Reports that Pienaar has signed for Toulon!

[TheBear]

I read this morning that they were interested, but just saw a report now that Ruan Pienaar has signed a two-year deal with Toulon. It's unclear if it's immediate or (far more likely) at the end of the season.

The Irish Times report

[Donny B.]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 64,00.html

On here as well. But as it's a French source, I wouldn't take it as gospel. That said, if the move does happen, they could do worse than sign Michael Claessens in return, who'll be surplus to requirements.

[Flash Gordon]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 64,00.html

On here as well. But as it's a French source, I wouldn't take it as gospel. That said, if the move does happen, they could do worse than sign Michael Claessens in return, who'll be surplus to requirements.

Wouldn't they run into NIQ problems? Either way given Marshall and Jackson's presence it'd be tricky to justify.....

[Donny B.]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2588 ... 64,00.html

On here as well. But as it's a French source, I wouldn't take it as gospel. That said, if the move does happen, they could do worse than sign Michael Claessens in return, who'll be surplus to requirements.

Wouldn't they run into NIQ problems? Either way given Marshall and Jackson's presence it'd be tricky to justify.....

Wouldn't it be one NIQ replacing another though?

[simonokeeffe]

Claasens would be a good return and his style wouldnt overwhelm Jackson, struggling to find out what kind of contract hes on though

with Johnny retiring next summer Michalak might be reverting to 10 but theres still Tilous Borde and then Pienaar in front of Claasens

[ceemec]

Claassens has just joined Toulon. I assume he's on more than a one year deal and that he'd have no desire to up and move just after arriving in a new country.

The guidelines apparently state that a province cannot sign a NIQ player to replace one in the same position. There's generally some wiggle room where a winger can be declared a full back or an openside a blindside but, in a specialist position such as scrumhalf, there'd be no ambiguity. If the IRFU enforce it (which is pretty likely after 4 years of a NIQ scrum half), they'd be stuck with their current options or looking to other Irish players elsewhere which are very thin on the ground. Boss is possibly the most likely given he's getting on, will be out of contract and has a bit of physicality which they need.

David Shanahan is a promising option in their academy but he suffers from an issue all of their scrum halves suffer from: he's bloody tiny. To put it in context, out of the four scrum halves at Ulster (when Pienaar leaves), the biggest of them is Ian Porter who is the same size as the 83kg Eoin Reddan.

[simonokeeffe]

Claassens has just joined Toulon. I assume he's on more than a one year deal and that he'd have no desire to up and move just after arriving in a new country.

The guidelines apparently state that a province cannot sign a NIQ player to replace one in the same position. There's generally some wiggle room where a winger can be declared a full back or an openside a blindside but, in a specialist position such as scrumhalf, there'd be no ambiguity. If the IRFU enforce it (which is pretty likely after 4 years of a NIQ scrum half), they'd be stuck with their current options or looking to other Irish players elsewhere which are very thin on the ground. Boss is possibly the most likely given he's getting on, will be out of contract and has a bit of physicality which they need.

David Shanahan is a promising option in their academy but he suffers from an issue all of their scrum halves suffer from: he's bloody tiny. To put it in context, out of the four scrum halves at Ulster (when Pienaar leaves), the biggest of them is Ian Porter who is the same size as the 83kg Eoin Reddan.

a factor would be if Toulon sign a 10 to replace Johnny
if they do theyll have 4 international scrumhalves so could be a case of Claasens being released

other than TOL are there any Irish 9s in England?

[ronk]

Pienaar already did the contract extension thing so it's likely that he was out the door and Ulster weren't in for him. Toulon couldn't believe their luck that this guy was an unwanted free agent.

Jackson will have two full seasons as starter by the end of this season so the argument for needing Pienaar isn't so strong anymore.

He's an incredibly tough guy to replace but he's also someone who's been playing a lot of rugby for South Africa. There are a few scrumhalves knocking around, Marmion's name is bound to start coming up soon. Having come through the Welsh system means that he's not going to be so tied to Connacht.

There are a few decent IQ scrumhalves doing the rounds, none of them setting the world alight. Stage is set for Marshall for a few years.

Ulster are moving away from the NIQ core anyway. They have 8 players in the training squad and could have added Olding, Trimble and Gilroy but for injury.

[ceemec]

other than TOL are there any Irish 9s in England?

Only himself and Stringer in the Premiership. There's James Hart in Grenoble who has started two of their T14 games this season. No idea how useful he is though.

[deco]

Ulster were unlikely to keep all their NIQ's, not at the wages they were on. The IRFU were part funding them and judging by the poor-mouthing coming out of HQ all wages are going to come under pressure. Benefactors can only do so much.

[johng]

Ulster were unlikely to keep all their NIQ's, not at the wages they were on. The IRFU were part funding them and judging by the poor-mouthing coming out of HQ all wages are going to come under pressure. Benefactors can only do so much.

Muller and Afoa defo going though. Payne qualifies at the end of the season. If Pienaar goes then that only leaves Williams. All out of contract this season too.

[simonokeeffe]

other than TOL are there any Irish 9s in England?

Only himself and Stringer in the Premiership. There's James Hart in Grenoble who has started two of their T14 games this season. No idea how useful he is though.

pardon the pun but Strings is tied down, if TOL on 2 year deal he'd be free

[ceemec]

Nah, he signed a 3 year deal at LI. Stringer is only on a 1 year deal. I don't think Ulster should sign him but I'm sure he'd jump at the chance.

[Jackie Brown]

The only scrum half Ulster will be signing is a fella called Ruan Pienaar.

[ceemec]

The only scrum half Ulster will be signing is a fella called Ruan Pienaar.

Not just a river in Egypt, you know!

[simonokeeffe]

Nah, he signed a 3 year deal at LI. Stringer is only on a 1 year deal. I don't think Ulster should sign him but I'm sure he'd jump at the chance.

Strings needs 3 years in Prem to get over losing rebate

He would be a good signing but doesnt solve the problem of only having tiny scrumhalves

[ronk]

Does this mean we'll be looking at getting a scrumhalf?

We have Reddan and Boss both well into their 30s and unless Cooney and/or McGrath start breaking through this season we're going to start to be cutting it fine. Could we see Cooney going to Ulster.

[simonokeeffe]

Does this mean we'll be looking at getting a scrumhalf?

We have Reddan and Boss both well into their 30s and unless Cooney and/or McGrath start breaking through this season we're going to start to be cutting it fine. Could we see Cooney going to Ulster.

I reckon with Cooney, McGrath and Schmidt (we owe that family a contract) medium term we're sorted but either this summer or next we'll release one of our senior 9s, personally I hope we do it one at a time which may be tough on one of them

[ronk]

Does this mean we'll be looking at getting a scrumhalf?

We have Reddan and Boss both well into their 30s and unless Cooney and/or McGrath start breaking through this season we're going to start to be cutting it fine. Could we see Cooney going to Ulster.

I reckon with Cooney, McGrath and Schmidt (we owe that family a contract) medium term we're sorted but either this summer or next we'll release one of our senior 9s, personally I hope we do it one at a time which may be tough on one of them

We might not be sending them into retirement though. They're playing well at the moment so it doesn't seem urgent.

[johng]

About 6 months in age between Redan and Boss, which puts them at 33 and 34 respectively at the end of the season.

My guess is that they both get a 1 year (depending on how this season goes) and after that we may only give one of them a further year.

A lot depends on how the HC thing pans out too.