Scarlets signings for next season?

Does anyone know of any rumours on who the scarlets are looking to sign next year?

So far only heard the following names rumoured:

Rhodri Gomer Davies (recently released by Dragons)
Aled Thomas ( London Welsh, ex Dragons)
Andy Williams ( ex bath, Dragon srumhalf)

Also heard two possible locks, the Carmarthen Quins Tongan international and some Kiwi with Canterbury Crusaders.

Guessing Aled Thomas will cover Steve and Rhys short term while they are away in Wales. Andy Williams probably to back up Gareth Davies with Martyn Robert gone to saints and Tavis away with Wales. Do need cover in the centers with only Scott Williams and Nic Reynolds available during the world cup period. Makes sense to get RGD on board as he has ML experience and a Cardigan boy I think. Still need a tighthead and hard nosed lock.

Also does anyone else think we will be short of wingers with North, Stoddard and Lamont not available during the world cup?

They're the only ones I've hear rumoured as well, doesn't look like we have any money to spend on new players for next season

I reckon at tight head we'll be okay, we've got Rhys Thomas, Peter Edwards and Simon Gardiner who can play there. Our only problem position in the pack really as usual is our 2nd row. Although if we play Welch more he could be like a new signing for us!

With regards to the centre we do have Gareth Maule who can play there as well. I am seriously worried about our back 3 during the world cup though. I mean who do we have to play there? Lee Williams, Andy Fenby, one of Reynolds/Williams/Maule depending on who plays in the centre. We're going to be seriously short there. I wouldn't mind if RGD comes to the Scarlets, he's a useful player although not brilliant, could be good for us.

Not sure what Nigel has against Welch, although did hear he wasn't playing that well for Llandovery. With Vernon retiring and Lou possibly an outsider for the welsh squad, we will need to recruit in that dept.

Thought I heard that Lee Williams was being released, but might have that wrong. Have Scarlets announced who they are releasing next season?

Possibly we'll use Darren Daniels/Richard Carter from the Quins to cover the wings. Or Joe Ajuwa, Les Rees & Ifan Evans from Llandovery. Either way we'll have little ML experience in the back three.

Darren Daniels has gone. Rhodri Gomer Davies is from Ffarmers, not far from Pumpsaint (Dreamer country). He played centre for Llandovery College with Rhydian, the singer. AW Jones was also in the team.

As ever Llanelli seem to find backs, but it's the front five that has me concerned.

Joe Ajuwa has gone too.

I did recall as I was going to sleep that we have Dan Evans, Dan Newton and Rheon James that can all play in the backs. Very inexperienced to be sure but at least we have cover.

With regards to Welch I'm not sure whether he's had an on-going injury problem, I've heard rumours of that anyway. It would seem a bit strange for Nige to continuously not pick him, yet re-sign him.

Glas - tis the pack that concerns me too, but not so much the front row this time. 2nd row and back row are concerns for me, especially if the likes of Turnbull and McCusker get called up. Not a lot of cover left there at all! Really highlights the lack of depth in our squad I guess.

We should have a decent set if backs during the RWC

D Evans
L Williams
G Maule
S Williams
A Fenby
D Newton
G Davies

B Morgan
J Edwards
R McCusker (or Turnbull as one will be left behind)
D Day
L Reed (or Welch if Reed goes to RWC)
R Thomas
K Owens
I Thomas (or John if Thomas goes to RWC).

Also there is Ford (i think from the RFC) who can do a job on the wing IMO.

Aye SS, that's not bad line up in intself, but what if we get injuries? Who'se going to cover for them? We just don't seem to have the depth. I know that's a bit of a depressing view, but it's a serious issue the Scarlets are going to have for next season.

Ignoring players at the RWC outside of that side

Fullback cover - Fenby, Newton
Wing cover - Maule, Reynolds, Ford
Centre Cover - Gomer-Davies, Reynolds
Fly Half Cover - Aled Thomas, Evans
Scrum Half - Williams

Backrow - Shingler, Cudd
Second row - Welch, Cooper, Shingler
Hooker - Phillips, Myhill
Loosehead - John, R Jones
Tighthead - Edwards, Gardener.

Thats a fair bit of cover, especially when you thin Gats will probably end up leaving a number of turks behind when he goes to the RWC (Like Knoyle, Priestland, Stoddart etc), and the national side will be home after a month anyway.

Cooper's retiring isn't he?
And it's a bit worrying that we've got certain players who are covering two positions. if they get injured that's more than one position effected.

I know I'm sounding a complete pessimist but it's something we seriously need to look at. The players might only be away for a month (or a bit more) but we can't expect to play them straight away, they'll need a rest period. Then we have the Autumn Internationals to contend with.

I know in certain positions like the front row we've got cover, but another poor run of luck with injuries and we're going to struggle. I have faith that the players we have available can now step up and do a good job for us, but I wouldn't be surprised if for the first half of the season we'll be quite low down in the table. I think we'll pick things back up about December time.

The squad next year also looks very short of leaders. Especially if it's true that Dai Llew is going to stade francais. If Cooper is retiring, who will be the leaders for the youngsters to look up to?

I can see why your worried about what happens if we pick up injuries, and I agree we need to develope more strength in depth. However to be fair the only reason we have the strenght in depth we have in the front row is due to the amount of injuries we suffered there last season. I don't think we managed to feild a full strength team at all last season as we were seriously short in the centre, wings and front row for hefty periods of last season.

Oh i forgot Dai Lyons in the back row, god knows how.

Pioden - I guess the leadership will have to come from the likes of Iestyn Thomas, Jonathan Edwards and Gareth Maule - 3 of our stand out players from this season.

SS - to be fair like pioden says, there are heavy rumours Dai Llewod is leaving us for a French club, although personally I hope he stays. Our young backrowers still have a lot to learn from him.

And you're right, we definitely didn't field a full strength team this season, hugely frustrating as a fan as you always wondered just how could we could be with all our first choice players!

I can see this season as being a bit of another development season re: squad depth. Trying to lower my expectations really so I won't be so disappointed if thing's go pear shape! I do have a firm belief of what we can achieve though, I just hope the lads can deliver it

Dreamer - I think Mark Jones came out and said, two seasons ago when he was captain, that we had the makings of a good squad but it will take time (10 years i think??), and to be fair i would not expect great things for next season, however i do think that we should be nailing HC qualification, and a decent home record. Anything else is a bonus.

SS - can't argue with that. I think for the next few seasons we should be focusing just on the Magners and squad development. if we get anything on top of that, like you say it's a bonus.

Thing is though, are the majority of fans as patient as us? I know a lot are grumbling already that this season was a failure as we didn't make the play offs. Baffles me as last season we only got into the HC because the Blus won the Amlin! Looks like people have some very short memories.

How do you guys (?) see the departure of Lyons affecting your chances?

I honestly see the Dragons and Scarlets making the playoffs.............much as it destroys me to say.

well Opsreylian, this gal thinks that although we've coped very well this season while Lyons has been out injured, he does do a lot of great work behind the scenes with our squad. Don't forget before this season he was our stand our player for the previous 2 seasons before that. It's also no coincidence that our young back row players have improved so much since he's joined us.

Playing wise he might not be so much of a loss anymore (but still a loss!) but he's just a massive benefit for player development and Ben Morgan in particular still has a lot to learn from him.

And I would love the Dragons and Scarlets to both make the play offs but I think the Scarlets might struggle, just due to their international call ups as we don't have the squad depth to cope with it. Another solid 5th finish for us would be good, whilst unearthing a few more good players I think. Anything more and I'll be a very happy Scarlet!

Agree with dreamer that we might struggle to make the playoffs. However if we can bring through a few more youngsters next season I'll be happy. As long as we don't go back to the days of Hayter,Eustace,Maling, Martens, Schwalger etc to build depth in the squad! I'm currently happy in the direction the squad/region is going

Look at Laurence this year. He was our best hooker, 3rd or 4th choice! The talent is out there. They'll be fine.

OUt of interest what has happend with Manu? I heard he was due to leave, but I aint too sure. If he and Lyons do leave that will leave us with only British players in the squad (for now).

Does anybody know when the season tickets for people who didn't have then last year go on sale?

18th June, Glas.

spiderman:

heard manu was going back to NZ. If he doesn't go we'll still miss him while he's captaining the fijians at the world cup.

Dreamer - I think that deep down most Scarlets fans know that we are still only just starting to put together the squad for the future, and that it will take a while to get to where we are going. That said there will be loads of grumbling when we hit any bumps on that road.

SS - there will definitely be lots of grumbling, tis the Scarlets way! I just hope the fans don't hit the panic buttons too soon though is all, we need to give this current crop of players time.