Welsh Regions Signings/Departures/Rumours so far (A King and Lion heading to the Scarlets?)

Cardiff Blues

In

Jason Tovey (Newport Gwent Dragons)- Confirmed
Lou Reed (Scarlets) -Confirmed
Robin Copeland (Rotherham Titans)- Confirmed
Benoit Bourrust (Perpignan)- Confirmed
Campese Ma'afu (West Habour)-Confirmed
Andy Kyriacou (Ulster) -Confirmed
Phil Davies DOR (Worcester)- Confirmed
Gerwyn Price (Cross Keys) - Rumour
Rob Lewis (London Welsh)-confirmed





Out

Gethin Jenkins (Toulon) -Confirmed
Martyn Williams -Retiring - Confirmed
Rhys Thomas (Wasps)- Confirmed
Dan Parks (Connacht) Confirmed
Casey Laulala (Munster)- Confirmed
Deiniol Jones -Retiring -Confirmed
Paul Tito- Released - confirmed
Manna Molitika -Retiring- Confirmed
Ben Blair (Agen)- Confirmed
John Yapp (Edinburgh) Confirmed
Richie Rees (Edinburgh)-Confirmed
Ryan Tyrell (Melbourne Rebels)-Confirmed
Xavier Rush (Retiring/Defence Coach) - Confirmed


Scarlet's

In


Lewis Rawlins (Cross Keys) - Confirmed
Barry Davies ( Ospreys) - Rumour
Jason Eaton ( Hurricanes)- Rumour
Adam Byrnes ( Melbourne Rebels) -Rumour
Manuel Carizza (Biarittz)- Rumour
Kristian Phillips (Ospreys) - Confirmed
Davit Zirakashvili (Clermont Auvergne)- Rumour
Danny Wilson (Newport Dragons-forwards coach)- Confirmed
Daniel Carpo (RC Timisoara, Romania) - Rumour
Joe Tuineau (Montpellier) -Rumour
Cambell Johnstoe (Biarritz)- Rumour
George Earle ( Cheetahs) - Confirmed
Simon Easterby (New DOR) - Confirmed
Richard Kelly (Ospreys) - Confirmed
Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys) - Rumour
Gavin Henson (Unattached) - Rumour
Tomas Vallejos Cinalli (Harlequins) - Confirmed
Pat ciliers (Lions) - Rumour
Gareth Owen (Ospreys) - Confirmed

Out

Ben Morgan (Gloucester)- Confirmed
Steven Jones (Wasps)-Confirmed
Dominic Day (Bath) Confirmed
Lou Reed (Cardiff Blues) -Confirmed
Dan Evans ( Dragons) - confirmed
Rhys Thomas Retiring- Confirmed
Iestyn Thomas (Retiring/Dragons forwards coach) - Confirmed
Simon Gardiner- (Rotherham Titan) - Confirmed
Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) -Confirmed
Damien Welch (Exeter Chiefs)- Confirmed
Vernon Cooper (Forwards Coach) - Confirmed
Garin Jenkins (scrummaging Coach) - Confirmed
Nigel Davies (Gloucester -DOR) - Confirmed
Andy Fenby (Newcastle) - Rumour (signed new contract)
Matt Gibert - (Mogliano,Italy) - Confirmed
Liam Davies - Released - Confirmed
Mark Jones (Gloucester - Skills Coach)- Rumour


Newport Gwent Dragons

In

Dan Evan (Scarlets) -Confirmed
Peter Grant (stormers) - Rumour
Tom Prydie (Ospreys)- Confirmed
Iestyn Thomas (forwards coach/scarlets) - Confirmed
Ian Nimmo (Cornish Pirates) -Confirmed
Tim Ryan (Cavalieri Prato) - Confirmed
Rhys Downes (Pontypridd) - Confirmed
Josh Tyler (UWIC) - Confirmed
Stewart Maguire (Connacht) - Rumour
Hywel Stoddart (Newport RFC) - Confirmed

Out

Jason Tovey ( Cardiff Blues)-Confirmed
Aled Brew (Biarritz)- Confirmed
Tom Willis (Retired)- Confirmed
Ben Castle (Retired)- Confirmed
Martyn Thomas (Gloucester) -confirmed
Luke Chateris (Perpignan) -Confirmed
Hugh Gustafson- Released- Not confirmed
Rhys Buckley- Released- Confirmed
Nigel Hall- Retired- Confirmed
Hugo Ellis- Released- Confirmed
James Leadbeater- Released- Confirmed
Mathew Jones (Bristol) -Confirmed
Tom Riley- (Cornish Pirates)- Confirmed
Lloyd Burns- Retired- Confirmed
Danny Wilson (Scarlets) - Confirmed
Gavin Thomas- Retired - Confirmed
Scott Morgan -Released - Confirmed
Trystan Davies (Carmarthen Quins) - Confirmed


Ospreys

In

Steve Tandy (Bridgend RFC)
Sam Lewis (Swansea RFC)
Sam Davies (Swansea RFC)
Shaun Connor ( Dragons - Ospreys Academy Coach)
Jonathan Spratt ( London Irish) - Confirmed


Out

Tommy Bowe (Ulster)- Confirmed
Sean Holley (Released)
Scott Johnson (SRFU)
James Goode (Newcastle Falcons)-Confirmed
Shane Williams (Mitsubishi Dynoboars )-Confimed
Huw Bennett (Lyon) -Confirmed
Nikki Walker (Worcester Warriors) -Confirmed
Dan Bigger (Racing Metro) -Rumour
Cai Griffiths (London Irish) -Confirmed
Barry Davies released - Confirmed
Chauncey O'Toole- Releases - Confirmed
Sonny Parker- (London Welsh) -Confirmed
Mefin Davies- Retiring- Not Confirmed
Tom Prydie (Dragons)- Confirmed
Will Taylor (Wasps)- Confirmed
Kristian Phillips (Scarlets) -Confirmeed
Rory Pitman (South Wales Scorpions)-Confirmed
Paul James (Bath) - Confirmed
Gareth Owen - Released - Confirmed
Stefan Watermeyer- Released - Confirmed
Craig Cross- Released - Confirmed
Dai Flanagan - Released - Confirmed

apologies in advance for any mistakes!

only one mistake I can see really is that you have Dan Evs out for Scarlets not confirmed, but have him in at Dragons, confirmed!

To be fair, it's only really reflecting what we all know in that the regions are all tightening their belts budget wise with the salary cap.

I wish the Scarlets would have some confirmed signings though, if only to cheer me up!

Good list - obviously in something that size there'll be a few discrepancies (such as D Evans leaving Scarlets - Not Confirmed, D Evans joining Dragons - Confirmed), but could thread.

I thought Tito had been given another year contract though and would be staying with the Blues.

Interesting rumour about Cuthbert coming to the Scarlets - where did that originate do you know?

It does look a bit scary when you see the amount of players leaving - but it probably just looks like that as the regions have confirmed early who they want off their books so they can see in the summer how much cash they've got to make new signings.

[quote="rugbydreamer"]only one mistake I can see really is that you have Dan Evs out for Scarlets not confirmed, but have him in at Dragons, confirmed!

To be fair, it's only really reflecting what we all know in that the regions are all tightening their belts budget wise with the salary cap.

I wish the Scarlets would have some confirmed signings though, if only to cheer me up! [quote]

Unless it's Cai Griffiths!

[quote="Smirnoffpriest"][quote="rugbydreamer"]only one mistake I can see really is that you have Dan Evs out for Scarlets not confirmed, but have him in at Dragons, confirmed!

To be fair, it's only really reflecting what we all know in that the regions are all tightening their belts budget wise with the salary cap.

I wish the Scarlets would have some confirmed signings though, if only to cheer me up!

Unless it's Cai Griffiths!

I didn't think of that!

Jason Eaton has just signed up for another 2 year, so we can cross that rumour off the list!

your right we all knew the departures would outweigh the incoming players due to the new salary cap. But I do expect the welsh regions to start signing players soon, even though I don't expect any "marquee" signings.

ah balls, I was really wanting Eaton and his fabulous beard to join with the Scarlets next season. Ah well.

priest:

think cuthberts agent has been busy trying to get the best deal for his client. don't think its anything more than that, and he will eventually resign for the blues

apparently garin jenkins thinks he can do something with cai if he signs for us. only advantage i can see with cai, is that he can play both sides of the scrum.

dreamer:

google "Adam Byrnes Melbourne Rebels" plenty of facial hair there for you!

pioden gorllewin wrote:priest:

think cuthberts agent has been busy trying to get the best deal for his client. don't think its anything more than that, and he will eventually resign for the blues

apparently garin jenkins thinks he can do something with cai if he signs for us. only advantage i can see with cai, is that he can play both sides of the scrum.

Agree about Cuthbert/his agent. Just asked in case it was something more - but would be a silly move all round as we have quite a few wingers and he'd be quite expensive.

By interesting to see if Garin could do something with him, but it's annoying as he'd just got Rhys T up to scratch and he had that terrible condition, and if we sign Cai we'll have to go through probably 2 years of rubbish performances just to get him up to scratch, whereas we need solidity now to get the most out of our backs.

priest:

apparently we are talking to a georgian TH, to be our 1st choice TH for next season. Think Cai would be back up or a "work in progress" - but I'd imagine his wage demands would be a stumbling block.

I'd prefer us to keep Manu than bring in Cai, and then continue to develop Gardiner (and get him to pull his finger out)

Manu hasn't been offered a new contract from us yet. Brad Harrington has his work cut out with Gardiner this summer, if he stays!

pioden gorllewin wrote:Manu hasn't been offered a new contract from us yet. Brad Harrington has his work cut out with Gardiner this summer, if he stays!

Yup there's a fair bit of work to do with him - but I still reckon it's worth it as it's difficult to see a player who did so well last season and showed so much promise suddenly being a player who has no promise or potential now. And it's not as if good, young Welsh TH's are lining up to be picked up by the regions (except for the Samson Lee, but he's a LH isn't he?)

pioden gorllewin wrote:Manu hasn't been offered a new contract from us yet. Brad Harrington has his work cut out with Gardiner this summer, if he stays!

If that is the case I really hope we are looking at more props than are on this list. As losing Manu, I & R Thomas would mean of out first choice match day squad props we will only have Rhodri left. If our pack is meant to be powder puff now I would dread to think what it would be with them gone. Actually, not being disrespectful but with the exception of Ian Evans (and possibly Barry Davies as international cover) there is nothing on the Scarlets list that particularly fills me with hope. I have not really heard too much of the NWQ lads on the list, so hopefully they can turn out to be good, but knowing how NWQ players are its either hit or miss.

Samson Lee is a TH, but not sure how ready he is for regional rugby yet. the same can be said for our u20 international LH rob evans - but sure they'll get some game time in the LV Cup.

Prydie hasn't been confirmed yet has he?

And I can't see Biggar leaving, offers coming in from other clubs isn't the same as rumors of players leaving.

to be fair can't see biggar leaving either - think it was just reported in the rugby paper a few weeks back.

JUst noticed you have Barry Davies down as Barry Williams

Cheers Pioden - agree their probably not ready for regional games yet but if we don't bring in some players then they'll be called on to play a haandful of game each in the Rabo.

I thought Prydie was a confirmed signing for the Dragons, or am I wrong?

It's strange coz when Martyn Thomas went the Dragons said they were signing D Evans and lining up a int class/Big name FB as well

I'm guessing Prydie was the "big name"

Doesn't Peter Grant play for the Stomers? Not sure what time you have down there, his former youth club maybe?

thought peter grant was playing in japan? know he used to be with the stomers.

Unless I was seeing things, he turned out for the Stormers recently.

http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2012/rugby/match/151314.html

Excellent list. It says a lot about Welsh domestic rugby that the only two things (even if you include the rumours and the not confirmeds) of any general interest whatsoever are;

Gethin Jenkins to Toulon and Ben Morgan to Glos.

Hugh Gus is definately not leaving Dragons,he has signed an extention as a Hooker!!!

morgannwg:

he does look like he is playing for the stomers, i'll edit it now.

dragon999:

guess it makes even more sense converting Hugh Gus to hooker, since lloyd burns has retired.

pioden gorllewin wrote:morgannwg:

he does look like he is playing for the stomers, i'll edit it now.

dragon999:

guess it makes even more sense converting Hugh Gus to hooker, since lloyd burns has retired.

Yes,the conversion has been in progress for some time - with Tom Willis,Nigel Hall,Ben Castle & now Burner having to retire from the front row,hope Gus has more luck on the injury front!!!

A couple of possible Ospreys additions:

Ryan Bevington, Ashley Beck and Adam Jones have signed up for another two years each, but I'm not sure if you were including players re-signing for the same clubs this season. Also Sam Lewis and Sam Davies both from Swansea RFC have signed new development contracts with Ospreys senior region for the next three years

I'll pop it in here too. Add Campese Ma'afu to confirmed to the Blues. Does this mean we're still getting Beniot, as that hasnt been announced yet.

Thanks Cari

Ma'afu is a loosehead , so I'd imagine it wouldn't effect Beniot move who is a Tighthead. I hope that if Ma'afu and Beniot do join the Blues it doesn't hinder Andrews & Hobbs progress.

rugbydreamer wrote:only one mistake I can see really is that you have Dan Evs out for Scarlets not confirmed, but have him in at Dragons, confirmed!

To be fair, it's only really reflecting what we all know in that the regions are all tightening their belts budget wise with the salary cap.

I wish the Scarlets would have some confirmed signings though, if only to cheer me up!

I was having a chat with Rob McCusker the other day. The upshot of the conversation was that the scarlets feel they have some fantastic young players coming through moneys tight but if anyone come in its likely to be 1-5

for a split second there, i thought Steve Tandy was coming back to playing...then normal services resumed within the gray matter up-stairs.

according to Scrum V, rumours are Racing Metro have offered Cuthbut £1,000000 over 3 years! They also had talks with Biggar who is apparantly happy at the Ospreys!

from waleonlie:

Cardiff Blues announced the recruitment of Fijian Test prop forward Campese Ma'afu and Rotherham blindside flanker Robin Copeland on two year contracts.

And they are also set to bring in Welsh international second row Lou Reed from the Scarlets, Perpignan tighthead prop Benoit Bourrust and Ulster hooker Andy Kyriacou.

Reed made his Test debut as a replacement against Scotland in February, while the 26-year-old Bourrust has had previous spells with Sale and Biarritz, and Kyriacou, 29, spent five years with Saracens.

So it does look like the Scarlets will be minus two locks next season with dom day & reed leaving.

Not sure what Kyriacou of Ulster is like? Would be good for welsh rugby if the Blues signed someone like Emyr Phillips of the Scarlets. He's a quality player but unfortunately behind two current welsh hookers, and I'd imagine he would be a lot cheaper than Kyriacou.

Not sure why the blues are after Kyriacou.

According to their website they already have 4 hookers in their squad and if they did sign him then that would mean with him and Tyrell they have 2 nwq hookers there.

Are the Blues going for a completely foreign pack next year?

2 foreign hookers, 2 new foreign props (is Falise retiring?), Patterson, Pretorius, Tito, Rush. I think I just need a 7 now and I could do it.

The Blues academy looks like it is bust.

What ever happened to the 6 NWQ players allowed? The blues usually have 10. Maybe why they have failed to produce any support when they are just providing pensions to old foreign players. People want to see local heros.

I for one think that it is disgusting that the Blues are allowed that many NWQ players in their squad, who the feck is Campese Ma'afu ? Is Robin Copeland Welsh ? Why don't they look around their "region" for players ? This side are seriously starting to do my nut in, why don't they just hurry up and go bust, surely Pontypridd have some decent forwards, or any club around the Rhondda. At least then we will have WQ players we know nothing about instead of NWQ player we know absolute bugger all about.

Campese Ma'afu is the Fijian prop who was replaced in the 10 min scrum farce against Wales, top sigining Chuckle Brothers !

Robin Copeland is irish i think, and a direct replacement for Molitika.

LordDowlais wrote:I for one think that it is disgusting that the Blues are allowed that many NWQ players in their squad,

To be fair if looks like there may be a fair few NWQs leaving this season, so that does lower the number of them a bit. Plus the likes of Tito (and Petorious?) don't count as NWQ anymore due to residency.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I for one think that it is disgusting that the Blues are allowed that many NWQ players in their squad,

To be fair if looks like there may be a fair few NWQs leaving this season, so that does lower the number of them a bit. Plus the likes of Tito (and Petorious?) don't count as NWQ anymore due to residency.

Tito has said that he would never play for Wales as he is not Welsh, thus he should count.

The regions have to pay both overseas and Welsh squad players 12 months salary but the Welsh squad players are only available half of the time. It does not make any sense to recruit Welsh squad players and pay them to be away from the region for half of the season.

The current arrangements with the WRU is broke and needs fixing, but first I fear you will have to fix the WRU and that is a big job.

Dowlais - I totally agree with you, but the rules don't agree with us. And if you look at all of the regions there are former NWQs who are now welsh qualified (though they are generally English like Bearman, Pete Edwards etc etc).

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Kristian-Phillips-linked-Scarlets/story-15863967-detail/story.html

Looks like Kristian Phillips is on his way to the Scarlets. Great finisher, but hopefully we can work on his defence. Reasonably happy if this move comes off, depending on what we are paying him.

pioden gorllewin wrote:http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Kristian-Phillips-linked-Scarlets/story-15863967-detail/story.html

Looks like Kristian Phillips is on his way to the Scarlets. Great finisher, but hopefully we can work on his defence. Reasonably happy if this move comes off, depending on what we are paying him.

Would seem the wrong positions for us to strengthen as we have Stoddart, Liam Williams, Newton, Fenby, North, Ionghi, Reynolds, Lee Williams, and even Priestland and R James who can play in the back 3. (I may have missed a few out, and Maule can play on the wing if needed).

Shouldn't we be trying to get a young work-in-progress prop or lock?(or even a 7)

Aye but consider if on form the following: Stodds, Sanjay, North and Rhys could be away with wales.

I personally am not convinced that Reynolds is regional standard, so we could be left with Newton, Fenby, Iongi and Lee bach. That's not a lot of cover there at all. Our backline has so many call ups I think we do need to invest in a bit of squad depth.

What's happened to Rheon James btw? He made a few appearances last season, but not seen anything of him this one.

Guess Kristian Phillips is an out and out winger. With Lamont gone, and North, Liam Williams & Stoddard involved with the Welsh squad - that would only leave us with crazy legs and Iongi as genuine wingers during the international period. Not sure if Lee Williams and Nic Reynolds are being released or not -but your right priest it's a TH and two locks that we desperately need. On the 7 front don't forget Dan Thomas will be getting more game time next season.

dreamer:

Rheon James is still injured i believe, won't be back until next season.

pioden - ah, wasn't sure, diolch for the info.


I just wants some probs and 2nd rows. That's all. Preferably really tough grizzled Georgian ones. I don't ask for much!