Cardiff Blues Season Thread 2 - Rey Lee-Lo signs long term at centre

[wales606]

First topic message reminder :

Prop
Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Taufa'ao Filise, Craig Mitchell, Sam Hobbs, Scott Andrews, Thomas Davies, Dillon Lewis

Hooker
Matthew Rees, Kristian Dacey, Marc Breeze, Rhys Williams, Ethan Lewis

2nd Row
Jarrad Hoeata, Filo Paulo, Lou Reed, Chris Dicomidis, Miles Normadale

Flanker
Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull, Macauley Cook, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi, Rory Watts-Jones, Jevon Groves, Ben Roach

Eight
Manoa Vosawai, Ieaun Jones

Scrum half
Tavis Knoyle, Lloyd Williams, Lewis Jones, Tomos Williams

Fly half
Rhys Patchell, Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies, Simon Humberstone, Jarrod Evans, Will Thomas

Centre
Cory Allen, Dafydd Hewitt, Gavin Evans, Richard Smith, Tom Pascoe, Adam Thomas, Garyn Smith (Ray Lee-Lo)

Wing
Alex Cuthbert, George Watkins, Lucas Amorisino, Harry Davies, Owen Jenkins, Chris Knight, Tom Williams (Tom James)

Full back
Joaquin Tuculet, Dan Fish, Geraint Walsh, Aled Summerhill

[wales606]

Simon Humberstone has signed a regional contract until 2015

Guess we will be fielding the entire Ponty 1st XV next season...

Gareth Davies may be heading to London Welsh

[ScarletSpiderman]

I have heard that the Blues are meant to be looking at a 'welsh capped scrum half', and heard a lot of mention of it being Tavis Knoyle, could be good news for the Blues and Scarlets, as Tavis would offer you an alternative style to Lloyd Williams, and the Scarlets could keep Cawdor.

[wales606]

I have heard that the Blues are meant to be looking at a 'welsh capped scrum half', and heard a lot of mention of it being Tavis Knoyle, could be good news for the Blues and Scarlets, as Tavis would offer you an alternative style to Lloyd Williams, and the Scarlets could keep Cawdor.

Gareth Davies deal was almost a done thing last time I heard

[ScarletSpiderman]

I have heard that the Blues are meant to be looking at a 'welsh capped scrum half', and heard a lot of mention of it being Tavis Knoyle, could be good news for the Blues and Scarlets, as Tavis would offer you an alternative style to Lloyd Williams, and the Scarlets could keep Cawdor.

Gareth Davies deal was almost a done thing last time I heard

Unless your after getting a couple of scrum halves.

[Coleman]

I'd prefer G.Davies (Scarlets) to Tavis. His passing is much better.

Just to clear up the top. Pretorious is off to Worcester Warriors.

[wales606]

I'd prefer G.Davies (Scarlets) to Tavis. His passing is much better.

Just to clear up the top. Pretorious is off to Worcester Warriors.

Thanks, updated

[Cardiff Dave]

Highly-rated back row forward Ellis Jenkins - one of the brightest young prospects in Welsh rugby - has today pledged his future to Cardiff Blues and signed a new long-term deal with the region.

http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6782.php#.UujoW_uny9I

[The Saint]

Blues have an array of quality open-sides at their disposal. With Copeland exiting, who will make up the back-row?

[wales606]

Excellent news that Jenkins is staying - he has a very bright future.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Blues have an array of quality open-sides at their disposal. With Copeland exiting, who will make up the back-row?

 
At a guess, and going on rumoured signings
 
6 - Turnbull / Warburton / Hamilton
7 - Warburton / Navidi / Jenkins
8 - I Jones / Turnbull / Jenkins
 
not the best, but to be honest not any worse than what they have had this season.

[Knowsit17]

Don't see why the Blues would want Turnbull now that they have Warbs (for free if they decide to play him), Navidi and Jenkins. Bringing in more open-sides will surely lead to some being shuffled indeterminately around the back row. Solid options are needed.

Ellis Jenkins is the sort of signing all the regions don't make often enough. Nice to see the Blues bringing through academy/age-grade talent, shame it took most of the star roster jumping ship to force their hand.

[XR]

Ellis Jenkins is the sort of signing all the regions don't make often enough. Nice to see the Blues bringing through academy/age-grade talent, shame it took most of the star roster jumping ship to force their hand.

Well that's not true at all.

We've been doing it for years, just it's more of a news story now because our big name 'home grown' players are leaving.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Knowsit, Josh Turnbull is a natural blindside, which is something that the Blues don't really have. I would be over the moon if he stays where he belongs though. Also like gcBlues says there are lots of young players that are signed up by the regions every season, just looking at the Blues (seeing as it is their thread) there have been Owen Williams, Rhys Patchell Cory Allen, Richard Smith (?), Harry Robinson, Lloyd Williams all brought into being main team players over the last few seasons, and that is just in the backs.

[XR]

Add to that the first 'real' crop of academy players in jamie roberts, bradley davies, hewitt, czekaj, tom james etc we brought in before that.

Some may have left by now (like roberts, james and possibly bradley) but we've brought through age grade players before and not just now.

[The Saint]

Blues have an array of quality open-sides at their disposal. With Copeland exiting, who will make up the back-row?

 
At a guess, and going on rumoured signings
 
6 - Turnbull / Warburton / Hamilton
7 - Warburton / Navidi / Jenkins
8 - I Jones / Turnbull / Jenkins
 
not the best, but to be honest not any worse than what they have had this season.

In all fairness, Cooke has looked decent at 6. Watts-Jones at 7 was very good in the European games. Not so sure about Hamilton myself.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Just trying to put a team together now

1 Hobbs
2 Dacey
3 Andrews
4 B Davies
5 Cook (best I can think of, does Dicomedis count?)
6 Warburton
7 Navidi
8 Hamilton (sorry can't think of any others)

9 Ll Williams
10 Patchell
11 H Robinson
12 Allen
13 O Williams
14 R Smith (again best I can think of)
15 Czekaj

All come through the system and currently still at the Blues

[The Saint]

Well given how they win almost all of their games in age-grade, it's no surprise to see them produce the players.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Well given how they win almost all of their games in age-grade, it's no surprise to see them produce the players.

Well that ain't true, I think that all the age grade championship winning sides (and women's side, and top league position in the Rabo), came from the far west.

[Jhamer25]

Blues have an array of quality open-sides at their disposal. With Copeland exiting, who will make up the back-row?

 
At a guess, and going on rumoured signings
 
6 - Turnbull / Warburton / Hamilton
7 - Warburton / Navidi / Jenkins
8 - I Jones / Turnbull / Jenkins
 
not the best, but to be honest not any worse than what they have had this season.

So no one has heard of the Kai Horstmann rumors then?

He would be a great signing for the Blues and would sort out your 8 problem

[The Saint]

I haven't, but I doubt he's the next Robin Copeland.

[Jhamer25]

I haven't, but I doubt he's the next Robin Copeland.

I've just heard from a few people that he has signed. The fact is the blues aren't going to get another bargain like Copeland who came from a premiership side and made his way into the Ireland team after two seasons.
He would help fill the void though, would be happy to have him down at the Scarlet's personally; won't set the team alight but will do a good job.

[SirBurger]

Bradley Davies will be a Wasp next season won't he?

[wales606]

I haven't, but I doubt he's the next Robin Copeland.

I've just heard from a few people that he has signed. The fact is the blues aren't going to get another bargain like Copeland who came from a premiership side and made his way into the Ireland team after two seasons.
He would help fill the void though,  would be happy to have him down at the Scarlet's personally; won't set the team alight but will do a good job.

A championship side

[wales606]

The Blues will NOT play Sam Warburton unless the WRU agree to a long term financial solution for the regions.

Interesting read : http://www.cardiffblues.com/news/6785.php#.Uun4_Pn1GuI

[Jhamer25]

I haven't, but I doubt he's the next Robin Copeland.

I've just heard from a few people that he has signed. The fact is the blues aren't going to get another bargain like Copeland who came from a premiership side and made his way into the Ireland team after two seasons.
He would help fill the void though,  would be happy to have him down at the Scarlet's personally; won't set the team alight but will do a good job.

A championship side

Yes sorry, Championship team

Won't get another like him

[wales606]

I haven't, but I doubt he's the next Robin Copeland.

I've just heard from a few people that he has signed. The fact is the blues aren't going to get another bargain like Copeland who came from a premiership side and made his way into the Ireland team after two seasons.
He would help fill the void though,  would be happy to have him down at the Scarlet's personally; won't set the team alight but will do a good job.

A championship side

Yes sorry, Championship team

Won't get another like him

Lets wait and see how this Bristol winger gets on...can't be much worse than Robinson/Czekaj

[Cardiff Dave]

Cardiff Blues sign ex-Turk scrum-half Tavis "tackle bag" Knoyle.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-blues-sign-gloucester-scrum-half-6650367

[The Saint]

Now you have two rubbish scrum-halves. Oh dear just ain't the words.

[ScarletSpiderman]

And Cawdor has renewed with the Scarlets!

Tag and Lloyd are totally different types, could work well for the blues.

[The Saint]

You used to say that when he was at the Scarlets though....

Great news for you now that Cawdor has renewed. Him and Rhodri should be in that Wales squad, along with Webb. Phillips is on his way out.

[wales606]

No Gareth Davies!   

Not a big Tavis fan, but he can't be much worse than Lloyd Williams.

[Jhamer25]

Very happy Gareth re-singed but Tavis is a great signing for the Blues.
When he is in from he can be really good but it's his consistency and injuries that have let him down the past 2 seasons.
Hopefully he will be able to find his feet with the Blues who have already made some good signings. He bringing back these welsh boys Cardiff.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Knoyle, Mitchell and young Ieaun Jones should all be good signings, and generally a long term improvement.

[XR]

For the rest of the season the blues should just play Ellis Jenkins and have Warburton sit out the season for encouraging wales players to effectively leave the regions and sign for the WRU. Saying that, he'll probably get injured in the 6N and miss the rest of the season anyway.

[ScarletSpiderman]

For the rest of the season the blues should just play Ellis Jenkins and have Warburton sit out the season for encouraging wales players to effectively leave the regions and sign for the WRU. Saying that, he'll probably get injured in the 6N and miss the rest of the season anyway.

That is a bit harsh (but have heard people say the same for any 'big' player leaving before). Surely it would be a better option to throw him into all the games, give him no rest and work him like a dog, get every penny's worth you can out of him before he goes?

[XR]

You could go that way but i would rather build for next season as we're out of europe and out of any top league position. I'd be looking to give Jenkins as much game time as possible.

[Coleman]

Who would you rather start at 7? Josh or Ellis? Josh has proved himself to be a good blindside, but he's still young and needs game time. Then we have Watts-Jones who has looked good when playing for us aswell. It's a nice problem to have. You can see why Young left. I wish all of our positions were this competitive.

[wales606]

You could go that way but i would rather build for next season as we're out of europe and out of any top league position. I'd be looking to give Jenkins as much game time as possible.

I know a few people with the same opinion - Jenkins is the future.

Looks like Navidi will continue to alternate between 6 & 7

[Cardiff Dave]

For the rest of the season the blues should just play Ellis Jenkins and have Warburton sit out the season for encouraging wales players to effectively leave the regions and sign for the WRU. Saying that, he'll probably get injured in the 6N and miss the rest of the season anyway.

That is a bit harsh (but have heard people say the same for any 'big' player leaving before).  Surely it would be a better option to throw him into all the games, give him no rest and work him like a dog, get every penny's worth you can out of him before he goes?

Ah, but will the other players pass the ball to him?   

[wales606]

Gareth Davies has gone off 4 minutes into the game vs Quins...

so we now have 1 fit flyhalf - Humberstone, who was only signed from Ponty this week :/

[Coleman]

Tidy win last night, missed it as i stayed in to watch the U20's. Anyone go? How did Ice get on? People saying Fish had a good game.

[ScarletSpiderman]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26020545

Josh Turnbull officially joined the Blues now. I was quite shocked to see how young he is for someone that has been around forever. I am gutted to see him leave, but it is not a financial move so it is understandable.

"Blues are looking to add depth at number six and that is where I want to play, I have played across the back line, but I want to focus on one position and move my career up another level." - Turnbull

[Guest]

On form he is a great player, so I'm happy for him to be here, we are lacking some depth at blindside.

[wales606]

Scarlets have signed Olly Barkley for the rest of the season, yet we are the ones with 1 fit flyhalf on the books.

[international197]

Scarlets have signed Olly Barkley for the rest of the season, yet we are the ones with 1 fit flyhalf on the books.

Can Phil Davies call up Dai Flanagan of Pontypridd RFC or/and Jack Maynard of Cardiff RFC or/and another/others of a club/clubs within the Blues region if he wants to?

[Coleman]

I believe that he can. The Cardiff RFC players are easily accessable, the Ponty players seem to be aswell.

[wales606]

One hit wonder Flanagan

We shipped him off to the Ospreys for a reason...

Maynard is a Blues academy player I believe.

[Jhamer25]

Well done Blues another cracking player there. We don't use him enough int he position he is best in so what can you expect. He is an out and out 6 and it's a good move for him.

[Coleman]

Brad has gone to Wasps as expected. Leaves us with Dico and Filo as our starting locks. Both NWQ, tisk tisk. ^_^

[wales606]

Brad has gone to Wasps as expected. Leaves us with Dico and Filo as our starting locks. Both NWQ, tisk tisk. ^_^

It's a huge blow, but I very much doubt Dico and Filo will be the starting locks next season,

at the moment, it will be Reed and Paulo

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