Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

Utah_Saint · 01-04-2015 09:13AM

mfceiling wrote: »

That's never going to happen.

Coetzee and Etzebeth however...

Just imagine. A back row of Coetzee, Henderson & McComish :pac:

Yeah_Right · 01-04-2015 10:42AM

This better be an April Fools Day joke! He is one of my favourite players and I don't want to see him heading overseas at such a young age. Can you guys please stay away from the young All Blacks and only go after guys nearing retirement age? PLEASE!!!!

The Lost Sheep · 01-04-2015 12:07PM

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3462/Ulster-Rugby-confirms-signing-of-Charles-Piutau-.aspx

Ulster Rugby is delighted to confirm the signing of New Zealand international, Charles Piutau, on a two-year contract.

The 23 year-old, who can play at fullback, wing, or in the centre, will arrive at Kingspan Stadium on 1st July 2016.

01-04-2015 12:10PM

Must be the worst day of the year to announce a transfer!

Buer · 01-04-2015 12:11PM

Excellent signing. Hopefully it reignites the activity of the provinces in the transfer market after a year or two of less than eye catching signings.

TommyOM · 01-04-2015 12:14PM

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

http://www.ulsterrugby.com/News/LatestNews/TabId/149/ArtMID/793/ArticleID/3462/Ulster-Rugby-confirms-signing-of-Charles-Piutau-.aspx

Ulster Rugby is delighted to confirm the signing of New Zealand international, Charles Piutau, on a two-year contract.

The 23 year-old, who can play at fullback, wing, or in the centre, will arrive at Kingspan Stadium on 1st July 2016.

So he wont be at Ulster next season but the following season?

awec · 01-04-2015 12:20PM

Yes, correct.

Also:

jacothelad · 01-04-2015 01:31PM

Buer wrote: »

To bring us all crashing back down to earth, it has been confirmed that Olding needs another knee reconstruction and will miss out on the RWC.

In fact, he won't play again until 2016.

Another surgery of that severity may have long term implications on his game. Anyone any educated opinions on such a recovery? Jaco, oh Jaco, wherefore art thou?

This type of reconstruction has a very high success rate. Hamstring autografts are better than they were even as recently as when I was still involved. Patellar tendon grafts are also successful but from what I recall, need more time and are more invasive. There was - at least up to 2007 - a higher rate of infection with this and sometimes tendon inflammation problems.There is also the possibility that a graft using the gracilis. This muscle is one which we use to bring the leg back towards the mid line - i.e. an adductor....not a hamstring. I really don't know much about the success, recovery and impact of this type of graft

The imponderable of course is that each individual recovers in different ways, different success rates and different time scales. Returning to a high impact sport which involves tortion of joints is always going to be a major worry but new techniques and rehab are making these things less prone to failure. I see no reason to be overly pessimistic. Second surgeries are not uncommon and just as likely to succeed as primary ones. I would say that we will see him back in January or February at the latest. ....with a fair wind and no infection.

.ak · 01-04-2015 01:40PM

The patellar tendon can be tricky to rehab too. I tore mine last year around march and whilst I was back playing in september the inflamation and pain issues were there until November. Now it's as strong as ever, no pain or stiffness, but my physio told me they take a notoriously long time to get pain free because of the way it reattaches and presumably the scar tissue that builds up around the areas.

CatFromHue · 01-04-2015 02:50PM

Has Piutau signed a one year extension with the NZRU or has there been any mention of what's happening next season.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-04-2015 04:09PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Has Piutau signed a one year extension with the NZRU or has there been any mention of what's happening next season.

The Blues are applying for special permission to sign him for just the super rugby season but no word as yet

Cookiemunster · 01-04-2015 04:35PM

8 week ban for Williams according to twitter.

awec · 01-04-2015 04:42PM

That's his season over I think.

Fireball07 · 01-04-2015 04:43PM

Great signing.

irishbucsfan · 01-04-2015 04:47PM

awec wrote: »

That's his season over I think.

Could be his last action for Ulster perhaps?

Scythica · 01-04-2015 04:48PM

I'd be very interested in seeing what exactly brought him to Ulster, Humph used to do the sales pitch right?

Is Kiss starting to request for specific types of players? Rumour mill is saying we're going to now go after at least 1 back-row. Hope theres substance there!

Either way, great signing! WOOOOO

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-04-2015 05:05PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Could be his last action for Ulster perhaps?

He has another year on his contract, Ulster could let him go but I've doubts.

bilston · 01-04-2015 05:08PM

Scythica wrote: »

I'd be very interested in seeing what exactly brought him to Ulster

£1 million over two years would have been fairly persuasive I'd have thought!

CatFromHue · 01-04-2015 05:54PM

Just reading on Williams and he's not allowed play again until 1 Sep, he'll miss warm up games for next season.

bilston · 01-04-2015 06:01PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

Just reading on Williams and he's not allowed play again until 1 Sep, he'll miss warm up games for next season.

If it's the end of his Ulster career then that is quite sad actually. He isn't everyone's cup of tea but when he has been hot he has been very hot. Unfortunately lately he has been more of a liability. His performance away to the Dragons was one of the worst you'll see all season.

Mahatma Geansai · 01-04-2015 06:21PM

Piutau is a great player. Announcing his signing over a year before he signs is a little odd, but Ulster will probably have a need for him in from the 2016 season as the likes of Bowe and Trimble will be over 30.

If the reported money is true, its hard to see how we will be able to keep players in the country going forward though. If a fullback can command €700k a year, someone like Conor Murray should be holding for even more again.

total former · 01-04-2015 06:26PM

You took a roundabout route but you got there, fair play.

Neil3030 · 01-04-2015 06:46PM

700k seems a hefty chunk of change for a position where there's already a good deal of strength in the Ulster ranks.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 01-04-2015 07:11PM

Saw rumous elsewhere that Ulster wish to let Williams go but Nick is demanding a pay off because he has contract.

bilston · 01-04-2015 08:07PM

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Saw rumous elsewhere that Ulster wish to let Williams go but Nick is demanding a pay off because he has contract.

Rightly so in fairness.

I have no idea if he will stay or not but he will be gone by 2016/17, potentially if we make he right sort of signings up front we could have one hell of a team in 2016/17. The only proviso being that Best and Bowe will be kicking on and Trimble and Henry not far behind. In saying that the likes of Jackson, Gilroy, Olding, Marshall, Henderson and McCloskey will be approaching their peaks.

bilston · 01-04-2015 08:09PM

Neil3030 wrote: »

700k seems a hefty chunk of change for a position where there's already a good deal of strength in the Ulster ranks.

If Payne is considered a centre an Ludik leaves in 2016 then we won't have any full backs in the squad with Charles arrives.

Hopefully the IRFU are loosening the purse strings now on the back of two Six Nations titles which will have been financially rewarding and on the back of improved domestic TV deals. Munster seem to be close to be a big signing from NZ, hopefully Leinster get one too. A scrum half or a 13 would be good for them I think.

shuffol · 02-04-2015 04:04AM

There's no doubt Ulster are overpaying though which is a worry irregardless of how deep their pockets are. If you go through the highest earners in the world Piutau's name will stand out like a sore thumb as he just isn't in the caliber of the other top earners. He'll attract a lot of interest though which is no bad thing when you've just upgraded your stadium and have extra seats to fill.

padser · 02-04-2015 10:08AM

bilston wrote: »

Hopefully the IRFU are loosening the purse strings now .

Yeah...,,because this has all the hallmarks of an IRFU financed acquisition....

irishbucsfan · 02-04-2015 10:16AM

shuffol wrote: »

There's no doubt Ulster are overpaying though which is a worry irregardless of how deep their pockets are. If you go through the highest earners in the world Piutau's name will stand out like a sore thumb as he just isn't in the caliber of the other top earners. He'll attract a lot of interest though which is no bad thing when you've just upgraded your stadium and have extra seats to fill.

I think you'd be surprised how much the English clubs are paying currently. I don't think this is overpaying for an All Black in the current market.

The IRFU will struggle to match that sort of money of course, as will provinces in the South. Ulster are in the strongest financial position of any of the provinces currently and it'd be nice to see them kick on due to that.

bilston · 02-04-2015 11:01AM

padser wrote: »

Yeah...,,because this has all the hallmarks of an IRFU financed acquisition....

Is that an attempt at sarcasm?

Ulster Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread.

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