Cardiff Blues squad and off-field updates.

First topic message reminder :

It appears that the following players will be leaving the Blues at the end of the season


DEPARTURE

Gavin Henson - Sacked

TRThomas - Despite being given the captaincy a few times this season, Thomas is due to leave - He is one of the players who has been excellent for us, is available all year round and we should be building a team around him. But he is off to Wasps.

Gethin Jenkins - 1 of our 4 world class players is off to Toulon

Casey Laulaula - The second centre to go, he is off to Munster, despite being available all year round.

Dan Parks is off to Connacht

Ritchie Rees is going to Edinburgh

Deniol Jones is retired

Martyn Williams is retiring

Mamma Molitika is retiring

John Yapp is leaving to go to Edinburgh

Ben Blair has apparently been offered a contract in France, at Lyon and is leaving

Jamie Roberts will miss a large part of next season through injury

Paul Tito is retiring

Ryan Tyrell is returning to Australia

Xavier Rush has retired as a player due to injury

Justin Burnell has left with immediate effect

Richard Mustoe rumoured retirement



ARRIVING AND STAYING

Xavier Rush has become the next defence coach

Jason Tovey is the only new signing of any significance announced so far, from the Dragons

Robin Copeland is confirmed from Rotherham RFC - some good reports, a replacement for Molitika

Lou Reed is signing though from the Scarlets

And Gavin Evans has signed a new 2 year contract extension...woop

Benoit Bourrust a THP from Perpignan is arriving

Fijian LHP prop Campese Ma'afu has signed from Australian side West Harbour Pirates

Hooker Andi Kyriacou is being targeted from Ulster - confirmed

Ceri Sweeney is staying with the Blues with a contract extension

Fau Filise has signed a contract extension (Probably 1 year)

A new Director of Rugby Phil Davies has joined.

Alex Cuthbert has signed a 1 year extension

Rob Lewis confirmed coming at SH from London Welsh

Deniol Jones is now team manager

Lee Jarvis has been appointed skills coach


Squad for next season


Props
Sam Hobbs
Ma'afu Campese
Benoit Bourrust
Scott Andrews
Fau Filise
Ryan Hartford
Nathan Trevett
Thomas Davies

Hookers
Andy Kyricau
Kristian Dacey
Mark Breeze
Rhys Williams

Locks
Bradley Davies
Lou Reed
James Down
Cory Hill
McCauley Cook
Matthew Screech

Backrow
Michael Paterson
Robin Copeland
Sam Warburton
Josh Navidi
Andreus Pretorious
Ellis Jenkins
Thomas Young
Luke Hamilton


Scrum Halfs
Lloyd Williams
Rob Lewis
Lewis Jones

Fly Halfs
Jason Tovey
Ceri Sweeney
Rhys Patchell

Centres
Jamie Roberts
Daffydd Hewitt
Gavin Evans
Cory Allen
Owen Williams

Back 3
Alex Cuthbert
Tom James
Leigh Halfpenny
Dan Fish
Chris Czekaj
Harry Robinson

Ye it really is panic buy big boys to shore the crum up, that'll solve all our problems!!!!!! AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

They aren't going to offer anything Yapp couldn't!

This just gets more and more depressing!!!

Copeland and Lewis would actually be decent signings if I'm thinking of the right guys, but it'll take them a full pre season to get up to speed!

wales606 wrote:Anyone know anything about a hooker called Kyriacou from Ulster?

Or Rob Lewis from London Welsh?

The hooker was at Sarries before their big clear out a few years ago I think. Not particular great but alright squad cover probably.

He's no better than Breeze or Tyrell we have though, why sign a 3rd choice hooker when theres some in the academy!

Great, I really want to see NWQ players.

When are they going to learn?

There has to be a prop languishing in the premiereship that could do a job? Are they scouting? are they looking for potential in players and getting them in?

I'm going to the game today and if the attitude of the players doesn't improve it's going to be the last time.

thebluesmancometh wrote:He's no better than Breeze or Tyrell we have though, why sign a 3rd choice hooker when theres some in the academy!

True. He's certainly not start material (unless all the rest are Poopie)

Breeze and Tyrell are poor enough, to add another poor hooker to them is madness!

Considering the quality of some of the players couldn't they have brought someone in from the premiership? I reckon the best way of building a local fan base is by playing local players. Given the current quality and money problems you'd think it was worth a punt. No decent players at Cardiff, Ponty, etc?

Players like? Andrews? Trevett??????

There isn't a lot, and the better players have already been creamed off. We could/shouldve seen Davies play 10 this season!!!

Coleman wrote:Well regardless of how technical Ma'afu and Bourrust are. We'll have a heavy front row next season. Ma'afu (118kg) Breeze (112 kg) Bourrust (126kg).

Tyrell, Williams or Dacey rather than Breeze hopefully. (Or a new guy - from Ulster?)

On the positive side - a lot of good reports about Copeland, could prove to be a very useful signing if he can perform on this level (although im sure Rotherham RFC would beat the Blues at the moment)

Richard Holland Interview :

"Current player leaving are Blair, Laulala, Parks, Rees, Jenkins, Yapp, TRT, Molitika, Martin Williams and potentially Tito for medical reasons. Rush and Sweeny will be here next year."

"With regard to Alex Cuthbert we made him an offer in September and have continued to do so. Without revealing the figure we have offered him a very large deal possibly the max he would receive at present and a French club has doubled it. We cannot compete and it is now up to Alex."

The current coaches have been responsible for the development of players such as Warburton, Halfpenny, Roberts etc and are very experienced. They have had a tough introduction to the realities of running a region and are not as media savvy as they could be. They currently have 1 year left on their contracts and reviews of performance will be looked at in the off season. "

When I pushed on this matter it became obvious that this was an area that they could not discuss and it appeared that no decision had been made.

RH says that at no time was Gavin Henson sacked for any other reason than his behaviour. Whilst he would not release all the facts he asked me what would happen if I (Morgan) was on a business trip with your Chairman, CEO, Management, Sponsors etc and I was so drunk I could not control myself and the airline staff had to approach you to deal with him, Would you have a job on the Monday?? Gavin was drinking at the back of the plane and we were unaware until it was pointed out to us.
When Gavin signed for the Blues he sat in front of us and said that he understood he had a past and that he had matured and wanted to play rugby. He asked for the chance to earn a longer contract and we rewarded it with an 8 month contract. In our eyes he was fighting for a contract renewal and there were no financial concerns. On the Tuesday before the Glasgow match following a conversation with THE CEO of EADS who was concerned about indiscipline reflecting badly on his brand, Richard Holland addressed the whole squad with regard to behaviour and their representation of the Blues.
On Saturday in Glasgow he was personally stood in the lobby of the hotel when the player came down to go out. Baber and Burnell asked the players where they were going? One half replied they were off for Pizza and the others said they were going to unwind. They were told to behave and to come back soon. When RH asked his coaches if this was the norm, they did state that DIA Young would not have allowed it but they had decided to treat the players as adults and place some trust in them. Players did not return and the Henson situation ensued.
It appears that the players had let themselves down as well as BS the coaching staff. It will not happen in the future
With regard to Ceri Sweeney and Tom James once the police outcome has been finalised RH states that he will review it with regards to disciplinary action.
Hensons sanction could have been a 3 month suspension under his contract but this amounted to the same action as his contact would not have been renewed

There seems to be a bit of BS here!

Some of it wreaks of childish behaviour though...

The Blues signing of Ma'afu is a poor one for them, they have had notable problems at scrums of late with Scott Andrews at tighthead prop getting hammered regularly against opposition scrums. The scrum really needed strengthening but Ma'afu is not known as a strong scrummaging prop, whilst playing for Fiji in 2010 he was destroyed by Adam Jones who won Wales a penalty try which got Wales a draw out of a horribly error prone performance. A week later he was again destroyed against Italy, as the Azzurri scored 8 penalties, half of which came from the scrum. He also struggled at the World Cup against Wales.
The reason why we are signing him he's cheap!
"These players are obviously also within our price bracket," Burnell said of of the signings of Ma'afu and Copeland.

RC13 wrote:
The reason why we are signing him he's cheap!
"These players are obviously also within our price bracket," Burnell said of of the signings of Ma'afu and Copeland.

I read that quote earlier. It's a cracker. Burnell is ok I reckon. His interview after the Ulster game at CAP was alright. He was asked if he wanted more games played at the Arms Park; he answered, yes please.

Signing the Rotheram Titans blindside is much worse. Back-row, particulary blindside is an area where you are covered. Are they just making signings for the fun of it?

Morgannwg wrote:Signing the Rotheram Titans blindside is much worse. Back-row, particulary blindside is an area where you are covered. Are they just making signings for the fun of it?

Replacement for Molitika.

They havent got much cover at 6, since Pretorious will likely be playing 8 next season. So only Paterson at blindside.

"On the Tuesday before the Glasgow match following a conversation with THE CEO of EADS who was concerned about indiscipline reflecting badly on his brand, Richard Holland addressed the whole squad with regard to behaviour and their representation of the Blues..."

To have a 'brand' - you'd need at least one member of the general public to know what the hell your company actually did?

Letting 'business' people have decision making power in the Welsh game - worst thing we ever did.

Just sit in your executive boxes, eat your prawn sandwiches, drink fizzy water and shut up, please.

It's all about power, you get in financial trouble and go begging for a sponser they are going to name their price and basically run the show!!!!

wales606 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Signing the Rotheram Titans blindside is much worse. Back-row, particulary blindside is an area where you are covered. Are they just making signings for the fun of it?

Replacement for Molitika.

They havent got much cover at 6, since Pretorious will likely be playing 8 next season. So only Paterson at blindside.

Pretorious can play 6, as can Siggery, Young, Navidi and Hamilton. Baffling signing. You can look forward to another season of mediocrity with those new additions.

Thinking earlier, who's going to be the opensides next season. Warbs will hardly play but we'll include him. Navidi will be second choice presumably, who will be third choice, an academy player?

We desperately need a 10, 12, TH and LH. Not much to ask for eh?

Morgannwg wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Signing the Rotheram Titans blindside is much worse. Back-row, particulary blindside is an area where you are covered. Are they just making signings for the fun of it?

Replacement for Molitika.

They havent got much cover at 6, since Pretorious will likely be playing 8 next season. So only Paterson at blindside.

Pretorious can play 6, as can Siggery, Young, Navidi and Hamilton. Baffling signing. You can look forward to another season of mediocrity with those new additions.

Young and Navidi are 7s (and young is too young)

Hamilton and Pretorious will play mostly at 8

Siggery left last season for LI

So the only real 6 is Paterson (who will also be cover at 2nd row).

Copeland is apparently a very good player and could be an excellent backrower on a cheap salary.

martyr_94 wrote:Thinking earlier, who's going to be the opensides next season. Warbs will hardly play but we'll include him. Navidi will be second choice presumably, who will be third choice, an academy player?

We desperately need a 10, 12, TH and LH. Not much to ask for eh?

13 more than a 12

Thanks 606, 13 is what I meant your right, Roberts and Hewitt are fine there with also Evans covering also.

The sooner the blues go down the tubes the better to focus on getting regional rugby sorted out. The number of non Welsh players is getting out of hand and there are plans for more next year i.e., if they are still around being mis-managed. The blues can field the majority of the pack from non Wales players, why have all this money and experience going out of the Welsh game, it is not as if the HC has been achieved?.

Who is going to pay Thomas for his loans to the region or Cardiff RFC, the WRU or will he grab Cardiff Arms Park to pay his loans (nice building land)?

glamorganalun wrote:The sooner the blues go down the tubes the better to focus on getting regional rugby sorted out. The number of non Welsh players is getting out of hand and there are plans for more next year i.e., if they are still around being mis-managed. The blues can field the majority of the pack from non Wales players, why have all this money and experience going out of the Welsh game, it is not as if the HC has been achieved?.

Who is going to pay Thomas for his loans to the region or Cardiff RFC, the WRU or will he grab Cardiff Arms Park to pay his loans (nice building land)?

The Blues don't own CAP, and their bids for the land have all been refused.

I refer to Cardiff RFC loans from Thomas, how will they pay them back, the only asset they have is the ground and car park.

glamorganalun wrote:I refer to Cardiff RFC loans from Thomas, how will they pay them back, the only asset they have is the ground and car park.

Cardiff rfc don't own CAP though do they? I thought that was Cardiff Athletic Club who owned it?

doctornickolas wrote:

glamorganalun wrote:I refer to Cardiff RFC loans from Thomas, how will they pay them back, the only asset they have is the ground and car park.

Cardiff rfc don't own CAP though do they? I thought that was Cardiff Athletic Club who owned it?

Yep

Cardiff Blues are searching for a new DOR to work above the current coaches

The following players will be leaving the squad at the end of the season and everyone at the Cardiff Blues would like to thank them for their outstanding contribution to the Blues over a number of years. There will be a special shirt presentation to the players at the end of the match as well as at the evening's awards ceremony.

Ben Blair
Casey Laulala
Dan Parks
Deiniol Jones
Gethin Jenkins
John Yapp
Maama Molitika
Martyn Williams
Paul Tito
Richie Rees
T Rhys Thomas
Faao Filise


Well there's confirmation from the blues website. I do hope we can keep Tito involved somehow, he's a bit of a cult hero at the blues and if he's interested should be kept on. Maybe get him involved in the academy, we need retiring players like him who have been successful with the blues be involved with the youngsters.

That being said, he may not retire and be of somewhere else!

wales606 wrote:Cardiff Blues are searching for a new DOR to work above the current coaches

I won't be surprised if this ends up being Dai Young again if Wasps make the drop on go in to administration.

Dr Nick - would the Blues want Dai back, after all the Wasps broke the bank to bring him in and got nowt from him except relegation (if things stay looking as they are).

gcBlues wrote:The following players will be leaving the squad at the end of the season and everyone at the Cardiff Blues would like to thank them for their outstanding contribution to the Blues over a number of years. There will be a special shirt presentation to the players at the end of the match as well as at the evening's awards ceremony.

Ben Blair
Casey Laulala
Dan Parks
Deiniol Jones
Gethin Jenkins
John Yapp
Maama Molitika
Martyn Williams
Paul Tito
Richie Rees
T Rhys Thomas
Faao Filise


Well there's confirmation from the blues website. I do hope we can keep Tito involved somehow, he's a bit of a cult hero at the blues and if he's interested should be kept on. Maybe get him involved in the academy, we need retiring players like him who have been successful with the blues be involved with the youngsters.

That being said, he may not retire and be of somewhere else!

I think Tito must have been forced to retire due to injury, as they were trying to keep him on I think.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Dr Nick - would the Blues want Dai back, after all the Wasps broke the bank to bring him in and got nowt from him except relegation (if things stay looking as they are).

Aye but to be fair to him, the amount of players that have been injured and also retired has been ridiculous. Not to mention the problems at Wasps were there well before he turned up.

But no, he shouldn't come back nor would we particularly want him. Get someone new in, get rid of Laurel & Hardy and bring in the Cheif and Paul John. They're from the region after all and have done good things and deserve a chance. Unfortunately B&B will be with us next season.

Looks like they didn't manage to keep Blair which is going to be a real blow for them next season.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Looks like they didn't manage to keep Blair which is going to be a real blow for them next season.

Yeah, was hoping he would be place kicking when 1/2p is away, with Tovey playing 10.

Also Blair offered so much attacking threat this season (and before he got injured) and was one of the only players to offer an attacking threat, with your poor centres and flyhalves no one else was putting their hands up.

gcBlues wrote:

Ben Blair
Casey Laulala
Dan Parks
Deiniol Jones
Gethin Jenkins
John Yapp
Maama Molitika
Martyn Williams
Paul Tito
Richie Rees
T Rhys Thomas
Faao Filise

Henson and Cuthbert to add to the list.
All in all, a few quid off the wage bill.

Go back to basics and play the Rabo system like Edinburgh are doing or Munster did in the past.

- Keep 1 step ahead of Dragons in the Rabo
- Pile all your resources into Europe
- Use the Rabo to develop more young Welsh players
- Try your hardest to get the crowds into the CCS for the big ERC matches and maybe they will get used to the play for Rabo games.

It is difficult but very achievable.

Good idea - but you forget there's quite a few people who won't step foot in the CCS even if you paid them or if it meant the Blues closure if they didn't

Sminoff I know. I travelled over to watch Munster play Scarlets this year for the ERC and found myeslf in Cardiff on Friday night.

Blues v Edinburgh was on with the winner essentially going to take the pool. I went along with a group of 6 people. . . . none were Cardiff Blues fans.

We paid a middling £10 each to watch the match and the stadium was empty.

As I said it will take a massive effort from Blues marketing but it can be done.

The Blues have got to be looking at playing pretty much every game at the CAP next year, only CCS for HC quarters when they have to (they won't get that far though).

Gowales, are they allowed play in CAP.

If they can, play there DEFINITELY.

If they have to play in CCS then I would be suggesting some of the following:

- Drape massive banners & flags around the stadium to hide the empty seats
- Have a "think pink" game where fans encouraged to wear pink
- Stage a kids blitz before kick off - 4 teams playing for say 20 minutes each. Give each kid playing two tickets for their parents.
- Make presentations in recognition of local club teams who have done well that month at half time.
- Have a dozen or so cheerleads dotted around the stadium who will cheer and shout and try drum people into support.
- Run affiliations where your Cardiff Blues match ticket gets you a free entry to cinema, Cardiff FC or gets you a free pint somewhere.
etc
etc
etc
etc

red_stag wrote:

Drape massive banners & flags around the stadium to hide the empty seats

Funny you mention it, they tried this last season at both ends of the stadium. Probably stopped doing it this season as it cost too much erecting the things.

red_stag wrote:Sminoff I know. I travelled over to watch Munster play Scarlets this year for the ERC and found myeslf in Cardiff on Friday night.

Blues v Edinburgh was on with the winner essentially going to take the pool. I went along with a group of 6 people. . . . none were Cardiff Blues fans.

We paid a middling £10 each to watch the match and the stadium was empty.

As I said it will take a massive effort from Blues marketing but it can be done.

Yeah I went to that game while on here there were quite a few Blues fans saying they weren't going - was a depressing atmosphere fair play

Cardiff Dave wrote:

red_stag wrote:

Drape massive banners & flags around the stadium to hide the empty seats

Funny you mention it, they tried this last season at both ends of the stadium. Probably stopped doing it this season as it cost too much erecting the things.

Couldn't they just chuck them over the seats like they do at the ends at PYS?

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

red_stag wrote:

Drape massive banners & flags around the stadium to hide the empty seats

Funny you mention it, they tried this last season at both ends of the stadium. Probably stopped doing it this season as it cost too much erecting the things.

Couldn't they just chuck them over the seats like they do at the ends at PYS?

They'd have to cover pretty much the whole of the stadium though

red_stag wrote:Gowales, are they allowed play in CAP.

If they can, play there DEFINITELY.

If they have to play in CCS then I would be suggesting some of the following:

- Drape massive banners & flags around the stadium to hide the empty seats
- Have a "think pink" game where fans encouraged to wear pink
- Stage a kids blitz before kick off - 4 teams playing for say 20 minutes each. Give each kid playing two tickets for their parents.
- Make presentations in recognition of local club teams who have done well that month at half time.
- Have a dozen or so cheerleads dotted around the stadium who will cheer and shout and try drum people into support.
- Run affiliations where your Cardiff Blues match ticket gets you a free entry to cinema, Cardiff FC or gets you a free pint somewhere.
etc
etc
etc
etc

I would say they've tried all of your suggestions in some shape or form and more, many times already.
If you're bored enough, and mad enough, have a look through the archives on their website. Over the last 3 seasons they have bent over backwards in an attempt to get bums on seats.

Dave

They have bent over backwards, but flogging a dead horse is still flogging a dead horse!

I've been to the stadium loads of times and it just gets worse and worse, you all know my sneeze story!!

The problem isn't just not getting bums on seats, it's getting bums on CCS seats, 8000 and 9000 flocked to the CAP for Connaught and a weakened Ulster side, no disrespect to those teams but they were nothing games with very few internationals between them.

When I got in the CAP both times people were left outside as the number was restricted, I'd say both gates wouldve been 10k plus!!

Is there a reason they can't just use the Cardiff Arms Park so in that case.

Bums on seats are the priority.