Welsh Regions Signings/Departures/Rumours so far ( Barry Davies signs for Jersey RFC)

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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
Jacobie Adriaanse (Kings) - Confirmed
Johan "Joe" Snyman (Kings) - Confirmed
Jake Ball (Western Force) - 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
Viliame Iongi (Released/Ospreys) - Rumour
Rupert Moon (RG1404) - Confirmed


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
Owen Williams (Llandovery RFC) - Confirmed
Nic Cudd (Llanelli 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
Niall Martin (Ulster Academy) - 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

Risca - Could a loan spell deal for Navidi, Dan Thomas or that young lad at the Ospreys (can't remember his name) be an option. All will be playing second or third fiddle at their region, but would be sensible short term cover, that would not cost the earth. I appreciate that it sounds like take our players and help bring them on, but seeing the options tha tare available, it may be the best of a bad bunch.

Navidi def won't go to them, he's an important member of the Blues squad, and doubt D Thomas would go, as Easterby will want to integrate him into the Scarlets squad read for the AIs in case Turnbull/Shingler are away with Wales.

But I know what you mean it could be a young exciting player, or maybe more likely an old experienced SH player on a short term loan.

I wouldn't mind that lads. I am somewhat surprised though, as we do have Lewis Evans apparently near full fitness, unless he's broken down again.

I'll read the Argus article now.

There must be more to Evans's injury than what we are led to believe. Walters is a blow and with Thomas retiring I'm surprised we didn't bring in another 7 anyway. Even Evans isn't really a natural openside!

I'd stick with stoddart if Evans is only a few weeks away. Can't see there being a decent openside out there without a club at the moment.

Risca, yes I'm sure we've spent what we can afford. If not WHY NOT?!

Someone tell me what's wrong with Nash?

risca: i thought the dragons had completed their recruitment too, but maybe the injuries to waters and possibly evans has changed edwards mind. 6 month loan deal does sound sensible, but can't think of many regions having a spare 7. danny wilson spoke on monday of pugh and j edwards as possible vice captains, and the intergration of dan thomas. that to me only leaves only nic cudd as a possible. to be fair he's a fantastic 7 with plenty of potential. like priest said navidi is now an important member of the blues squad under. ospreys have sam lewis (ben lewis brother?) so it sounds like the most likely recruit will come from outside wales.

youngguns 6: think nash would be the obvious choice, but if edwards doesn't go with him - i guess he just doesn't rate him for regional rugby. didn't nash train with the dragons in pre-season?

Risca Rev wrote:
Don't see it myself. I guess if it's true, that they really don't rate Rob Nash.

I don't think that's entirely true. At the risk of opening a previous can of worms I just don't think prem players can adjust that quickly to the physicality of playing in the pro ranks. For short term emergencies we need to look at bringing a player in, it took the likes of Burner and Waters and Groves a year of physical development before they were ready.

Stone,

I just go from (as far as I'm aware) the likelihood he wasn't invited to train with us over the summer.

I do take your point in the step up though.

To be honest, and I truly mean this, this thread has kept me goin through the off season, PIODN GORLLEWIN, you deserve an MBE for this thread and all the information you have kept us up to date with, to be fair you have been quicker and more accurate than all the professional braodcasters like sky and the bbc, so, I say this, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU.

gwneud yn dda a diolch yn fawr iawn

Yeah cheers PG

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest, and I truly mean this, this thread has kept me goin through the off season, PIODN GORLLEWIN, you deserve an MBE for this thread and all the information you have kept us up to date with, to be fair you have been quicker and more accurate than all the professional braodcasters like sky and the bbc, so, I say this, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU.

gwneud yn dda a diolch yn fawr iawn

+1

thanks guys.

Risca Rev wrote:Stone,

I just go from (as far as I'm aware) the likelihood he wasn't invited to train with us over the summer.

I do take your point in the step up though.

As Keys captain and one of the better Premiership players, I'd be surprised if he wasn't one of the 12 Gwent Selecta's not training with the region over the summer. I think he's got the talent, but I'd fear for us throwing in a newbie to the pro game against any of our Rabo rivals to be honest. Not just because I think it'd take him a long time to physically accustom, but also because as a team we rely on our openside so much to control the pace of the game.

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest, and I truly mean this, this thread has kept me goin through the off season, PIODN GORLLEWIN, you deserve an MBE for this thread and all the information you have kept us up to date with, to be fair you have been quicker and more accurate than all the professional braodcasters like sky and the bbc, so, I say this, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU.

gwneud yn dda a diolch yn fawr iawn

+2

I got a little put off Rob Nash in the Keys v Munster A game over there. His yellow didn't help matters either. I'll be honest, I thought only Baller and Gerwyn Price got called up to train from Keys.

looks like the drawn out working visa for the 3rd south african scarlet has finally been sorted. as mentioned on here before i believe it to be johan snyman.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:To be honest, and I truly mean this, this thread has kept me goin through the off season, PIODN GORLLEWIN, you deserve an MBE for this thread and all the information you have kept us up to date with, to be fair you have been quicker and more accurate than all the professional braodcasters like sky and the bbc, so, I say this, WELL DONE AND THANK YOU.

gwneud yn dda a diolch yn fawr iawn

+2

Cheers PG mate, I completely agree.

Your time and effort is much appreciated.

Thanks for the update PG - if the Visa issue is shorted out soon, do you know how quickly he'll be able to arrive? Will Snydan be involved in the Currie Cup or anything that may delay his arrival?

with the working visa now sorted, its just up to scarlets to announce it. being a non international took longer to get sorted than expected. i'd imagine he'll be here mid october, shortly followed by adriaanse.

excellent news pioden. I wouldn't choose SH signings as first choice but if they help bolster our squad and bring our youngsters through then all the better

agree dreamer. got it wrong on snyman should be over in 1-2 weeks apparently.

thats really good, hopefully he can get up to speed quickly and give us some more depth

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-closing-Snyman/story-16819572-detail/story.html

papers are starting to run with the story now.

Good news,i hope he makes as big an impact as his 6ft7 18st frame suggests he should. I was thinking we still have a nwq space so could have kept either gilbert or ionghi

it's official snyman has signed:

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/5155.php

also few quotes on the bbc which i like from george earle:

Earle, a former team-mate of Snyman, said: "He's a superb player. I've played with him at the Lions, I actually know him quite well.

"When we played together we used to make a good combination so he's also going to be a good competitor for all the second-rows here, especially me.

"South Africans like to give each other a hard time so it's just going to improve the Scarlet pack and it's just going to bring more experience.

"I won't lie to anyone - I really rated him, so I just tell people that I really rate him and that he won't let anyone down."

Glad it is all official. And its good to see that he knows someone in the squad (ok yeah a newbie himself), and even better that he has played in combination with him before too. Also Earle has gone up in my estimation now as well after reading this-:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-fans-says-George-Earle/story-16826762-detail/story.html

George Earle - "I phoned my father-in-law after the game. I used to go to Newlands (Cape Town) when there were 40,000 there and I told him there were 6,500 here on Saturday and they were making more noise.
"The singing and chanting of the players' names makes a great atmosphere."

That makes 3 NWQ locks now among Scarlet ranks. Is nobody the least bit concerned by this? How much gametime can the likes of Kelly and Ball expect by the time Snyman joins and links up with Earle with Vallejos waiting in the wings?

On the bright side at least the Scarlets shouldn't be short of second row options from now on.

Squad rotation Knowsit, we'll be fine.

We've been burnt so badly in the past with having no cover at 2nd row, these signings were completely necessary.

Pardon me, four NWQ second row players (forgot Timani) up against two WQ locks and one development option (Rawlins) unlikely to feature much over the next couple of seasons.

I thought Reed and Day were an effective starting partnership last season with Welch and Timani filling in nicely when they had to. I can respect that many sides find themselves starved in some areas and need to resort to drastic measures. For the Blues it's been fly-half and at the Scarlets it appears to be second row. Just wasn't sure if there was absolutely nothing else that could've been done other than sign foreign troops...

Compared to what we've seen from Earle and Kelly already, Day and Reed paled in comparison. They could have one off good games, or more likely half, but they were never really up to it.

3 WQ locks gone, no way our academy is going to be able to produce enough replacements for us to remain competitive.

At worst we'll be looking at having 4 nwq starting in our match day 22. It will most likely be 3 for the most part. having 18 or so players in your match day squad week in week out that are WQ is blydi good for any region.

I am a happy Scarlet

Fair enough, 18 Welsh players in the matchday squad in indeed very promising

I cant see what more the scarlets could have done, we gave lots of opportunity to our wq youngsters in every position, and kept coming up short and being underpowered at lock. We needed to get a strong platform,so needed to bring in new locks, and there wasnt any wq locks up 2 standard and available. We still have kelly, rawling and ball who will get gametime

Gilbert and Ionghi were probably let go because back-row and the backline is an area of strength for the Scarlets. Front and 2nd row? No, hence the signings. I know it's early days but Earle and Kelly did look really good. Reed and Day always seemed to be average although now they are trying to mould Reed into a back-up international, he is still some way behind the established 4 players in that position.

Just a thought. When Scarlets play the powerful French teams in Europe will they consider this pack:

1. Jones, 2. Rees, 3. Adriannse
4. Earle, 5. Snyman
6. Timani, 8. McCusker, 7. Shingler

I hope Adriaanse turns out to be good and as good or better than Rhys Thomas (who towards the end was playing very well) if so and if Earle/Snyman form a good partnership then that looks a very good pack and could give us a bit of parity against the bigger teams, but there's a long way to go and the players need to come and settle in 1st - Snyman could also be backup to Vallejos as well. Plus we'll have to play very well to meet any other French teams than Clermont in the HEC

I think Earle and Snyman might be too similar to play together, I'm not sure. I thought Kelly and Earle linked up so well, there's going to be some fierce competition for a starting spot.

Morg - i would keep Shings at 6, plus KenO would probs start before Rees going on form, 7 you still kind of need a specialist so it depends on how Turnbull or JEdward go I guess.

I think he was talking more about getting more physical players in to deal with the power of the bigger French teams (or Leicester/Munster), so Rees is better in the scrum than Owens, and Timani is bigger and stronger than Turnbull/Edwards.

You could be right on Earle/Snyman, though Earle did say they'd formed a good partnership before

You don't just need grunt though you need mobility too, so you don't want all big lumps, you need some of the quicker lads in there too I reckon.

true true, but Shingler, Jones, McCusker and Rees are pretty mobile too. Still it won't happen anyway but it's good that we've got loads of options

Clermont can crush anyone with the team they have, it doesn't matter how good your backs are. Leinster managed to hold on last time but if the same packs face each other I would back Clermont. Like Smirnoff says it was just an idea, put in all the strong guys and bruising players so Scarlets aren't at a big disadvantage there. 7 is anyone's position, I suggested Shingler because he is one of the best and quickest back-row players there.

To be fair the scarlets do have a clear development pathway set in place for the young welsh locks. They are currently placed:

Llanelli RFC: Lewis Rawlins, Joel Galley
Llandovery RFC: Shaun Jones
Carmarthen Quins: Haydn Pugh, Carwyn Jones, Llewellyn Jones, Richard Kelly

It's just unfortunate that they are not ready for a full season of Rabo rugby just yet. Kelly played well against Leinster with his workload and lineout work, but I still see him a bit light at just over 16 stone. I'm sure these boys will gain exposure to the Rabo/LV Cup over the next few season, and will be ready to take over the 1st team jersey in 2-3 years time.

It will be interesting viewing how management rotate the locks during the season, and who will be the pairing for the big games. But I believe the most important signing is Adriaanse. Will really need him to be injury free for most of the season, and holding his own in the scrum.

pioden gorllewin wrote:To be fair the scarlets do have a clear development pathway set in place for the young welsh locks. They are currently placed:

Llanelli RFC: Lewis Rawlins, Joel Galley
Llandovery RFC: Shaun Jones
Carmarthen Quins: Haydn Pugh, Carwyn Jones, Llewellyn Jones, Richard Kelly

It's just unfortunate that they are not ready for a full season of Rabo rugby just yet. Kelly played well against Leinster with his workload and lineout work, but I still see him a bit light at just over 16 stone. I'm sure these boys will gain exposure to the Rabo/LV Cup over the next few season, and will be ready to take over the 1st team jersey in 2-3 years time.

It will be interesting viewing how management rotate the locks during the season, and who will be the pairing for the big games. But I believe the most important signing is Adriaanse. Will really need him to be injury free for most of the season, and holding his own in the scrum.

The times we live in eh, when you can call being just over 16 stone a bit light.

Lord: ha know what you mean, most of the backline these days aren't far off 16 stone. Kelly is 6ft 6inch so plenty of room to put a bit more timber on

pioden gorllewin wrote:Lord: ha know what you mean, most of the backline these days aren't far off 16 stone. Kelly is 6ft 6inch so plenty of room to put a bit more timber on

I bet Goeff Wheel and Bobby Windsor and the likes were not more than sixteen stone though, can you imagine a back line of 16 stoners during the seventies.

I know that this is yet another NWQ brought in. However I think being serious it is a good position for us to be in. We now have Manu and Adriaanse at Tighthead, and Timani, Earle, Vallejos, and Snyman at lock. And those are positions where we are lacking in hime grown power.

So the most WQ we could field would be full squad of 23 Welsh qualified players:

R Jones, Owens, Lee
Kelly, Ball
McCusker, Murphy, Turnbull
(bench: Rees, John, P Edwards, Shingler, J Edwards)

And the worst we could do would be (5 starting, 1 benched):

Manu, Owens, Adriaanse
Earle, Snyman
Timani, McCusker, Turnbull
(bench: Rees, R Jones, S Lee, Vallejos, Shingler)

That ain't bad at all.

Last week we saw what our backs can do when provided with a good platform, but to be fair Leinster were poor. It will be a good test this weekend to see how much difference Earle and Kelly make in the boiler room against a bit more forward oriented Glasgow.

looks with the injuries to waters and coombes - the dragons are looking to recruit an overseas player:

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/dragons/9912541.Dragons__search_for_overseas_star_is_stepped_up/

Their going to need to get someone in asap as they will need to settle in before the AIs when Lydiate and Toby will be out too.

Harsh on the Dragons as a few months ago they seemed well covered in the backrow positions.

SS - yeah it'll be good to see how Earle/Kelly go against Glasgow, it should be a good gauge of how well our locks will do for the rest of the season - if Kelly can provide us with a platform, then theoretically we have Vallejos & Snyman coming in above him as well!

Heard dragons have signed nic cudd from Llanelli rfc. Think he's a great player, think dragons have got themselves a really good 7 if rumour is true. Wish him all the best as he heads east.

Yeah I've read this too. he's a great player, been brilliant for Llanelli in the past although with the emergence of Dan Thomas he'd be less likely to get as much game time. Plus with Dragons needing cover in the backrow, reckon it's a good move all round