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 know Gus has been training for the 2 jersey. But that means we've lost 3 Hookers this season - Not that Willis was much of a loss.

didn't a dragons fan on here say that the dragons only offered buckley 30k a year contract, where he could make more as a engineer of some kind which he is qualified in???? guessing doncaster have offered him more, and probably something extra to relocate. surprised that the dragons have got gerwyn price on their door step, but haven't made him an offer.

No mate, the contract would have been around half of that. If he was that important to the team they would have done everything they could have done to keep him, at the time we weren't short of hookers. I think Ospreys and Blues as well as Dragons are looking at Price. Keys will feed the Dragons very well next season.

Cardiff Blues - Ryan Tyrell to Melbourne Rebels.

"Tyrrell now plays for the Cardiff Blues in Europe and has signed to the Melbourne Rebels for next season."

http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-sport/Old-Rockers-give-to-junior-side/7621599/

Dave:

Thanks I'll update the list now.

nigel davies off to glaws?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2143593/Bryan-Redpath-set-named-new-Sale-Sharks-boss.html#ixzz1ujz7KsOq

"Meanwhile Nigel Davies, the current director of rugby at the Scarlets, has emerged as the favourite to replace Redpath as the new head at Gloucester"

can't see it myself, unless they are offering ridiculous money to nigel.

More amateur stuff from the daily fail.

according to Midi Olympique today the scarlets have been linked to Joe Tuineau on a 2 year deal from Montpellier. Seems like a huge unit, interesting career too! . Formerly of the Southland NPC and Highlanders Super 15 team. He also played 4 years of American Football for Southeast Missouri State University!

Also confirmed by the scarlets that danny wilson is on his way in, and garin jenkins and veron cooper are on their way out. surprised about garin as i've think he's done well with our scrum considering our limited resources this season.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/4893.php

I didn't think Garin Jenkins would leave he seemed to be doing such a good job on our scrummaging and I thought we were signing Cai on the strength of Garin saying he could improve Cai.

Tom Prydie has signed to the Dragons:
http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5312.php

Cari wrote:Tom Prydie has signed to the Dragons:
http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/5312.php

And Dan Evans signing has been confirmed by the Dragons too.

Decent signings for the Dragons - lets hope Prydie can shine with regular gametime at regional level

The good thing is that Prydie should get game time, and now we will be able to gauge how good he is (or isn't if that is the case) in comparision to the other players. It should stop the number of people who call for his inclusion in the national side based on the fact he has been in there before, so therefore must be good (like the numpties who kept calling for Warren Fury to be included).

Good old Warren Fury, it's scary to think that we were once in a position where he was in the squad

i'd be very pleased if i was a dragons fan with the signings of prydie and dan evans - both show promise and will only improve as players.

also here's a youtube clip of the togan scarlets have been linked with. seems an upgrade on day, welch and reed. so ticks all the boxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6CehGfBcKI

pioden gorllewin wrote:i'd be very pleased if i was a dragons fan with the signings of prydie and dan evans - both show promise and will only improve as players.

also here's a youtube clip of the togan scarlets have been linked with. seems an upgrade on day, welch and reed. so ticks all the boxes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6CehGfBcKI

Did you see the French bloke (Yachvilli?) tip tackle him in the first 20 seconds of the clip. Tut tut tut, should have been red carded and banned. They wouldn't have made the final if Rolland was ref.

That Joe and Timani would make a pretty good 2nd row. Then you got the guys that have stepped up from the Premiership to filter in and out during the season.

Good signings by the Dragons. Tie them up early and now concentrate on our problem areas ie the tight five. I am particularly pleased with the Dan Evans signing (as long as we keep him fit).

I Imagine that D Evans will be more back up FB for Prydie and back up FH for Jones/Robling otherwise if he is 1st choice he'll be a poor replacement for M Thomas or Tovey.

I'm excited to see what Prydie can see - mainly to see if he can deliver on the promise of a few seasons ago, hopefully he can develop at the Dragons and other them a real threat to replace Brew's.

I don't think Dan Evans is poor at all, I think he is pretty good. He might just establish himself as first choice. Prydie will be on Sevens duty at some point and Harries will probably get injured. Is Chavanga staying or going?

Staying I thought. Seems pretty keen for next season from what I've seen.

Well he was 5th choice FH this year for the Scarlets behind Jones, Priestland, Newton and A Thomas and arguably joint 4th FB with Ionghi after L Williams, Fenby and Priestland (and that's without Stoddart).

And we both seem to agree that Fenby isn't the best.

Don't see why he is 5th choice this and that though as you put it, he's a good player. Certainly better than Thomas and the magnificent Fenby.

My point is that the Scarlets coaches didn't think so and as a result he got pushed down the order for FH by (In the coaches opinion) better players, and then the same happened at FB and all the players I mentioned were considered above him.

Evans is an ok player but never really lived up to his expectation and was very inconsistent with either quite good games (occasional flashes of brilliance) and some very poor games. Because of his running threat and boot I'd say he's a much better full back but his defence can be very suspect and he's not great under the high balls.

That is why IMO the coaches played Ionghi and Fenby ahead of him even though neither are brilliant.

Thomas was 1st choice FB and was being praised for his form last season and there were some Dragons fans on this board expressing their disappointment that they wouldn't have him next season.

Tondi Chavhanga must read these boards. He's just confirmed his intentions to stay another year at the Dragons.

Risca Rev wrote:Tondi Chavhanga must read these boards. He's just confirmed his intentions to stay another year at the Dragons.

Good news - think it would have been a real blow for the Dragons to loose all of Brew, Thomas and Chavy. Hopefully they can continue to improve him

Risca Rev wrote:Tondi Chavhanga must read these boards. He's just confirmed his intentions to stay another year at the Dragons.

H seems like a top bloke too

heard on the grapevine that deacon manu is close to signing for the dragons. i thought he was going over the severn bridge, but it looks like his destination might be newport.

Dragons or Wasps were the two clubs being mentioned. He'd be a solid signing for Dragons.

I love Manu, he's been a brilliant player over the years, always gives his all. Proper gent too.

totally agree dreamer, always gave 100% to the jersey & a top bloke too.

I bloody hope not. He can't scrummage so it would be another backwards step. We need to concentrate on the ones we got and bring through the guys at Cross Keys. No time for a reject.

He can scrummage and he's better then any of the current Dragons props. He may not be brilliant, but he can play both sides of the scrum and is probably better at LH then at TH where the Scarlets have been playing him.

He can't scrummage.

Right, now that you've repeated it, I've completely changed my mind and now agree with you

he's the captain of his national side, they wouldn't have picked him if he couldn't. He might not do it brilliantly, but he can scrummage.

Well yeah I meant he didn't do it (scrummage) to the required standard. And I'm sorry to offend you in saying that he is not what we require. He does a lot of work in other areas of play though and does them very well. And he's only had 12 caps for Fiji.....

I had to repeat myself to help get my point across. It is no good you just writing the opposite of what I write, at least give some factors or reasoning.

Morgannwg wrote:Well yeah I meant he didn't do it (scrummage) to the required standard. And I'm sorry to offend you in saying that he is not what we require. He does a lot of work in other areas of play though and does them very well. And he's only had 12 caps for Fiji.....

I had to repeat myself to help get my point across. It is no good you just writing the opposite of what I write, at least give some factors or reasoning.

He's only had 12 caps as he only decided to play for Fiji before the WC!

It might help if you add some evidence or more observations to help get your point across rather than just repeat 3 words until the other person gives up

Very nice and mature. But I thought I did that in the first place, but maybe not. The observations are all the games he has played for the Scarlets, the team gets outscrummaged often. Tis a shame, they'be pretty unstoppable behind an Ospreys pack.

Dragons need a big scrummager themselves, but I don't think they will get it. There are 3 props at Cross Keys who look like formidable scrummaging units and I would rather the team concentrates on developing those guys. Manu wouldn't add any value to the Dragons team. He could possibly add more value to the Scarlets if he stayed another year and could add some depth to what is a very promising squad. It is a bit early for Samson Lee to be a regular so would make sense to get another TH anyway.

Morgannwg wrote:He can't scrummage.

He stuffed Gethin Jenkins at every scrum against the Blues last match of the season. He is not a bad scrummager, unfortunately for him he took over the regins from John Davies, so in comparison he was always going to look bad.

I don't remember that far back to compare him to a John Davies, SS. I watched the game, I don't think it was Gethin getting stuffed but probably looked like it due to the fact he has to carry Scott Andrews and whatever hooker they have starting. On that note I wish Geth would have stayed a bit longer too.

Morgannwg wrote:I don't remember that far back to compare him to a John Davies, SS.

Goddam kids . Well I guess you shot that arguement in his defence out of the water. The otehr defense of his scrummaging, is that he was actually a loosehead when he came over to the Scarlets and was converted to a tighthead, which I am told is quite awkward to do. If he does sign for the Dragons I think he will go down well. After all Gully and Buck are not really in his league, so he would be an improvement on either side of the scrum.

Morgannwg wrote:I don't remember that far back to compare him to a John Davies, SS. I watched the game, I don't think it was Gethin getting stuffed but probably looked like it due to the fact he has to carry Scott Andrews and whatever hooker they have starting. On that note I wish Geth would have stayed a bit longer too.

So by your measure the Scarlets scrum goes backwards and this shows that Manu is a poor scrumager, but the Blues scrum goes backwards and it demonstrates that Manu didn't get the better of Geth but that Geth is hampered by an inexperienced LH (even though we had Rhodri Jones on the other side of the scrum).

Seems to be horses for coarses there...

In deacs defence he is predominately a LH who has been asked to fill in at TH for us. Not once has he complained, and just got on with his job. It also doesn't help his scrummaging when he only has reed, shingler, day etc pushing behind him. He shows up well in the loose and has a high work rate. He's well respected with his peers and is a good influence on the squad.

Think I'm right in saying that the only reason why he hasn't been offered a contract yet from us, is because we haven't finished our recruitment yet. So we are a bit unsure how much money is left in the pot to offer him a concrete contract. Think ideally we would like to keep him at the scarlets.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Think I'm right in saying that the only reason why he hasn't been offered a contract yet from us, is because we haven't finished our recruitment yet. So we are a bit unsure how much money is left in the pot to offer him a concrete contract. Think ideally we would like to keep him at the scarlets.

So fingers crossed we may keep hold of him? I hope so as he does seem a bit like Sal Finau, unarguable not local, however a Scarlet through and through.

Spiderman : No pal think he is going - on a positive note it does free up a NWQ spot for us. Especially with a lot of our recruitment focused on NWQ players.

but you're right about the finau comparison, he really brought into the scarlets culture.

So we will (when Manu leaves, sob) have Timani and Iongi as our NWQs. That leaves space for four capped, and two uncapped NWQs to be signed. That is pretty good I guess.

I guess beggars can't be choosers

We've got Matthew Gilbert aswell, no? Although he's not a regular first team starter, but then neither is Iongi I guess.

On the subject of Scarlets, do you think Murphy should be considered a no.7? I would prefer a bigger guy at 8 like McCusker.

Murphy has great footwork and is dynamic enough to get over the gainline. Also pretty sure he'll be on a programme this pre season to put some muscle on. 1st pre season as a professional. Also theres luke kendal at llandovery who is in the same mould as ben morgan. Big ball carrying number 8.

I haven't been impressed with McCusker at 8 (I know he could still improve) and would much rather he stick to being a 6 or maybe play 7.

Has Gilbert actually been capped by anyone? I thought he was seen as a project player (though I hate that term) in terms of Scarlets NWQ numbers even though he's unlikely to be capped by Wales