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

ITs good to see that this season teams are looking like getting their season of with a bang, and full squads.

That Blues team does indeed look almost full strength and definately stronger that anything they feilded last september.

Yeh, sorry Wales606, Watts-Jones. Looking forward to seeing him play this season. He played against Gloucester on the 18th, and apparently put in a brilliant performance.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19360155

Chris Czekaj is out injured for 3 months.

So Dan Fish is now are only FB while 1/2p is away. Making me more upset that we lost Ben Blair. Youngsters; Fish, Williams and Robinson will need to step up this season as we are hemorrhaging back 3 players since last season.

wales606 wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19360155

Chris Czekaj is out injured for 3 months.

So Dan Fish is now are only FB while 1/2p is away. Making me more upset that we lost Ben Blair. Youngsters; Fish, Williams and Robinson will need to step up this season as we are hemorrhaging back 3 players since last season.

Tovey can play fullback. Havent seen him get much time at flyhalf yet so I guess he is your solution.

But then you've only got Sweeney and Patchell at 10!

Smirnoffpriest wrote:But then you've only got Sweeney and Patchell at 10!

Catch 22 or 43 or however many are in the squad

Tovey will be at 10.

Tom Williams played 15 in one of the pre-season games.

Tovey is at ten for this weekend apparently?

wales606 wrote:

Starting XV:
15. Leigh Halfpenny 14. Alex Cuthbert 13. Cory Allen 12. Rhys Patchell 11. Harry Robinson 10. Jason Tovey 9. Lloyd Williams

8. Andries Pretorius 7. Sam Warburton 6. Rory Watts-Jones 5. Lou Reed 4. Bradley Davies 3. Taufa'ao Filise 2. Andi Kyriacou 1. Nathan Trevett

Substitutes:
Dan Fish, Adam Thomas, Gareth Davies, Tom Williams, Lewis Jones, Luke Hamilton, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi, Robin Copeland, Macauley Cook, Scott Andrews, Rhys Williams, Tom Davies

.

yep

and no Sweeney on the bench! unless he's injured.

Looks like a good backline fair player

Good team..!

Looking forward to this. I'm heading to the game with some friends. First of the new season. Can't wait.

Glad to see so many internationals selected.

Maesteg

I'm with you, really excited to get to bath tonight! Not been to the rec for years, and Cuthbert Robinson 1/2p should go well, looking forward to Patchell Allen in the centres too. The big excitement though is how the lock and back row go.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Maesteg

I'm with you, really excited to get to bath tonight! Not been to the rec for years, and Cuthbert Robinson 1/2p should go well, looking forward to Patchell Allen in the centres too. The big excitement though is how the lock and back row go.

I thought people would be keen to see how Tovey goes, and how he gets the backline going?

Tovey Ive seen plenty of, and in all honesty if the back row, or centre pairing struggle it really won't matter what he does.

See I'm not a '10 is king' type guy, he can only provide whats given to him, and if he does the basics well enough the backling can work around him. 1/2p will provide the kicking options from deep, and Tovey shouldn't be using the boot much in attack.

The lock partnership will be very interesting, the set peice is a sore spot for us, the front row only consist of 1 of the new signings and 2 'journeymen' types, nothing to see there. The back row will be strong with a new face, proven 9,10 combo and back 3 with 2 youngsters at centre.

For me Allen is a great prospect. Really excited to see him.

Obviously the Tovey Williams axis too.

Your right about the back five. Let's hope they do better than the Ospreys.

True what you say Bluesman, as you say behind a retreating scrum Tovey won't do anything - but 10 has been a point of contention for the Blues fans for ages.

I hope Allen can really come along this season, he has loads of potential. Why isn't Owen Williams on bench/in the team - I would have thought that he would have been fighting for one of the centre spots behind Roberts, with the likes of Allen, Evans, Hewitt and Patchell.

Dont think he's ready yet, Allen is on the verge and should have a decent league campaign, well unless Evans rules (AAARRRRGGGHHH)

Fillise can hold his own, but Trevett (lord help me) isnt any good at all, and not seen Kryciou (?) enough.

Reed and Davies I'm hoping carry the pack though, and with Pretorious theyre going to have to, Warbs and co won't help too much ball in hand.

Looks like a weak front row. Bath were quite competitive at the scrum last week

Fillise will be ok, Trevett though...

But at least Davies has a stronger guy next to him, Reed will help more the Cook and Downs could at present.

Do you know who the ref is?

No not yet. you?

Also havnt seen the bath lineup, any good?

15. Nick Abendanon; 14. Tom Biggs, 13. Dan Hipkiss, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Kyle Eastmond; 10. Olly Barkley, 9. Michael Claassens; 1. Paul James, 2. Lee Mears, 3. David Wilson, 4. Stuart Hooper ( c ), 5. Dominic Day, 6. Carl Fearns, 7. Francois Louw, 8. Ben Skirving

Replacements

16. Ross Batty, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Kane Palma-Newport, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Will Skuse, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Ollie Devoto, 23. Olly Woodburn, 24. Jack Cuthbert

Smirnoffpriest wrote:True what you say Bluesman, as you say behind a retreating scrum Tovey won't do anything - but 10 has been a point of contention for the Blues fans for ages.

I hope Allen can really come along this season, he has loads of potential. Why isn't Owen Williams on bench/in the team - I would have thought that he would have been fighting for one of the centre spots behind Roberts, with the likes of Allen, Evans, Hewitt and Patchell.

Owen Williams got injured in the pre-season game last week.

I wish this game was televised, some exciting combinations.

Patchell and Allen being the one to watch

Then there is L.Williams - Tovey

How will the lineout fair without Tito and Paterson? - Warbs, Davies and Pretorious will have to take over - and Kyriacau will have to throw straight.

The back3 are class, but we will still have to see how much Robinson can do.

Pity Bourrust is out, with him and Filise proping we might have seen some parity. Sam Hobbs hasn't been involved yet this preseason which is another blow.


Injury list before the season even starts

Jamie Roberts
Chris Czekaj
Owen Williams
Michael Paterson
Richard Mustoe ?
Sam Hobbs ?
Kristian Dacey ??

maestegmafia wrote:1. Paul James, 2. Lee Mears, 3. David Wilson

Uh oh...

Fairly strong Bath lineup, but its those 3 i'm most worried about.

Ye front row is gonna hurt!

The bath back row are going to have to have a good day though to handle Warbs.

A lot of experience in the bath midfeild though, tough day for the Cardiff pair.

I like the look of the bath back 3, but in all honesty we should contain them.

I'm going to have to go against my previous statement and I think Tovey's going to be quite important, Barkley is lacking at 10 IMO but bananaman will test the 10 channel.

Little more worried after seeing the Bath lineup.

You can now buy tickets for the first home game against Edinburgh on 7th Sept.

Just getting mine online now. Who else is going? Are we expecting a big turnout?

I walk past the Arms Park every day for work, and it's looking good. Seen the new signs up and they've put up new signs around the ticket office as well. All very exciting...

Having already played the Cheetahs, Worcester and Gloucester the Blues now face Bath at the Rec ahead of their opening match in the RaboDirect PRO12.
The Blues welcome back Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Lloyd Williams, Sam Warburton and Bradley Davies from international duty, with Harry Robinson having played last week against Gloucester.

Speaking of the match Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby Phil Davies said,

"Obviously disappointed to have lost to a strong Gloucester side but I'm delighted with the effort put in by the players and we scored a nice try."

"We are starting to see the work that is being done on the training field on the pitch on match days."

"We've played teams with big packs and experienced teams so the players will learn from that."

"We have a full squad to pick from and then the international players will be able to play from week two and three of the RaboDirect."

Firmly in the category of 'off field update' - Phil Davies in an interview on Sport Wales confirms that they are working hard to develop a culture, and the Blues jersey is 'front and centre' of all that.

Bath 26 - 8 Cardiff Blues (unconfirmed final score)

Blues try from Cuthbert

Oh dear, oh dear...

Blues beaten at Bath
Bath Rugby 26 Cardiff Blues 8
Friday 24 August 7.30pm kick off
With the rain lashing at the Rec it wasn't the best of conditions for open rugby. Barkley missed an early attempt at goal but the home side was dominating the opening quarter, gaining good territory through the boot of Barkley, with the Blues failing to get out of their own half. Eventually they got on the scoreboard with a straightforward penalty after the Blues drifted offside.

Bath extended their lead after an extended period of pressure in the Blues twenty-two. Tovey's clearance was charged down which allowed the Bath forwards and backs to combine well before Tom Biggs came into the line and fed Fearns who put Barkley in to score. The outside half also added the extras.

The Blues got back in it through Cuthbert. Bath looked to spread the ball just inside their own half but Wilson fumbled the ball and Cuthbert hacked ahead. The big winger had enough speed to beat Biggs to the line and touch down. Tovey was wide with the conversion.

Bath Rugby 10 Cardiff Blues 5

The Blues made a couple of changes in the backs early in the second half with Davies coming on for Tovey and Adam Thomas making his debut at centre, coming on for Patchell.

Naturally in a pre season game there was no urgency on the pitch and the match lost any momentum that had been built in the first half.

Davies slotted a penalty in front of the posts after Bath were caught offside to bring the gap to two points at 10-8 but Barkley was again equal to the task with an equally simple effort in front of the posts.

Barkley soon after extended the lead to 19-8 with a long distance effort and a simpler one in front of the posts. Bath were beginning to turn the screw and the match was finished in the 70th minute. The home side spread the ball right to Eastmond who showed great pace before flipping the ball inside to Jack Cuthbert to finish the move in the corner. Barkley again added the extras to crown a fine individual performance and bring the final score to 26-8.

Cardiff Blues 15. Leigh Halfpenny (50off) 14. Alex Cuthbert (76off) 13. Cory Allen 12. Rhys Patchell (40off) 11. Harry Robinson 10. Jason Tovey (45off) 9. Lloyd Williams (72off)

8. Andries Pretorius (c) (62off) 7. Sam Warburton 6. Rory Watts-Jones (62off) 5. Lou Reed 4. Bradley Davies 3. Taufa'ao Filise (75off) 2. Andi Kyriacou (70off) 1. Nathan Trevett (70off)

16 Rhys Williams (70off) 17 Tom Davies (70on) 18 Scott Andrews (75on) 19 Macauley Cook (62on) 20 Thomas Young 21 Lewis Jones (72on) 22 Gareth Davies (45on) 23 Tom Williams (76on) 24 Adam Thomas (40on) 25 Josh Navidi 26 Robin Copeland 27 Luke Hamilton (62on) 28 Dan Fish (50on)


Bath Rugby 15. Nick Abendanon; 14. Tom Biggs, 13. Dan Hipkiss, 12. Matt Banahan, 11. Kyle Eastmond; 10. Olly Barkley, 9. Michael Claassens;

1. Paul James, 2. Lee Mears, 3. David Wilson, 4. Stuart Hooper ( c ), 5. Dominic Day, 6. Carl Fearns, 7. Francois Louw, 8. Ben Skirving

16. Ross Batty, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Kane Palma-Newport, 19. Dave Attwood, 20. Will Skuse, 21. Chris Cook, 22. Ollie Devoto, 23. Olly Woodburn, 24. Jack Cuthbert

Cardiff Blues
Tries Cuthbert x 1
Pens Davies x 1
Con
D/G

Bath Rugby
Tries Barkley x 1 Cuthbert x 1
Pen Barkley x 4
Con Barkley x 2
D/G

Not a great evening of rugby really. Wet miserable and too many changes.

wales606 wrote:Bath 26 - 8 Cardiff Blues (unconfirmed final score)

Blues try from Cuthbert

Oh dear, oh dear...

It was a "friendly" after 3 years of millions upon millions of pounds being wasted on a failed property venture.
We're back home at CAP, so rejoice win or lose.
The rebuilding starts now and give it 3 years before we're up there.

just a question why wasnt halfpenny kicking?

Lack of practise I guess (he said he has not been practising while on holiday for once), and partly to give Tovey a chance as he will have to kick while 1/2p is away with Wales.

I wondered what Jase Tovey had done wrong, to be a bit apologetic in twitter. Guess the charge down is what it was.

Blwdi BBC

Cardiff Blues winless going into new season
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19376653


BBC Sport - Phil Davies wins first game with Cardiff Blues
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/19137035

Now research can be a difficult thing, chasing old results to find who won what and who didn't win a thing...! But when you write an article one week about Phil Davis' Blues winning their first game of the season, then two weeks later forget that you wrote it, you're a blithering idiot...

C'mon BBC, how about spending a few more quid on a decent Online Sports Editor

Hahahaha,

Muppets.

I swear they just get the football guys to write the rugby section sometimes.

Always good to do a tiny bit of research before publishing an article.

I really hope we see some of the Blues of 2008/09 return this season.

http://www.rugbydump.com/2008/10/721/cardiff-blues-beat-gloucester-at-the-millenium

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7996656.stm


We used to be able to score tries like the Scarlets.

Watching the Blues from the time, Ben Blair was always such a threat, probably the most underrated FB in club rugby - in 2008 he must have been one of the best around, 90% goal kicking and one of the most dangerous attackers. Makes me really wish the Blues had taken the gamble on his fitness this year. Not even Halfpenny can make up for it, his try scoring at FB is not the same as Blairs, or what Halfpenny was doing on the wing in '08.

The offloading and support play in 08 was incredible.

I hope we can see it again, but without Robinson, Blair and most importantly Shanklin, we might not see that team again for some time. Gavin Evans and Daffydd Hewitt will never rival the dynamism Roberts-Shanklin provided for that one season before Roberts became a Lions star and forgot about the region and Shanklin got injured and became a shadow for a couple of years before his retirement.

Hopefully we will get a season or two out of Allen, Patchell and Tovey - before they get injured or called up by Wales. Pity we didn't get that out of Cuthbert, I expect some second season syndrome on the regional stage for him this year - no 10 tries.

Looks like we will struggle in Connacht

No Bradley Davies, Warburton, Roberts, Cuthbert, Halfpenny due to conditioning for the internationals

Tovey is ill, Patchell is injured, Bourrust may still be injured.

Not to mention the injured from the weeks before - no Czekaj, Owen Williams, Paterson, Mustoe, Hobbs.

And apparently Campese Ma'afu is spending time with the RFC side because he is unfit.


Possible team for saturday.

1. Fau Filise
2. Andy Kyricau
3. Scott Andrews
4. James Down
5. McCauley Cook
6. Rory-Watts Jones
7. Josh Navidi
8. Andries Pretorious
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Ceri Sweeney
11. Harry Robinson
12. Daffydd Hewitt (if fit, possibly Cory Allen with not Patchell)
13. Gavin Evans
14. Tom James (? - Tom Williams)
15. Dan Fish

16. Rhys Williams
17. ??? Umm Trevett?
18. ??? A prop from somewhere...
19. Cory Hill (though he hasn't played much ?)
20. Robin Copeland
21. Rob Lewis/Lewis Jones
22. ??? Gareth Davies
23. Tom Williams/Cory Allen/Whoever isn't busy on Saturday from CRFC)

Cardiff Blues kick off their RaboDirect campaign against Connacht in Galway this Saturday
CONNACHT v CARDIFF BLUES
Saturday 1 September 5pm at Sportsground

Something has to give in the west of Ireland as both Connacht and Cardiff Blues have begun with an opening weekend victory for the past two seasons.

The Blues have a good record against the Irish province, having only lost once to them since 2005: 18-16 at the Galway Sportsground on 18 September 2009.

Connacht, however, achieved their highest tournament finishing position last season (8th), and won three of their last four games and have lost only one of their last six matches at the Sportsground: 16-20 to Munster in March.

Speaking ahead of the match Cardiff Blues Director of Rugby, Phil Davies said,

"We are looking forward to the start of the season, after a pretty gruelling pre season in many ways, the players have worked very hard to be fair to them."

"The fitness standards that are needed for regional rugby are high and the players have all worked to achieve that standard."

"Connacht are a pretty solid team and Dan Parks is now there."

"I'm not sure if Dan is playing as he has suffered an injury but they have a pretty-workmen-like team and I have had experience myself over there with the Scarlets."

"So I know how tough they are there and we are expecting a tough game."

"A lot of work has been carried out over the summer to improve all our team system and hopefully that focus will be there Saturday and then there for the next 21 games after that."

"We have about nine players out injured now with Czekaj added to the list."

"Rhys Patchell is out injured with a bang on the shoulder from last week against Bath."

"He has done exceptionally well for a young man and Jason Tovey has been unwell all week."

"Michael Paterson is out with a shoulder injury and Scott Andrews is out with a knee injury but should be back next week ."

"We are also missing Ryan Harford, Sam Hobbs and Cooper-Woodlley from the front row."

"Dafydd Hewitt is also out injured for this week but he is back training and should be ok for next week."

"The international players have a specific training programme so we are missing a number of them."

"We started training with one set of boys and that is the difference with the RaboDirect PRO12 to the English Premiership, the international players come back later than the initial squad."

"The first squad we had back on June 11 worked through a conditioning block a recover block and rugby block."

"The internationals and some of the Under 20s are doing the same."

"Following their conditioning block and recovery block they will be available on Monday until the Autumn internationals, so we have them for the next 8 games after this first game."

"As of Monday we have almost a full squad to pick from which is great, it's trying to get them all fit and fighting to play each week."

"As much as you want every player to play each game, you have to pick your best players and the best combinations."

"At the moment is we have four fit props out of nine."

"We have Tom Davies who is a young player but he is also a Welsh lose head in the future, I have no doubt."

"Then we have Andi Kyriacou and Fau Filise with him who are experienced."

"Robin Copeland is making his debut with us but he has plenty of experience in the English Championship but James Down is with him who has experience."

"Rory Watt-Jones is making his debut and Josh Navidi and Andries Pretorius both have experience in the RaboDirect."

"In the back Ceri Sweeney, Tom James and Gavin Evans are experienced and Dan Fish has been around for a few years now and this is a great opportunity for him to stand up and perform and do well for us. "

"I am confident we can go out and play well on Saturday and gain a result which is the most important thing."

15. Dan Fish 14. Harry Robinson 13.Gavin Evans 12. Gareth Davies 11. Tom James 10. Ceri Sweeney 9. Lewis Jones

8. Andries Pretorius (c) 7. Josh Navidi 6. Rory Watts- Jones 5. James Down 4. Robin Copeland 3. Taufa'ao Filise 2. Andi Kyriacou 1. Thomas Davies

16. Rhys Williams 17. Beniot Borrust 18. Nathan Trevett 19. Lou Reed 20. Luke Hamilton 21. Lloyd Williams 22. Cory Allen 23. Tom Williams 24. Owen Williams

A pretty weak team to be honest, there could be a real chance of these guys losing out in Connacht.

Who is Thomas Davies? Is Andrews injured? Suprised they've gone for Copeland instead of Reed and Gareth Davies instead of Owen Williams. Think they could come a croper against Parks' new side

4 backs on the bench is very odd.

Thomas Davies is an academy prop I think - cant be much worse than Trevett.

Bourrust must no be 100% otherwise im sure he would have started with Filise at LHP.

Andrews is injured I think.

Not sure why Copeland is being considered at lock, Reed should be starting - but it could just be a rotation issue from the preseason, as Copeland didn't play much in the last 2 games.

Cory Allen should be starting over Davies!

...

All in all, a pretty awful team, it could come down to how Watts-Jones does on his first league start and what the combination of Watts-Jones, Navidi and Pretorious can pull out along with the as usual, fairly decent locks - and the bench replacements Reed and Hamilton.

Maybe they have the 4 backs on the bench because there are injury concerns? That's what it usually is

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy (capt), 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Mata Fifita, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 John Muldoon, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Rodney Ah You, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 David Moore, 22 Matthew Jarvis, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

.......................................

Dan Parks isn't fit.

Wales U20 international Jarvis managed to make the bench, which doesn't scare me at all - even Sweeney could dominate him comfortably. Not sure about many of the other Connacht players, no real stars that I can see - so its going to come down to how they play together at home, and who is more prepared for the new season.

Im a little more confident after seeing that Connacht team...

gowales wrote:Maybe they have the 4 backs on the bench because there are injury concerns? That's what it usually is

Ah, yes, didn't notice it went to 24.

Not sure who the injury concern is, Owen Williams is a backup for any of any the centres or wingers. Losing Davies wouldn't be too concerning, but losing Evans, James or Robinson would.

Davies does seem determined to play an extra FH at 12. Without Patchell he goes to CRFC FH Davies. I really hope that doesn't last, we have two Welsh U20 centres in Williams and Allen who are both a lot better centres than Gareth Davies.

It does mean that I am not expecting to see a lot more of Rhys Patchell this season than I was expecting - he could shift to the 10 position aswell, we could finally have a Cardiff 10 at the Blues! Hopefully we will get to see a Tovey - Patchell - Allen combination at some point this season (probably best attacking midifeld since Robinson - Roberts - Shanklin)