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

What is it with promising young Welsh players and their ability to self destruct ?

Maybe im being a bit harsh on gardiner. He's from the same neck of the woods as spiderman. So he might hav more info than me.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Maybe im being a bit harsh on gardiner. He's from the same neck of the woods as spiderman. So he might hav more info than me.

From what I know Gardener didn't exactly see eye to eye with Nigel, and unfortunately had the 'permbrokeshire player' syndrome where they believe just becasue a professional side or region has shown interest in them, that they are now the best thing going (like Tal Selley, Nathan Williams and Dom Day to a point). Hopefully he will be able to sort himself out and get some chances under the new coaches.

Rhys Downes to Newport;

http://www.ponty.net/-downsey-moves-on

Do you think he'll feature for the Dragons Cardiff Dave, based on how he was for Ponty/Blues?

Surely the Blues will sign another SH now?

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Do you think he'll feature for the Dragons Cardiff Dave, based on how he was for Ponty/Blues?

Surely the Blues will sign another SH now?

I'm sure he'll feature for the Drags and that seems to be the plan.
Thought we were signing the London Welsh SH.

really? I hadn't heard that, but good to know your getting some depth in.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:really? I hadn't heard that, but good to know your getting some depth in.

It's mentioned in the other thread. Maybe it's just a rumour though.
https://www.606v2.com/t24805p650-cardiff-blues-heading-in-a-slightly-upward-direction

Ahh must have missd it/forgotten - to b honest most of my attention has been on scarlet locks/THs so i could have heard this news and then lost it in the nige and eaton news. I hope he makes a decent squad player

i spoke to rob lewis the other day in richmond. he said he was looking for a move back to one of the welsh regions this summer. so not suprised his name has link with a move to the blues. thought downes had offically moved to the club newport, rather than the dragons? cronk the newport coach implied he would be playing most his rugby with them. but i guess if he makes an impression then he'll feature for the dragons.

in regards to gardiner not sure if he will be released or not. what i understand there are a few players that are pre season training that management are undecided on. some of those players might even struggle to get a contract with llanelli rfc.

Downes is a very good SH - probably should have featured a lot more last season.

Rob Lewis is apparently doing very well in the championship, and signing him will be a good move - we will have to with only 2 SHs on the books and 1 away with Wales most of the season.

wales606 wrote:Downes is a very good SH - probably should have featured a lot more last season.

Rob Lewis is apparently doing very well in the championship, and signing him will be a good move - we will have to with only 2 SHs on the books and 1 away with Wales most of the season.

They way Lloyd Williams is playing compared to Rhys Webb, I don't think you will loose him tha often.

looks like nigel davies might want to take mark jones with him to gloucester:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_union/4380717/Gloucester-to-swoop-for-ex-Wales-wing-Mark-Jones-as-coach.html

LordDowlais wrote:

wales606 wrote:Downes is a very good SH - probably should have featured a lot more last season.

Rob Lewis is apparently doing very well in the championship, and signing him will be a good move - we will have to with only 2 SHs on the books and 1 away with Wales most of the season.

They way Lloyd Williams is playing compared to Rhys Webb, I don't think you will loose him tha often.

There are normally 3 SHs in the squad - and Phillips may miss one of the autumn games in anycase, so they will have to have 3.

pioden gorllewin wrote:looks like nigel davies might want to take mark jones with him to gloucester:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_union/4380717/Gloucester-to-swoop-for-ex-Wales-wing-Mark-Jones-as-coach.html

Why don't they just move the Scarlets to Kingsholm and have done!

Hopefully this gets settled pretty soon, one way or the other. Just don’t want it to get drawn out like nigel’s move to glaws (pre season has already started) Must be very unsettling for the players not knowing what’s going on. If Mark does go I wish him all the best, he’s been a great servant to the region.

Pioden - Mark has been a great servant to the region, and has definately given his all to the region. I do not begrudge him anything. However if he does go to Glaws with Nige then I will be hugely disappointed in them both. (if that makes sense). Thinking about it where has Glaws suddenly got all this money to throw at law suits (against Sale/Redpath) and buying players/coaches out of contracts?

ALso just openned the link. The sun show how bad their reporting on rugby is, they call Scott Quinnell an 'ex-dragons ace'.

Spiderman: noticed the ex dragon thing too, but took it as ex dragon as in welsh dragon (international) my only complaint with nige and mark is that they are appearing in my view to play be both clubs off against each other for the best possible contract. This is being done half way through re building our front five, and pre season only just started. Seems like very little loyalty, but hey ho that professional rugby these days.

Yeah I assumed they meant international, but its still poor journo skills.

As for the playing clubs/regions against each other, i guess we expect players to do that sort of thing when their contracts are up, so it was only a matter of time before coaches did it too. I have no problems with Mark or any other coach doing it as such, and however if he were to go to Glaws then IMO that would be poor form by Nige, as he knows that Mark is needed by the Scarlets, and that would be a bit disloyal of him to poach him.

wait till nige starts going after the players! he'll know all the academy, development and senior contracts that the players are on. wouldn't surprise me if more scarlet players will end up at gloucester in next couple of seasons.

Mefin Davies has been named the new coach at Swansea, so I assume that is him retiring (which is well derserved)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18446090

If Mark was doing as much of the backs coaching as has been claimed then its no wonder ND wants to take him with him, he'll be needing him to keep doing his job for him. I hope Mark stays where he is and we can all get to see whether ND really is any good when he has to build his own team and rely on his own people skills.

2ndtime - Didn't he build his own team with us, both on and off feild?

spiderman:

I think nige built his own coaching team around him, however I'm not sure what his role within the coaching team actually was. I remember Nige saying in an interview a last season that he rarely spent time on the training paddock coaching anymore. That was something he left to Simon Easterby and Mark Jones to do. Garan Evans does all administration and logistics (travelling, players housing, car rentals etc) Gyppo looks after the academy and development side of things (deciding who gets contracts etc) Gyppo is also involved in the scouting and player recruitment too. I guess Nige over see's all the personnel underneath him, and implementing his "take a picture" rugby playing philosophy. In regards to his man management skills, I'm not too sure about them to be truthful. I know some of the senior players (welsh internationals) weren't overly impressed when he was appointed coach in the first place. He has also fallen out with a number of players during his time in charge ( too many to name) His treatment of Iestyn, Manu and Gilbert this off season has been poor, and that's putting it mildly. I've been told by players on numerous occasions that they could listen to Steve Jones all day about his rugby knowledge, however avoid the same question when asked about gyppo and pwd. They just tend to joke about his use of sunbeds,hairdye etc friendly banter I guess, but not really showing much respect…. I'd also question Nigel's tactical nous, as I've stated on here before (Brive and Northampton game springs to mind) On the playing side of things, did he have much option but to go with the youngsters? Although credit to him he has seemed to have blooded the youngsters very well. But I guess time will tell how good he actually is with Gloucester.

Pioden - I get what your saying. However he must have some sort of man management skills as personally I couldn't see Mark and Easters doing all of the above and beyond stuff if they didn't have faith in the man above. Surely by now the signs of knives being sharpened behnd his back would have shown. Anyway yeah we will see what he can do at Glaws, and if he does well then that will be the next welsh coach sorted and if he flops that will be him done and dusted.

I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Mark Jones and he came across as a very professional and very forthright person. He is a very nice person who understands what is needed to get to what you want. He will be a big loss to the Scarlets if he does leave as he has so much knowledge of the game, in fact, you hered it here first, I honestly beleive that he is a future Welsh coach/manager in the making.

spiderman:

Don't get me wrong I think Nigel did very well to get us through a difficult period after the mess Phil Davies left us in. I just wonder whether he has taken us as far as he can? Think his move to Gloucester was a good move for both parties, especially as we got compensation out of the deal ( timing not great though)

Lord:

Think you're right about Mark, there is something about him. Not sure if skills coach is the most suited job for him, think he will eventually have a more senior role. He's very clued on, fair play to him. On a positive it does look like he's staying with us:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-dismiss-Mark-Jones-exit-talk/story-16425116-detail/story.html

pioden, his attitude just seems top notch. It's just not his attitude towards rugby either, it's his attitude towards life in general. I remeber when Gatland first came here and after the England game at Twickenham he was dropped along with Alix Popham, but unlike Popham Mark turned everything around and got back into the team, shows the real go forward of the guy.

think he also came back from two knee ACL reconstruction (if my memory serves me well) during his playing career. both cruel injuries while he was in his prime. he showed the mental strength and determination to get over these injuries to play again.

Yes, and that was what I spoke to him about when I met him, he basicaly said that he had to have two new knees , he was recovering from his second one when I met him, he was doing a presentation for our rugby club's youth side.

Don't know why Mark Jones is an attack coach/skills coach. In his playing days it didn't seem like he had any skills or knowledge of backline play. Maybe they should let him go, wait a few season for Stephen Jones to retire with Wasps and then offer him a coaching job!

graham henry wasn't a particular good player but made a great coach. true mark wasn't the most skillful of players, but fingers crossed he'll be a successful backs coach. think at some point in the future stevo will be back at the scarlets in some coaching capacity.

Hope Steve comes back, but he'll need to do a good job at Wasps to get one of the senior coaching roles IMO.

It's a shame with the timing/player development, as if Steve was a bit older then he could have already been a coach with the Scarlets and might have now been in a position to take head coach, that would have meant we'd have had space/money to keep Shingler and give him game time to compete with Priestland and could have kept both (with J Williams coming through), but as it is we've lost both Stevo and Shingler and don't even have Stevo in a coaching role.

But ahh well...

pretty sure quins lock Tomas Vallejos Cinalli has signed for the scarlets. i've mentioned it earlier in the thread, but think it's signed now. athletic lock who will probably compete with timani for the bench option.

Quins? as in Carmarthen or Harlequins?

Sorry meant harlequins - hopefully announcement next week. Fingers crossed can follow it up with signing eaton. Earles and eaton in second row, with a half decent TH. Defo 2 locks and TH. Might squeeze another signing if right player and finances allow it.

Aye tis just such a shame they'll be NWQ though, but needs must I guess, to help them train and bring through the youngsters from the academy.

I guess that's one of your 3 signings right Pioden!

If he's as good as Timani then he'll be a good addition to the squad and better than the locks we lost...

Going by the Quins website Cinalli is 6ft5 113 kg (17 st 11 lb), and last season played 23 times (12 starts in total), 6 starts in the AV with 7 sub apps, 4 starts in the HEC and 2 subs (which is pretty good)

Hopefully he could be a pretty good addition to the squad.

give it a season or so dreamer and we'll have rhodri, ken and the entire welsh u20 front row. hopefully joel galley and carwyn jones can make the grade in the second row, but there are no obvious candidates coming through at lock. rawlins has signed on a development contract, and we are still looking at ashley sweet the ebbw vale second second row.

yes priest i'm pretty sure (well the person i spoke to) that vallejos was a done deal. he's the squad filler, and one HC standard lock will follow. The TH they are looking at (I don't know who) is apparently a Rabo standard, possibly better. They'll also pick up another welsh qualified TH - Cross I think has signed for the Drovers & Gardiner depending on who you speak to has been released but asked back to train, or just released (if that makes sense)

priest i think he will have a similar role with us. benching the big games, and starting against some of the weaker rabo teams.

Its good to know we've signed a 'squad filler' lock with hec exp. Fingers crossd our scrum can compete with rhodri & the new th and we dont get any serious injuries. Still think we r light at prop

has anyone else heard that jon thomas is training with the scarlets?

ah no, don't say that! He's been rubbish for seasons now, I wouldn't want him anywhere near us!

Covers lock, 6 and 8. Might explain why we let gilbert go? Would add valuable experience to pack while internatinals are away, and is battled hardened in the rabo. But like you dreamer im wishing its not true.

Surely he would command a bigish wage, and even though he has int experience and can cover a lot of positions, he's been playing pants for ages.

I would have preferred to keep Gilbert for half (or more) the wages and maybe look to bring in another squad player.


Still I suppose least he brings experience and more depth to a depleted pack.

Can't see a date on this article but the Rugby Paper says that Delve has signed on for another season with the Rebels (though they call them the RaboDirect Rebels rather than Melbourne Rebels).

I thought he'd signed for Toulon?

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/12/06/24/RUGBYU_Rebels.html

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Can't see a date on this article but the Rugby Paper says that Delve has signed on for another season with the Rebels (though they call them the RaboDirect Rebels rather than Melbourne Rebels).

I thought he'd signed for Toulon?

http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/12/06/24/RUGBYU_Rebels.html

There were strong rumours of his Toulon move but there was nothing more than just discussions. He was saying in an interview with Green and Gold rugby a few months ago that he was really keen on staying with the Rebels. When Toulon signed Masoe a while back though, that more or less confirmed that Delve wasn't going there.

I see, real shame the Scarlets didn't have enough money to sign him - would have been an awesome addition to the squad