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

Delve extends Rebel contract

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18571770

Im sure the BBC journalists are reading this forum...

Well this is the week I hope the scarlets will annonce a few signings, well at least one of the three. Fingers crossed hey!

pioden gorllewin wrote:has anyone else heard that jon thomas is training with the scarlets?

I got to be honest I ain't heard anything to do with JT for a while, but I would have thought that if he were leaving the Ospreys they would have announced in when they announced they let Owen and Co. go a few weeks ago. That said he is coming to the back end of his career now, and will probably struggle to make the Ospreys squad in either the back or second row, so I could understand if he was looking elsewhere. And I guess we are a bit short on locks so it would make sense.

Smirnoffpriest wrote: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.

He hasn't been great. Certainly not a 'typical' Argentinian lock (poor in the scrum, not a standout in the lineout and haven't noticed much in terms of tackles, rucks or carries. If he's cheap backup he's ok. but he's only really got as much time as he has due to injuries to other players.

NB I'm not a die hard Quins supporter so there have been plenty of games I've missed and it could be biasing my opinion of him.

Thanks hammer for the info - if he does sign think it would only be as a squad filler.

Spiderman: think JT is contracted to ospreys until 2014, so can't see it myself. Think some fans have seen someone resembling JT at training, and thought it was him. Few texts later everyone is asking is JT signing for the scarlet's

Ah the good old rumour mill, good fun if you can get a decent on started too.

Cheers Hammer - disappointing to read he didn't make an impression with you while at Quins, though hopefully the Scarlets could improve him. He should make decent squad cover though...

Pioden - I hope so, as I'll be royally annoyed if we've spent money (wages) on JT that could have gone towards signing a really good backrow player or strengthening out front row/locks!

I hope JT doesn't leave, i prefer him to Stowers at 8 any day of the week.

gowales wrote:I hope JT doesn't leave, i prefer him to Stowers at 8 any day of the week.

To be fair I think most people would prefer Shane Williams to Stowers at No.8 based on his peformances in an Ospreys shirt. I have been really disappointed with him, I thought he would be a good signing, but so far he has done nothing of note.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

gowales wrote:I hope JT doesn't leave, i prefer him to Stowers at 8 any day of the week.

To be fair I think most people would prefer Shane Williams to Stowers at No.8 based on his peformances in an Ospreys shirt. I have been really disappointed with him, I thought he would be a good signing, but so far he has done nothing of note.

I think that the Ospreys are actually playing Stowers wrongly. They're trying to use him as a big ball carrying, big hitting player when he's actually a skillful runner/linkman with a good rugby brain, that's the way he plays for Samoa anyway. Doesn't seem like the Ospreys coaches did their homework on him.

gowales wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

gowales wrote:I hope JT doesn't leave, i prefer him to Stowers at 8 any day of the week.

To be fair I think most people would prefer Shane Williams to Stowers at No.8 based on his peformances in an Ospreys shirt. I have been really disappointed with him, I thought he would be a good signing, but so far he has done nothing of note.

I think that the Ospreys are actually playing Stowers wrongly. They're trying to use him as a big ball carrying, big hitting player when he's actually a skillful runner/linkman with a good rugby brain, that's the way he plays for Samoa anyway. Doesn't seem like the Ospreys coaches did their homework on him.

Johnson not doing his homework?!?!

NEVER

goWales - I think that he was planned to be/become a Filo Tiatia, and like you said he just doesn't seem to fit the bit in that role. I guess that is one of the real downsides to having a player like that, once they are gone (retired/change clubs) finding a replacement is neigh on impossible.

priest:

I'd reckon we'll have a press conference pretty soon with wilson coming back from sa. Just hoping that during the conference we'll hear a little bit more about what what our squad will look like next season. Because at the moment it's looking a bit short of numbers in certain positions.

pioden gorllewin wrote:priest:

I'd reckon we'll have a press conference pretty soon with wilson coming back from sa. Just hoping that during the conference we'll hear a little bit more about what what our squad will look like next season. Because at the moment it's looking a bit short of numbers in certain positions.

Hope so, because I'm a bit worried that with pre-season already underway we haven't got a complete coaching team together yet (until Wilson comes back) and are still to announce 3? signings, and even with them are still looking light in lots of positions (LH, lock, 7, 8, FH)

According to planetrugby we've signed manuel carizza from biarritz!

looking at twitter the ex swansea rfc coach Jason Hyatt‏ has tweeted

"Good luck to Richard Kelly a great lineout technician I'm sure the Scarlets will show him the respect he derserves unlike the Ospreys !!"

6ft 6ins 16 stone Osprey lock.

more worrying is that rick o' shea has tweeted that the "orange one" is coming to us. hopefully rick o' shea is wrong on this one! but he was right that nige was going, replaced by easterby & we were after campbell johnstone (until he failed a medical)

If this is true, then it is his very last,last,last chance saloon. I hoper for the Scarlets sake it isn't true though as he could end up keep players like Adam Warren out of the side, and anyway the Scarlets are more blesses with centres than any other region.

pioden gorllewin wrote:looking at twitter the ex swansea rfc coach Jason Hyatt‏ has tweeted

"Good luck to Richard Kelly a great lineout technician I'm sure the Scarlets will show him the respect he derserves unlike the Ospreys !!"

6ft 6ins 16 stone Osprey lock.

more worrying is that rick o' shea has tweeted that the "orange one" is coming to us. hopefully rick o' shea is wrong on this one! but he was right that nige was going, replaced by easterby & we were after campbell johnstone (until he failed a medical)

Could he mean Gareth Owen?

Think the scarlet rumour mill is in over drive at the moment. JT, gareth owen and henson been mentioned as possible signings. Out of them it is only owen i'd be interested in really. Think we'll hear something this week on signings.

IF Henson is coming does that mean Garin Evans is off to Glaws?

I havent't heard of this Kelly before. Anyone know if he is any good? If these signings are right (Kelly, Carizza and Cinalli) then it would look like we have made fair strides to strengthen our options at lock.

I assume we won't sign another TH on the grounds of Manu re-signing, and with Samon Lee having a good JWC.

God I hope we don't sign Henson - even though he did ok at the Blues, he was so out of shape and took so long to get up to match fitness, making him even more vulnerable to injuries, meaning he's likely to spend as much time out of the side as on it. That's not to mention his obvious personality problems and the negative effect he could well have on the squad/morale.

I'm sure we'll sign a prop, we are too lightweight in that area. By interesting to sign Owen, but not sure I see it myself.

Whose Kelly? Did he appear for the Ospreys at all?

Kelly seems a bit lightweight at 16 stone for someone who is 6ft 6inch tall. But by all accounts he has plenty of aggression, so that ticks one important box for me ( scarlets pack has lacked aggression/dog for way too long now)

Were Easterby & Henson team mates with the Lions?

pioden gorllewin wrote:Were Easterby & Henson team mates with the Lions?

Yeah they were, and Henson and Mark Jones were Wales team mates. But that doesn't mean that they actually get along, or rate each others skills etc.

I love one comment on Twitter - "Andrew Lewis ‏@welshtreg

@joss_scarlet @thepaulwilliams @RickOSheaRugby Apparently its on a match by match basis, he will be paid in tanning lotion Nigel left !!!"

Ha very true spiderman.

I am very surprised that no clubs/regions have taken a look at Gareth Owen yet, o.k he was not as good as some of the Ospreys infront of him but he could at least do a job at the Blues or Dragons, the Scarlets have to much tallent in his position, also I am baffled as why no prem club has looked at signing him, surely he is good enough for that league, as long as he knuckles down and remains injury free.

Funny thing with Owen is had it not been for his injury, he probably would have been first choice fullback/inside centre in the 2011/2012 season

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18588045

Nige has come out and said he will not poach any players of coaches from the Scarlets. So at least that is one less thing to worry about.

Also reading some of the 'Henson for Scarlets' and Rick O'Sheas tweets and it sounds like it's rubbish, Rob McCusker says it's "poppycock" and Rick seems to admit it's unfounded rubbish...

Thank god for that

lord:

the regions would have known about the players availability before it was announced to the media that the 10 ospreys players being released. So far it's only the scarlets that have taken up the option to sign Kristian Phillips. I'd imagine that the regions probably had their eye on recruiting in other positions first (props, locks etc) and if there was any money left over to squeeze from their budget they'd probably go for the like of Owens, Davies etc....I would be surprised if Owens does end up at one of the welsh regions by the end of the summer. It looks like Barry is still looking for another club though:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Barry-Davies-hunt-right-club/story-16450617-detail/story.html

pioden, I would have thought that there would be a scramble over Gareth Owen though, as he is still young and has a lot to offer, I am sure Barry Davies will go to the Dragons as they have lost Martyn Thomas and they will only now have Prydie to cover at full back.

Also, what are you reffering to with your username, I am just curios as I do not know of any rugby clubs in the west of wales with that nickname, or is it just a passion of yours or something ?

Dowlais they also have Dan Evans who can play FB

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Dowlais they also have Dan Evans who can play FB

He can play fullback but I thought he was more of a 10, although I might be wrong, also are they going to play Prydie at full back or wing ?

Lord - Dan Evs has played more at fullback or wing for the Scarlets than at fly half, he has also been cappd for Wales there. Personally I thought he looked like the future international fullback a few seasons ago, but he fell out of favour at PYS and ended up spending most his time at with the semi-pros.

"London Welsh deny Henson deal"

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/166234.html?addata=chromium

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Lord - Dan Evs has played more at fullback or wing for the Scarlets than at fly half, he has also been cappd for Wales there. Personally I thought he looked like the future international fullback a few seasons ago, but he fell out of favour at PYS and ended up spending most his time at with the semi-pros.

Sorry, I was thinking of the Cross Keys player, Damn still cannot think of his name, he kicked the pen in the dying seconds against Wasps in the LV cup. AAAAAAAAAAAAArgh I can picture him now, I am having a brain fart.

Seems clubs now want to distance themselves from henson!

Steffan Jones,

Lord:

you beat me to it! was just about to say steffan jones

The username is welsh and translates to "western magpie" Tumble RFC are called the magpies

I thought u mite have meant steffan jones or robling. Them 2 will prob fight it out for the 10 spot while evans, prydie and leach fight for the 15 shirt

pioden gorllewin wrote:Lord:

you beat me to it! was just about to say steffan jones

The username is welsh and translates to "western magpie" Tumble RFC are called the magpies

Ahh I thought so, I never knew Tumble were called the magpies, I remember when Merthyr had beat them to get into div four in old money, I knew what it meant I just did not want to publicise it just incase you did not want people to know what it meant, anyway how do you support them you profile sais Caerdydd/ Cwm Gwendreath

I would have thought the Dragons backline would be something like

Evans
Prydie
Hughes
Smith
Chavanga / Harris
Jones / Robling
W Evans / J Evans

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I would have thought the Dragons backline would be something like

Evans
Prydie
Hughes
Smith
Chavanga / Harris
Jones / Robling
W Evans / J Evans

Prydie on the wing then ?

Yeah Prydie on the wing, but a bit more like the left, right and centre fullback style that Henry used, with players dropping back to cover each other as required.

Do you know what, with a few quality forwards, say Gerwyn Price from Cross keys and one or two others the Dragons have the making of a very good first fifteen, I dont think they will be the whipping boys some of the posters on here are expecting them to be.

Lord: I remember those division four days well, always a tough battle.

Tumble is in Cwm Gwendraeth, but now live in the big smoke.

Dragons should have an exciting young backline next season if everyone remains injury free. I know Smith is under rated and good defensively, but would Gareth provide more of a threat at 12?

Owen and Smith side by side would be interesting, then you could have Hughes (FB/WG/CTR), Robling (CTR/FH) and J Evans (SH) on the bench giving ample cover for all positions.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Lord: I remember those division four days well, always a tough battle.

Tumble is in Cwm Gwendraeth, but now live in the big smoke.

Dragons should have an exciting young backline next season if everyone remains injury free. I know Smith is under rated and good defensively, but would Gareth provide more of a threat at 12?

He would definatley add more creativity and is well worth a punt, if you ask me he would only improve them rather than weaken them if you get what I am saying, also what does Gwendraeth mean ? I have been racking my brain and the closest I can come up with is happybeach/smilybeach valley.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:Owen and Smith side by side would be interesting, then you could have Hughes (FB/WG/CTR), Robling (CTR/FH) and J Evans (SH) on the bench giving ample cover for all positions.

Hughes is the best centre the Dragons have, never been very impressed with Smith.