Seems to me that before we think about signing any random etranger, we should think about key players to hold on to:
Bosc, Elima, Greenshields, Bently, Pelo, Raguin, Mounis, Ferriol, Guisset, JPB.
I'd add to that list Johnson and Walker of the etrangers.
Our first priority should be garnishing those players' wage bill to ensure that rumours of their exit to kids rugby is exaggerated.
Next important issue is the fringe French players, such as Bartheau, Vaccari and Gigot, how best to bring them on? Should we lend them to TO (or FCL?) for a season, should they be UTC players or Dragons?
Then, new signings: SO and Prop are top of the list -though we have some players who can fill in at those positions (eg. Sa for SO),meaning that Prop is our clear priority. It seems to me that our first choice should be to look at FCL and TO, to see if there are any French players who could step in at the required level.
Only then should we look at retaining/signing etrangers.

Oh, and should Bosc stay as captain? Has this added responsibility not put too much pressure on him? How about JPB, Mounis or Ferriol as alternatives?

*BUMP*

time to get this going as our season is now over.

I am not sure who is signed up and who isnt but most rumours of departures surround Mc Guire, Pelo, Greenshields, Elima, Johnson & Walker.

Pelo is confirmed gone.

McGuire is retiring and Johnson will go. I'm resigned to losing Bell too.

Greeny and Walker definately stopping! As a side note, those are probably the only two to come out of yesterday with any sort of credibility!

its a shame but he is retiring too...

So from this year's squad going forward we're looking at:
1- Greenshields
2- Vaccari/Stacul
3- Raguin
4- Sa?
5- Walker
6- Bosc
7- Dureau
8- Ferriol
9- Henderson
10- Guisset
11- Elima
12- Mounis
13-
14- David Guasch
15- Baille
16- Barthau
17- Gossard
18- Carlaw
19- Touxagas
20- Kane
21- Martins
22- Fakir
23- Stacul/Vaccari
24- Casty
25- Gigot
26- Andrew
27- Simon

IMO - Too light in the pack and poor out wide, for me we need 2 quality props, and a top class centre/winger to play in/outside Walker, Raguin isn't good enough as a centre both defensively and offensively! Traffic monitoring is beckoning!

You've got Duport to come back in.

I'd like to see JPB in the centres and Raguin back in the back row. Mounis at LF.

And, Dureau?

Apparently the Bentley brothers & Touxagas to be released?

Casty imo also

Dave

Interesting stuff from the President in the local press (badly translated by google...)

Would be a @%*! scandal, though I could see that it may be worth their while spending a year at TO and seeing if this gets them more interest - like it did for Duport. Not a good sign that our method of bringing through players is to ask them to go elsewhere...

Confirmed today that Bentleys are not in Trent Robinsons plans for next season & will be released