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

First topic message reminder :

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

dragon999 wrote:Dragons back row will be very strong, Waters is a really good seven & will compliment Danny & Toby - Look out for Tom Brown too - surprise package this season in think!!

Totally agree, but then there was nothing wrong with it last season. Danny, Darren and Toby when they're all there, Lewis, Darren and Tom when they're not. Tom Brown was that good when he had his shot last year, a lot of Dragons supporters didn't want Toby to be rushed back. Tom Brown does make some quality breaks.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Not surprised gardiner went to the english championship. The money he was looking for no wwelsh region would consider that for what would be best a third choice TH. What he was paid at quins & scarlets has given him an unrealistic view of what he's worth. But i wish him all the best and hope this move kick starts his career/motivation to improve.

Think darren waters will be a hit next season & surprise a few people how good he actually is.

Talking to some of the lads over the weekend, apparently Gardener had even p!$$ed off the set up at Narbeth due to his issues.

spiderman:

what did he do at narbeth? the guy was given every opportunity at the scarlets. all the resources where handed to him to succeed as a pro player, and he wasted it. the english championship is a high standard, especially the set piece. simon has his work cut out in that league.

there is a press conference tomorrow i believe, easterby might mention more about gardiner's departure. also hopefully might announce more signings. he did say he wanted all his recruitment done by the time the whole squad get together (i believe the 23rd july) so that only leaves this week to finalise the squad.

pioden - the general point people made was his head was in his bum, and his intellect was considerably below par. I really hope that moving away and not being an average sized fish in a puddle of a pond, will help him focus on his game, as he really did seem to be showing real potential.

Also fingers crossed they will be able to confirm all the signings etc. It will be nice to be able to say 'we will be feilding ..... as first chice and ....... as second choice' as opposed to 'the new bloke will be first choice'.

young dragons prop trystan davies has resigned for carmarthen quins:

http://www.carmarthenquinsrfc.co.uk/news/2012/07/13/Quins-Team-Update-July-12th/

also looks like darren daniel is returning from cornish pirates.

So I guess Daniels time at the Pirates did end as successfully as he'd have liked - good signing for the Quins though as he did show some very nice flashes for the Scarlets

priest: think trystan davies and darren daniels will be called upon by the region if there are a few injuries/international period if needed.

looks one of the stumbling blocks for barry davies transfer to LW are the quotas :

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3823_7906046,00.html

I see, I would have thought that there are at least 8 better centres than Daniels already at the Scarlets (off the top of my head JD2, S Williams, Maule, Warren, Owens, Reynolds Owen Williams & Iolo Evans)

Smirnoffpriest wrote:I see, I would have thought that there are at least 8 better centres than Daniels already at the Scarlets (off the top of my head JD2, S Williams, Maule, Warren, Owens, Reynolds Owen Williams & Iolo Evans)

Daniels is a wing, at one time very promising but did not develop.

I thought he played in the centre as well?

darren plays on the wing usually. however he bulked up so much at one point, i could see how he would be mistaken for a centre. but doesn't really have the hands for that position.

I see, my fault then must have got him mixed up with one of the other players we let go around the same time (my memory for names is awful). Cheers though seagulf/pioden

I remember Darren Daniel being seriously rapid - hopefully this 'bulking up' hasn't had a negative impact on his pace. There's no substitute for it, as the old cliche goes.

looks like samson lee has signed a 5 year contract and rob evans a 3 year contract, very positive news for scarlet fans. also interesting reading on the injuries updates.

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/New-Scarlets-signing-Gareth-Owen-sit-opening/story-16553416-detail/story.html

Good spot on that article Pioden. I didn't realise that Owens was that early in his recovery - it's an even bigger risk the Scarlets signing him and he may not be up to full fitness until the 6Ns or just before.

Good news about Stodds, fingers crossed he (and Dale Ford) can get back to the levels he was at before the injury

I thought our Wales internationals would be rested at the start of the season, but from the sounds of this article JD2 and Priestland will be fit for the opener.

Very good news about Lee and Evans though, soon the Scarlets will be the front row powerhouses of Wales!

By the way what happened to the Scarlets press conference that was supposed to take place yesterday? It was rumoured they were going to announce some player signings, and there was a tweet saying the conference had moved to the changing rooms instead. But then nothing!

Also I do not know if any of you have heard on here but Matthew J Watkins is going to be appointed as the new coach of the youth side at the Dragons.

LordDowlais wrote:Also I do not know if any of you have heard on here but Matthew J Watkins is going to be appointed as the new coach of the youth side at the Dragons.

Coaching at the Ospreys you mean.

yes sorry I mean the Ospreys

His name has been mentioned a bit on this thread, but it looks like Ashley Sweet is staying with Ebbw Vale for the now. But it does look like he had some suitors this summer :

"Bristol had a look at the former Wales Under-20s lock while the Scarlets were interested before head coach Nigel Davies made the move to Gloucester"

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/rugby/latest/9820087.Ebbw_Vale_have_high_hopes_for_Sweet/

Risca Rev wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Also I do not know if any of you have heard on here but Matthew J Watkins is going to be appointed as the new coach of the youth side at the Dragons.

Coaching at the Ospreys you mean.

Really? That seems an odd choice, ex-dragon/ex-turk why the Ospreys?

I can only imagine it's because there's no other openings SS.

It'll be interesting to see who the Blues get to coach the backs next season as well

I keep hearing good things about Mike Rayer as a coach, where's he these days?

rayer is at bedford blues, he's done really well with them. think barber will still be there next season as he's seeing out his contract.

Soz I meant in a years time, after his contract runs out

I thought it was mentioned that B & B were exiting the Blues.

5 year contract for Lee? Might it have been more sensible for 2 or 3 years, he may not make the step up (Scott Andrews hasn't). Lee and Rob Evans definitely look as if they have bags of potential though, what a great position the Scarlets are in.

Morg - Burnell has exited but don't think the Blues could agree a end to Baber's contract, so he's staying for a year until his contract runs out.

They could only afford to get rid of one. Burnell was sacked because Davies is a forwards coach, even though Baber is the worse of the two and completely incompetent.

I've heard though that the one thing Baber is competent at is developing young players. Is there any truth to that statement?

Which young players did he develop in his one year? You can't count Robinson, he was developed in the Wales Sevens team.

I thought he was a part of the Blues academy before his "promotion"

Yeah, but I'm just wondering how much involvement with that Baber would have had whilst at the helm of the Blues seniors.

From memory, I think it was Burnell who was the academy coach, I could be wrong though. He might be good with youngsters, but can't coach a backline at LV level, let alone HC.

Ospreys are keen to keep hold of "world class" Humphreys:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Ospreys-keen-Jonathan-Humphreys/story-16559145-detail/story.html

also i believe the north walian prop on trial with the scarlets is simon griffiths. he's 195cm tall and weighs in at 132kg and has been playing for Flyde RFC (Brian Ashtons coach) who play in the National League One. Here's his profile:

http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/201111095069/Latest-News/profile-of-simon-griffiths.html

He's no relation to Cai, is he?

ha could be luckless. they do seem to breed their props big up in north wales...Cai, Eifion Lewis Roberts etc

Impressive stats at 19/20stone and 6ft 3, though could struggle against shorter props.

Do you know how old he is? I couldn't see it on the link you attached, though I'd guess 21 from the info. He seems to have moved around quite a bit and gotten a fair bit of experience.

What side of the scrum does he play?

think he's 23/24 ish and plays LH- so still has plenty of time to learn his trade in the front row. He's only training with the scarlets extended squad at the moment. but who knows if he impresses danny wilson then he might be offered a contract. At the moment he is an electrical engineer and commuting from north wales to lancashire.

It's says something that it's probably easier/just as easy for him to get to Flyde as it is for him to get to Llanelli (though both are a pretty long commute)

If he signs then we'll be building quick a good group of young props, it's such a shame though that we lost Iestyn as they could have learnt a lot off him!

The best news is def that we've got Lee and Rob Evans on long term deals!

According to the sage Twitter it appears Adam Byrnes is going to Russia to play.

So am not sure who we'll be getting to play lock, maybe why there's been no announcement or anything as the management are looking at other targets. I'm assuming Eaton wasn't interested and we won't be signing Carizza because we've already got 1 Argentine player, I haven't heard any other locks linked to us, except Ianto

Smirnoff - maybe we ain't getting anyone else full stop. Just thinking about it we lost three locks (but one was a welsh squad so 2.5 locks), and we have signed 2 locks (plus an accademy player so 2.5 locks). We lost I and R Thomas but have signed up Evans and Lee.

I have a horrible feeling that we are all awaiting signings that are not going to come.

I know what you mean there is that fear - though Mark Davies did promise 2 new signings, another lock and a prop.

And even though we'd signed 2 locks previous to that announcement 1 will be away on international duty until possibily December (so that would be .5 of a lock), which gives us just Timani, Earle and maybe Rawlins (instead of Timani, Day and Welch) which is much weaker, while Evans and Lee will take awhile to develop to play regularly but we have lost Rabo Prop of the Season Iestyn, Rhys T who was pushing for a Wales squad place and Gardiner, so we are definately down there as well.

I can still see us signign two (a TH and a lock) and then maybe Manu will be expected to move across occassionaly to cover R Jones/P John

Smirnoff - we certainly need to make the two signings, and i prey we do, but the lack of news (and all rumours turn up short) looks bad.

I'm going to keep the faith as otherwise it's going to be a long and depressing season...

Iolo Evans was released by the Scarlets at the end of last season. Scarlets have got loads of depth in the backline now so it isn't that surprising. But when i was watching the U20's, out of him and Liam Williams i always felt he was the more promising. He hasn't really played all that much for the Scarlets has he. It would be a shame to see him go to the Welsh prem or even London Welsh for that matter.

Just so people know he hasn't been signed by Welsh (yet), he only played for them in the 7's.

Ospreys could surely do with a powerful back three player...

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/21249.php

gowales wrote:Iolo Evans was released by the Scarlets at the end of last season. Scarlets have got loads of depth in the backline now so it isn't that surprising. But when i was watching the U20's, out of him and Liam Williams i always felt he was the more promising. He hasn't really played all that much for the Scarlets has he. It would be a shame to see him go to the Welsh prem or even London Welsh for that matter.

Just so people know he hasn't been signed by Welsh (yet), he only played for them in the 7's.

Ospreys could surely do with a powerful back three player...

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/21249.php

I watched the 7's highlights and was impressed with Evans, his running passing and distribution gave me the impression of a very good creative centre the type the Dragons could do with.

Iolo doesn't seem to have the out and out pace for a winger. Ultimately i see him making a vey good 13, but unfortunately for him the scarlets are well stocked with centres.

How about fullback? We need all the fullbacks we can get in Wales!

gowales wrote:How about fullback?

We have Li Willaims, Stoddart, Fenby, Newton, J Williams, and Priestland all able to play full fullback

I'm talking about his future position not where he could play for the Scarlets...