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

To be fair, seeing as Mark Jones had to have both his knees reconstructed, I would say the Scarlets medical advisors are experts in knowing if a player is able to come back from a knee injury or not. I don't mind Gareth Owen signing. Considering so many of our backs will be called up with Wales, we need as much cover there as possible really.

rugbydreamer wrote:To be fair, seeing as Mark Jones had to have both his knees reconstructed, I would say the Scarlets medical advisors are experts in knowing if a player is able to come back from a knee injury or not. I don't mind Gareth Owen signing. Considering so many of our backs will be called up with Wales, we need as much cover there as possible really.

The problem I can see is that he has been involved in the Welsh training squad in the passed, so will most likely (if he can prove himself) be one of those that could get a call if injuries happen mid competition.

I've never been convinced by Gareth Owen. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on at the Scarlets.

I'd reckon if Owen gets back to form enough to be in contention for a call-up for Wales it'll be instead of one of our other backs ie Scott Williams, Liam Williams, A Warren ect.

So shouldn't leave us any worse off.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7884459,00.html

The Orange One has landed - Oxford won't know what's hit it!

Does it say which Premiership club Owen is still tied with? Swansea, or moving to one of the Scarlets clubs?

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Looks like a done deal, Rev:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=185194

I think that's an old photo from when he was with us previously Luckless and he's not with us officially yet.

Ashley Sweet is decent enough. I watched him play for Ebbw a few times, although at that level they're winning nearly every game well. Reading the Ebbw website, he's re-signed with them but has had a few offers from Prem sides. I remember when they played Keys in the Swalec semi and one of the Ebbw coaches commented that he is definitely good enough to play pro (I can't remember the exact wording, but it was something like if AS isn't a professional standard player, I don't know what is)

I think he's getting a regional contract with the Scarlets, so won't be tied to a Prem club (though I think they nominate one if they ever want him to play in the Prem). I'd assume Owen was a free agent as he was training with the Scarlets to get back to match fitness

Risca Rev wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Looks like a done deal, Rev:

http://www.newportgwentdragons.com/Personnel.aspx?pr=185194

I think that's an old photo from when he was with us previously Luckless and he's not with us officially yet.

Damn Google!

If Maguire is any good then why is he not on the Ireland radar when they have a bit of a Prop crisis? Just wondering like.

no worries priest.

think in terms of our squad we've replaced dan evans with gareth owen. just that owens can cover more positions and is also a kicking option. think it's good business by us, and strengthens the squad.

risca the only thing i remember of ashley sweet was him in that punch up at the end of the game for the u20's match against the french (leigh halfpenny scoring the last minute try)

pioden gorllewin wrote:no worries priest.

think in terms of our squad we've replaced dan evans with gareth owen. just that owens can cover more positions and is also a kicking option. think it's good business by us, and strengthens the squad.

risca the only thing i remember of ashley sweet was him in that punch up at the end of the game for the u20's match against the french (leigh halfpenny scoring the last minute try)

I knew I remembered the name from somewhere

Not meaning to dig, but isn't Sweet a bit lightweight for the engine room at the top level? I think he is under 6'3, which isn't small, but when you are a second row it is.

Pioden - I am being a total tool here, but it is Gareth Owen (no s at the end), sorry its a real bug bear of mine (i have an s and people forget it)

spiderman -no worries buddy, I'll make a mental note not to include the S in future

morgannwg: true not sure how many 6'3 second rows are currently playing in the top leagues. Only thing I've been told of him is that he's an enforcer type who throws his weight around a bit.

He toured South Africa with Crosskeys College in 2006 and shone throughout. Keys returned home unbeaten. Not sure if that is the best yardstick. Sounds like he could be another Damian Welsh.

morgannwg: i remember touring south africa with alix popham with the welsh colleges years back. He shone throught and was a class above, it's a pretty good yardstick. Rare you'd get an easy game is s africa whoever your paying.

Gone are the days when the Welsh schools could tour NZ/SA and return home unbeaten. Apparently Ieuan Evans age grade did an unbeaten tour in NZ. We need to get the schools system up and running again!

Morgannwg wrote:Gone are the days when the Welsh schools could tour NZ/SA and return home unbeaten. Apparently Ieuan Evans age grade did an unbeaten tour in NZ. We need to get the schools system up and running again!

I could not agree more. But schools in Wales don't teach kids past sixteen and sixth form colleges don't really do rugby, or any other sports for that matter.

Graig ccta 6th form had an establishd rugby team and did quite a lot of sports as sports science is a popular subject there

Liam Williams has signed a 3 year contract & Fenby a 1 year contract with the scarlets. So that's put to bed the rumour of fenby leaving - also great to see Liam committing his future to the scarlets.

Great news - though I did think that we'd sorted out all the players we were planning on keeping. Fenby will ensure our strength in depth is kept while the internationals are away, and I have high hopes for Liam becoming an awesome Scarlets/Welsh international.

good news

Liam Williams has all the attributes to be an excellent player. He's a bit of a rough diamond at the moment, but he's still young. If Halfpenny wasn't our international goalkicker then he'd be pushing him for the full back spot.

I still think we can have Halfpenny on the wing and Liam FB, or vice versa - and the competition only gets more intense when Stoddart gets back on form...

Of course, I forgot Halfpenny started on the wing. Competition for places can only be good - remember when it was either Lee Byrne or Hook at full back?

Ohh God, I still can't believe they consider Hook at FB - even now when we have Halfpenny, Byrne, L Williams, Stoddard, R Jones, M Thomas who are all better than him!!!

Still as you say it's good, and hopefully we'll be able to cope better if a lot of our star players crash and lose form after the Lions tour like the last time.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Ohh God, I still can't believe they consider Hook at FB - even now when we have Halfpenny, Byrne, L Williams, Stoddard, R Jones, M Thomas who are all better than him!!!

Still as you say it's good, and hopefully we'll be able to cope better if a lot of our star players crash and lose form after the Lions tour like the last time.

Yet hook has played fullback more recently for Wales than all bar Halfpenny (well and Liam Williams vrs ACT Brumbies, but htat wasn't capped).

says something doesn't it...

maestegmafia wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Gone are the days when the Welsh schools could tour NZ/SA and return home unbeaten. Apparently Ieuan Evans age grade did an unbeaten tour in NZ. We need to get the schools system up and running again!

I could not agree more. But schools in Wales don't teach kids past sixteen and sixth form colleges don't really do rugby, or any other sports for that matter.

If it's like when I was in school then youngsters are not interested in playing for their school/college, only interested in playing for their club. I think they would gain more in a schoolboy system.

Have to disagree morg. School teams are generally weaker than club teams these days. They are less organised and in most cases coached at a very basic level.

From my experience there are some boys who play school rugby who don't play club, but far less who play club and don't play school!

Club rugby is far superior and therefore the participants have a much greater appreciation for them.

I just highlighted a contributing factor to the clubs being stronger than the school teams. They have been since Thatcher cut the school funding. People and youngsters turned to their local clubs and now it's just in the culture. I believe it would be better to go back to the school system because the youngsters are training regulary in school and have no excuses not to attend; it keeps them away from the pub team culture which a lot turn to past U16 level; they can also get well educated in the sport as well as physical education and many other subjects. The Welsh schools teams can then act as more feeders to Wales age grades. I'm sure there would be more benefits. Seems to work in other countries although I'm not sure how it is all set up over in NZ, Ireland, etc...

My reaction at Sanjay and Crazylegs re-signing? =

well chuffed with that!

Morgannwg wrote:I just highlighted a contributing factor to the clubs being stronger than the school teams. They have been since Thatcher cut the school funding. People and youngsters turned to their local clubs and now it's just in the culture. I believe it would be better to go back to the school system because the youngsters are training regulary in school and have no excuses not to attend; it keeps them away from the pub team culture which a lot turn to past U16 level; they can also get well educated in the sport as well as physical education and many other subjects. The Welsh schools teams can then act as more feeders to Wales age grades. I'm sure there would be more benefits. Seems to work in other countries although I'm not sure how it is all set up over in NZ, Ireland, etc...

Yes but schools in Wales hardly teach kids past sixteen...!


That's a huge difference to the schools in the rest of the rugby playing world.


I completely agree with you but it won't work at schools that don't have a sixth form

I don't know what schools you guys went to, but schools rugby is pretty darn good here in Carmarthenshire and the schools link up really well with the local clubs. Both work together, which is as it should be, no? Plenty teach rugby past 16 too.

The school I went to is now allied Glan Afan Comp, formally Port Talbot Grammar School. Followed in the footsteps of the local hero Gerwyn Williams. Though he was a fullback and I was a halfback.

Schools rugby until the eighties was very strong. Certainly doesn't seem so now.

I think it's just done differently Maes, not that it isn't strong.

It certainly was very highly competitive and to a good standard when I was at school. Yes the clubs do most of the developing now but schools play a massive part in that.

I would love to see more emphasis on sports in my district. Unfortunately I don't think the schools have the budget.

i believe in coleg sir gar (Carmarthenshire College) they employ a director of rugby in euros evans. they have strong links with the scarlets. current scarlets like scott williams,nic reynolds, gareth davies, nicky cudd have come through the system. the current crop of youngster won the rosslyn park sevens this year, also crowned School Team of the Year by the Rugby World magazine & won the elite welsh league. from that team sion bennett and tom ball have already earned scarlets contracts. other strong comp schools in that area are ysgol bro myrddin, ysgol strade and ysgol maes yr yrfa.

I went to stradey and rugby was huge there (so was sum of the farmers sons), though other sports were sumwhat neglected. When i was there the pe teacher was a wales age grade coach. Carmarthenshire 6th form college was similar and had a big sports science section

pioden gorllewin wrote:i believe in coleg sir gar (Carmarthenshire College) they employ a director of rugby in euros evans. they have strong links with the scarlets. current scarlets like scott williams,nic reynolds, gareth davies, nicky cudd have come through the system. the current crop of youngster won the rosslyn park sevens this year, also crowned School Team of the Year by the Rugby World magazine & won the elite welsh league. from that team sion bennett and tom ball have already earned scarlets contracts. other strong comp schools in that area are ysgol bro myrddin, ysgol strade and ysgol maes yr yrfa.

They always have a good team. The Roslyn Park Sevens isn't an easy competition to win. So many teams from all over the place.

priest: sean holley was head of rugby when i was in Carmarthenshire College. Pretty sure a few years after I left they built up strong links with the scarlets. Think they then ran a course called national diploma in rugby or something, which a lot of the scarlets academy players attended.

Pioden-Cheers for putting that across better than me and for all the facts

Barry Davies states he has not signed for London Welsh & is still looking for a club:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Davies-dismisses-link-Welsh/story-16515274-detail/story.html

Also Buck signs new 3 year contract, and rumours of Maguire returning to RP are dismissed:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/9809063.Nathan_Buck_signs_new_deal/

Diolch, Pioden!

I guess every out of contract Welsh player is being linked up with a move to London Welsh at the moment. I really hope Barry does find himself a contract soon, poor sod.

none of the regions really need fullback cover, that only really leaves england and france for a contract. I know Barry Davies has been sharing lifts down to london with Cai Griffiths, so maybe another london club?

There's not many clubs left in London though ...

WASPS!! They have a decent Welsh contingency Young and Turner coaches, Jones, Robinson etc.

But they're not in London though, aren't they more Wycome Wasps?

pioden gorllewin wrote:none of the regions really need fullback cover, that only really leaves england and france for a contract. I know Barry Davies has been sharing lifts down to london with Cai Griffiths, so maybe another london club?

The Ospreys bloody do!