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

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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'd imagine that the Scarlets would be planning on using the combined wages saved from Iestyn T, Rhys T (who remember was on 250k), maybe Lyons and Ben Morgan, and they have saved on Lamont - I know that some of that will be taken up by increases in wages/re-signings and the few signings we've made, but considering we've also lost D Evans, D Day and a rumoured Reed then there should be money to play with and still remain sustainable.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Was going to say the same about Ben Morgan too spiderman. Welch was actually playing really well for Cardiff RFC at the time, so I'm surprised they allowed him to leave (don't think it was due to cutbacks) Think it was Gareth Jenkins and his scouts just being really proactive in looking for young cheap players within their budget that the region could take a punt on. Did the same with crazy legs Fenby as well - our scouting team should get a lot of credit for the players they've identified.

on another note it looks like we are showing an interest in Davit Zirakashvili of Clermont Auvergne. That's the type of TH we should be targeting!

Cardiff have had a few cutbacks in recent times. Some experienced players had to leave even though they didn't want to. Not sure if it was the case for Damien Welch, but it wouldn't surpise me if it was down to lack of cash. CCS has taken its toll throughout the whole organisation.

Welch has been with us for a fair few seasons now though Dave, so likely he moved before the cutbacks.

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-look-bolster/story-15988657-detail/story.html

interesting to hear nigel's ideas of bolstering our front five. sounds like we are going into the eastern european market to me! might be better value for money.

good, that's where I wanted us to go in the first place! Hopefully find some young hard diamond of a player for realtively small amounts of money.

Ianto to the Scarlets?

Nooooooo we can't loose Ianto, especially to the Turks!!!!!! lol Seriously he would be a good move for the Scarlets, but I wouldn't want to see him go, plus I think that the O's have been good to him during his troubled times.

TBJ9625 wrote:Nooooooo we can't loose Ianto, especially to the Turks!!!!!! lol Seriously he would be a good move for the Scarlets, but I wouldn't want to see him go, plus I think that the O's have been good to him during his troubled times.

Loved to have known where the 'rumour' came from?

we've spoken to ianto (ospreys willing for him to leave with year left of contract) but last i've heard he wanted to stay at the ospreys.

rugbydreamer wrote:Welch has been with us for a fair few seasons now though Dave, so likely he moved before the cutbacks.

I believe there were cutbacks after Cardiff won the WP in 2008/2009 and there have been others since.
Welch left in 2009, so it could be the case that he left due to lack of cash. He could also have left for different reasons of course.

Lou Reed and Dan Evans exit confirmed

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/4861.php

Damn - was hoping we might be able to keep Reed, hopefully we'll replace him with a really good lock. Although the club he's going to isn't confirmed it seems really likely that it will be the Blues but seems weird as they don't need another lock with B Davies, Tito, Cook, McCauley, Patterson all able to play there and Reed likely to be missing with the Wales squad at the same time as B Davies

So is Dan Evans confirmed at the Dragons or not ? Nothing confirmed on the BBC article

Munkian - from what the Scarlets site said they are both leaving, but there was no mention of where. Maybe they have just got to dot the i's and cross the t's.

Fair enough. Is fullback his only posistion ?

munkian wrote:Fair enough. Is fullback his only posistion ?

He can play No 10 as well, but don't think he's as good as Robling or S jones

To be honest he is pretty much a straight swap for Tovey, a fly half that was slotted in at fullback and did a good job, and is capable on the wing too. Personally I am a bit disappointed that he has seriously dropped out of favour with Nigel Davies, as I thought he looked really good a few seasons ago, and was expecting him tohave been involved in the Welsh squad full time by now. You are definatley getting hold of a good player in him, and hopefully he can get the game time, and the confidence, to push for hte international squad again.

Cheers guys

I think a new forwards coach is our main priority at the momenty. And then some forwards...

munkian wrote:Cheers guys

I think a new forwards coach is our main priority at the momenty. And then some forwards...

Ignoring the forwards coach I think we are in the same boat there.

talking about forward coaches. it says here that danny wilson has had an offer from another region. wonder were he is going to be forwards coach?

"The Argus understands that the decision is mutual and that Wilson will swiftly take up another regional coaching role in Wales"

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/9687831.Forwards_coach_to_leave_Dragons/

Blues have Burnell, Scarlets have Garin, so that means its got to be the Ospreys (Humph joining Holley and Johnson out of the door)?

Isn't Garin just our scrummaging coach, and Veron the lineout/forwards coach? Scarlets are currently doing cutbacks in the coaching staff, two fitness coaches went this week. Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up with us though. At the same time can see Iestyn adding to the "jobs for the boys" brigade

Rumours on Gwald is that he's off to Turkistan

munkian it looks you're right and danny wilson is heading to parc y scarlets:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/newport-gwent-dragons/2012/05/04/forwards-coach-danny-wilson-set-to-join-scarlets-after-quitting-dragons-91466-30902787/

not sure what to make of this signing. does any dragons fans have any info on what time type of forwards coach we are getting? dragons do seem to have improved in the contact area under wilson.

it looks more likely that deacon manu is leaving reading the tweets from the scarlets players. also rumour going around at the game on saturday that damien welch might be off to exeter chiefs. not sure if we can afford to replace 3 locks in reed,day and welch. but at the same time welch hasn't always seen eye to eye with nigel davies.

as mentioned in previous post, looks like damien welch has gone to exeter chiefs.

Welch is seventh new recruit as Baxter builds squad

Thursday, May 10, 2012

ROB Baxter has tipped new signing Damian Welch to have a big future at Exeter Chiefs after making him his seventh capture for next season.

The Scarlets forward has signed a two-year deal at Sandy Park after twice speaking to Baxter in the past.

The head coach, named director of rugby of the season at Tuesday's Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards, revealed he spoke to the 29-year-old when he was a student and had another look at him before he moved to the Scarlets from Cardiff in 2009.

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/story-16040274-detail/story.html

so we need to replace day, reed and welch in the second row!

Ahh! Am gutted about that news.

Our scrum started to look quite steady (and occassionally a weapon) with Timani and Welch in the 2nd row.

Now we're going to have a huge task signing players for the new season as we haven't got ANY out and out locks (Day, Reed, Welch gone - Shingler, Turnbull and Timani backrow players)

its' all change with our front five for next season - rhys thomas, iestyn thomas, deacon manu, damien welch, lou reed and dom day......possibly listening to offers for smiler too. also danny wilson coming in as forwards coach, with possibly vernon cooper leaving. the next two months will be interesting!

It surely will pioden!

I don't want us to lose Smiler though, he's still got a year to go on his contract, no?

Hope we start announcing some signing soon though, it's getting very hearing all the people leaving, with no news of any players coming in!

Would like to know if Prydie is a done deal or not, would love to see him in a Dragons's shirt

Dreamer: the thinking is we are top heavy with hookers. Ken has also made it known he wants to be playing regulary, having tasted international rugby. Management think we can cope with owens, phillips and myhill as our hookers. Smiler is under contract, we are just willing to listen to offers on him. Another big wage off our payroll possibly. Think gardiner will be released this summer too. We should find out who the replacements are within the next two months or sooner. But reinforcements are definitely coming :-)

The only thing I'm worried about losing all of these players, and especially the likes of Smiler, is that we are going to be without leaders completely. We already have a young squad and with Monty and Stevo gone in the backs, and Iestyn retiring and possibly Deacs and Smiler leaving....we are short supply on experience.

rugbydreamer wrote:The only thing I'm worried about losing all of these players, and especially the likes of Smiler, is that we are going to be without leaders completely. We already have a young squad and with Monty and Stevo gone in the backs, and Iestyn retiring and possibly Deacs and Smiler leaving....we are short supply on experience.

Very true and Tom Voyce would agree;

"Gloucester's youthful side worries departing Tom Voyce"......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18006778

rugbydreamer wrote:It surely will pioden!

I don't want us to lose Smiler though, he's still got a year to go on his contract, no?

Hope we start announcing some signing soon though, it's getting very hearing all the people leaving, with no news of any players coming in!

The Scarlets could also chose not to sign anyone and dig into the academy for players. Rhodri Jones, Simon Gardiner, Ken Owens, Shingler etc to step up to being first choice players.

We would have no squad depth at all Maes. We need signings.

If Rhodri got injured, we'd only have John as cover. If Gardiner goes, we only have Pete Edwards at TH.

Timani and Shings are our only locks, if they get injured, we've no one to cover, unless we call up a backrow palyer, but then that leaves us short at cover at backrow. And this is all before we even think about international call ups!

As good as the Scarlets academy is, it's not good enough to provide at least 5 quality forwards in just one season, which is what we need. We for sure need to bring some new players in, even if it's just a short term thing to help bring on our academy players.

Dreamer - right at this moment we are without any out and out locks.

We have Timani (Lock/Blindside/No.8), Shingler (Lock/Blindside/Openside), Tunbull (Lock/Blindside/Openside), McCusker (Lock/Blindside/Openside/No.8), Murphy (Lock/Blindside/No.8) as our second row options (based on where they have played for us before).

Well Shings palyed all his youth grade rugby at Lock, and Timani has only ever really featured for us there (and for Tonga in the RWC) which is why i mentioned them, completely agree they cover more than just 2nd row though.

It's a worry, we need to recruit there and badly.

rugbydreamer wrote:Well Shings palyed all his youth grade rugby at Lock, and Timani has only ever really featured for us there (and for Tonga in the RWC) which is why i mentioned them, completely agree they cover more than just 2nd row though.

It's a worry, we need to recruit there and badly.

And while they can all play lock none are out and out locks or enforcers (though maybe Timani can act the part), and with new props/developing props coming into the team we'd need more than 'make do' locks for help prop up (no pun intended) the scrum.

The Ospreys have (re)confirmed Paul James' departure to Baff. I don't know what happened a couple of weeks ago, but they announced it and then quickly removed the news off their webpage. Must be for real now then:

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5296.php

Cari wrote:The Ospreys have (re)confirmed Paul James' departure to Baff. I don't know what happened a couple of weeks ago, but they announced it and then quickly removed the news off their webpage. Must be for real now then:

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5296.php

Confirmed by the BBC;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17848640

Good grief that's an unflattering picture of James on the BBC story

Ah well...best of luck to him.

cari:

heard that paul james wasn't 100% about joining bath, that's what the delay was all about.

spiderman/dreamer:

we've signed lewis rawlins from cross keys who plays in the second row. looks like a decent player but needs to put some timber on. also ed price at llanelli, hayd pugh at quins and possibly galley if he overcomes his injuries could be promoted to the region as squad fillers. but it's only been a week since the end of the season, so there's plenty of time to replace the departing players. Think this "clear out" of our front five is a positive sign we are finally going to rectify the long term problems we've had there.

Paul James has made it official now:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17848640

pioden - so it looks like we are going to be stocking up on players for the future, so to speak.

pioden gorllewin wrote:cari:

heard that paul james wasn't 100% about joining bath, that's what the delay was all about.

spiderman/dreamer:

we've signed lewis rawlins from cross keys who plays in the second row. looks like a decent player but needs to put some timber on. also ed price at llanelli, hayd pugh at quins and possibly galley if he overcomes his injuries could be promoted to the region as squad fillers. but it's only been a week since the end of the season, so there's plenty of time to replace the departing players. Think this "clear out" of our front five is a positive sign we are finally going to rectify the long term problems we've had there.

Good insider knowledge their mate cheers...

I hope that the Scarlets and the other regions can endeavour to find from within rather than waste budgets on foreigners. The Regions dont have the money to compete for signings against the the big boys of Euro Rugby, (Saes, French and Irish) so unless really lucky, the players the regions would sign from abroad would be pretty average. Viliami Iongi being an example of a good signing by a region, Dan Parks being an example of an awful one....

Unfortunately over the last few years there have been far more poor signings than good ones, as well as regions holding on to players who used to perform well, but now are very lacklustre.

Maes - I think the Scarlets have proven to everyone that where they can develop from within, they will. We just don't have any 2nd rows coming through, and with unforseen retirements in the front row we've been left a bit short. I think it's perfectly understandable that we are currently looking elsewhere for short term signings, that should benefit our academy players development in the long run

rugbydreamer wrote:Maes - I think the Scarlets have proven to everyone that where they can develop from within, they will. We just don't have any 2nd rows coming through, and with unforseen retirements in the front row we've been left a bit short. I think it's perfectly understandable that we are currently looking elsewhere for short term signings, that should benefit our academy players development in the long run

Especially as a number of top earners have recently left the club - S Jones, S Lamont, R Thomas & I Thomas would I imagine have been close to highest earners at the club (Stevo was rumoured on 200k, and R Thomas was rumoured on 250k) - so we should have money for some pretty good locks

Dragons lose Hooker Tony Buckley

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/7746424/

Christ, must be a first, lack of hookers in Newport.

munkian wrote:Dragons lose Hooker Tony Buckley

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12321/7746424/

Christ, must be a first, lack of hookers in Newport.

That's a crazy move for him, he seemed to be doing well at the Dragons and has now moved down a level to a club which will probably struggle to come up to the AV.

(Though maybe he thinks hookers can make more money in Doncaster than Newport... )

PS Dragons - hands off our Hookers!