Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

CatFromHue · 31-03-2015 12:28PM

Can't understand why Ulster have signed Piutau, you don't need another winger/full back.

.ak · 31-03-2015 12:29PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Can't understand why Ulster have signed Piutau, you don't need another winger/full back.

To replace Payne.

total former · 31-03-2015 12:34PM

case885 wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/ulster-confirm-all-black-charles-piutau-has-signed-two-year-deal-1.2159869

Done deal

Welllllll, that's just reporting that NZ media have reported it... there's no new actual data in that piece.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 31-03-2015 12:37PM

Whats the status on the Bowe/Trimble contracts. Could one or both be off?

Is Ludik buying out the last year of his contract?

Is Gilroy off?

In order for this signing to make sense one of the above must be true.

That said I expect that we are being caught in a new zealand april fools joke.

awec · 31-03-2015 12:38PM

Ludik's contract ends before this guys contract supposedly starts.

If it was an April Fools I'm not sure why they'd go with the 2016 date and him playing for the Blues next season etc.

total former · 31-03-2015 12:41PM

It would be the sh*ttest April Fools joke in the world because a) it's not 1st April and b) there's nothing funny about it.

It could be unfounded rumour snowballing as things often do on the Internet, but not April Fools.

b.gud · 31-03-2015 12:42PM

total former wrote: »

It would be the sh*ttest April Fools joke in the world because a) it's not 1st April and b) there's nothing funny about it.

It would be April 1st in New Zealand

CIARAN_BOYLE · 31-03-2015 12:42PM

total former wrote: »

It would be the sh*ttest April Fools joke in the world because a) it's not 1st April and b) there's nothing funny about it.

It could be unfounded rumour snowballing as things often do on the Internet, but not April Fools.

It is in New Zealand

awec · 31-03-2015 12:44PM

It was still the 31st March in NZ when the article was posted

blackdog1 · 31-03-2015 12:45PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Can't understand why Ulster have signed Piutau, you don't need another winger/full back.

They have 2 centres who have serious injury issues in marshall and Olding. Payne to centre and Piutau to full back. Makes sense to me. They need a quality back row and reserve th because Herbst is being over played

total former · 31-03-2015 12:48PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

It is in New Zealand

It is now, yes. But not when the story broke.

awec · 31-03-2015 12:50PM

The 31st March 21:17 publish time on the site is NZ time, not local time for the person reading. I've browsed the site from a US machine and the time says the same.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 31-03-2015 12:50PM

When in 2016 does this guy actually start?

Is it like John Afoa who was contracted in New Zealand till December but came up to Ulster early or is it going to be September 2016?

bilston · 31-03-2015 01:03PM

awec wrote: »

Ludik's contract ends before this guys contract supposedly starts.

If it was an April Fools I'm not sure why they'd go with the 2016 date and him playing for the Blues next season etc.

Or the fact it was the 31st March in NZ when this story broke!

Edit - OK that's been done

bilston · 31-03-2015 01:08PM

2016/17 backline...
15 Piatau
14 Bowe
13 Payne
12 McCloskey
11 Trimble
10 Jackson
9 Pienaar

Gilroy, Cave, Olding (please God) and Marshall in the equation, plus the likes of Scholes, Arnold and Stockdale to emerge from the Academy...good times...

thomond2006 · 31-03-2015 01:09PM

bilston wrote: »

2016/17 backline...
15 Piatau
14 Bowe
13 Payne
12 McCloskey
11 Trimble
10 Jackson
9 Pienaar

Gilroy, Cave, Olding (please God) and Marshall in the equation, plus the likes of Scholes, Arnold and Stockdale to emerge from the Academy...good times...

Perhaps McIlroy will have paid for a full body replacement for Ferris by then and he'll get into the backline!

Sinbad_NI · 31-03-2015 01:34PM

Quality signing.
Interesting to see what else is in the pipeline for post world cup.

Best signing of all mightn't be a player though... Kiss.

bilston · 31-03-2015 01:39PM

Sinbad_NI wrote: »

Quality signing.
Interesting to see what else is in the pipeline for post world cup.

Best signing of all mightn't be a player though... Kiss.

Agree. Someone to bring a bit of discipline would be good. With that we might actually start playing teams with 15 men of the field more regularly.

Fireball07 · 31-03-2015 01:46PM

Just heard about the Piutau signing.

Wow. What a great signing that is, class act.

Buer · 31-03-2015 02:25PM

The more I think about it, the more I think Ulster are nuts if the numbers are true. They could sign two genuinely top class, established test players for that money.

Teferi · 31-03-2015 02:26PM

How much of the money spent on this lad was IRFU money? Hopefully Ulster had a nice bankroll somewhere because I don't think the IRFU would be giving them that kind of cash. Seems absolutely mental amount to be spending on some 23 year old kiwi to be quite honest.

molloyjh · 31-03-2015 02:28PM

I'm calling BS on this.

A million NZ Dollars a year is just shy of €700k a year. The IRFU have not approved that, you can be 100% sure of it. And I can't see Ulster getting the contract of a guy who isn't an absolute mega-star topped up by that amount. If they have then the Ulster management should all get the sack because there are other areas where the need is greater.

Buer · 31-03-2015 02:30PM

If him joining is true, I would be far more inclined to believe that the value of his contract (over 2 seasons, I'm assuming) is €700k. That would be a tidy bit of business.

molloyjh · 31-03-2015 02:31PM

Buer wrote: »

If him joining is true, I would be far more inclined to believe that the value of his contract (over 2 seasons, I'm assuming) is €700k. That would be a tidy bit of business.

The original article said 1m NZDs per season.

total former · 31-03-2015 02:34PM

It's possible the transfer story is correct but the figures quoted are not. Seems like a phenomenal amount of money alright.

awec · 31-03-2015 02:38PM

Teferi wrote: »

How much of the money spent on this lad was IRFU money? Hopefully Ulster had a nice bankroll somewhere because I don't think the IRFU would be giving them that kind of cash. Seems absolutely mental amount to be spending on some 23 year old kiwi to be quite honest.

Ulster have a very full rich war chest. As I said earlier, the money for players has never been the issue but rather IRFU regulations.

I don't for a second believe Ulster cannot afford this, and if it's true I would not at all be surprised to see a back row player brought in on similar terms.

shuffol · 31-03-2015 02:39PM

Don't like seeing huge sums spent on back 3 players when your well covered in that area and have huge deficiencies elsewhere, I think they're the hardest position to get a guaranteed impact from particularly when their moving hemispheres. It's much easier to predict the impact that a top class back row will have IMO. The one thing that you are guaranteed from a big name AB's back 3 player though is bums on seats so maybe that's a big factor in Ulster's decision to sign him.

thomond2006 · 31-03-2015 02:51PM

If it's per season then that's Sexton money. Surely can't be true.

awec · 31-03-2015 02:52PM

thomond2006 wrote: »

If it's per season then that's Sexton money. Surely can't be true.

Why not?

Buer · 31-03-2015 02:55PM

awec wrote: »

Ulster have a very full rich war chest. As I said earlier, the money for players has never been the issue but rather IRFU regulations.

I don't for a second believe Ulster cannot afford this, and if it's true I would not at all be surprised to see a back row player brought in on similar terms.

It's not that I don't think they've the cash available. They had some serious players on the books before when the likes of Afoa, Pienaar, Payne and Muller were all there at the same time; that obviously took a lot of money.

It's more the idea that they're willing to pay that cash for a guy who doesn't have too high a profile. Are you lot letting Peter Ridsdale do your negotiating?!

Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Comments