By his own admission, Eastmond took a while to get his attitude right in order to establish himself at Saints. The problem for him now is that he shows little ability to read a game nor impose himself on it by dominating the middle.

He is light years behind what Sean Long used to offer (even in his junior years) and a distance behind established players in his peer group like Sam Tomkins.

Briers gave him a lesson in every facet of the game on Friday (yes, I know Briers was at stand off). I genuinely see Eastmond as an overated entity at the moment. He has the acceleration and elusiveness that allows him to shine against the lesser teams, but he isn't offering enough for his forwards to run onto, nor linking up effectively with his stand off.

If he goes then it will be a loss, but even as a Saints fan, I believe the likes of Tomkins would represent a far more serious blow to GB should he be the one to have switched. Union may be blinded by the Robinson 'similarity.'

Finally, just a quick one on Ashton. In RL, he was a competent player with pace, but do you really think he would have been a sincere threat to the Aussies if he was around now? Anyone who says yes needs to behave. He is excelling out on the wing in Union, and dont think he would be enjoy the same plaudits back in RL. Only reason he is missed is because the game has regressed in developing backs that we have to pick Melbourne second graders. Had he been around in the 90's decade he would have been behind Lydon, Davies, Steadman, Lyon, Prescott etc etc

I wouldn't say that,I just feel sorry for you.

Confirmed on Radio Merseyside by our coach RS that he has told the players today at training that he has signed for Bath but he will give his all to the Saints team for the rest of the year.

That's very big of him!
Sad fot Saints and RL but he will be replaced and hardly missed.

total rubbish! tomkins is twice the player chris ashton is and ashton would never have lasted at full back! would have got pushed out to the wing sooner or later and even then he might have come up with some stick as his defence would have been exposed as it was not great at all!

I think Eastmond will be fast-tracked into the England squad and will play in the union world cup as centre. Most likely he will be better than Shontayne Hape, but nothing magical as he is a natural league player and it would be a big suprise if he can learn the union code fast enough. After not being great in union he'll see his contract out and come back to league much richer. We'll miss out on his best years though.

The 10th September 2011 marks the kick off of the Rugby Union World Cup. I know Kyle is a whizz kid, but he'll do well to go back in time from the 8th October when he could be playing in the Grand Final if Saints somehow managed to get their bridesmade dress on again.

The whole point of him going now was to see if he could be a bolter into the World Cup squad. Obviously that has now been ruled out.

All a bit strange as heading to Union but missing the World Cup seems a bit silly.

Whoever said that what we need for England is a scrum half with passing, kicking and organising skills rather than (yet another) runner is correct. Anyway, the lad's off. I wonder if that will change the selection policy at Sts for the rest of the season? I don't mean dropping Eastmond because he's going, but there's no long-term benefit from playing him, so if he plays poorly will he be dropped?

If he plays for Saints for the rest of the year he's either brave or stupid.

I cannot understand how he can sign and still play for Saints. If saints have been paid for him they should just bin him now. With the salary cap saved they could buy someone else.

Who else is available?? There are teams still searching for players now and can't get them because anyone worth having is contracted up.

Also (and here's my two-cents!) Ashton has excelled in RU because he has time to develop...he spent a full season in the national league, so wasn't thrown straight in a premiership level (like Farrell, Vainakolo (sp), Hape, Pryce etc) all were. Additionally, we saw glimpses when he was at Wigan of the player he could be....he has now matured and learnt more and as such is turning into a world class player. It is absolute rubbish that he'd be average if he came back to RL...he must have been about 19 when he left, now he'd walk back into the RL national team.

I'm one of those lucky people that don't wear blinkers...so actually get to enjoy rugby all year round...guess that's the bonus of being a Quins fan. Has anyone actually sat and watched more than one or a flickering of RU here? I'm not saying it's better than RL...it just amazes me that people have such strong hatred for it...very odd.

The codes are closer together now than ever...McNamara even comes to England RU training camps and takes on and passes on ideas. The England RU team watched the WCC. There is far more to RU than this "kick and clap" rubbish.

It is inevitable with each code looking closer at the other that players will move between them...I personally think that if Eastmond is serious about a career in RU he should spend a season on loan in the national league (like Ashton did)...he is young enough to then learn the game without the pressure on him.

I think he'll end up as a full back, scrum half or wing to be honest...he doesn't have the ability to take on the No.10 role yet...as he'd need a very strong kicking game...full back would be his best chance...similar style to the current England 15, Ben Foden.

Ok....come on then, bring on the abuse for providing a balanced argument!!!

The RU World Cup starts in September, while Eastmond will probably be playing in the SL play-offs.

Eastmond is still a novice in the professional game in RL as was Ashton. In my opinion Ashton always had more off a complete game and the transition was always going to be easy as long as he was eased into it. Eastmond however is a bit of a one trick pony, stepping at speed. The weekends game v the Wire proved he could be contained with ease and looked ordinary without a good number 6 to work with. His kicking game is poor so that rules him out of the 9 or 10 position in union and possibly even number 15.

That leaves him on the wing, he is a poor mans Jason Robinson in that respect. Rugby League has many better wingers than what Eastmond would be, they ( RU ) are jumping on the Eastmond bandwagon and blowing sunshine up his because he had A good season. If he had any sense he would establish himself in league before he does a Gareth Raynor, and comes running back with his tail between his legs.......More than anything else he would be bored sh**le** in union.

I think that Eastmond will make a very good winger in onion and it would not surprise me to see him play for Eng within a year. May be able to play outside centre at a push. I dont think he has the overall skills to play half in either code. But his acceleration, power and athletic ability are superb.