Players Leaving

[Phil]

As we have been announcing a number of signings for the 2022/23 season it is appropriate to take a moment to acknowledge the players of the 2021/22 1st XV squad who have left the club during the close season.

Mason Tonks (45 Appearances)
Fraizer Kiff (17 Appearances)
Luke Hibberd (7 Appearances)
Adam Collingwood (1 Appearance)
Aiden Ali (1 Appearance)
Harry Dawson

We wish them all the best in their rugby careers, thank them for their efforts for the club and would remind them that the door will always remain open in the future.

We would also take the opportunity to wish England U20 internationals Greg Fisilau (8 Appearances) and Reketi Ma'asi-White (12 Appearances) all the best as they embark on the next part of their rugby development as dual registered players, with a move to play Championship rugby next season. Both players gave 100% for the Birmingham Moseley cause as an integral part of the squad.

Director of Rugby Adam Balding would like to acknowledge the support of Wasps Rugby in facilitating Greg & Reketi playing for Birmingham Moseley, a relationship that continues this season with Fyn Brown joining us on dual registration.

[chrisyork]

Not sure whether Mason has left for another club or has not been retained but I always thought he gave his all for the club and was always a threat to the opposition with his pace and handling. If his replacement can match his commitment then I'll be happy.

[andyj]

I can only assume he has gone to another club because why would we not retain our top try scorer.
He will be a big loss and it is hugely disappointing that we couldn’t retain him especially given that our stated objective is to gain promotion.

[rogerhildreth]

Jul 15, 2022 21:48:41 GMT andyj said:

I can only assume he has gone to another club because why would we not retain our top try scorer.
He will be a big loss and it is hugely disappointing that we couldn’t retain him especially given that our stated objective is to gain promotion.

Perhaps he didn't want to stay? Perhaps for some reason we didn't want him in the squad? Perhaps our budget couldn't stretch to his requirements?

[kingsheathlad]

We have 6 in the squad who play on the wing.
If I recall last season he was on the bench towards the latter part of season.

[chrisyork]

Jul 16, 2022 8:29:32 GMT rogerhildreth said:

Jul 15, 2022 21:48:41 GMT andyj said:

I can only assume he has gone to another club because why would we not retain our top try scorer.
He will be a big loss and it is hugely disappointing that we couldn’t retain him especially given that our stated objective is to gain promotion.

Perhaps he didn't want to stay? Perhaps for some reason we didn't want him in the squad? Perhaps our budget couldn't stretch to his requirements?

"Perhaps for some reason we didn't want him in the squad"

Care to to enlighten me on who the "we" is, I think most supporters would have considered him an asset, and as this is a supporters forum are you trying to tell me that some supporters were instrumental in him leaving?

[rogerhildreth]

The coaches and the Director of Rugby, obviously. Why such an aggressive post?

[grooveavenue]

As we all know moving jobs is usually about pay;change;location.

Good luck to Tonksy, hope we dont come up against him in Nat 1!

We could ask similar questions about some of this upcoming seasons signings. No doubt some of the signees previous Clubs fans'll be asking - "why Birmingham Moseley?"

Any road up I'm looking forwards to seeing all the new squad and re-signed players especially with Eng and Ire both spuring on our enthusiasm!!

[chrisyork]

Jul 17, 2022 12:27:14 GMT rogerhildreth said:

The coaches and the Director of Rugby, obviously. Why such an aggressive post?

The post was an entirely appropriate response to a flippant answer, I originally asked if anybody knew why Mason had left. The only response was opinions from members to which I already knew the answer. As supporters of which some of us have given a considerable amount of financial support especially over the last couple of years I think that it is important that we are given straight answers to questions that are not to difficult to answer. In the future it may help if the management released a more detailed overview of the playing staff, after all we have been bombarded with information by who is joining the club but little in the way of the players who left. It may seem trivial to some but as a keen follower of the game it is enjoyable to go and watch other teams play (obviously when Moseley are away) and there are some ex players in the squad.

[dag]

I did pick up on a conversation twix Mason Tonks and another senior member of Moseley and Tonks said without any hesitation that he wanted to play at the highest possible level. My impression was that at the very least a top end championship club, let alone Moseley, was his aspirations. No doubt we'll find out one day. In the meantime come on Mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooose

[kingsheathlad]

I am guessing he may have gone to a higher level.

[Communications Team]

Firstly let us be honest as Comms team we do not have all the inside information on why players have left the club, nor would we post it if we did.

It has always been policy that negotiations between club and players remain private. Please remember these are effectively contracts of employment that are being discussed. We would expect none of us would be happy if the companies we worked for started to publish information on our discussions on contracts of employment, why we left their company etc.

One thing that seems to be clear is that the management has looked to retain as much of the current squad, and as much experience in red & black as possible. To put this in perspective next seasons squad will have 782 Birmingham Moseley appearances to their names. The players who have left represent 71 appearances*. Probably a ratio which hasn't come close in recent seasons. It does seem to suggest retention was a big priority of the strategy.

In addition the management has brought in players to fill gaps in the squad with significant championship experience (100+ in two cases) to enhance the team.

Inevitably some players will be looking to improve on their own positions, by moving to other clubs or indeed into the championship. It may involve work commitments outside of rugby or relocation. With a limit to the playing budget there will only be so much that can be done to retain players who are looking to progress. It will always be a balancing act.

There is an unwritten understanding by clubs (well most of them) that it is the privilege of the signing club to make the announcement of the signing, which is why if known we do not mention where players are going unless their new club has already done so.

Perhaps we should all focus on who we have gained in the squad for next season, not who we have lost?

(*excluding DR's & loans)

[chrisyork]

Dear Comms,

Thanks for the informative reply, as I am well versed in how contracts work so I hope the information proved valuable for other members. I would agree with the sentiments expressed in the rest of the post with the exception of the last sentence.

To focus on the incoming players is all well and good but to some of us it is only part of the rich history of community rugby and that to follow the fortunes of up and coming players is part of why the game is enjoyable. Who would have thought that Jonny May would have progressed to the level he has achieved without his short time spent at Moseley, although the club can`t claim to much credit I hope that his time spent at the club provided a springboard to his career.

Lets leave the tribal instincts to the followers of the round ball.

[Communications Team]

Not suggesting creating tribal instincts, don’t know where you get that idea from.

Merely pointing out that the management has put together a squad for next season and that is the only thing the club has influence on and can really comment on. Always sad to see players we like leave the club but we can look forward to a potentially stronger, more experienced squad taking to the field next season.

By all means follow the careers of players who have left the club to other teams. We are all proud of the club’s part in developing players such as the many dual registered ones like Jonny, Dan Norton and many more.

[CJB1]

A quick Google on Mason Tonks doesn't turn up any announcement of where he is going yet.

[chrisyork]

Jul 19, 2022 9:35:16 GMT CJB1 said:

A quick Google on Mason Tonks doesn't turn up any announcement of where he is going yet.

Mason has signed for Cinderford. Our top try scorer signs for our nearest competitor. Something went a bit wrong there.

[kingsheathlad]

May have moved for work reasons to Gloucestershire where he is from.

[jones]

It'll be hard to watch him scoring next week against us!

[kingsheathlad]

He wasn't playing yesterday.