Welsh Regions Signings/Departures/Rumours 2013 (Scarlets set to offer James "cub" Davies a contract)

First topic message reminder :

Ospreys

In

Tito Tebaldi (Zebra) – Confirmed
Rhodri Williams (Scarlets) - Rumour

Out

Kahn Fotuali'i (Northampton Saints) - Confirmed
Jonathan Thomas (Bayonne/Worcester Warriors) - Rumour
Jonathan Humphries (Scotland Forwards Coach) - Confirmed
Campbell Johnstone ( Russian Club) - Confirmed
George Stowers (Tasman) - Confirmed

Scarlets

In

Steven Shingler ( London Irish) –Confirmed
Ed Jackson (London Welsh ) – Rumour
Andrew Coombes (Dragons) - Rumour
Gareth Delve ( Melbourne Rebels) - Rumour
Serge Lilo (Wellington Lions) - Rumour
John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) - Confirmed
Nick Cummins (Western Force) - Rumour
Farid Sid (Perpignan)- Rumour
Opeti Fonua (Agen) - Rumour
Brett Deacon (Leicester Tigers) - Rumour
Regan King (Backs/Skills Coach) - Rumour
Genesis Mamea (Wellington) - Rumour
Darran Harris (Pontypridd) - Rumour


Out

Tomas vallejos cinalli (Pampas XV) – Confirmed
Gareth Maule (London Irish/Munster) – Rumour
Adam Warren (Cardiff)- Rumour
Scott Williams (Cardiff) – Rumour
Sione Timani (Agen) – Confirmed
Rhodri Williams (Ospreys) – Rumour
Tavis Knoyle ( Gloucester) – Confirmed
Gareth Davies ( Cardiff) –Rumour
Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers) – Confirmed
Jonathan Edwards (Released) – Confirmed
Andy Fenby (London Irish) - confirmed
Morgan Stoddart (Retired) - Confirmed
Dan Newton (London Scottish) - Confirmed
Kieron Murphy (London Welsh/Edingburgh) - Rumour
George North ( Northampton Saints)- Confirmed
Rheon James (Cornish Pirates)- Confirmed
Richie Pugh (Released) -Confirmed
Rhys Jones (Released) - RumourConfirmed
Dale Ford (Released/Bristol) - Confirmed
Samson Lee (Glouceste) - Rumour
Peter Edwards (Released) -Confirmed
Craig Hawkins (Released) - Confirmed
Craig Price (Leicester Tigers) -Rumour


Dragons

In

Ross Wardle (Bedwas) - Confirmed
Richie Rees (Edinburgh) - Confirmed
Luciano Orquera (Zebre) -Rumour
Martin Muller (Cheetahs) - Confirmed
Juan Gomez (Pampas XV) - Rumour
Netani Talei (Edingburgh) - Confirmed
Francisco Chaparro (Stade Francias) - Confirmed
Kris Burton (Treviso) - Confirmed
Rhys Thomas (Wasps)- Confirmed
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland) - Rumour



Out

Andrew Coombes (Scarlets) – Rumour
Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)- Confirmed
Steve Jones (Retired)- Confirmed
Tom Brown (Released/Jersey) - Confirmed
Tondi Chavhanga (Released) - Confirmed
Iestyn Thomas (Retired) - Confirmed
Josh Tyler (Released) - Confirmed
Hywel Stoddart (Released) - Confirmed

Blues

In

Filo Paulo (North Harbour) - confirmed
Matthew Rees (Scarlets) Confirmed
Liam Davies (confirmed - until end of season)
Gethin Jenkins (Toulon) - Confirmed
Rhys Gill (Saracens) - rumoured
Adam Warren (Scarlets) - rumoured
Scott Williams –(Scarlets) – rumoured
Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets) – rumour
Gareth Davies ( Scarlets) - rumour

Out

Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro) - not confirmed
Tom James (Exeter Chiefs) -confirmed
Richard Mustoe (retirement) -confirmed
Fau Filise - (retirement) rumour
Ceri Sweeney (Exeter Chiefs) - Confirmed
Leigh Halfpenny (Clermont) - Rumour
Michael Paterson (Sale Sharks) - Confirmed
Campese Ma'afu (Nottingham) -Confirmed

I agree in many ways Lord, but I always get the impression that Henson wants to be at a top team, and not turning out for the whipping boys. Not sure he'd be able to 'get up' for that sort of team. Saying that he went to London Welsh who were the whipping boys so maybe the Dragons are not beneath him.

LordDowlais wrote:The Dragons have always seemed to have a knack of getting the best out of players that are in their last chance saloon though, they have done wonders for the likes of Brew and more recently Dan Evans, Gavin Henson would be the big fish in a small pond at the Dragons, a situation Gavin would love to be in. Surely he could not be demanding that high a wage knowing where he is at the moment, and I think he would jump at the chance of coming back to Wales.

Scott Morgan, Sowden-Taylor, Sweeney?
Did they improve when they moved to Dave? Just asking like.
I know two Dads has packed it in, but where's Scott Morgan these days?

Griff wrote:I agree in many ways Lord, but I always get the impression that Henson wants to be at a top team, and not turning out for the whipping boys. Not sure he'd be able to 'get up' for that sort of team. Saying that he went to London Welsh who were the whipping boys so maybe the Dragons are not beneath him.

I'd have Henson back at Cardiff tomorrow and employ Dan Baugh to be his personal restrainer.

Scott Morgan moved to a midlands club part time to concentrate on his supps for sport business -

dragon999 wrote:Scott Morgan moved to a midlands club part time to concentrate on his supps for sport business -

Cheers 999. Always interesting to know where the fringe players end up when they suddenly disappear from the scene.

LordDowlais wrote:The Dragons have always seemed to have a knack of getting the best out of players that are in their last chance saloon though, they have done wonders for the likes of Brew and more recently Dan Evans, Gavin Henson would be the big fish in a small pond at the Dragons, a situation Gavin would love to be in. Surely he could not be demanding that high a wage knowing where he is at the moment, and I think he would jump at the chance of coming back to Wales.

Strange reasoning LD and why do you think he would jump at the chance of coming back to Wales? He tried that with Cardiff Blues and blue it.
In any case Bath are interested and they have a multi-multi millionare backer who wants his team to win stuff. Compare this to the Drags.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

MONSTER' Llanelli Scarlets tighthead prop Samson Lee could be on his way to Gloucester this summer.
The highly-rated 20-year-old is firmly on Nigel Davies' tighthead shortlist, as the Gloucester boss weighs up his move to replace Italy-bound Dario Chistolini.
The Citizen understands the Scarlets' financial woes could lead to a more extensive fire sale this summer than originally expected.
Gloucester have already benefited by snapping up scrum-half Tavis Knoyle, who will head to Kingsholm in the summer.

And the Cherry and Whites could yet profit still further from the relentless pitch battle between the Welsh regions and the Welsh Rugby Union.
Potent young tighthead Lee has broken through in fine style at the Scarlets this year, racking up 26 first team appearances.
The Scarlets academy graduate has been at Llanelli since he was 16 – and was dubbed a 'monster' by wing George North in October when he won selection on the bench for Wales' final autumn international against Australia.
Rugby director Davies pledged not to raid the Scarlets for players or coaches when he arrived at Kingsholm last summer.
After spending his entire coaching and playing career at Llanelli – barring stints with Wales – Davies headed across the Severn Bridge for a new challenge for this season.
But his loyalties to his hometown club led to him ruling out pilfering any of his former players or backroom staff.
Davies' pledge still stands: the Scarlets' money troubles are leading them to release a number of players this summer.
The Gloucester boss only swooped for Wales half-back Knoyle as almost a bonus signing, on being alerted to the 22-year-old's availability.
It seems the Scarlets will have to let Lee leave Llanelli too.
And if that becomes the case, then Davies could well jump at the chance to recruit another player he knows well, and rates too.
Davies will not seek to prise any players away from the Scarlets – but any who decide to leave or are set to be released clearly become fair game.
Not even the five-year development contract Lee signed last summer will be enough to keep him at Parc y Scarlets.
And if he were to leave, for Gloucester or elsewhere, then further serious questions would surely be raised about the efficacy of the Welsh game.
At a great stretch the loss of the likes of power wing North to Northampton could be stomached if it released funds to be reinvested and more evenly distributed.
It may be one thing for the country's very highest echelon of talent to seek big-money moves to France, or even Japan.
But it is another entirely when the provision for young, hungry, potential-rich stars is cast into doubt.
English clubs may stand to benefit in the short-term, but clearly Welsh rugby bosses – both at the clubs and the union – need to find quick solutions to stop this increasing player drain.

pioden gorllewin wrote:http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Davies-set-make-monster/story-18811962-detail/story.html#axzz2RY65apIq

MONSTER' Llanelli Scarlets tighthead prop Samson Lee could be on his way to Gloucester this summer.

That would be a HUGE blow to Welsh rugby, far bigger than losing O.Williams or North

I agree that would be a huge blow,

How much trouble are the scarlets in financially to have to do this even after offloading north?

to be fair i'm not too worried about this story at the moment. samson signed a 5 year deal last season. so gloucester would have to pay a hell of a lot to buy him out of his contract. also can't see the scarlets saving much trying to get samson off their wage bill, he's not on a big salary at the moment.

probably samson see's his future in wales at the moment. he's just broken into the wider welsh training squad. so he knows he's in gatlands thinking.

Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If Henson would be happy coming to the Dragons - and I'm not he would be - then I'd love him to come. Thinking about it, it would be a good move for him because by playing in Wales he'd be right back on Gatland's radar (not that he hasn't been all this time, but he'd be harder to ignore).

EDIT: I've just remembered how his time at the Blues panned out. If we've got money to spend on a centre, would we want to spend it on a loose cannon?

We need to stop poaching the Scarlets' players! Sorry lads, hope you keep hold of him in a way! It's like kicking a man when he's down.

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

Has he played for the U20s against France?

Wales should be moving heaven and earth to keep young, still developing players like this close at hand.

Hasn't Lee just signed a long term contract at Scarlets???

I don't get what this rumour is about, Lee is a developing talent but he isn't making huge waves in the Rabo just yet, he's managing to hold his own at a very young age, which is impressive, but Glos don't want to spend money on potential, in 2-3 seasons when he's developed and becomes destructive then the AP and T14 clubs will come sniffing...

Lee would be a fool to leave Scarlets right now, Gats watching him, he has a huge local following, everything is going right.

Samson Lee is a large part of what the Scarlets are building around, this is nothing more than a local rag fishing from pointless rumours, Gloucester need a tight head, ND came from Scarlets, so did Ben Morgan and now Tavis knoyle so obviously the TH will also!!!...
Total supposition.
If the Scarlets where in as much financial difficulty as people are implying does anybody seriously think we would have secured John Barclay.
The Scarlets have a plan to build a team to a set buisness model and have a 1st class guy in charge doing that in Mark Davies.
Loosing Fenby was a blow, Owen Williams been poached was an inconvenience, the other players that have gone have gone as they did not fit into the buisnes model, Simples.

2ndtimeround wrote:Samson Lee is a large part of what the Scarlets are building around, this is nothing more than a local rag fishing from pointless rumours, Gloucester need a tight head, ND came from Scarlets, so did Ben Morgan and now Tavis knoyle so obviously the TH will also!!!...
Total supposition.
If the Scarlets where in as much financial difficulty as people are implying does anybody seriously think we would have secured John Barclay.
The Scarlets have a plan to build a team to a set buisness model and have a 1st class guy in charge doing that in Mark Davies.
Loosing Fenby was a blow, Owen Williams been poached was an inconvenience, the other players that have gone have gone as they did not fit into the buisnes model, Simples.

What even George North didn't fit into the business model either ?

LordDowlais wrote:

2ndtimeround wrote:Samson Lee is a large part of what the Scarlets are building around, this is nothing more than a local rag fishing from pointless rumours, Gloucester need a tight head, ND came from Scarlets, so did Ben Morgan and now Tavis knoyle so obviously the TH will also!!!...
Total supposition.
If the Scarlets where in as much financial difficulty as people are implying does anybody seriously think we would have secured John Barclay.
The Scarlets have a plan to build a team to a set buisness model and have a 1st class guy in charge doing that in Mark Davies.
Loosing Fenby was a blow, Owen Williams been poached was an inconvenience, the other players that have gone have gone as they did not fit into the buisnes model, Simples.

What even George North didn't fit into the business model either ?

Gearge North fits in everyones business model surely?!

No he didn't fit it as he was not prepared to acept a 3 year 170K pa deal and would of walked away next year for free.
North was not a local lad, Samson is, maybe why he was happy to sign a 5 year deal.

Personally I dont believe the Scarlets should break their pay structure for any player, we have some incredibly talented players at the club who could of left for bigger offers from other clubs, instead they have bought into the team ethos developing at PYS under Easterby, they have signed deals to stay with their home region for less than could have been earnt elsewhere, Scott and JD2 to name just 2, these are the kind of players that will put the region back on the right road and ar helping to attract players like John Barclay and the 3 lads that came all the way from SA to come and join a team of boys that play for each other.

I think the Scarlets have plenty of competition at TH - Samson Lee, Rhodri Jones*, Peter Edwards, Deacon Manu, Jacobie Adriansse... (I think the Scarlets can manage if any one of the mentioned players leave, even if two or three leave). I want the Scarlets to play wq THs next season, so I'm in favour of Samson Lee staying. However, if he does leave, I think there are plenty of welsh qualified props that the Scarlets can bring through from the Welsh Premiership, like Shaun Hopkins*, of Llanelli RFC, and Ian Jones*, of Carmarthen Quins RFC.

Gloucester have many TH props already like Rupert Harden, Yann Thomas, and Shaun Knight*. I'm suprised they're after a young welsh prop instead of bringing in new TH props from Gloucestershire clubs.

*http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-prop-rhodri-jones-hoping-2031651
*http://www.llanellirugby.com/Teams/Player?PersonId=133234
*http://www.carmarthenquinsrfc.co.uk/Teams/Player?PersonId=133206
*http://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/rugby/matchcentre/squads_gloucester_first_xv.php

Rhodri Jones is a LH and I would expect Peter Edards to be released now we have Adriannse, Samson and Deacon.

EnglishReign wrote:We need to stop poaching the Scarlets' players! Sorry lads, hope you keep hold of him in a way! It's like kicking a man when he's down.

ha at this rate I might swap supporting the Scarlet's for Gloucester!

But in all seriousness it's a professional support and ND is only doing his job (what's best for Glaws) by trying to fill his squad with as much quality as possible. He probably knows the scarlet's players contracts pretty well (he's still very friendly with our head of recruitment Gareth Jenkins) so it's only natural that he will come back for a player he's familiar with if he know he can get them at the right price.

But I do hope that doesn't stunt the development of the local Gloucester boys. Gloucester have done incredibly well in developing the likes of Burns, May, Robson, Harden etc

2ndtimeround wrote:Rhodri Jones is a LH and I would expect Peter Edards to be released now we have Adriannse, Samson and Deacon.

yeah think we've given up on the experiment to convert RJ to a TH. Deacon has only a year left of his contract so will probably be off the following year. Think we'll keep Edwards to be truthful, squad usually need 4 TH's in their squad. I doubt he's on very much and will keep on playing for Llandovery and called up when needed. RJ and SL will be in the Welsh squads I imagine so probably need some cover there. But if up to 17 players are being released by the Scarlet's he could be on that list.

Samson was on the bench for Wales V Oz, so he is tied to Wales.

did he come on though? thought you had to come on to get capped?

probably has played against France at u20's though? So I'd imagine that would tie him into wales.

Crys 16 (Scarlets supporters trust) have come out and said the club has reassured them that Samson is NOT going anywhere.

Phew

pioden gorllewin wrote:Crys 16 (Scarlets supporters trust) have come out and said the club has reassured them that Samson is NOT going anywhere.

Phew

I believe this is good news for both Carmarthenshire and Gloucestershire.

pioden gorllewin wrote:Crys 16 (Scarlets supporters trust) have come out and said the club has reassured them that Samson is NOT going anywhere.

Phew

That same statement has also come from the Scarlets CEO.
Thats an unusually swift end to a rumour, makes a nice change.

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If you read the article Nigel makes it clear that it is not his intention to "poach" players from the Scarlets but if they become available & want to join him he will sign them

dragon999 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If you read the article Nigel makes it clear that it is not his intention to "poach" players from the Scarlets but if they become available & want to join him he will sign them

Yep, I guess if they do have to go then it is in someways better to go to a team with a Welsh coach who may be more sympathetic to team Wales, and may release players early for training, etc? Maybe? Or would they not have that much sway?

Griff wrote:

dragon999 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If you read the article Nigel makes it clear that it is not his intention to "poach" players from the Scarlets but if they become available & want to join him he will sign them

Yep, I guess if they do have to go then it is in someways better to go to a team with a Welsh coach who may be more sympathetic to team Wales, and may release players early for training, etc? Maybe? Or would they not have that much sway?

I know the game in Wales is cash strapped but it would be bad if a player of his promise would have to leave,no matter where he went

In fairness Tav wasn't poached, if anything Nige did a decent thing and signed Tav when we didn't want him. And imo it was probably the best move for Tav, the Scarlets, Glaws, and Team Wales. Tav gets to play first choice behind a good pack in the HEC, the Scarlets save a wage bill, Glaws get a decent physical scrum half who works well with Ben Morgan, and Team Wales get another player having regular too rate rugby.

IF Samson had gone that would have been poaching as the only winner there would be Glaws.

dragon999 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If you read the article Nigel makes it clear that it is not his intention to "poach" players from the Scarlets but if they become available & want to join him he will sign them

I was not of the opinion that Samson Lee was available.

I tell you what Nigel Davies had better p#$$ right off, he better not be after samson because that will be so selfish of him. When he said he was leaving the scarlets he would not persuade players to go with him.
Samson would be the biggest loss of all our players and yes including north, samson is so important to our packs development that if he leaves it will leave a very big hole in our pack. Samson is the best tight head i have ever seen at his age, we must keep him. He has come on leaps and bounds from the beginning of this season and now.
Nigel you have Tavis hell you can even have turnball if you want but back off our youngsters. If they do sign samson i will never forgive nigel and would never want him even near the scarlets.
Owen williams has been the worst loss for me this season, we can NOT lose samson.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:In fairness Tav wasn't poached, if anything Nige did a decent thing and signed Tav when we didn't want him. And imo it was probably the best move for Tav, the Scarlets, Glaws, and Team Wales. Tav gets to play first choice behind a good pack in the HEC, the Scarlets save a wage bill, Glaws get a decent physical scrum half who works well with Ben Morgan, and Team Wales get another player having regular too rate rugby.

IF Samson had gone that would have been poaching as the only winner there would be Glaws.

+1

LordDowlais wrote:

dragon999 wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:Nigel Davies has to stop poaching players from his old club !!!! I would be gutted if Samson Lee was to move out of Wales, just when they look like they are putting a decent set of forwards together, is Samson tied to Wales yet ?

If you read the article Nigel makes it clear that it is not his intention to "poach" players from the Scarlets but if they become available & want to join him he will sign them

I was not of the opinion that Samson Lee was available.

He's not pal, he's in his 1st year of a 5 year development contract.

However the Scarlet's have left themselves open to bids for their players. They sold the remaining year of Ben Morgans and George Norths contracts, and also allowed Tavis Knoyle leave with a year left of his contract. So can't blame other clubs to think they can buy out Scarlet players of their contracts.

Just looked at Scarlet Fever and they all are pretty confident that this is just a petty rumour. I can't see samson going to be honest but you can't guarantee anything in the current state of our regions.
We have all ready lost a few players some i would like to keep (owen,north,fenby) and some choices that have not really affected us (tavis, Rees, Newton)
If we are releasing 17 players i think we are going by it the right way.
But we can still make a few cuts to the senior team.
I would release
Peter Edwards
Pugh
Turnball
Duane Eager and Lewis rawlins
We dont need turnball and im sure an aviva club would pay a nice little bit for him. We have enough depth at flankers now.
Look we are in the same boat as the ospreys were last season. In a bit of money trouble and are looking to make cuts.
Ospreys did and have brought up loads of young players from their regions clubs on cheap contracts.
This is what we MUST do
so releasing players like rheon james and kyle evans isn't going to get us nowhere. We need to bring through players like ben john, habberfield, rhys jones, eli walker and just pray that it pays off.

Wooooooo PLEASE READ
THE Scarlets insist Samson Lee is staying with the region.

Reports had claimed the highly-rated tight-head was wanted by Gloucester, whose coach Nigel Davies - previously head coach at Parc y Scarlets - is looking for a replacement for Italy-bound Dario Chistolini.

But the Scarlets have today moved to quash such speculation.

It said: "We would like to reassure our supporters that Samson continues to be a committed Scarlet, is under contract to us for five years and is very much part of our future.
"We are proud of the fact that Samson is one of a number of emerging players who are showing their ambition and commitment to the Scarlets and making great strides in their rugby development from working within our environment and region.

"Samson is committed to rugby with us and we see him as a key part of our Scarlets squad."
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-Samson-Lee-

I hope who ever made this this rumour is proud because it's scared me half to death. Panic over
All it was was a petty rumour folks so no worries. Samson is staying end off

Jhamer25 wrote:Wooooooo PLEASE READ
THE Scarlets insist Samson Lee is staying with the region.

Reports had claimed the highly-rated tight-head was wanted by Gloucester, whose coach Nigel Davies - previously head coach at Parc y Scarlets - is looking for a replacement for Italy-bound Dario Chistolini.

But the Scarlets have today moved to quash such speculation.

It said: "We would like to reassure our supporters that Samson continues to be a committed Scarlet, is under contract to us for five years and is very much part of our future.
"We are proud of the fact that Samson is one of a number of emerging players who are showing their ambition and commitment to the Scarlets and making great strides in their rugby development from working within our environment and region.

"Samson is committed to rugby with us and we see him as a key part of our Scarlets squad."
http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Scarlets-Samson-Lee-

I hope who ever made this this rumour is proud because it's scared me half to death. Panic over
All it was was a petty rumour folks so no worries. Samson is staying end off

The big boys/garcons with big wallets will no doubt be watching very closely next season.

Apparently French commentary during the Stade Perpignan game apparently said that we have made an offer to Perpignan wing Farid Sid.

His style wouldn't fit the Scarlets at all imo, he is deceptively powerfull but is definitely not the fastest and at 34 it isn't going to get better.

Scarlets should be looking at guys similar to Maitland, great speed with great rugby brains.

He was MOTM against Toulouse last week, so has probably got something left in the tank. but at 34 he would be a risk - also speaks very little english so his communication skills would be poor. probably his age is the reason we've got a chance of signing him. if he was in his 20's he'd probably be out of our reach. you'd think we could attract better players than him. but how many good wingers are on the open market at the moment? the fact that leinster had to sign kirchner suggestions that options are limited?

one thing is for sure we need at least two wingers to replace North, Fenby and Stodds

I think there are better wingers on the market, wingers of decent quality aren't as rare as tighthead for exemple. Vainikolo, Connacht's wingers is out of contract, he is extremely fast and has very good side step, i think he would be a good signing, a much better one than Sid.

I want the Scarlets to use Kristian Phillips, Kyle Evans, Aaron Warren, Liam Williams and Jordan Williams next season, like the Ospreys have used Eli Walker, Tom Habberfield and Ben John this season.

isn't vainikolo heading to france?

Sale have shown interest in him i believe, not sure about a french move.

That said, he is the kind of player Scarlets should be looking at.

pioden gorllewin wrote:He was MOTM against Toulouse last week, so has probably got something left in the tank. but at 34 he would be a risk - also speaks very little english so his communication skills would be poor.

It hasn't held Robin McBryde back.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

pioden gorllewin wrote:He was MOTM against Toulouse last week, so has probably got something left in the tank. but at 34 he would be a risk - also speaks very little english so his communication skills would be poor.

It hasn't held Robin McBryde back.

hahahaha

The big boys/garcons with big wallets will no doubt be watching very closely next season.

He is on a 5 year contract with us so i'm sure we are safe for a few years, a descent tighthead is like liquid gold. Not all teams can have one, i have no doubt thatsamson lee is going to be a very dominent scrummager in the near future. Never seen a tighthead as good as him at this age and im sure the scalret would never be so stupid to let a talent like him go as they are really hard to come across at top level. he is with us for the next season and untill his contract expires.

Also

I think there are better wingers on the market, wingers of decent quality aren't as rare as tighthead for exemple. Vainikolo, Connacht's wingers is out of contract, he is extremely fast and has very good side step, i think he would be a good signing, a much better one than Sid.

If he has come at a cheap price then i really couldn't care less of if he comes, but as you said there must be a few younger better wingers on the market. Im not complaining because i have wanted to be linked to a wing for ages with the exodus we are having, if he doesn't cost much and can do a job though im not all to bothered becuase at least he is a wing. Haha
We need kyle evans and aaron warren to coem up next season, with a descent signings along the lines of fenby (so maybe like sid) and then another bigger signing like cummins (it won't happen but i man can dream huh).