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

pioden gorllewin wrote:Looks like Liam Davies hasn't been offered a new contract judging by his Facebook status "scarlets at it again....messing players about...clueless, cowboys...hope boys messed about rub there noses in it!!!!"

shame he was playing reasonable well this season. but with cawdor, tav, rhodri and aled the scarlets have plenty of cover at 9.

also another rumour doing the rounds on "scarlets fever" forum is that deacon manu's verbal agreed contract has been withdrawn. not too sure how much truth is in this rumour, but seems strange the western mail etc announces he's signed but nothing offical from the club or from himself. hopefully he's been treated better by the region than that.

I understood that Liam Davies aws only brought in as emergency cover? With Tavis and Davies vieing for the no 9 jersey, I suspect that the Scarlets feel that the emergency is over.

If the Western Mail says that Manu has signed a new contract it surely must be true!!!!! I would wait for the Scarlets to make an anouncement before jumping to any conclusions. Don't forget Manu was Welsh qualified but chose to play for Fiji, that will have lowered his value to the Scarlets as he is now taking the place of a NWQ player.

Seagultaf:

Didn't take is as gospel because it was in the WM (otherwise stephen jones would be playing for leicester and hook with the blues a long time ago according to them) but did take note when local journalist rob lloyd reported it (he tends to be fairly accurate when it comes to the scarlets) probably right about the NWQ place though, does look like the scarlets might be looking to recruit a few more NWQ so need to free up a few spaces.

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have signed second row Ian Nimmo from English Championship side Cornish Pirates and tighthead prop Tim Ryan from Italian semi-professional outfit Cavalieri Prato.

The pair have joined the region on two-year deals.

The 26-year-old Nimmo was named in this season’s RFU and stands at 6ft 7in tall, weighing 18st 13lb.

He played for the Pirates in their defeats to London Welsh in the two legs of the Championship final.

Ryan, 27, 6ft 2in and 18st 3lb, has played for Munster, Toulon and Newcastle, converting from the back row to prop relatively late in his career.

He started for Munster when they nearly beat the All Blacks at Limerick’s Thomond Park in 2008.

Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Does look like the dragons have targeted a few players from the english championship. The were also after goodman who signed for london scottish and the other guy who signed for bristol. Hopefully there is room in their budget to sign some proven quality. You never know with these two signings they might be smart moves. Hopefully for the dragons sake thats the case. Just if the do turn out to be average journey men they dont hinder the development of any welsh youngsters.

It's a shame if we have messed Liam Davies around - I was really impressed with him when he played, seemed very solid offering some attacking threat and pretty good service.

I was hoping we'd keep him, (am still not convinced with Rhodri but he is young).

Would be a very good signing for the Dragons

Deacon Manu has tweeted -

Pen has been put to paper and I have signed. Let you know what club it is in the morning before the newspapers do.

The club is in Wales as we just love it here ! Fantastic country to play rugby and to live

I really hope it's Scarlets - why does he have to tease us?

Deacon has just Tweeted again saying "Im pleased to announce ill be staying at the Scarlets for another two years. Thanks for all the support!, it's been a busy last few weeks."

Really pleased - hopefully if we sign that Kiwi TH we're linked with then we should hopefully have a decent amount of depth at TH

Forgot to say - according to Gareth Jenkins @Gypo_ Twitter account, he's waiting for the Euro to crash and then he'll swoop in and buy Munster and use them as the Scarlets 2nds...

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Forgot to say - according to Gareth Jenkins @Gypo_ Twitter account, he's waiting for the Euro to crash and then he'll swoop in and buy Munster and use them as the Scarlets 2nds...

Why not buy Leinster?

wales606 wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Forgot to say - according to Gareth Jenkins @Gypo_ Twitter account, he's waiting for the Euro to crash and then he'll swoop in and buy Munster and use them as the Scarlets 2nds...

Why not buy Leinster?

I think they'd be our 3rds

I'm just quoting Gareth Jenkins (fictional) account

Morgannwg wrote:Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Feel free to chuck a couple of million quid into the bank account any time you like.

Stone Motif wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Feel free to chuck a couple of million quid into the bank account any time you like.

Oh yeah good response... Because buying crap NWQ players is a big boost for the Region when there are better players playing in the WP.

Morgannwg wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Feel free to chuck a couple of million quid into the bank account any time you like.

Oh yeah good response... Because buying crap NWQ players is a big boost for the Region when there are better players playing in the WP.

That's not proven though is it? Look Burner is my all time favourite Dragon and Darren Waters was the find of the season last year for us but it takes them nearly a whole season to get up to the physical level required for pro rugby. That especially goes for the Cross Keys props I would have said.

For every Lloyd Burns the Dragons have had ten players who've been excellent in the Welsh Prem but could not make the step up. Please note that in no way am I remotely enthused by these signings.

Morgannwg wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Feel free to chuck a couple of million quid into the bank account any time you like.

Oh yeah good response... Because buying crap NWQ players is a big boost for the Region when there are better players playing in the WP.

We keep hearing this, but are there better players in the WP?
Surely, if there were then it would be easier and cheaper to sign these so called better players who are on the doorstep, than to go for somebody, miles away in another country. If the 4 Welsh sides are overlooking these players then you could reasonably expect interest from English sides, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Yes from what I have seen there are better semi-pro players in the WP than the semi-pro's just signed. England have the largest playing pool in world rugby. There first stop for players is SA, then England, then the rest. They don't need ours.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

Stone Motif wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Another great pair of average players signed. When will it end.

Feel free to chuck a couple of million quid into the bank account any time you like.

Oh yeah good response... Because buying crap NWQ players is a big boost for the Region when there are better players playing in the WP.

We keep hearing this, but are there better players in the WP?
Surely, if there were then it would be easier and cheaper to sign these so called better players who are on the doorstep, than to go for somebody, miles away in another country. If the 4 Welsh sides are overlooking these players then you could reasonably expect interest from English sides, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Even though the Scarlets have signed one of the better locks in the Prem (apparently) Rawlings, we've still put him straight into Llanelli RFC & the Scarlets academy to develop and bring him upto scratch and in the meantime are bringing in NWQ players who are up to standard.

Occassionally you'll find a player like Timani or Burns in the WP who'll instantly be ready to step up (though Timani was an international already) but generally players need time to step up - even North still needs time to develop and improve his skills

Morgannwg wrote:Yes from what I have seen there are better semi-pro players in the WP than the semi-pro's just signed. England have the largest playing pool in world rugby. There first stop for players is SA, then England, then the rest. They don't need ours.

How many games have you seen Nimmo (who is a full professional by the way) and Ryan play?

Probably the same number of times as Darran Edwards (zero).

He's seen Ryan play at least twice

morgannwg wrote:Probably the same number of times as Darran Edwards (zero).

Stone Motif wrote:He's seen Ryan play at least twice

Oops

Morgannwg wrote:Yes from what I have seen there are better semi-pro players in the WP than the semi-pro's just signed. England have the largest playing pool in world rugby. There first stop for players is SA, then England, then the rest. They don't need ours.

Being a mere spectator, I wouldn't know.
English sides have signed a few Welsh youngsters haven't they? Gill and Allinson from Cardiff for a start and there are others.
The simple fact is that the 4 independant regions need to be as competitive as they can and if that means signing foreign players, so be it.

Here's confirmation that Manu has signed a new contract

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18297998

This doesn't look good though - article saying Nige is on the verge of signing for Gloucester http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18297015

Wow twice. I think that's convinced me that they aren't actually crap/average players, cue my lauding of them.

Morgannwg wrote:Wow twice. I think that's convinced me that they aren't actually crap/average players, cue my lauding of them.

But if a coach has seen a player twice and you've never seen them, how can you say that coach knows nothing about the players because you think they are rubbish (with little evidence besides who they play for)?

Morgannwg wrote:Wow twice. I think that's convinced me that they aren't actually crap/average players, cue my lauding of them.

Nobody said they weren't crap, whether the legions of potential internationals you seem to think are out there in Cross Keys waiting to take the Heineken Cup by storm in Dragons colours are any less crap is the question...?

Smirnoff, can't see where I said the coach knows nothing about them. Although the earlier post about seeing them zero times was a joke.

Stone Motif, there you go again. I gave an opinion on the signed crap players being, well crap signings earlier and you left sarcastic comments that didn't achieve anything. So what is it going to achieve now?
NOWHERE, absolutely nowhere have I said there are legions of internationals in Cross Keys waiting to take the HC. I have said that a number of their players look very good and should be given priority on the regional scene, as that is what I thought, that these 'feeder' clubs were meant to feed the Regions. I could be wrong, though...

Morgannwg u said they were crap players and there were better players in the WP but admittd u hadnt seen either. What i meant was edwards has seen both players AND seen the players in the WP- he probably has more info to make a comparison on.

Also maybe the dragons didnt sign rawlins coz they needed the budget for players who r ready now - while the scarlets r happy to put him in the academy until hes ready

Morg most players play wales u20/lv games 1st, especially forwards before they play league games and even then they need to grow before being good squad players.

Also 2 cheap signings shouldnt mean the dragons cant promote any youngsters when their ready

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Morgannwg u said they were crap players and there were better players in the WP but admittd u hadnt seen either. What i meant was edwards has seen both players AND seen the players in the WP- he probably has more info to make a comparison on.

Also maybe the dragons didnt sign rawlins coz they needed the budget for players who r ready now - while the scarlets r happy to put him in the academy until hes ready

Yeah but when budgets are tight I'd rather take from the feeder clubs and hand out some development contracts. Seems more logical than buying in crap to me. There doesn't seem much point in having these feeders if they aren't rewarded.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Morg most players play wales u20/lv games 1st, especially forwards before they play league games and even then they need to grow before being good squad players.

FFS, yes I know this.

It would seem logical if the wp players were ready for league games - but the coach whose seen both sets of players and thinks the signings r the beta options

Morgannwg wrote:
Yeah but when budgets are tight I'd rather take from the feeder clubs and hand out some development contracts. Seems more logical than buying in crap to me. There doesn't seem much point in having these feeders if they aren't rewarded.

What feeder clubs?
In the case of Cardiff there is only Ponty as a so called "feeder club" aka a team where Cardiff Blues place a contracted player or two.

Llanelli, Llandovery, Aberavon, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Tonmawr, Bedwas, Newport, Cross Keys, Pontypool. Those feeders clubs.

Morgannwg wrote:Llanelli, Llandovery, Aberavon, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Tonmawr, Bedwas, Newport, Cross Keys, Pontypool. Those feeders clubs.

Yeah alright.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Llanelli, Llandovery, Aberavon, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Tonmawr, Bedwas, Newport, Cross Keys, Pontypool. Those feeders clubs.

Yeah alright.

Cardiff Blues feeder clubs are - Cardiff and Ponty (and Glamorgan to an extend)

Cardiff RFC has been run mostly as the Blues academy side

Ponty is still run as a feeder club and there players are often called into the Blues academy (and player like Dacey and Rhys Downes has played many regional game)


Also im glad nobody here is running the academy structure in Wales.

Unfortunetly, if you throw 18/19 yr old straight into regional rugby, you destroy more careers than you make. The Scarlets academy has done well at conditioning their young back and preparing them well for regional rugby (something they are struggling to do with young locks), but it all takes time (and talent) - If there are no promising players coming through in a certain position, you have to bring in someone from elsewhere, and then budget decides the quality of who you bring in (see Brad Thorn for Leinster).

to an extent i agree with morg on here,

although having watched keys on 4 occasions i would say the props are not up to the standard of the Rabbo (fitness/conditioning wise) so perhaps the TH signing was a good one, besides the TH we signed has played for Toulon so surely cant be complete dross (one would hope)

as for second row i am livid we have let gerwyn price, lewis rawlins go and are overlooking hodge

watch this space i guess guys not all Eng Champ players are dross, remember we pinched Bearman and Will Harries from there one is a welsh cap and the other was on the verge before injury

A sprinkling of European class props wouldn't go amiss across all regions and some national scrum experts. Other than Os the regions have been weak at scrum time and they suffered from it in tight games.

Generally the backs and defensive play have been fine.

Prop news anyone?

there is valid points on both side of this argument. do you recruit non welsh players who might hit the ground running in the rabo (if not spectacularly) or do you invest in welsh players from the premiership who might need a season or so to find their feet. Lloyd Burns (Cross Keys) and Adam Warren (Llandovery) have proved that given a chance by a region they can step up & they've gone on to win a welsh cap within a season of playing regional rugby. off the top of my head there are a few players in the premiership who are worth taking a punt on:

Luke Kendal (Llandovery)- Big ball carrying 8 in the mould of Ben Morgan.
Gerwyn Price ( Cross Keys)- Hooker
Justin James (Llanelli) -Scrum Half
Morgan Allen (Aberavon) - Number Eight
Dan Hodge (Cross Keys) - Lock
Hayd Pugh ( Carmarthen Quins) - Lock
Lewis Jones (Pontypridd) - Scrum Half
Rheon James ( Llanelli) - Centre
Richard Carter ( Aberavon) - Winger


Also who is the Newport lock who also plays for UWIC? He's a massive athletic unit. Sure missed a few players ( possibly rob nash or ashley sweet) would they be a hit at regional rugby? who know unless given a chance.

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Llanelli, Llandovery, Aberavon, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Tonmawr, Bedwas, Newport, Cross Keys, Pontypool. Those feeders clubs.

Yeah alright.

Cardiff Blues feeder clubs are - Cardiff and Ponty (and Glamorgan to an extend)

Cardiff RFC has been run mostly as the Blues academy side

Ponty is still run as a feeder club and there players are often called into the Blues academy (and player like Dacey and Rhys Downes has played many regional game)

I think the term "feeder" is a bit confusing and misleading. It suggests that Cardiff Blues can use Ponty players as and when they feel like which isn't the case. The only Ponty players we can use are those contracted to Cardiff, so who is feeding who?
And how can Cardiff be a feeder club to Cardiff Blues when they are both part of the same club? Ask Neil if you're not sure.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Llanelli, Llandovery, Aberavon, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Cardiff, Pontypridd, Tonmawr, Bedwas, Newport, Cross Keys, Pontypool. Those feeders clubs.

Yeah alright.

Cardiff Blues feeder clubs are - Cardiff and Ponty (and Glamorgan to an extend)

Cardiff RFC has been run mostly as the Blues academy side

Ponty is still run as a feeder club and there players are often called into the Blues academy (and player like Dacey and Rhys Downes has played many regional game)

I think the term "feeder" is a bit confusing and misleading. It suggests that Cardiff Blues can use Ponty players as and when they feel like which isn't the case. The only Ponty players we can use are those contracted to Cardiff, so who is feeding who?
And how can Cardiff be a feeder club to Cardiff Blues when they are both part of the same club? Ask Neil if you're not sure.

Feeder in that players who play well for Ponty RFC and Cardiff RFC are the ones who get academy contracts.

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

I think the term "feeder" is a bit confusing and misleading. It suggests that Cardiff Blues can use Ponty players as and when they feel like which isn't the case. The only Ponty players we can use are those contracted to Cardiff, so who is feeding who?
And how can Cardiff be a feeder club to Cardiff Blues when they are both part of the same club? Ask Neil if you're not sure.

Feeder in that players who play well for Ponty RFC and Cardiff RFC are the ones who get academy contracts.

Cardiff can bring in players from anywhere. They are not limited by the pretend regional thingy. Halfpenny is a good example. Ask Neil.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

wales606 wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

I think the term "feeder" is a bit confusing and misleading. It suggests that Cardiff Blues can use Ponty players as and when they feel like which isn't the case. The only Ponty players we can use are those contracted to Cardiff, so who is feeding who?
And how can Cardiff be a feeder club to Cardiff Blues when they are both part of the same club? Ask Neil if you're not sure.

Feeder in that players who play well for Ponty RFC and Cardiff RFC are the ones who get academy contracts.

Cardiff can bring in players from anywhere. They are not limited by the pretend regional thingy. Halfpenny is a good example. Ask Neil.

Yep they can. But the player in Ponty and Cardiff are the ones that are focussed on. Generally the region who are overlords over the clubs tend to get first dibs - only when they are rejected, as 1/2p was then another region normally goes for them.

Plus the Blues selectors tend to see the players coming through the Ponty academy (and Cardd academy, which is effectively the Blues age grade) before any other and offer the good ones contracts.

Morgannwg wrote:Both of the Cross Keys props, Cornock and Jones was it? I may be mistaken. Blues took their hooker. Scarlets took Rawlings but somebody said in this thread that Dragons were looking at a 2nd row from one of their clubs? How's that miss? And who has lost what first team?

If you think me pointing out that your sarcastic posts were pointless and didn't add value to the article is having a tantrum, then I'm afraid you are mistaken, again .

Richard Cornock (the loosehead) needs too much work fitness wise and loosehead is not such a problem for the Dragons anyway, as Williams (who has been getting praise from the Welsh management according to a recent Argus article) and Phil Price do a job. Marc Jones is maybe ready, but isn't too young now, so I'd rather try to develop Buck (though he needs a bit of work with his scrummaging) and Way. I didn't know Gerwyn Price had definitely been snapped up by anybody? It's still only a rumour with him going to the Blues.

Rawlins was a player to develop maybe, but he wasn't even first choice for Keys and probably won't get too much of a look in down PYS, bar the odd LV game. Danny Hodge is probably the only lock from Keys who might be ready (though his discipline from what I've seen isn't great) and I hear good things about Ashley Sweet from Ebbw.

risca:

agree with your evaluation on marc jones, reason why i didn't add him to the list of premiership players a few posts up. think he would need a lot of conditioning to be able to play 60-80 mins of rabo. on a postive with him he does srummage well, and uses his weight to stop the loosehead to get underneath him. like you said buck would seem to have more potentional. not sure about gerwyn, last article in the argus on him stated :

"The 27-year-old from Markham has caught the eye of Newport Gwent Dragons and Cardiff Blues after enjoying a tremendous season with the Pandy Park outfit"

so possibly still might be heading to the dragons?

last i heard ashley sweet was heading to llanelli rfc, well gypo was trying to get him signed. but there is that go lock with newport/UWIC can't remember his name.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Here's confirmation that Manu has signed a new contract

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18297998

I supose that means that the Scarlets won't now be recruiting that All Blacks prop!

Next Season:

Loose head: Phil John, Rh Jones

Tight Head: Gardiner, Edwards, Manu

Manu can also play LH and Jones seems to be being developed as a TH. Some good youngsters in the under 20s who will probably be asked to step up during the season.

danny wilson who joins us this summer is full of praise for rob evans, kyrby myhill and samson lee the scarlets front row he coach with the under 20 this season. still think we need to recruit in the front row dept though in my opinion. injuries and RJ spending time with the welsh squad would leave us pretty short in the prop dept. gardiner was being released and heading over the severn bridge, but maybe that's changed now simon is DOR.

Id still expect us to sign a new prop - supposedly the kiwi th johnson. We def need a prop to replace rhys t even with manu resigning

According to scarlet fever mat gilbert is being let go.

Would be gutted if it happens as hes shown up well in the games hes played, is only young and seems like hell improve and be a good understudy for murphy at 8 nexr season.

People on fever board say hes been treated disgustingly like liam davies, he was promised a contract for months and not told anything, and kept in the dark until he managed to find out now that hes not being given a new contract late in the off season with his contract almost ended.

Info not mine but from scarlet fever