Blues looking to secure Warburton and Halfpenny's future...!

Cardiff Blues are looking to secure the services of Wales stars Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny on long-term deals.

The Grand Slam duo both have another year to run on their current contracts, taking them through to the end of the 2013-14 season.

But the Blues are already making moves to try and keep them at the Arms Park beyond that date by extending their deals.

Skipper Andries Pretorius is another key man they are looking to hold on to via a long-term package.

Having recently agreed a new three-year deal with Wales wing Alex Cuthbert, these proactive moves are the latest attempts by the region to achieve some stability and build a competitive squad for the future.

Chief executive Richard Holland said it was important to act sooner rather than later in terms of retaining the likes of flanker Warburton and full-back Halfpenny.

“What we are trying to do at the moment is not have a repeat of the scenario of the beginning of this year when we had 15 players leaving,” he said. “So we are already talking to players who are coming out of contract in 2014 to extend their services beyond that date.

“It’s a case of looking to retain everyone who Phil (Davies) thinks is pivotal to the Blues future.

“Conversations are taking place. We have got time on our side, but we certainly recognise we need to have those conversations now. That can only put us in a stronger position for the future.”

In the shorter term, the Blues are busy securing the services of players who come out of contract at the end of this season.

“A lot of them are done,” said Holland. “We have got a lot of announcements to make in the coming weeks. Some are still in discussion and negotiation.”



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/cardiff-blues/2012/12/29/cardiff-blues-move-to-hold-on-to-sam-warburton-and-leigh-halfpenny-91466-32509526/#ixzz2Glj4ZAkm

I hope the Blues hold on to these two, its not good for the Rabo to lose home nation internationals from our teams.

Unless we get full independence and Tax control in Wales I cant see us being able to do much about keeping good players.

Funny that Maes; some people on here think that any team that can't keep hold of their good players should be disbanded.

I agree with you. What incentive is there for players to stay in Wales: the pay is lower, the conditions/lifestyle is worse (compared to sunny France), international ambitions are not hampered if you're playing well abroad. You'd be mad to stay. Unless we have something, like the Irish model, that actually makes it more attractive to stay at home.

Staying in Wales, and winning trophys for the region you came though the acamady of, in front of Welsh fans where it would mean more surley has to be better than going to France, better to be a local hero, than good player in team than wins more?

The thing is the regions sre not at the competative end of the h-cup and thats why players are inclinded to go, if they can stay with a team that can match thier ambition, the lure of staying close to home, playing in front of supporters you care about, surly has to be a big plus.

Regions need to improve and have a realistic chance of winning h-cup for these players to stay.

Look at euro rugbys rankings, Ospreys 11th Scarlets 18th Blues 32nd Dragons 37th, not good enough to convince players that the welsh regions can match their dreams.

Wales need at least one team in top 10 and 2 in top 20 constistently, (and really 2 in top 10) to convince players they can win big thing in Wales.

THat will only be met by a collaboration of the WRU, Regions and players. Which is apparently in serious discussion.

Wouldn't blame either if they left...

Poor wage
Playing in front of empty stadiu
No competitions to compete in
Beaten home and away
And playing with inferior players!

Whay would they stay?

well i'm sure the Blues could improve their wages, as they did with Cuthbert. Both are still young players so a move to France shouldn't be at the forefront of their minds, just staying and Wales and playing for Wales hopefully is.

Also let's hope the pieman is true to his word and does provide some money for new players in the summer for next season. Some of the names mentioned will improve the Blues a great deal, especially if we could get Gill and Rees. Roberts actually playing for once and a new centre, add to that Allen playing far more than he is and we have a decent looking side going into next year.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Wouldn't blame either if they left...

Poor wage
Playing in front of empty stadiu
No competitions to compete in
Beaten home and away
And playing with inferior players!

Whay would they stay?

Maybe because they have some pride in their region.

'Their region'

If there is one region with absolutely no pride or passion at the moment it is the Blues

Well what do you think they should do...?

All bugger off leaving no rugby in wales, no interest in the sport and a formerly great rugby nation fall in to the lower tiers of europe...?


It is the region you associate yourself with, though you show no pride or enjoyment in it...

All bugger off leaving no rugby in wales, no interest in the sport and a formerly great rugby nation fall in to the lower tiers of europe...?

This is what has been happening to the game in Wales for oh about 10 years say!

It is my region, I hold a season ticket (although I don't go often) and I will always support them, but lets be clear, even the most die hard fan on the terraces (and a lot will be my freinds and family) are sick of the Cardiff generic colours. At best the Blues will be a succesful club with a distinctly average following, at worst they will be a bloated squad, get thiumped week in week out at home and see dwindling crowds of below 4k.

They will always have some sort of support because they arfe the only local prof rugby, but the regional status of the Blues never caught on and never will, IMHO it's failed.

And please don't get me wrong, I remember very little of the club game except for the last few seasons where we were all but fodder in europe, but what I do remember was passion, something I don't see today!

The Blues certainly were not fodder in Europe a few years ago, we knocked Toulouse out one year and were the only team to beat Toulouse the last time they won the HC. This season is the first we haven't been in the HC quarters or the Amlin for ages.

I'm sure the Blues will improve, they just need time to rebuild.

wales606

I was reffering to the welsh clubs pre regionalism. the Blues were very competitive with the short term fix that was the localisation of talent pool (regionalism)

The blues trouble is that they relied on foreign players too long and hadn't developed their Accademy players. Things are changing for the better.

Modern rugby fans apparently have no patience.

I've been looking at this season as a development season, and I seem to remember a lot of talk on this board about giving it a few season before we're challenging for anything. We've had a large clear out of players from last season and we're actually playing former academy player. Everyone needs to relax. We won't be this bad next season, we have a young squad and they're learning.

Coleman you are right, we had the same at the Ospreys before last season, Scarlets the season before.

And its been fantastic. The Ospreys have a young, predominantly home grown side now and some good academy lads progressing to back that team up...

Blues are doing the right thing, Patchell, Nalvidi, Andrews, Brad Davies, Cory Allen, Harry Robinson are star players in the making.

To be honest though Blues were a good team capable of top 4 finish, they have slipped back while entering a rebuilding phase, and hope to get back up there, BUT...

I think the teams in the Leauge are a lot tougher now than was the case, when Scarlets rebuilt and Ospreys never really slipped down as far as the blues.

Muster are rebiulding and never slipped so far, but for me the real hard point is while the Blues have slipped and are saying they are rebiulding, Terviso and Connacht are building, and may be going it better than Blues, making it harder for them to leave they behind and enter top 6 again, Edinburgh are also rebuilding.

For Blues to get back in top 6 they will not only have to leave these teams behind, but replace one of Ulster, Munster,Leinster, Scarlets, Ospreys or Glasgow, which is going to be very difficult to do, harder than it was when Scarlets and Ulster did it.

I think the Blues could float around 6-10th in the league for a few years yet, anlong with Terviso, Edinburgh and Connacht