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

That's true. But is twice the player who plays half the time (if not less due to possible injury etc.) worth the money he would undeniably be able to command?

It's a tricky one. So unfortunate with Rhys Thomas' injury, was in brilliant form and, for me, should have been included in the Wales squad for the 6N if it was selected solely on form. If only we can beat Simon Gardiner into a more Adam Jones-shaped player...

For me, Murray would be no-go, with his refusal to play on sundays. You may get an important Heineken Cup fixture on a sunday this season. Lee, Myhill and Evans from the U20s look very good, as does Dan Thomas (no.7). Is there any chance of these guys getting some league games or will that young player development ethos have disapeared with Nige?

I'm sure that they will get game time, especially the front rowers, nothing to do with an ethos of development and more to do with a lack of depth meaning that they will get utilised and they will need to step up. Myhill has already played a few games last season and looked pretty good.

It was nigels ethos to bring through the youngsters, and did it particularly well. However i would question he had little option but to bring them through. We've had no money in recent years (post phill davies) to recruit. Think all the regions are going through a similar situation now of having to develop their own.

TH is probably the most difficult position to recruit for most teams these days. Here's hoping the scarlets stubble across an unknown georgian TH srummaging monster. Just until samson lee is ready to take over the regins in a couple of years time. Similar to leicester using castro and bringing through dan cole at the same time. Wishful thinking hey!

Myhill has had a decent amount of gametime (when he's not been away with Wales) over the last season or even two.

I would expect Lee and D Thomas to follow a similar path as our other youngsters in that their brought in with a gradual increase in exposure/gametime every season unless they show that they are above the current senior players in that position.

The reason I mentioned Murray is because as Pioden says it'll take a few seasons for Lee to have finished developing and in that time we could use the money saved on R Thomas, Iestyn, S Jones, and even B Morgan, Lyons and King and spend it on Murray so he can give us his experience and superiour (to what we already have) skill to help us on Fri/Saturdays (which most of our games are on) and to develop Lee and Evans. We then have Manu/Lee to cover on Sundays which is a good option.

He should also be cheaper seeing as he won't play on Sundays and is playing for a relegated team at a time when a lot of the bigger clubs have already completed their transfers

pioden gorllewin wrote:It was nigels ethos to bring through the youngsters, and did it particularly well. However i would question he had little option but to bring them through. We've had no money in recent years (post phill davies) to recruit. Think all the regions are going through a similar situation now of having to develop their own.

TH is probably the most difficult position to recruit for most teams these days. Here's hoping the scarlets stubble across an unknown georgian TH srummaging monster. Just until samson lee is ready to take over the regins in a couple of years time. Similar to leicester using castro and bringing through dan cole at the same time. Wishful thinking hey!

Was it really Nigel's ethos though? or rather his only choice due to restricted finances and Phil Davies failure in bringing "big names". I'm sure most coaches would have done what Nigel did.

Is Murray a rumour, or have they (the media and Scarlets management) not yet read this forum?

This thread said vallejos had signed over a week ago. So a bit quicker than western fail etc..think the TH we want is plying his trade in the super 15,athlough there are other TH on the shorlist if we dont sign our main target. Its a waiting game at the moment.

To be fair to nigel he does have a preference to bring youngsters through, although not saying he wouldnt recruit if he had any money. But your true in what your saying gowales he had little option but to play the youngsters. Would another manager fair any better in same situation? Tandy won the rabo bringing through younsters, granted he inherited a strong front five. Would have nigel have won the rabo if he took over the ospreys instead of tandy? Who knows.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17320489

Anyone else think the BBC might of done a copy paste job from this thread?

Artful_Dodger wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17320489

Anyone else think the BBC might of done a copy paste job from this thread?

Its been around since before this thread started, although it may aswell be updated with this thread.

The BBC sports journalists are terrible. Their articles pale in comparison to the ones on ESPN scrum. Pideon's version of ins and outs is much better .

Morgannwg wrote:The BBC sports journalists are terrible. Their articles pale in comparison to the ones on ESPN scrum. Pideon's version of ins and outs is much better .

Yep ESPN and Planetrugby are much better at analysis and previews, although the BBC is decent for Pro12 and 6Ns stuff.

Yeah they are, but that is because they are covering rugby in Britain and Ireland as opposed to the world; which is where ESPN and Planetrugby come in handy. Just look at the BBC Rugby homepage though, no creativity or thought into the writing whatsoever.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7855719,00.html

hopefully this means he will not end up at parc y scarlets

I doubt old Gav could even break into the Llanelli, Aberavon or Llandovery teams anyway. There is a lot of backs in that region.

Its a great shame that the Scarlets are abandoning their "grow your own" policy of developing young Welsh talent.

I supose its no suprise when you take into account that the region has to play the wages of their Wales international when for 2/3rds of the season they are unavailable to the region as they are away with Wales.

The strategy probably makes good business sense but what will be the long term cost to the game in Wales?

Seagultaf,

Since when are the Scarlets abandoning their academy??

Seagultaf wrote:Its a great shame that the Scarlets are abandoning their "grow your own" policy of developing young Welsh talent.

I supose its no suprise when you take into account that the region has to play the wages of their Wales international when for 2/3rds of the season they are unavailable to the region as they are away with Wales.

The strategy probably makes good business sense but what will be the long term cost to the game in Wales?

I don't know about it being us dropping our develope from within policy. We have signed a few locks and that is it. If you think about it, we have lost a lions fly half, international winger, an international fullback, an international number eight, and an international loosehead prop. So to lose that much wuality and not be looking to go on the market to replace them would show that we are sticking with our youth policies.

That's very unfair (and unfounded) Seagulf - The Scarlets have developed within for every single position on the field (and then developed homegrown cover for those positions - except TH). It's just we developed 3 Welsh qualified locks and they didn't prove up to scratch so we needed to get rid of them, the Welsh Qualified locks better than them (R Jones, AWJ, Ianto, Brad and even Patterson) would all cost too much to sign so we've gone for NWQ signings which will be better than what we've had, give us a platform (which we've sorely needed) and help us develop the next wave of Welsh qualified locks (like Rawlings).

It's all part of the development policy, and will also improve the other youngsters in the squad - as it's a lot easier to play if you're pack is giving you a platform and parity in the scrums/breakdown/lineout

To be fair to the scarlets they are still in the process of developing some locks, however they will need a couple of seasons before they are ready. The scarlets have brought in lewis rawlins on an academy contract from cross keys, and Richard Kelly from the Ospreys. Also there is plenty of potential within the feeder clubs already - Hopefully under the guidance of Earle, Vallejos and possibly Eaton they will be ready to take over the reigns in two years time. The locks we are currently developing are:

Llanelli RFC = Galley,Rawling,Price,White

Carmarthen Quins = Kelly, Haydn Pugh,Carwyn Jones, Barley

Llandovery = Meadowsat and Shaun Jones

Plenty of potential there, and to be fair to Gareth Jenkins his long term plan is that these boys will eventually play for the Scarlets.

Pioden, Priest, SS - can't add anything to that really, all spot on posts

Apparently Rob McCusker has been named captain for next season

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Apparently Rob McCusker has been named captain for next season

So Matthew Rees' place isn't certain anymore, Ken Owens will be first choice for the Scarlets by the end of next season (and for Wales, unless Huw Bennett returns from the French proD2)

I guess Rob is a decent choice. He has done the job in the past and will most likely be available all season around (unless there is a shake up in the welsh squad).

I have a feeling that Smiler will be used for big HEC games, and as a bench option in the Rabo. Much like Steve Jones was last season.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:I guess Rob is a decent choice. He has done the job in the past and will most likely be available all season around (unless there is a shake up in the welsh squad).

I have a feeling that Smiler will be used for big HEC games, and as a bench option in the Rabo. Much like Steve Jones was last season.

They probably also wanted to choose a player who wouldn't be away with Wales for big parts of the season - which would discount Rees.

Chuffed for Rob. I know he's taken over the captaincy during games before. He's a hugely committed Scarlet and does loads in the local community too, and he can be a great leader on the pitch. Hope he manages to get through a season injury free though!

wales606 wrote:

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Apparently Rob McCusker has been named captain for next season

So Matthew Rees' place isn't certain anymore, Ken Owens will be first choice for the Scarlets by the end of next season (and for Wales, unless Huw Bennett returns from the French proD2)

So where will Rob play, 6 or 8? Also I wouldn't be so sure of him staying put with Scarlets, he could well get a re-call to the Wales squad himself. Rees work-rate is like Gethins, a back-row players work-rate in other words. Any team would miss that, I think that is the advantage he has on Owens. Both of their lineout throwings seemed a bit suspect in Aus though. Huw probably won't return from France, but aren't you forgetting about Hibbard?

Morg - IMO the main difference between Ken and Smiler is that Ken is a little bit more accurate with his throws, and slightly more bull-like in the loose, and Smiler is slightly better in the scrums. I guess that we are blessed to have both on the books.

I think with regards to McCusker that he may be one of those unfortuanates who picked up injuries at the wrong time, and as a result has slipped down the pecking order. In order to get back into the Welsh squad, he will have to prove he is better than Lydiate, Ryan Jones and Aaron Shingler on the blindside, or prove he is better than Faletau, Ryan Jones, Aaron Shingler and Sam Warburton at No.8. So unless there one or more of those listed gets a knock, I thin Rob will be forgotted (sadly).

I think it was Pioden who said that McCusker would be played at 8 this season and could well be our 1st choice 8 - that would be a great shame IMO as he's never impressed me at 8, but before his injury looked really good as a flanker.

I really hope he gets an injury free season as he should then cut loose and really show how well he's developing.

Smirnoff - I think it will probably be a case of fitting Rob in where he is needed, as we have Shingler, Turnbull and Murphy (and then Edwards, Pugh?, Dan Thomas etc), so odds are which ever one of them has done the least to deserve a start will end up on the bench and then Rob will stat with them all shuffling around to where they fit best.

I hope not as we need a dedicated 8, IMO that should be Murphy, and then either get our flankers swapping depending on opposition/availability or concentrate say Turnbull as more of a 7 and McCusker/Shingler as a 6 (or the other way round).

I think if you're telling a player to play 6 one week, 7 the next and then 8 the week after, then they'll struggle and won't develop the skills properly that they need to excel in those positions (particularly if they're not used to playing a position - like 8)

I see where your coming from, but I do think that we seem to be more left/right flanker than blind/openside, or two 6.5s as some put it. Yeah at 8 you need to be a bit more specialist and that will most likely be McCusker or Murphy (again depending on fitness/form and others fitness/form)

yeah sorry I was thinking 6.5 flankers, not sure why I put down 6/7 flankers (must have been looking at D Thomas and Edwards names)

Tom Smith has resigned for the Ospreys, strange news but very welcome. Made more appearances than anyone for the O's in the pro12 last season and gave everything for the cause.

georgestowersbiceps wrote:Tom Smith has resigned for the Ospreys, strange news but very welcome. Made more appearances than anyone for the O's in the pro12 last season and gave everything for the cause.

Another Xavier Rush moment. Maybe it could be that hte Ospreys have earnt a bit more than they planned on season tickets etc, and can afford to offer him a contract after all. Out of interest what happened with Baldwin, I heard he was leaving (around mind to late season) and I have not heard anything since, is he another u-turn?

here is the link to the Tom Smith Story:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Tom-Smith-makes-rapid-Ospreys-return/story-16477143-detail/story.html

Baldwin is here to stay as far as i'm aware. He'll be our second choice Hooker for the next season.

With Macusker as captain, who will be the Scarlets first choice backrow?

Shinger, Macusker, Turnbull? Edwards? Murphy? Who will play 8 and who will play 7 if Macusker is nailed on at 6?

georgestowersbiceps wrote:Baldwin is here to stay as far as i'm aware. He'll be our second choice Hooker for the next season.

Thats good to hear. He seemed to be pretty decent when he was getting game time at the back end of hte season.

Seagultaf wrote:With Macusker as captain, who will be the Scarlets first choice backrow?

Shinger, Macusker, Turnbull? Edwards? Murphy? Who will play 8 and who will play 7 if Macusker is nailed on at 6?

Personally I would think that the first choice backrow (going on how Wales seem to want use them)

6 Turnbull, 7 Shingler, 8 McCusker with Murphy on the bench (possibly with Dan Thomas on the bench too, and relying on Shingler to drop into the second row if required).

Not sure how much truth is in it, but the scarlet fever forum are saying Jason Eaton has turned down the Scarlets. Apparently he was looking for a lot more money than we could offer. Last I heard we were still in negotiations and he was going to make a desicion after the canes campaign in the super 15. Know there is a shortlist of 3 locks, so I guess we now concentrate on who was 2nd on the list.

I think we'll have Timani or Vallejos Cinalli on the bench (once the new lock is signed) and alternate between Murphy/D Thomas on the other bench spot.

Though to be honest I'd much prefer Murphy to be our starting 8.

I'd heard rumours Eaton had turned us down Pioden - but haven't thought much of it until I hear something concrete one way or the other.

Of course I did expect an announcement at the end of last week for ALL of our signings, but there we are...

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Seagultaf wrote:With Macusker as captain, who will be the Scarlets first choice backrow?

Shinger, Macusker, Turnbull? Edwards? Murphy? Who will play 8 and who will play 7 if Macusker is nailed on at 6?

Personally I would think that the first choice backrow (going on how Wales seem to want use them)

6 Turnbull, 7 Shingler, 8 McCusker with Murphy on the bench (possibly with Dan Thomas on the bench too, and relying on Shingler to drop into the second row if required).

I think Turnbull will be at 7, but yea that's what i think it'll be.

go - I would personally rather Turnbull there, but I just have a feeling that the national side will ask for them the other way around.

Maybe Spidey, but i think they'll be looking at Shingler as a 6/8 from now on. Especially with guys like Navidi and Dan Thomas coming through, i suspect that was only an experiment due to the circumstances.

We'll almost def play more 6.5 flankers unless Edwards/Pugh/D Thomas play, but I think Shinglers slightly more the 7, especially with how fast he is getting to breakdowns and linking up play.

Breaking news - Nigel Davies has pulled off the signing of one of his former Scarlets coaches and taken him to work with him at Glaucester ( http://www.planet-rugby.co.za/story/0,25883,3823_7861330,00.html )

Poor Glaws!!

I know it's not a Welsh region signing but Gloucester have signed Paul Moriarty as defence coach

http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/7429.php