Ospreys 2015/16 Season

by wayne Wed Sep 02 2015, 12:43

First topic message reminder :

Never done one of these here before, yet cannot do any worse than last years idiot.
Head Coach Steve Tandy
Backs Coach Gruff Rees
Forwards Coach Chris Gibbes
Squad Alphabetically
TYLER ARDRON 24 Back Row Rhodri Hughes 20 Lock
Dimitri Arhip 26 Prop PAUL JAMES 33 Prop
Lloyd Ashley (Peers) 24 Lock AARON JARVIS 29 Prop
Dan Baker 23 Back Row Ben John 24 Centre
SCOTT BALDWIN 27 Hooker ALUN WYN JONES 29 Lock
Adam Beard 19 Lock JAMES KING 25 Back Row
Joe Bearman 36 Back Row Brendon Leonard 30 S/H
Ashley Beck 25 Centre DAN LYDIATE 27 Back Row
Rynier Bernardo 24 Lock JOSH MATAVESI 24 Centre
Ryan Bevington 26 Prop Scott Otten 21 Hooker
DAN BIGGAR 25 OH Sam Parry 23 Hooker
Andrew Bishop 30 Centre Kristian Phillips 24 Wing
Jordan Collier 20 Back Row Martin Roberts 29 S/H
Olly Cracknell 21 Back Row Nicky Smith 21 Prop
Sam Davies 21 O/H Johnathon Spratt 29 Centre
Gareth Delve 32 Back Row De Kock Steenkamp 28 Lock
Hanno Dirksen 24 Wing Dan Suter 23 Prop
Mathew Dwyer 30 Hooker Gareth Thomas 23 Prop
Dan Evans 26 F/B Marc Thomas 25 Prop
Lloyd Evans 24 Back Row Rory Thornton 20 Lock
Richard Fussell 31 F/B JUSTIN TIPURIC 26 Back Row
Tom Grabham 24 Wing Eli Walker 23 Wing
Cai Griffiths 31 Prop RHYS WEBB 26 S/H
Tom Habberfield 23 S/H The following 2 are either temporary
JEFF HASSLER 24 Wing or with feeder clubs
Dafydd Howells 20 Wing Sam Underhill 19 Back Row
Oliver Tomaszczyk 28 Prop
The players in CAPITALS will not be available until after the first 3 games of the Guinness League due to WC call ups
The past 5 seasons we have finished 3, 5, 3, 3 and 4 at the end of the regular season, I envision us finishing around the same position this season.
We will also be without Bernardo and Suter for a while early season, we have recruited Tomaszczyk to cover Suter, Underhill came on as a substitute in the Saracens friendly and there were favourable reports about him. If we have injuries in a few key positions especially early season, that prophecy above could be out the window. There has been talk we have signed a T/H from NZ, who had a serious ankle ligament injury, we are still waiting on his rehab. It needs to be soon or we will have to rely on Jarvis, which is not a good thought.
Just to add we won our first 7 matches last season, against most peoples and my expectations, and it will be more of a shock to me if we win either of our first 2 matches this season. Too many missing through injury and International call ups.

by mikey_dragon Tue Nov 03 2015, 18:29

Wayne, I'm not on that forum and I don't even know its address, so I would have no idea what's been said; Breadvan has answered anyway. I agree with that.

Vince that's an interesting thought and one that never occurred to me. Pretty sure they'd also have another No.8 coming through the ranks too.

De Kock probably isn't that great a loss anyhow, with Thornton coming through. There's also Beard who looked promising for the U20s but last I heard he was injured. Peers is someone I don't really rate at all, not at lock or as a captain anyway.

by wayne Tue Nov 03 2015, 18:41

Breadvan wrote:I rarely post wayne but I'm Boomhauer on there.
mikey...its basically no balance in the squad, especially at the scrum. Why he's picking certain players over others (eg Ashley over Bernado) Does he need a DOR above him, time to go etc...

I only post on there when I see an injustice happening, as there is an unhealthy hierarchy people sort of cow down to one or two posters, you know who I mean, I post as ogwr1947, the vitriol at the moment is aimed at Tandy, before this season it was fired at predominately our scrum with Jarvis, Bevington even players like Baldwin were not rated Regional class in the not too distant past.
Tandy in some cases doesn't help himself by picking players like Ashley, Cai Griffiths, putting backrowers in the 2nd row, the signature of players like Griffiths, Martin Roberts, Kristian Phillips who have ALL played for the Region before, were found wanting then and are no better now, has fired the discontents up.
Does he need a DOR above him? who knows, I do know what he does need, a bit more luck with injuries and a LOT more money, a lot of those forum members know about our financial status and have had some sympathy in the past, because of this start sympathy has gone out of the window, the worst part of that topic on our forum is that some are saying that the players have lost faith in Tandy and that is why he has to go, I don't accept that premise

by wayne Tue Nov 03 2015, 18:59

VinceWLB wrote:Found it baffling at the time but now it's even more glaring, why was Delve signed (with Ardron and Baker being 2 excellent options) when the investment should obviously have been made elsewhere. I'm pretty sure you would have got Fijian tighthead Manasa Saulo as well as Cavubatti with Delve's money.

Anyway, lost of work to do for you lads, hope you can show in Europe what you are really capable of.

Vince, we signed Delve mainly as cover for those other 2 when they were expected to be at the WC, because of his poor performance at the warm up games Baker was allowed back to us, I also remember on here many people saying it was a great signing, IIRC it was Bedford Welsh saying he would keep Baker out of our team (if I'm wrong sorry Bedford). Cavubati was with us at the end of last season, he was at the WC anyway so that would have defeated the object, if the tight head you mentioned was also there, that was not what we needed. Funnily enough in the statement that was released today our General Manager said that that was what De Kock was signed for, to help a young squad when the likes of AWJ was away.
As you say lots of work to do, I think this season is going to be one I'll want to forget, from there it can only be upwards.

by wayne Tue Nov 03 2015, 19:15

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne, I'm not on that forum and I don't even know its address, so I would have no idea what's been said; Breadvan has answered anyway. I agree with that.

Vince that's an interesting thought and one that never occurred to me. Pretty sure they'd also have another No.8 coming through the ranks too.

De Kock probably isn't that great a loss anyhow, with Thornton coming through. There's also Beard who looked promising for the U20s but last I heard he was injured. Peers is someone I don't really rate at all, not at lock or as a captain anyway.

Mikey you are right about Thornton, I've been very impressed, has stood up very well, as I put in the post above De Kock was signed over a year ago to help with the likes of Thornton, Beard, Rhodri Hughes, Hughes was a U20 international in the past couple of years, as I said in an earlier post he deputised in IIRC the Stormers s14 team for Etzebeh and Bekker, SA Internationals both, he would have helped those youngsters no end, we've signed a couple of youngsters Cracknell U20 Welsh International and Sam Underhill English U20 captain, they primarily are flankers not 8s. A lot on our boards agree with you about Peers/Ashley, in his defence there was a stat site towards the end of last season that he had made 370 or so tackles and had missed none, that is not bad in any team.
As for Thornton watch the Press in the next few months there will be a major announcement him.

by mikey_dragon Tue Nov 03 2015, 19:30

I'll be watching the press alright, AWJ and Thornton now that's a good second-row! I'm not sure why Underhill was signed unless he somehow has a Welsh grandparent? He's never stood out for me, not the way the likes of Moriarty have done. With the academy still functioning I thought the Ospreys were quite well stocked at back-row.

What do people on the Ospreys forum say about fly-half? You're lacking cover there from what I can see (Scarlets and Dragons are too) - I also don't rate Biggar's deputy that highly from what I've seen.

by wayne Tue Nov 03 2015, 20:02

mikey_dragon wrote:I'll be watching the press alright, AWJ and Thornton now that's a good second-row! I'm not sure why Underhill was signed unless he somehow has a Welsh grandparent? He's never stood out for me, not the way the likes of Moriarty have done. With the academy still functioning I thought the Ospreys were quite well stocked at back-row.

What do people on the Ospreys forum say about fly-half? You're lacking cover there from what I can see (Scarlets and Dragons are too) - I also don't rate Biggar's deputy that highly from what I've seen.

Mikey, Underhill is 19 and was Englands U18 Captain and plays open side, Moriarty is 21 and plays mainly blind side and sometimes No 8 they are totally different kinds of players at different age groups, we did have a player in the Wales U20 back row last season, can't remember his name, yet he's nowhere near our squad unlike the 3 I mentioned.
You've mentioned your thoughts on Sam Davies before, I disagree, his kicking out of hand is generally excellent, he has had 2 poor games on the trot kicking off the tee, and especially the last game he played, it affected his general play, he will be fine. We also have a fine youngster named Luke Price, he broke his leg badly in the early part of last season and haven't heard much since, I just hopes he comes through.

by GavinDragon Tue Nov 03 2015, 20:07

you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502

by wayne Tue Nov 03 2015, 21:31

GavinDragon wrote:you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502

Gavin, I'm not saying in any way that we are perfect, but that is a better illustration of how things should work, compared to one area in particular, in the way that the Community clubs, Premier clubs and Regional team, support each other.

by Cardiff Dave Wed Nov 04 2015, 17:51

wayne wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502
Gavin, I'm not saying in any way that we are perfect, but that is a better illustration of how things should work, compared to one area in particular, in the way that the Community clubs, Premier clubs and Regional team, support each other.

Spill the beans?

by wayne Wed Nov 04 2015, 18:25

Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502
Gavin, I'm not saying in any way that we are perfect, but that is a better illustration of how things should work, compared to one area in particular, in the way that the Community clubs, Premier clubs and Regional team, support each other.

Spill the beans?

Have you read the article? if you have and still need to ask that question it says more about you than anything I could add

by wayne Wed Nov 04 2015, 18:26

Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502
Gavin, I'm not saying in any way that we are perfect, but that is a better illustration of how things should work, compared to one area in particular, in the way that the Community clubs, Premier clubs and Regional team, support each other.

Spill the beans?

Have you read the article? if you have and still need to ask that question it says more about you than anything I could add

by Cardiff Dave Wed Nov 04 2015, 19:25

wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
GavinDragon wrote:you boys leading the way again on regional-club relations and marketing

http://bridgendravens.co.uk/News/Article/42502
Gavin, I'm not saying in any way that we are perfect, but that is a better illustration of how things should work, compared to one area in particular, in the way that the Community clubs, Premier clubs and Regional team, support each other.

Spill the beans?
Have you read the article? if you have and still need to ask that question it says more about you than anything I could add

Yes I did read it and add anything you like. I like to learn.

by GavinDragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 07:28

hey Dave your A side was kit was pretty diplomatic: Darkest Blue and White hoops with both prem sides' badge on the sleeve

by mikey_dragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 13:06

There were four Ospreys said to have signed a dual contract. Today it's been revealed that two of those are Baldwin and King. Wonder who the other two might be.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu Nov 05 2015, 14:20

I'd like to hear from Ospreys fans on here what they make of James King. I can't say I've seen much of him. Clearly, Team Wales think highly of him, but I'm wondering if people who watch him week in week out can tell me what all the fuss is about.

by GavinDragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 14:40

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I'd like to hear from Ospreys fans on here what they make of James King. I can't say I've seen much of him. Clearly, Team Wales think highly of him, but I'm wondering if people who watch him week in week out can tell me what all the fuss is about.

Agreed. Cant say I think James King is any better than the likes of Lewis Evans, and there are certainly other back rowers who are far more deserving of a NDC IMO (James Davies) and others who have far more potential (Ollie Griffiths).

by Breadvan Thu Nov 05 2015, 14:41

I rate him lucky, and I think he's one of our unsung heros in the back row. In fact myself and a few others were perplexed when Lydiate came in last season as King was playing brilliantly. Great player Dan is, i think this unsettled JK a bit as he was playing better at the time. He's played lock and no8 last week, Tandy Rolling Eyes

, but at blindside, he's a quality player IMO..

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu Nov 05 2015, 15:11

Did Lydiate arrive on an NDC? I can't remember.

by mikey_dragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 15:17

I think King is a hard working flanker, which is quite typical of the position. Decent player that he is I don't think he should be one of the ones on a DC - for reasons alluded to above. The DC pretty much guarantees you a place in the Wales squad. Our back-row requires balance as it is reliant on a certain partnership working as a unit - IMO King doesn't really fit in there at 6. He's also played at 8 for Wales and that was against Italy. I didn't really notice him in that game but that said it was a poor game from the entire team.

Hopefully in the near future we can secure the likes or Francis and Morairty on these contracts to strengthen our regional teams - preferably someone other than the poor performing Ospreys.

by mikey_dragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 15:17

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Did Lydiate arrive on an NDC? I can't remember.

m

From what I can remember yes.

by Luckless Pedestrian Thu Nov 05 2015, 15:59

It doesn't seem like particularly good long-term planning then.

by GavinDragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 16:34

I would also be dissapointed to see Charteris return on a NDC. At 32 that would not represent good value for money.

I would also hope he would return to the Dragons, but I cant see it happening.

by wayne Thu Nov 05 2015, 17:27

I've been out a lot today, and missed most of this action, as I alluded to on different topics there are 4, and YES I do know who they are, but I would be breaking a confidence if I named them, as for the King scenario, I'm on record as Breadvan says, of King being peeved at the Lydiate signature, as IMO, he does not suit our type of play, King is a large contributor to our lineout options, Dan is not, even though he has been used a bit more since he has joined us, and yes Lydiate came on a DC, when he wouldn't go back to the Dragons he wanted to join us.

by mikey_dragon Thu Nov 05 2015, 18:53

Charteris could be offered a 1-2 year dual contract, that doesn't sound bad. His experience could help Dragons seeing as we'll be more reliant on academy forwards in the near future.

by wayne Thu Nov 05 2015, 19:02

mikey_dragon wrote:Charteris could be offered a 1-2 year dual contract, that doesn't sound bad. His experience could help Dragons seeing as we'll be more reliant on academy forwards in the near future.

Mikey, Baldwin is 27 and King is 25, the other 2 are no older than King, I would think most of the new intakes would be of that age group, definitely not older, I wouldn't have thought Luke would come into that bracket, but then again I wouldn't be sad if he did come home on a DC, he's a quality player.

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 05 2015, 19:10

GavinDragon wrote:hey Dave your A side was kit was pretty diplomatic: Darkest Blue and White hoops with both prem sides' badge on the sleeve

"Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard, oh Lord, why don't we?"

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 05 2015, 19:19

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Did Lydiate arrive on an NDC? I can't remember.

Do we know the details of a DC yet with respect to the RSA?

by mikey_dragon Fri Nov 06 2015, 11:13

Well it's just been announced that Baker and Thornton are the next two to sign dual contracts. Two good options to have on the books. They look promising so far, and if Tyler Morgan is on one then you can't argue with these two either.

by Luckless Pedestrian Fri Nov 06 2015, 11:58

Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

by wayne Fri Nov 06 2015, 15:48

mikey_dragon wrote:Well it's just been announced that Baker and Thornton are the next two to sign dual contracts. Two good options to have on the books. They look promising so far, and if Tyler Morgan is on one then you can't argue with these two either.

Mikey, I knew those 4 names over 2 weeks ago, and have been dropping hints without actually naming players ever since, as one of the 4 is my source, on our board is an Ospreys Moderator, and I dropped a hint yesterday that I'd known for over a fortnight who the 4 were and said they should name them to lift some of the gloom around the forum and thankfully they've responded, he wasn't very happy that either I knew or I was drip feeding some of the information.

by Cardiff Dave Fri Nov 06 2015, 17:57

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

When the money runs out most probs.

by mikey_dragon Fri Nov 06 2015, 18:02

Cardiff Dave wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

When the money runs out most probs.

You'd guess so, although just as the NDCs were coming in didn't Gatland state that he wanted something like 18 or 20 players signed up? So they'll still have some spaces left, and I bet two are reserved for Halfpenny and JD2 next year.

by Cardiff Dave Fri Nov 06 2015, 18:16

mikey_dragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

When the money runs out most probs.

You'd guess so, although just as the NDCs were coming in didn't Gatland state that he wanted something like 18 or 20 players signed up? So they'll still have some spaces left, and I bet two are reserved for Halfpenny and JD2 next year.

'Alarm bells' emoticon!

by Cardiff Dave Fri Nov 06 2015, 19:40

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

Oh I dunno. No limit it seems when it comes to signing Os players.

by mikey_dragon Fri Nov 06 2015, 20:25

Cardiff Dave wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

Oh I dunno. No limit it seems when it comes to signing Os players.

It's quite worrying actually, what with the rumours that Patchell and JD2 are set to be going to the Scarlets on a NDC. The WRU trying to strengthen two teams perhaps, rather than commit to helping all four? It's just creating wider disparity. If Ospreys finish outside the top 6/7 then it'll be interesting to see how the WRU react.

by Cardiff Dave Fri Nov 06 2015, 20:54

mikey_dragon wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Is there a limit to the total number of NDCs?

Oh I dunno. No limit it seems when it comes to signing Os players.

It's quite worrying actually, what with the rumours that Patchell and JD2 are set to be going to the Scarlets on a NDC. The WRU trying to strengthen two teams perhaps, rather than commit to helping all four? It's just creating wider disparity. If Ospreys finish outside the top 6/7 then it'll be interesting to see how the WRU react.

Steady on. We'll have 4 teams whatever. WRU agreed shackles is what concerns me.

by wayne Sat Nov 07 2015, 10:01

Today is a must win game, and preferably a BP as well, if neither of those 2 are realised our season will have gone from bad to catastrophic.
One of our DC players Rory Thornton is out because of a HIA, other than that a pretty strong team selected, with a few having rests and Arhip playing for Moldova, why the new T/H Fia is not selected is beyond me, our pair selected is Jarvis and Griffiths, they must be the weakest T/H pairing selected at the top level in European Rugby this weekend. Because he is not even on the bench I cannot see Fia being selected in the RCC games in the next fortnight, why would you select somebody in those matches if you haven't tried them out in a lesser game first.

by mikey_dragon Sat Nov 07 2015, 12:16

Well that's Steve Tandy for you.

by Stone Motif Sat Nov 07 2015, 14:33

mikey_dragon wrote:Well it's just been announced that Baker and Thornton are the next two to sign dual contracts. Two good options to have on the books. They look promising so far, and if Tyler Morgan is on one then you can't argue with these two either.

Well except Baker is awful and will never be international class.

by wayne Sat Nov 07 2015, 18:48

mikey_dragon wrote:Well that's Steve Tandy for you.

Mikey, you are worth responding to, others are not, as it turns out the scrum wasn't bad, we won a few penalties with Jarvis, Baldwin and James, we also lost a few, overall it was better than I envisaged, and for all his scrummaging worries, Jarvis is very good in open play, if there was one player who disappointed today it was Brendon Leonard, some of his passing was woeful, one pass to Biggar bounced twice before getting to him and there were a few that had to be plucked out of the air, Habberfield was so much more fluent, Sam Davies made a few sublime breaks due to the speed and accuracy of Tom's pass, I know it was Zebre, yet the urgency that AW brought to the team was remarkable, when we have players of the calibre of him Tips and Dan dictating the speed and direction of our play, we are very good, Baker made many yards even Lloyd Ashley was very good taking at least 4 lineouts making numerous charges with ball in hand and his tackling was right up there, as i said it was Zebre, next week it is going to be a lot harder against a quality team, but this was a step in the right direction.

by mikey_dragon Sun Nov 08 2015, 19:42

Wayne - I think Jarvis is alright at this level, and he's always done fairly well when Wales have asked him to. I can't see him being on a NDC mind but it wouldn't surprise me to see just that being announced in a few weeks time. It's Ospreys tight 5 that needs addressing, not just TH. Hopefully for your team the new signings and the demoting of Lloyd Ashley (which won't happen) will help address that. You got what was needed anyway, and next week is a home game so maybe Ospreys can continue to improve. It seems Biggar had an awkward day with the boot which is unusual for him. Leonard hasn't been great since joining, but No.9s are littered throughout the back line anyway so it might not be such a big issue.

by wayne Sun Nov 08 2015, 21:03

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne - I think Jarvis is alright at this level, and he's always done fairly well when Wales have asked him to. I can't see him being on a NDC mind but it wouldn't surprise me to see just that being announced in a few weeks time. It's Ospreys tight 5 that needs addressing, not just TH. Hopefully for your team the new signings and the demoting of Lloyd Ashley (which won't happen) will help address that. You got what was needed anyway, and next week is a home game so maybe Ospreys can continue to improve. It seems Biggar had an awkward day with the boot which is unusual for him. Leonard hasn't been great since joining, but No.9s are littered throughout the back line anyway so it might not be such a big issue.
, Ashley was the only option yesterday, unless we had done as we have done in the past and put a backrower in there, Thornton was out because of a HIA, and Bernardo was on the sidelines when the warmup was going on with a large protective boot on, hopefully one of the other 2 will be available for next week, but as you say Ashley will still be selected, in fairness he had a good game yesterday
winning many lineouts having a few carries that made 10 yards or so, and his tackling was very prominent, you are right about Dan yesterday he did miss a few that he normally gets, but none you could say were easy, and his control management was as ever excellent. I think the thing with Jarvis is consistency, there was a scrum early in the first half and you'd think he was on roller skates, and they had a penalty, not 5 minutes later there was another scrum and we folded and smashed their front 5 down and back, we got nothing from it, as I say consistency.

by wayne Thu Nov 19 2015, 19:07

Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 19 2015, 19:28

wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.

by wayne Thu Nov 19 2015, 19:41

Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.

More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 19 2015, 20:39

wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.
More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

Dunno. I can't figure it out either, wibble.

by wayne Thu Nov 19 2015, 20:59

Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.
More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

Dunno. I can't figure it out either, wibble.

Well it is pretty obvious to me.

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 19 2015, 21:03

wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.
More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

Dunno. I can't figure it out either, wibble.
Well it is pretty obvious to me.

And?

by wayne Thu Nov 19 2015, 21:18

Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.
More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

Dunno. I can't figure it out either, wibble.
Well it is pretty obvious to me.

And?

Dave, there is an interesting post on our board today about the circumstances of Liam Williams joining the Scarlets instead of us, he was not involved with either teams Academy, when Swansea were invited to have a look at him, the bloke in charge of recruitment at the Whites didn't rate him so he went to the Scarlets, we then offered him terms, but because the Scarlets had done the initial work with him, he opted for them.

by Cardiff Dave Thu Nov 19 2015, 21:56

wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:
Cardiff Dave wrote:
wayne wrote:Andrew Hore CEO of the Ospreys gave an interview to the Fail earlier this week, it was a very thought provoking session with a couple of questions answered below.

We are the one true Region. That's it. I don't care what anyone says. As a consequence, we want to develop kids from across that Region and that has been our mantra since our inception.
The concept has always been to get youth and bring them through. Sprinkle in with that three or four or really good professionals and you have the basis of something.

You can still be a professional team, but have a Regional focus. I don't think the other three sides have that to the same extent.
Cardiff and Llanelli wanted to stay as individual clubs and the Dragons are having a bit of a tough time of it. We don't always get it right, but at least our intent is always there to celebrate our kids from across our Region.
There were a fair number of questions answered, how this will go down with his PRW partners is open to debate.
I would love to be a fly on the wall when they are discussed next.
The full article is on the Walesonline website or on the Western Mail newspaper.

Plus that kid from Treorchy you mentioned.
More to the point is why wouldn't the kid want to stay with his own Region, they obviously had the earliest opportunity to develop him.

Dunno. I can't figure it out either, wibble.
Well it is pretty obvious to me.

And?
Dave, there is an interesting post on our board today about the circumstances of Liam Williams joining the Scarlets instead of us, he was not involved with either teams Academy, when Swansea were invited to have a look at him, the bloke in charge of recruitment at the Whites didn't rate him so he went to the Scarlets, we then offered him terms, but because the Scarlets had done the initial work with him, he opted for them.

the bloke in charge of recruitment at the Whites obviously lacked regional focus, maybe.

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