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

but who has signed him nigel or simon easterby? wonder if nigel is leaving how it will effect our recruiting this summer?

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:agen confirm signing of ben blair:

http://rugby-transfers.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Agen

x2

x3

pioden gorllewin wrote:but who has signed him nigel or simon easterby? wonder if nigel is leaving how it will effect our recruiting this summer?

I'd be gutted if Nige leaves! I'm still hopeful it's just rubbish - interesting news on the NZ TH - does anyone know anything about him?

smirnoffpriest:

here's some stats on johnstone:

http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player-1726.html

we have also been linked in the rugby paper to russian lock denis antonov. how true that is i'm not sure. guess we need to know for sure who our DOR is first - but his stats look impressive.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/sport/5532535/Denis-Antonov

Johnstone was at Gloucester for a bit after the 07 world cup. I don't remember him making any headlines though.

Not according to the stats in the link Pioden posted - they say he went to Biarritz from Canterbury/Crusaders - though of course I don't know how accurate the stats are.

Though they seem to indicate that Johnson was a bit part player with Biarritz and the Crusaders

I've heard that he hasn't relly been a good signing for Biarritz, he'll probably do for Scarlets though

Morg- think it was greg sommervile that was at glos, johnstone joined biarritz from the crusaders. won 3 all black caps and was highly rated for his scrumaging by steve hansen at the time. scarlets could do alot worse than signing him as long as he doesnt end up injured after a handfull of games like kees meuws!

Ah that was the one, Somerville.

Didn't Somerville almost join the Scarlets before joining Gloucester?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Didn't Somerville almost join the Scarlets before joining Gloucester?

Yeah he was meant to be joining us around that time.

I really hope we don't sign this kiwi. Out track record with Kiwi props has been awful (Craig Dunlea, Kees Meeuws, and there was another one I believe who as dire too). Lets face it if you want a scrummaging prop the last place you go to look for one is NZ.

spiderman:

Craig dunlea also popped into my head as well when I heard about an ex all black props. I also thought about ben castle previously of the dragons who came over with a reputation as a scrummaging prop. Who is the other prop you were thinking of, I can't think of any more kiwi props at the scarlets? . my other concern with johnstone is he only played 6 games this season for biarritz, and I don't think he's been injured. On a positive note Steve Hansen rates him highly for his scrummaging.

I don't understand why the Scarlet's always look at getting these expensive (and overrated) ex allblack's. Why don't they look in Eastern Europe or Argentina and get a bargain, or even Italy for fecks sake if they want a scrummaging prop

we have looked at a couple of georgian props, and a russian & romanian second row to be fair to the scarlets.

pioden gorllewin wrote:we have looked at a couple of georgian props, and a russian & romanian second row to be fair to the scarlets.

And we were rumoured to be signing an Argie lock as well - not sure if he's gone or not now though.

Pioden - Dave Hewett. I just spend ages searching the 'tinterweb looking for his name

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4065513.stm

Fau is staying with the Blues. Hopefully at not too big a cost though. I suppose they needed him for some strength in depth.

spiderman:

that's it!!!! i remember him now. seems like the kiwi backs we;ve signed have done well frano botica and regan, however the kiwi forwards have been flops maling, hewitt, dunlea and to some extent meeuws. also remember the welsh qualified kiwi lock that signed David Duley? Don't think he ever played a game for us, although we were expecting big things from him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/4065513.stm

also haven't we signed ashley sweet from newport rfc?

Filise staying has been confirmed
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18145977?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

What do Cardiffian's think?

Seems like a backward step to me - though of course experienced TH's are hard to find

It's a possitive as in it keeps Andrews out of the starting team.

Better than having Scott Andrews as first choice

Ashley Sweet is an Ebbw Vale player. He's been touted as a Regional standard player after the Swalec semis, so maybe you have. I'd have thought now you've signed Lewis Rawlins from Crosskeys, that you probably wouldn't chase another unproven lock out of your region, but then if he's decent then fair enough.

http://www.rugby-talk.com/2012/05/george-earle-also-leaving-the-cheetahs-for-the-uk/


from his agent, so hopefully it's try. fantastic signing if true!

Cheetahs lock George Earle will head to the Scarlets in July in the hope of representing Wales at the 2015 World Cup.

The highly-skilled line-out jumper, who signed with Griquas this year, has featured prominently for the Cheetahs in the Super Rugby competition.

His agent, Anthony Johnson of World Artists, confirmed to this website that Earle will head to Llanelli in Wales after the conclusion of the Super Rugby season in mid-July.

“He has signed a three-year contract [with the Scarlets],” Johnson told this website, adding that Earle hopes to make enough of an impact to come into consideration for the Welsh national team once he qualifies to play for his adopted country at the completion of the three-year residency period.

“Playing at the next World Cup [2015 in England] is definitely attractive to the player,” Johnson told this website.

Earle represented Western Province at age-group level from 2005 to 2008, before making the step up to Vodacom Cup level.

The big lock forward moved from Cape Town to the Lions in Johannesburg in 2010, where he played for two years, before signing with Griquas this year.

However, he has been released from his contract in Kimberley and will head overseas without playing a single game for the Kimberley-based team – which lost to WP in the Vodacom Cup Final last Friday.

The arrival of Earle at the Scarlets follow the announcement earlier this month that the Welsh World Cup lock Lou Reed, 24, and veteran second row forward Damian Welch (29) are leaving the club.

The club on Monday reiterated the “commitment already made to supporters” that investment is being made to significantly bolster strength in the senior squad front five for the 2012/13 season.

* Earle is the third Cheetahs player who have announced that he would head abroad at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Cheetahs prop WP Nel will move to Edinburgh in Scotland, while Springbok loose forward Ashley Johnson will join London Wasps.

Why is he turning his back on SA? The Russian seems like he could be a much more promising signing.

So many players coming over not just to play for new clubs but seemingly with their hearts set on breaking into the Welsh side.

Why? Because we're getting a better reputation as a team or because we come across as residency rule-lovers?

Biltongbek wont be happy, can understand his frustration.

Sounds good but shocked the agents being so blatant about it - I take it hes not good enough for the boks. Lock would seem one of our stronger positions,particularly if reed keeps improving

Lou reed has gone pal. Also losted welch & dom day at lock - our only recognised second rower is the tongan. Know turnbull and shingler can cover there but not ideal. The second row is one area we need to improve. Im pleased with this signing.

gowales wrote:I don't understand why the Scarlet's always look at getting these expensive (and overrated) ex allblack's. Why don't they look in Eastern Europe or Argentina and get a bargain, or even Italy for fecks sake if they want a scrummaging prop

Presumably because ex-All Blacks don't get their arses handed to them at scrum time by semi-pros from Cross Keys, as the Georgian front for did a couple of months back.

Risca Rev wrote:Ashley Sweet is an Ebbw Vale player. He's been touted as a Regional standard player after the Swalec semis, so maybe you have. I'd have thought now you've signed Lewis Rawlins from Crosskeys, that you probably wouldn't chase another unproven lock out of your region, but then if he's decent then fair enough.

He's one from the Dragons Academy, if I remember rightly.

Yes he is. Pretty sure he played for Pontypool United as a youngster. I think he may be from Blackwood or Trinant or somewhere near there though.

Stone Motif wrote:

gowales wrote:I don't understand why the Scarlet's always look at getting these expensive (and overrated) ex allblack's. Why don't they look in Eastern Europe or Argentina and get a bargain, or even Italy for fecks sake if they want a scrummaging prop

Presumably because ex-All Blacks don't get their arses handed to them at scrum time by semi-pros from Cross Keys, as the Georgian front for did a couple of months back.

You obviously don't watch the Top 14 then, where every Georgian prop dominates

pioden gorllewin wrote:Lou reed has gone pal. Also losted welch & dom day at lock - our only recognised second rower is the tongan. Know turnbull and shingler can cover there but not ideal. The second row is one area we need to improve. Im pleased with this signing.

Sorry for the misunderstandin but I was talking about Wales (coz this G Earle wants to play in the WC), and Wales have got 4 good locks wiith a few youngsters behind.

Obviously Scarlets need as many locks as possible and good ones too. Hopefully we can pick up a TH somewhere as well

priest:

get what you're saying now....yeah earle needs to concentrate on playing for the scarlets, before any talk of welsh caps. what do you make of this front five for next season?

R Jones K Owens/Smiler C Johnstone

G Earle D Antonov

Don't know much about the locks but Antonov is meant to be a strong grunt type lock isn't he?
With Timani and Shingler/Turnbull/McCusker as back up I'd be happy with that front 5 and think it could finally give us a platform - particularly if we keep Manu as well.

People might say it's not good that we're buying so many NWQ players but we've tried using young Welsh players and the locks weren't good enough and there aren't any good Welsh locks around in our price range, and the same with TH's - we tried R Thomas and he's unfortunately retired, Gardiner (who seems to have attitude problems) but there doesn't seem to be any Welsh TH's up to standard - though we are bringing through Samson Lee and Rob Evans

It as shame that Earle's agent came out and said what he did, because I went from being glad we signed what seems like a decent lock, to knowing we have signed a no-hoper who has no loyalty at all.

I would like us to try and get Gough as well though we probably got little chance - he could really help our youngsters develop.

gowales wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

gowales wrote:I don't understand why the Scarlet's always look at getting these expensive (and overrated) ex allblack's. Why don't they look in Eastern Europe or Argentina and get a bargain, or even Italy for fecks sake if they want a scrummaging prop

Presumably because ex-All Blacks don't get their arses handed to them at scrum time by semi-pros from Cross Keys, as the Georgian front for did a couple of months back.

You obviously don't watch the Top 14 then, where every Georgian prop dominates

Awesome flawed logic there. So if Adam Jones went to France tomorrow and dominated every prop in the division, that's mean props grow on trees in South Wales, right?

Their international seconds were stuffed by our semi-pros. Please can we put this myth of the untapped legions of gnarly eastern European props out there just begging to be singed to bed.

Earles seems like an excellant signing for the Scarlets, not sure he'll actually ever make the welsh squad mind, just wish agents wouldnt come out with things like that.

Can we all hide this from Biltong, Im not sure he can take anymore!

If Antonov can provide enough grunt, Earles will flourish.

I'd really like to see Gardiner tried again for the scarlets, I've heard rumours of this attitude problem but he looked very good for his age before his injury. Its not as if we're rolling in quality TH's either, Samson Lee may well be the next in line, but as far as Im concerned we need to be devloping the Gardiners/Rees(ospreys)/Andrews of this world. If someone can get hold of Andrews for instance and teach technicalities of TH scrummaging in the next couple of seasons, he has potential to be a force. However hilarious that seems right now I genuinely believe it to be true.

Bevington/Gill/Jenkins/James(then R.Jones) - Loosehead options are all excellant and I'd be comfortable with any of them starting for Wales.

Jones/Mitchell/James? - A top quality TH, Mitchell seems the next in line and hes done well at Exeter from what I've seen and heard from the fans. James isnt a TH, hes never really let Wales down, but I'd not feel comfortable him doing any more than covering 20 minutes (max) from the bench.


Anyone know why Garin Jenkins left the Scarlets by the way?

Comfort - I think Gardeners future will probably hinge on what happens with Nigel Davies. If Nigel does go (although apparently Howley is asking him not to) then Gardener will probably be given another set of chances by whoever comes in. However if Nigel doesn't go then IMO Gardener will be used for emergencies at most.

Stone Motif wrote:

gowales wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

gowales wrote:I don't understand why the Scarlet's always look at getting these expensive (and overrated) ex allblack's. Why don't they look in Eastern Europe or Argentina and get a bargain, or even Italy for fecks sake if they want a scrummaging prop

Presumably because ex-All Blacks don't get their arses handed to them at scrum time by semi-pros from Cross Keys, as the Georgian front for did a couple of months back.

You obviously don't watch the Top 14 then, where every Georgian prop dominates

Awesome flawed logic there. So if Adam Jones went to France tomorrow and dominated every prop in the division, that's mean props grow on trees in South Wales, right?

Their international seconds were stuffed by our semi-pros. Please can we put this myth of the untapped legions of gnarly eastern European props out there just begging to be singed to bed.

Your right there are not legions of them, however there are a fair few. But most of them have secured themselves decent earning out in France.

I think Garin and Vernon Cooper went because we brought in the Dragons forwards coach (Danny Waters?) and because I think Garin was only a Scrum/Front Row coach and Vernon was a Lineout coach the Scarlets board probably thought they might as well pay 1 coach who does all the forwards work than keep 2 to do parts of it.

Personally I'm sorry to see Garin go, he's done wonders with our props and our scrum in the time he's been here and I would have liked to see him stay.

that was my thinking Smirnoff, hes done really well with what he had to work with. Just look how young Rhodri Jones came along last season!!

Hell, before he retired, Rollerskates had been made to look like he was going to realise the promise his natural abilities had given him thehope of acheiving, were it not for a cruel injury, I have no doubt he'd be a solid TH in the setpiece for the scarlets next season.

If Garin can do that, Garin can do nearly anything, didnt Scarlets sign Cai Griffiths on the strength of Garin saying he could turn him into a proper scrummaging unit?

Seems a really bad loss to me. That scarlets pack has been coming on every season.

Perhaps a fresh impetus from a new coach and some fresh faces with something to prove can shove a rocket up the tight 5's proverbial. The scarlets with front foot ball are a wonder to behold!

Cardiff Blues-bound tighthead prop Jake Cooper-Woolley........

"When Ellis says that Cardiff University have got an incredible team this season, you sense that he actually means it. While he is loath to single out any players, we discuss the likes of captain and Cardiff Blues-bound tighthead prop Jake Cooper-Woolley ("a really destructive force"),

Warren Gatland was evidently impressed by Cooper-Woolley after his performance in Cardiff's 2010 loss to Swansea at the Liberty Stadium. In the Cardiff changing room after the match, the Wales coach said in a just-kidding-but-not-really manner that he'd "like to have a word with your tighthead". At the time, Cooper-Woolley, a proud Englishman, told me that he'd never entertain the notion of playing for any other country, but Gatland has been known to be persuasive."

http://www.comeonwales.co.uk/

Check that out. Harlequins Matt Hopper was a Cardiff Uni student and his coach tried to get the Blues to take a look at him but apparently weren't interested. I for one would have much rathered this Hopper guy at 13 than Gavin Evans.

That's the vision of Gareth Baber for you

Sounds interesting and promising for the blues - mayb not this season but next? Good to c their getting together a young front row, and looks like theyre getting an experiencd set as well

gowales wrote:That's the vision of Gareth Baber for you

Well to be fair Dai Young and Peter Thomas would have had the final say, but Baber was apart of the academy