Dragons signings - any info?

First topic message reminder :

There's rumours going around about Tom Prydie, dan Evans, Manu, Daniol Jones plus a few South Africans like Peter Grant. Can anyone confirm if there's any truth in this?
Also where's R.Rees off to, he'd be a welcome addition to the squad.

Looking at the players leaving we are in desperate need of a 2 locks and a quality 15.
People have had a winge that we may be signing an experienced 10 even though we have the highly talented Steffan Jones and Lewis Roblin but if one gets injured (Steffan has just done his ankle) then we are very short of quality. It's a long season and I'm sure they will still get plenty of game time. They will learn a lot from someone like Grant.

Any info would be appreciated.

I'm sure.

I think the Georgians are just very passionate about their country. A number of their overseas players (or all of them) declared their intentions to go home and fight when they were last on the brink of war with Russia.

In the Argus today Darren Edwards intimates that Amos may switch to 13 in the long run if he can fill out a bit.

Hughes is our best 13 at the moment though, we've not seen enough of him this season while we try and get the runt of the Tuilagi litter up to speed.

What about terbanche (so) south African full backcurrently at Ulster? Was only short term injury replacement, will be a free agent. Only thing against him is his age, but he's be playing brilliantly for us and could give the dragons year, if they could convince him they are worth him not hanging up his boots for.

We got Dixon coming through as a 13 I thought.

I hope Amos becomes a fullback, we need him there for Wales

what happened to jamie smith the irish fullback you signed from ulster? does he have another year left on his contract?

gowales wrote:I hope Amos becomes a fullback, we need him there for Wales

Why do Wales need another FB? They have Halfpenny, Stoddard, Liam Williams and Byrne as well as a few others and some youngsters like Prydie who may make the grade

what happened to jamie smith the irish fullback you signed from ulster? does he have another year left on his contract?

He's suffered 2 bad injuries. Got back to full fitness, playing for Newport then had another bad injury. Difficult to tell how well he will fit in until he can get a run of games.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

gowales wrote:I hope Amos becomes a fullback, we need him there for Wales

Why do Wales need another FB? They have Halfpenny, Stoddard, Liam Williams and Byrne as well as a few others and some youngsters like Prydie who may make the grade

Not sure about Halfpenny as fulback, i think we can find a better option there. Stoddard has just had a horrendous inury, he may never be the same player again and he was never a international fullback. Not overly keen about Liam Williams as an international fullback, he will have to work on a lot of aspects in his game. Byrne is playing very well but he won't be around for much longer. Prydie and then... not much else. Martyn Thomas?

gowales wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

gowales wrote:I hope Amos becomes a fullback, we need him there for Wales

Why do Wales need another FB? They have Halfpenny, Stoddard, Liam Williams and Byrne as well as a few others and some youngsters like Prydie who may make the grade

Not sure about Halfpenny as fulback, i think we can find a better option there. Stoddard has just had a horrendous inury, he may never be the same player again and he was never a international fullback. Not overly keen about Liam Williams as an international fullback, he will have to work on a lot of aspects in his game. Byrne is playing very well but he won't be around for much longer. Prydie and then... not much else. Martyn Thomas?

Really? Halfpenny proved himself our best FB by far during the WC and was on of our stand out players during the GS - Stoddard was looking very good before his injury in a Wales shirt and looked our next best bet, though of course like you say he may not get back to the same standard he does have time on his side.
Liam Williams has been one of the form FB/Wings out of the regions this season - and although I haven't seen him much Byrne is meant to be playing well and is a good option for the next 2 years. Then on top of these we've got Prydie (if he develops), Thomas is a decent option (though maybe not my preference unless he continues to improve) & Priestland if needed - that's a pretty good selection compared to other positions

Halfpenny is a class act. I think players should be allowed to develop in the position that best suits them. In Wales, we can never have too much cover, with only 4 regions
On the Dragons. Well we now definitely need a hooker. We are in desperate need of 2 looks also. In so many hames this season, you look at our backs and think if we can get enough ball, we'll put the opposition away. Unfortunately we haven't competed up front for a few seasons now and you'll never be successful without a solid platform.
Next season will be so close between the regions. I fancy the Scarlets to be the strongest and then not a lot between the other 3, with possibly the Blues the weakest. The Seagons won't compete in the Amlin. The other 3 won't compete in the Heineken and at best 1 team in the Rabies play off.
It's gonna be desperate.