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

I still think centre is his best position - I can't see why the Blues wouldn't take a punt on him, or the Dragons for that matter.

I always liked him at the Scarlets, didn't realise he'd gone but then we do have a lot of centres (and now wingers) at the Scarlets

Ah, sorry. I was trying to justify him not being kept.

I think to be honest he should stick to being a winger/outside centre, that is where he seems best suited, and there is no point in a player trying to move to where the national side think he may be able to plug a gap. By doing that you just end up with more players ending up like Matthew Watkins (moved from 12 to 13 to 14 to 15 for WRU) or Hook or Henson, that are good cover but not really knowing where they play.

Oh my bad i thought that's where he played his youth rugby

Spoke to a few scarlets players this week, and they seem to think its unlikely we sign any more players. But also acknowledge they need another TH. Welsh media think we are in advanced talks with an international lock. So who knows, its a waiting game.

That would be a massive blow if we don't sign another prop, especially a HEC class TH as has been touted. That takes us from having high hopes of taking on most teams in the Rabo and maybe even Europe (except maybe the Top 6 teams) to looking like we're going to have another disappointing season struggling on the back foot with poor ball for our backs and struggling to compete with the best, hoping to scrape into the Playoffs

Danny Wilson confirms the region is in negotiations to add a second row and tight-head prop to their ranks ahead of the coming campaign.

"We are in discussions for both positions at the moment," said Wilson.

"What is important is that we make the right signings and not make a signing that is criticised because it is rushed or could be the wrong signing.

"It is important to make it clear that at tight-head there is very little out there on the market that will be a positive signing.

"We have done a lot of research in both positions and will make a decision as and when we are ready."

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-new-boy-George-Earle-set-physical/story-16589441-detail/story.html

Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

What is the availability on Craig Mitchell ?

LordDowlais wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

What is the availability on Craig Mitchell ?

He's signed a two year deal with Exeter starting in Sept 2011. I think he'll go back to the O's once Adam J has retired.

It'll probably be an ITM cup or Currie cup player in all honesty.

gowales wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

What is the availability on Craig Mitchell ?

He's signed a two year deal with Exeter starting in Sept 2011. I think he'll go back to the O's once Adam J has retired.

Adam Jones has just signed a two year contract with the Ospreys so I do not think he will be retiring soon, perhaps when he is 35/36 years old. That is not for another 4 or 5 years.

LordDowlais wrote:

gowales wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

What is the availability on Craig Mitchell ?

He's signed a two year deal with Exeter starting in Sept 2011. I think he'll go back to the O's once Adam J has retired.

Adam Jones has just signed a two year contract with the Ospreys so I do not think he will be retiring soon, perhaps when he is 35/36 years old. That is not for another 4 or 5 years.

Hmmm... good point! Can't see him going to the Scarlets though, and unless the WRU offer top up contracts what would be in it for the Scarlets. He'd be away with Wales all year and would cost quite a lot being a tight head prop an all.

gowales wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

gowales wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Seems similar to what Mark Davies said about a month ago. I hope they do pull out the stops and get a good TH and lock in (Cilliers please!) as if we do then we could be a real threat to any team and can challenge for silverwear - if not then it'll be another struggle on the back foot.

Cheers for the link GoWales

What is the availability on Craig Mitchell ?

He's signed a two year deal with Exeter starting in Sept 2011. I think he'll go back to the O's once Adam J has retired.

Adam Jones has just signed a two year contract with the Ospreys so I do not think he will be retiring soon, perhaps when he is 35/36 years old. That is not for another 4 or 5 years.

Hmmm... good point! Can't see him going to the Scarlets though, and unless the WRU offer top up contracts what would be in it for the Scarlets. He'd be away with Wales all year and would cost quite a lot being a tight head prop an all.

Apparently, don't quote me on this, he is only on 30k a year at Exeter, so he is affordable and if he wants to do his international chances any good he will have to look at coming back to Wales, also he is a West Wallian isn't he ?

Spoke to someone in the coaching set up this morning. Pat cillers deal still possibility if lions lose franchies. Alternative sa in pipleline too if cillers deal falls through. Jason eaton pulled out of deal not cause of money but cause all blacks put him on standby. Another lock also possibility. Pretty positive really.

30k is just over a development contract ( I remember one of the Dragons/Scarlets players - Gilbert? - saying he was on 22k for the region and that he could earn more being a professional). Mitchell, and international TH prop must be on more than that, at the very least 3 or 4 times that

I was at a gentlemans evening at the time when Craig announced that he was leaving the Ospreys and he had just broke into the Welsh team, I said to acertain individual that will remain nameless that he must be mad moving out of Wales and to Exeter of all places as they had only just been promoted. I was then told that he could only get a development contract in Wales and Exeter had offered him a few quid more than what he could get here. That was then though, so I do not know if he has had any pay rises since or bonuses for qualifing for HC but I do know for certain he was getting paid around the 30k mark.

Lord - When Mitchell left the Ospreys he was just becoming a fully fledged player and was most likely still on his developement contract. The same as the Scarlets have tied Samson Lee down for five years (on I assume a low-ish wage), and in four years he will most likely be on less than people would expect. Also I know that when Shingler went to London Irish he was on something like £40k for his first season and then on more when his second season rolled around. I would assume even if Mitchell went for penuts he is on decent coin now.

When his contract is up with Exeter, he will be worth a lot more. Tight-head props are a rare commodity in world rugby.

Good ones, anyway!

Yeah poor ones seem ten a penny

Any new signings or movements?

Seems like all is going quiet as the new season approaches

Maes: on scarlets front still chasing pat cilliers from the lions. It all depends on the lions keeping their status in super 15. Also saru are trying hard to keep him in sa. Excellent TH so scarlets willing to wait to see outcome of lions/kings fiasco. Scarlets also in negotiations with another SA prop. Also speaking to other locks since jason eaton deciding to.stay in NZ. He agreed in principle to join us however when all blacks put him on standby - he decided to stay in NZ to fight for the all black jersey. Who knows that might change. Spoke to barry davies last week and he's still looking for club since london welsh move fell through. His back up plan is to sign for carm quins and be cover for Scarlets. Apart from scarlets region newport rfc have signed SA hard running centre.

Surprised to hear that Davies move to LW went pear shaped real shame as he is and always has been a quality player.

Sounds like a sensible move to Quins and Scarlets though.

Good luck with the Saffa reinforcements, though I must say I'm excited to see what a front row of Jones, Owens and Lee could do despite their young age.

Think the Davies deal apparently fell through because of the number of NEQ players on LW's books.

Not sure how many chances Davies would get at the Scarlets with Stodds, Liam, Owen, Fenby and Ionghi all able to play fullback and already in the first team, though he would be a very good option.

My parents said they saw Emyr Phillips outside PyS and he had his wrist supported in a sling and looked in pain - hope he's not too badly hurt.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Think the Davies deal apparently fell through because of the number of NEQ players on LW's books.

Not sure how many chances Davies would get at the Scarlets with Stodds, Liam, Owen, Fenby and Ionghi all able to play fullback and already in the first team, though he would be a very good option.

My parents said they saw Emyr Phillips outside PyS and he had his wrist supported in a sling and looked in pain - hope he's not too badly hurt.

Never nice to see a promising talent injured, especially at the start of the season.

Yeah, fingers crossed it's nothing but a little bang in training and he's just resting it as a precaution - we should find out soon if it's any more.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Yeah, fingers crossed it's nothing but a little bang in training and he's just resting it as a precaution - we should find out soon if it's any more.

I remember seeing Ian Evans after the Saracens loss at the liberty in a cast up to his knee. Obviously I thought he would be out for six months but it was all precautionary and he was back later that week.

I hope so, he's turning into a very good player - am not sure how we're going to juggle the improving Owens, Phillips and Myhill while throwing Rees into the mix as well.

Same issue in the backs, JD2, Scott Williams, Adam Warren all very classy players, plus Gareth Maule...

Maybe scarlets should loan one of their hookers to the Dragons?

Smiler and owens will be away with team wales a fair bit next season. So phillips and myhill will see a fair bit of game time. Spoke to ken last week, and although it was only his 2nd day training with the scarlets. He said he was impressed with wilsons coaching. Maes on the centres front dont forget reynolds too, somethings telling me this might be his breakthrough season. Former wales under 20 rheon james is back from injury too. But will probably spend time in the premiership getting some game time.

And we could have Owen in the centre (though not sure when he'll be fit).

I was speaking to my cousin-in-law, Jason Lewis and he reckoned that while Garin Jenkins was a good motivator, Danny Wilson was a very good technical coach and was very good at improving the technical skills of the players.

Plenty of quality back up..

What do you guys think the first team will look like?

The pack we won't know until recruitment is done but the backs (even with the competition is quite straight forward)

Knoyle
Priestland
Fenby (until Stodds is fit)
JD2/S Williams
Maule(I think Maule controversially but will prob be Williams) / Warren
North
L Williams

We'll then have
G Davies
J Williams/A Thomas
Ionghi
Reynolds
Maule/ O Williams
Phillips
Newton

as cover then.

The interesting thing will be the backrow forwards, it looks like McCusker will be no 8 now and as captain he'll be playing most games - which is a shame as he's not impressed me at 8 and Murphy and Gilbert looked good there last season. It'll prob be Left Shingler Right Turnbull 8 McCusker, which is pretty good - but I'll be excited to see D Thomas and Murphy coming in to mix it up a little (or putting Timani at 6 to add physicality)

Dan Thomas, Gilbert are good players so is Murphy. No new locks though?

Gilberts gone tho. We're apparently in talks with a lock and were close to signin jason eaton

Gilbert's gone?


Where?

He was messed around and promised a contract which wasn't delivered (there's a whole thread about it on Scarlet Fever and there's talk about it about 5-7 pages back on this thread I think). As such he was suddenly out of contract without a club, so has now signed for an Italian Premiership club.

He'll be missed and it's a big shame - I just hope he can do well and get picked up by Zebre/Treviso or an English Championship/Prem club next season.

interestingly jason eaton was not named today in the all black training squad. i wonder if that might change his mind on the scarlets move?

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7948774,00.html

Smirnoff - you've forgotten our other welsh international centre, Adam Warren, from your squads.

They really need to make a :facepalm: smiley just for me!

Cheers SS will amend now

Smirnoff - it just goes to show the quality we have in the centre. Three Welsh internationals, and one of them is unlikely to make the bench, unless there are injuries.

Just ordered my London Welsh match tickets, getting excited now.

Kool, I'll hopefully be down for that (I can't believe Henson is coming to PyS, I'm just so thankful he's on the opposition side...)
I got my flexi-season ticket so might book my Leinster ticket soon, am going to be studying the ficture list to work out my 1st few games...

We do have a ridiculous amount of centres as well and when Stodds comes back we'll have a fully Welsh international backline (and all under 27). I'm excited to see what Jordan Williams can do as well - do you think he'll be 10 or 15 (or even wing) to start off with?

Ah so you should be there more often this season then.

I think that we will (when Stodds is back) have a back line and bench looking something like

Knoyle, Priestland, Stodds, Davies, S Williams, North, L Williams
(Bench -: G Davies, Warren, J Williams)

As that should give us plenty of players who can cover other positions.

Just thinking about it I would like to see a back line of

R Williams, J Williams, Le Williams, O Williams, S Williams, Li Williams, A.N.Other

Maybe we could bring Shane Williams back from Japan to complete you're line-up!

You could imagine Sky Sports having a feild day with that.

If you chucked Henson in as well then the Western Mail would go into meltdown!

Very interesting comments by a SA rugby agent (Worldartist) on twitter this morning:

George Earle is settling well at @scarlets_rugby. Soon to be braai'ing with a King and maybe also a Lion? @tbriedenhann @WorldArtists_SA

Cilliers is the Lions player, who is the Kings player? The players at the Kings/lion that are linked to this agent are:


Caylib Oosthuizen - LOOSE HEAD
http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/loosehead/899833-Caylib-Oosthuizen

Jacobie Adriaanse - TIGHT HEAD
http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/thprops/1281664-Jacobie-Adriaanse

Kevin Buys - TIGHT HEAD
http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/thprops/591640-Kevin-Buys

Hendrik Roodt - LOCK
http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/Second_row_forward/593867-Hendrik-Roodt

My apologies guys, but this thread has run more than 1000 posts already and we have to lock it, could someone please open a new thread.

Thanks.