8 surprising loan spells you've almost certainly forgotten about
Top 10s/ListsWednesday, 22 August 2018 at 10:04
From bizarre temporary purchases by big clubs to established international players getting experience in the lower leagues: these are the short-term signings we've all dismissed from memory.
1. OWEN FARRELL TO BEDFORD BLUES
In the 2010–11 season, Farrell signed for Bedford Blues on a brief loan, scoring 11 points in four outings.
However he returned to Saracens and was pivotal in the 2010–11 Aviva Premiership Final, kicking five penalties and converting James Short's try, ending with a personal haul of 17 points in the 22–18 victory over reigning champions Leicester Tigers.
2. ELLIS GENGE TO LEICESTER TIGERS
Leicester Tigers signed Bristol prop Ellis Genge on loan until the end of the regular season in 2016.
The move was, in part, due to off-field issues, including being arrested after an away game against Ulster in 2015.
The move to Leicester was made permanent on 26 May 2016 and he has since won five England caps.
3. BLAIR COWAN TO SARACENS
Saracens strangely signed Scotland international flanker Blair Cowan on loan from relegation fighting London Irish until the end of last season.
Cowan, who has 17 Scotland caps, joins Saracens as cover with Schalk Burger, Callum Clark, Joel Conlon, Michael Rhodes and Billy Vunipola all ruled out for varied periods.
Saracens went onto win the Premiership title while London Irish were relegated for the second time in three years.
4. JOE LAUNCHBURY TO ROSSLYN PARK
Having joined from Worthing in 2010, he was named in Wasps' Academy squad for the 2010–11 season but also joined National League 1 side Rosslyn Park on loan to gain senior experience, making six appearances for the historic club.
Having played the first half of the season for the A team and out on loan, Launchbury made his Wasps' debut on 30 January 2011 in the Anglo-Welsh Cup against Harlequins as a replacement, scoring a try in a 38–13 defeat.
5. MAXIME MERMOZ TO LEICESTER TIGERS
The centre had already agreed on a permanent switch to Premiership rivals Newcastle Falcons at the end of the season, making his loan move to Leicester unexpected in January 2017.
He joined as an injury cover for Matt Toomua and Manu Tuilagi who were sidelined for the rest of the season.
The France international made his debut against Gloucester off the bench coming in for Matt Smith in the 51st minute and he scored his first try 30 minutes later.
6. PETER STRINGER TO NEWCASTLE FALCONS
Following a brief loan spell at Saracens in December 2011, the Munster and Ireland scrum-half subsequently joined the Newcastle Falcons on loan until the end of the season in February 2012.
Despite the playmakers best efforts, the North East side was relegated after finishing bottom of the pile, just one point below Wasps.
7. JAMES SHORT TO WASPS
He began his senior career with Saracens in 2007 and was part of their Premiership winning side of 2011, scoring a try at Twickenham in their 22-18 win against Leicester Tigers.
He later enjoyed a brief loan spell with Wasps, scoring a single try in six outings, before moving to London Irish in the 2014/15 season, where he featured 13 times in total for the Exiles before later joining Exeter Chiefs
8. DAVE ATTWOOD TO TOULON
A very strange move. The deal was agreed by Bath earlier this year in order to allow Attwood to "mentally and physically refresh" after recent injuries.
The former Bristol and Gloucester lock had not played for the Blue, Black and Whites last season because of injury, after 13 appearances the season prior.
Attwood has now re-joined Todd Blackadder's squad of the 2018/19 Premiership season following a succesful loan spell in the south of France.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading