back from injury.


munster will only have 4 foreign based players next year howlett mafi warwick and williams at the moment

Johnnyjump

Would be a great signing but as a Munsterman, I would be inclined to limit the number of imports to 4 or 5. They bring a great wealth of excitement to the team but the homegrown players like O'callaghan, Flannery, O'connell and others can't be beaten for passion.

barnesd

Signing JdV and sticking him on the wing... why would you not just sign an actual winger? The guy is a centre.

Edit - to the above post, 5 is the max number of foreigners next season.

Jello

He'd be a great signing for any team.

Anyone know if Manning is staying put?

themont85

[Jackass] wrote: »

11. De Villiers
12. Mafi
13. Earls
14. Howlett
15. Warwick

Nice.

Incredible backline.

One eligable Irishman though, don't see that being cool with the PAG.

Orizio

De Villiers is indeed a 12, certainly agree that there is little point in buying such a top-class player, then playing him out of position by sticking him out wide.

bleg wrote: »

he's first choice now though i'd say although it'd be nice to have tipoki back from injury.

munster will only have 4 foreign based players next year howlett mafi warwick and williams at the moment

Forgot about Howlett, thanks.

corny

Hasn't De Villiers played 13 for the Boks a few times?

He'd be able to do a job across the backline he's that good in truth.

chupacabra

De Villiers' best position is inside center and to be honest, i wouldnt replace Larry Murphy for all the Jean De Villiers in the world. And i definitley dont want to see Earls losing his place again. If this signing actually happens a major compromise will have to be made. Probably ship Earls out to the wing or Full back and move De Willyers into 13 at the expense of Dowling/Warwick. Dont want to see it happen.

CJhaughey

Orizio wrote: »

A team can have only 5 international players yes - right now its Tipoki, Mafi, Warwick, Nick Williams and ???. Pucciariello?

Mafi is Tongan IIRC which makes him not a foreign player under Kolpak and Le Puc holds an Italian Passport which makes him a EU citizen.
Tipoki, Warwick, Howlett and Williams are the only 4.

Serenity Now!

CJhaughey wrote: »

Mafi is Tongan IIRC which makes him not a foreign player under Kolpak and Le Puc holds an Italian Passport which makes him a EU citizen.
Tipoki, Warwick, Howlett and Williams are the only 4.

Oh ffs...

You recall incorrectly (and the Wiki edited by Joe Soap from Limerick or Cork does too). Mafi is a Kiwi. Regardless of where he was born, he has lived in NZ since he was a toddler.
Citizenship, passport, residency or whatever doesn't matter here. Having played 7s for New Zealand, Lifeimi Mafi is NOT eligible to ever play for any international side other than New Zealand.

Ditto with the Sydneysider, Paul Warwick regarding his Australian 7s history.
The Argentinian, Pucciarello might have an Italian passport but he is retiring and heading back to Argentina after this season finishes.

thomond2006

Jello wrote: »

Anyone know if Manning is staying put?

Who cares? :rolleyes:

Q: Would Manning have another job, he hasn't started once this season so surely he can't just be living off his rugby income.

barnesd

Kolpak only applies when picking matchday squads for the HEC, the IRFU are only letting the provinces have 5 non-Irish qualified players at each province next season and both Mafi and Warwick are included in that.

Leinster are losing Whitaker, Contepomi, and then Wright and Elsom could also be on the way. Leaves only CJ and Nacewa if that were the case, so there's a bit of scope to make signing for Leinster.

gearstick

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0402/1224243861822.html

This may have something to do with the rumour spreading, or even starting:

"A replacement for Tipoki, who is again ruled out this weekend through injury, is seen as paramount for, although Lifeimi Mafi and Keith Earls form a richly talented midfield partnership, a high quality, frontline centre such as the Springboks’ Jean de Villiers is seen as the kind of acquisition Munster are looking for."
GERRY THORNLEY

i remember reading this and thinking, wow, jean de villiers would be amazing.
But i think GT is suggesting someone of his calibre, rather than JDV himself, however JDV is in a league of is own wen it comes to power/pace/handling etc

anonymous_joe

gearstick wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0402/1224243861822.html

This may have something to do with the rumour spreading, or even starting:

"A replacement for Tipoki, who is again ruled out this weekend through injury, is seen as paramount for, although Lifeimi Mafi and Keith Earls form a richly talented midfield partnership, a high quality, frontline centre such as the Springboks’ Jean de Villiers is seen as the kind of acquisition Munster are looking for."
GERRY THORNLEY

i remember reading this and thinking, wow, jean de villiers would be amazing.
But i think GT is suggesting someone of his calibre, rather than JDV himself, however JDV is in a league of is own wen it comes to power/pace/handling etc

Not sure you'd want two inside centres though.

I'd look for Conrad Smith if I was Munster, or someone like that.

Jello

thomond2006 wrote: »

Who cares? :rolleyes:

Was just curious really.. had heard he wanted to leave last year but was promised more game time which hasn't happened.

gearstick

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Not sure you'd want two inside centres though.

i wouldnt pigeon-hole de Villiers as an inside center, he has played at 13 and on the wing many times, with his pace he can definitely survive there

Stev_o

gearstick wrote: »

i wouldnt pigeon-hole de Villiers as an inside center, he has played at 13 and on the wing many times, with his pace he can definitely survive there

Yes but if your going to pay top dollar for a quality player at least get your moneys worth back by playing him in his best position. If he went to Munster and went on the wing it would be a travesty.

ALH-06

gearstick wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0402/1224243861822.html

This may have something to do with the rumour spreading, or even starting:

"A replacement for Tipoki, who is again ruled out this weekend through injury, is seen as paramount for, although Lifeimi Mafi and Keith Earls form a richly talented midfield partnership, a high quality, frontline centre such as the Springboks’ Jean de Villiers is seen as the kind of acquisition Munster are looking for."
GERRY THORNLEY

I can't believe Munster are releasing players like Sheahan, Carney and Lewis. These guys are decent and useful squad players, surely?

Stev_o

ALH-06 wrote: »

I can't believe Munster are releasing players like Sheahan, Carney and Lewis. These guys are decent and useful squad players, surely?

You'd have to feel sorry for a guy like Lewis being ping ponged around the provincial system and going nowhere, he'd be useful at Connacht though. Carney has hardly featured for Munster since last year and the rumour mill says he is going back to Wigan (sure he's a guest commentator on Boot's N'All on Sky Sports).

tughfc

de vielliers would be one of the best signings of an over sea's player, the guy is one of the best centres in the world!! why would any team not want him?

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

razorblunt

I think Conrad Smith would be a massive signing for any NH club, the guy is very, very under-rated.

As for Lewis going, I was never really impressed by him, but hopefully a move might reignite his career again.

anonymous_joe

gearstick wrote: »

i wouldnt pigeon-hole de Villiers as an inside center, he has played at 13 and on the wing many times, with his pace he can definitely survive there

Ah true, but he is a 12 who can play very well at 13 and decently on the wing. I'd rather sign a 13 if I needed one.

daveirl wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Did Munster not have to pay LIrish for Warwick?
And if Leinster sign Reddan I think they have to pay out a year or so of his contract. It's not quite paying, but money sure as hell changes hands.

razorblunt wrote: »

I think Conrad Smith would be a massive signing for any NH club, the guy is very, very under-rated.

As for Lewis going, I was never really impressed by him, but hopefully a move might reignite his career again.

Yay someone else agrees about Smith. If I was a Munster fan (God forbid :P) I'd be screeching for someone like Smith.

Tomtom364

Stev_o wrote: »

You'd have to feel sorry for a guy like Lewis being ping ponged around the provincial system and going nowhere, he'd be useful at Connacht though. Carney has hardly featured for Munster since last year and the rumour mill says he is going back to Wigan (sure he's a guest commentator on Boot's N'All on Sky Sports).

Carney was never really intended to make it big in munster.
he retired from league and and then signed with munster for a few years, didnt just switch codes.

and as for the talk of playing DV out of postition...

not always a bad thing.

shaun payne was a wing remember

Fishtits

If you stand back & look at it, J de V would make all the sense in terms of a signing.

Rua is out, JdV is a versatile center/back.

The Premiership and the French 14 are culling their salary levels, coupled with the fact that he would be joining the team best placed for future honours,

Possible, but still a rumour.

ScrubsfanChris

The father was at a Munster Branch party thing for Declan Kidney last night for his acheivment with the Ireland squad or something,
and he was asking a few people about DeVilliers and if he was coming to Munster, most of them seemed to shy away from the question and not really give an answer about the move.

DeVilliers has been quoted as saying that he is not going to make any decision about his future untill after the Lions Tour is finished but probably will be playing his rugby in the NH next season. As I see it, its between Munster and the millionaire French clubs (Toulon, Racing Metro).

anonymous_joe

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

The father was at a Munster Branch party thing for Declan Kidney last night for his acheivment with the Ireland squad or something,
and he was asking a few people about DeVilliers and if he was coming to Munster, most of them seemed to shy away from the question and not really give an answer about the move.

DeVilliers has been quoted as saying that he is not going to make any decision about his future untill after the Lions Tour is finished but probably will be playing his rugby in the NH next season. As I see it, its between Munster and the millionaire French clubs (Toulon, Racing Metro).

I'd possibly throw Saracens name in there too...

chupacabra

anonymous_joe wrote: »

I'd possibly throw Saracens name in there too...

Aye, the saffer investors are going to bring alot of players up from SA. Wouldnt be surprised to see De Villiers there next season.

bamboozle

anyone know what trevor halstead is up to these days?

I dont understand this de villiers talk.
Are they gona develop Earls as a centre or not?

de villiers is a 12 and so is Mafi.
De villiers is also extremely overrated and after Mafi's performances this year I just cant understand why you would replace him with De villers.

From De villiers point,I think I would prefer to go to France with warm weather and a load of Saffer mates there and earn a ****load of money.I dont see how it makes sense from either side.

Munster have one of the best performing 12's in NH rugby and one of the most promising players,who is claimed to be a 13.
So they are gona ditch his development to sign a 12 to play 13?


If they are intent on signing a Saffer centre,they could at least go for Jaque Foruie who is a far better player.

ScrubsfanChris

Reece Tasty Microcomputer wrote: »

I dont understand this de villiers talk.
Are they gona develop Earls as a centre or not?

de villiers is a 12 and so is Mafi.
De villiers is also extremely overrated and after Mafi's performances this year I just cant understand why you would replace him with De villers.

From De villiers point,I think I would prefer to go to France with warm weather and a load of Saffer mates there and earn a ****load of money.I dont see how it makes sense from either side.

Munster have one of the best performing 12's in NH rugby and one of the most promising players,who is claimed to be a 13.
So they are gona ditch his development to sign a 12 to play 13?


If they are intent on signing a Saffer centre,they could at least go for Jaque Foruie who is a far better player.

I think the only reason Earls was playing 13 for Munster is beacuse of the absence of Rua Tipoki, considering Earls started full-back at the start of the season.

Allthough as you said Mafi has played 12 for Munster nearly all the time and to bring in another 12 would mean a change of position for one of them, mabey Mafi could move to 13?

Depp

They Can't limit the number of EU players, South African Players or pacific isles players due to employment law

Depp

Depp wrote: »

They Can't limit the number of EU players, South African Players or pacific isles players due to employment law

Relevance?
Well thats true,but the IRFU will just say to them we arent giving you the money unles you hire Irish.So they actually can just in a different way.

thomond2006

bamboozle wrote: »

anyone know what trevor halstead is up to these days?

Stev_o wrote: »

You'd have to feel sorry for a guy like Lewis being ping ponged around the provincial system and going nowhere, he'd be useful at Connacht though. Carney has hardly featured for Munster since last year and the rumour mill says he is going back to Wigan (sure he's a guest commentator on Boot's N'All on Sky Sports).

razorblunt wrote: »

I think Conrad Smith would be a massive signing for any NH club, the guy is very, very under-rated.

As for Lewis going, I was never really impressed by him, but hopefully a move might reignite his career again.

Yeah..... ;)

So, is De Villiers coming to Munster or not?
Or is he going to Mercenary RFC is France?

sm.org

I think De Villiers is a great player but the guy is the "Mr Glass" of international rugby. We'd be lucky to get 10 games a season out of him.

I'd rather they spent the big bucks on a world class prop and looked around for another unrecognised centre like mafi or to a lesser extent Tipoki.

ihatewallies

You're wasting your time speculating. JDV has actually already signed for Munster.
Yes, it's true. The contract is signed. But won't be announced just yet.

RuggieBear

that's my understanding too. he has signed.

thomond2006

RuggieBear wrote: »

that's my understanding too. he has signed.

Ruggie, you have made my day.

In return, I wish with all my heart that Munster's finest fullback talent, Denis Hurley, moves to your great province of Leinster.
That would make my year!

anonymous_joe

Depp wrote: »

They Can't limit the number of EU players, South African Players or pacific isles players due to employment law

But the player's union/IRFU/someone like that does.

thomond2006 wrote: »

Ruggie, you have made my day.

In return, I wish with all my heart that Munster's finest fullback talent, Denis Hurley, moves to your great province of Leinster.
That would make my year!

If we let Felix Jones go I somehow doubt we're struggling so badly for full backs we're in the market for Denis Hurley.