Jenkins announces he is leaving the blues

surprised no one has put this up on ere yet...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17110717

what sort of lineups will your region be putting out next season....ill give the dragons a go

15. Will Harries (thomas rumoured to be off to leicester
14. Poole
13. Hughes
12. Tuilagi/Smith
11. CHavhanga
10. Jones/Robling
9. Evans/Evans/Bedford
8. Faletau (thank god!)
7. Evans/Waters
6. Lydiate
5. Jones (?) Groves
4. Sidoli (?)
3. Buck
2. Jones BUckley Price
1. Williams

hardly star names there aside from the obvious two, and it the WRU announce they are cutting our funding i predict an empty rodney parade for most games

thomas rumoured to be off to leicester

Who? I don't know much about Thomas, is he a specialist 15 or a utility player? There are rumours we were mulling over another winger but I can't see we'd need another full back unless he is either a secondary play maker or a real speed merchant.

Blimey, these French clubs are getting ridiculous. How is any French talent going to develop?

martyn thomas specialist fb and a good player

Sorry to see him go, but he has been a great player for us and has earnt his big contract, where ever he is playing next season.

Our best starting XV next season, knowing what we know now. Will be someting like.

1. Yapp
2. TR Thomas
3. Andrews
4. Davies
5. Paterson
6. Navidi
7. Warburton
8. Pretorius
9. Williams
10. Tovey
11. James
12. Roberts
13. Henson
14. Cuthburt
15. Halfpenny

Could be that Hobbs makes the step up to start at 1, there as rumours that Gill is coming in, although i doubt it. Delve is also another rumour, which would alter the back three in the pack a bit. But i think that sqaud would do ok. Even though the front row is lacking some grunt.

your looking light up front with navidi a 7 i thought? but still that backline has class written all over it!

Toulon is just crazy.

Teams like Toulouse and Clermont, Montpellier and a few others have really good academies

Agree though that teams like Touloun need to be handicapped.

Gethin Leaving makes sense if I'm honest. He's already said he probably will only be playing until the next Lions Tour and that the next WC will probably be a bridge to far for him.

So given that Wales probably only have him for 2 Seasons and need to find a replacement before the next World Cup and the fact the Blues rarely get to play him, its good business on the Blues and Wales.

Gethin probably will do well out of the move as well even if Toloun will probably caine him to get their moneys worth.

He's been a great servant to Welsh Rugby but his departure his hardly doom and gloom. I would imagine the Blues will go after Gill now and he is looking a good player as well.

you really think gill is going to leave london, most probably take a pay cut when hes already broke into the welsh squad and "gatlands law" being overturned due to half the squad playing out of waleS? i cant see it somehow

Blues are currently rumoured to have tabled bids for the following:-

Bennett
Delve
Reed
Gill - Rumour only (no offer yet)

Coleman i think i read somewhere on this site that Delve has already signed for Toulon. Could be wrong though

they would all be good buys....cnt see how they can afford them all tho if they are as skint as mr thomas is making out?

Bath confirmed that we were in the hunt for him and he was keen, but pulled out, as he wasn't good value for money. Guess with age and Wales commitments against him. Still very sad we didn't go for it.

Only Phillips is making the starting 15 outside of Wales. Realistically he wont be in the side by the next WC slides round. I would imagine Gatland will eventually have to look for replacements for Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins. In truth Gatland needs to find 4 Prop replacements.

If Gill believes moving to the Blues will enhance his chances I would imagine its a no brainer. Gethin was the only reason Gill left in the first place. Now that he is gone the door is wide open.

Even if he does not come back, the Blues are well stocked. Yapp is still class and I really think Hobbs has a big future.

gill is the reason gethin left? sure it was nothing to do with the fact that he got offered a one year extension with the same money and they told him they wouldnt pay him during international periods? and the fact he prob doubled his money in france?

If Devle have signed for Toulon, good luck to him. I've always wanted to see him in a Blues shirt, guess it might not happen. In regards to Navidi being a 7, he is. But we need to get him more game time to develop him and with Xav geting older and Ma'Ma past his sell by date we need a new No.8/6 combo. Pretorius would fill in well at No.8, and Navidi would do a job at 6. That is until we poach Lydiate from the Dragons

i know that was a half joke but it will happen...along with faletau...sadly

and tbf i really really wouldnt begrudge toby leaving us. the kid is world class and would like to see what he could do in a decent side

I can see Toby playing in the south of France if/when he does leave, the hard pitches are made for his running game. Although i'd prefer to see Lyds and Toby stay at the Dragons and someone building a region around them.

GavinDragon wrote:gill is the reason gethin left? sure it was nothing to do with the fact that he got offered a one year extension with the same money and they told him they wouldnt pay him during international periods? and the fact he prob doubled his money in france?

Other way round. Gill left cause he couldnt get any gametime at the Blues. He has already said he would be interested in returning if Gethin leaves (which he now has).

ar rite that makes much more sense lol

1. Sam Hobbs
2. Rhys Thomas/Huw Bennett (if he signs)
3. Scott Andrews
4. Bradley Davies
5. Either Lou Reed (if he signs), James Down or Cory Hill who i have been very impressed with when he's played.
6. Michael Patterson/Andries Pretorious
7. Sam Warburton
8. Xavier Rush/Andries Pretorious

9. Lloyd Williams
10. Jason Tovey/Gareth Davies (Cardiff RFC fly half, played a few games and done alright).
11. Tom James
12. Gavin Henson (if we keep him)
13. Jamie Roberts
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny/Ben Blair

That's what i would see being the starting team with a few questions. If our backrow stay injury free then we can compete with most teams there, it's just the front 3 where we would struggle. Andrews has been getting better and Hobbs is ready to step up and be the first choice. If Bennett comes in he gives us added bulk and strength in the front row which we haven't had for years.

Second row...I would keep Patterson away from there if possible, he's be tremendous this season and could go on to be a cult hero of Rushies status if he continues over the next few years.

Fly half is a concern, if Tovey gets injured and Davies plays then we have no number 3 fly half.


Losing Gethin is a big blow but it's been on the cards and he deserves this pay day (which will be substantial, being a prop). I think it is time for him to move on, injuries are catching up with him and with the reduction in the wage bill and also us having 2 other loose heads, the time it right. Rhys Gill has a year left on his contract and i don't think we could buy his contract out, so maybe next season. By that time Hobbs will have had a season as our first choice LHP and Yapp may move on. Who knows

don't think delve is a done deal yet to toulon.

One of the only positives about Jenkins going to Toulon is he will get more opportunity to rest. I'd imagine he would rotate with Sheridan during the season to be more fresh for Wales duty. Jenkins has picked up a fair few injuries in the later part of his career, hopefully less game time during the season will prolong his playing career with Wales.

bluestonevedder wrote:Blimey, these French clubs are getting ridiculous. How is any French talent going to develop?

Playing against and alongside world class players in a very competitive league, week in week out, I would imagine if they get the chance of course.
But with 14 clubs in the French top tier and another 16 pro clubs in the Pro 2 division, i'm sure there's plenty of room for all including a handful of Welshman.

They're even thinking of making it a Top 16!

We should wish Gethin the very best of luck, he deserves to be paid what he is worth as he is a great example of a player who has always given complete commitment to the teams he has played for. He has been involved in some of the regions greatest dramas over the last decade, the joy of beating Wasps in 2003 then the heartbreak of loosing to them at the Brewery Field, and them going on to win the HC, that tragic penalty shoot out semi with Leicester and the AMLIN win in Toulon to name just a few.

Looking at the crowd attendance figures for the regions this year its innevitable that they wont be able to pay competative rates to keep the top players. There are a lot of reasons to explain these figures but a summary of them is that the regions are not selling something that the customers find attractive enough to buy. With luck this player exodus will triger a step forward into further proffesionalism for Rugby in Wales. Cuddy, Thomas, etc should be applauded for what they have tried to do but the huge masses of potential rugby fans in Wales are the ones who need to feel ownership of the teams they watch, rather than those teams be owned and their futures driven by a few well intentioned rich men.

I advocate the WRU taking on responsibility/ownership of the regional teams, with income and costs pooled accross international and regional rugby, central contracts for elite players and coaches, fixed wage allocations to each club for the rest, and the creation by the WRU of a rugby promotion unit whose first job would be to assess and relaunch the regions with an emphasis on building fan engagement.

The Welsh public are engaged, with committed to and feel ownership of the national team, that same engagement has to be established for the regional teams and it wont be achieved by individual owners with no concerted vision.

Fair play to him, I hope that the move goes well for him, as a couple of you have said, he's been a great servant to Welsh rugby and fully deserves an opportunity like this.

A lot of us have been crying out for more young players to get their chance at our regions...well, that's how it's going to be now from the looks of things...

GavinDragon wrote:surprised no one has put this up on ere yet...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17110717

what sort of lineups will your region be putting out next season....ill give the dragons a go

15. Will Harries (thomas rumoured to be off to leicester
14. Poole
13. Hughes
12. Tuilagi/Smith
11. CHavhanga
10. Jones/Robling
9. Evans/Evans/Bedford
8. Faletau (thank god!)
7. Evans/Waters
6. Lydiate
5. Jones (?) Groves
4. Sidoli (?)
3. Buck
2. Jones BUckley Price
1. Williams

hardly star names there aside from the obvious two, and it the WRU announce they are cutting our funding i predict an empty rodney parade for most games

Gavin, Gavin, Gavin! You've forgotten everyone's favourite bricky Lloys Burns at hooker! And Price is a prop not a hooker (loosehead I think). Sam Parry is coming through at hooker too though. Dan Way looks promising at prop too.

At No.8 Tom Brown has done well, and looked good with ball in hand against Edinburgh.

Apart from that, your team is what I'd expect. We are a bit threadbare again. There seem to be no 2nd rows coming through (Groves I think was back row at age grade), so we're relying on the work of the ageing Adam Jones and Sidoli. Not long til they're gone so we need to blood some locks.

ah yes apologies!, i was referring to gerwyn price the hooker who is likely to be snapped up on dev contract from cross keys,

are sidoli and madam signed on for next year? and yes i like the look of groves but dont know whether he is a lock

and as for dan way im not convinced by him at scrum time, i do like the lok of buck tho seems to be doing ok

talking about locks within the dragons region. seems like us scarlets are having a look at one coming through at cross keys.

http://www.campaignseries.co.uk/sport/9539429.Rawlins_set_for_Scarlets_move/

anybody seen him play for cross keys?

also what's happened to Hugh Gustafson? seems he's fallen down the pecking order at the Dragons. Looked really promising a few season ago.

converting him to hooker pioden which makes me wonder

burns
steve jones
rhys buckley
sam parry
gerwyn price
jamie solis (academy and wales u20)

how many bleeding hookers do we need!

as for rawlins not seen him play but dissapointed if scarlets have spotted something the dragons management havent!

formerly known as Sam wrote:

thomas rumoured to be off to leicester

Who? I don't know much about Thomas, is he a specialist 15 or a utility player? There are rumours we were mulling over another winger but I can't see we'd need another full back unless he is either a secondary play maker or a real speed merchant.

To be honest I think Martyn Thomas is pretty much a Welsh Geordan Murphy, he is a decent attacking fullback, but can fit in on the wing as and when required. If it is true and he is going to Leicester I would not be too suprised.

agree SS he is a very good counter attacking FB and would be sad to see him leave

gcblues:

"no third flyhalf", you currently have G Henson! not a bad third choice.

On scrum V last friday, one of the pundit's said I Evans will be released by the Ospreys, is this true and if so any rumors as to where he is going?

I thought he was still in contract till the end of next season though?

i dont know but surely if the ospreys cnt afford him no one else in wales can?

I can't see the O's wanting to let him go though. I mean they've got him, AJW and Gough on their books right? Gough will surely retire soon, and they can't keep relying on JT and Ryan playing there out of position. Have they any other locks coming through the system?

james king? not sure how old he is tho

hmm, that's not a lot of cover, especially when you think for large parts Evans, AWJ and R Jones will be away on international duty. Although guess Evans might not get called up depending on the Charteris situation. I would think the O's would be a bit silly to let him go. Depends again on the £££ I suppose.

i know it makes you wonder what is going on if they are having to let him go...although i think hes contracted till next year coz i swore the dragons were courting him last season and he signed a 2 year extension

That's what I'm thinking Gav, didn't think he was out of contract either.

I don't like all these talksa bout players leaving though, makes me very

well tbh being a dragons fan you kinda get used to it, still be interesting to see what talent we can develop over the next couple of seasons before they are poached

Well the Scarlets are at the stage where we've developed the talent, we just now are fighting tooth and nail to try and keep them!

I'll be absolutely gutted if Foxy doesn't resign for us. With the core group of guys we have in the squad, I have a horrible feeling that if one of them goes, then they'll all start to drift away.

same here tovey charteris and brew (played his best rugby for us) this season....lydiate and faletau next is the worry...

i think the scarlets have got more in the way of facilities etc to offer than the dragons i hope that you keep hold of them too

aye, perhaps, but end of last season you guys were really building a good team with a great spirit down taht way. This season things just haven't gone your way unfortunately

Scarlets have always had to fight off the rumours about players leaving (usually the one about Stevo going to Tigers) tis just not nice as a supported to have to listen to it all!

Wales need our young players to stay. Hope the regions and WRU work something more workable out so it's easier for us to secure our home grown talent.

yep...watch this space! so out of curiosity what sort of tema could the scarlets put out next year if all rumoured players were to leave and retirements etc?

Hmmmm, not too many of 1st choice players are out of contract so not too different I don't think. Something like this:

1. Rhodri Jones, 2. Matthew Rees, 3. Peter Edwards, 4.Damien Welch, 5. Timani, 6. Shingler, 7. Turnbull/JEdwards, 8.McCusker, 9. Knoyle, 10. Priestland, 11. Liam Williams, 12. Scott Williams, 13. Gareth Maule, 14. George North, 15. Morgan Stoddart.

We'd just be struggling very badly for cover at TH and Lock if we don't re-sign people, SH and FH could also become an issue as well, and as usual FB would be a problem position for us.

i think morgan would be the biggest loss the way he gives you go forward, but that backline still looks potent