Ospreys 16/17 season thread

[wayne]

First topic message reminder :

Rugby Management and Squad for 16/17
Head Coach Steve Tandy
Backs Gruff Rees
Forwards Chris Gibbes
Defence Brad Davis
Backs.
Dan Evans 3,     Jeff Hassler 2,     Dafydd Howells 2,     Ashley Beck 2,     Owen Watkin 3,     Kieron Fonotia 2,    Ben John 2,     Tom Habberfield 3,     Rhys Webb NDC 3?,     Dan Biggar NDC 3,     Eli Walker 1,     Josh Matavesi 2,     Tom Grabham 1,      Brendon Leonard 2,     Sam Davies 1,      Hanno Dirksen 1, Keelan Giles 3   
Forwards.
Olly Cracknell 2,     Lloyd Ashley3,     Bradley Davies NDC 3,      Joe Bearman 1,     Gareth Thomas 3,     Hugh Gustafson 2,     Adam Beard 3,     Scott Otten 3,     AWJ NDC 3,     Dan Baker NDC 3,     Rory Thornton NDC 3,     Scott Baldwin NDC 3,     James King NDC 2,     Ma'afu Fia 2,     Nicky Smith 3,     Dmitri Arhip 2,     Justin Tipuric 4,     Sam Parry 2,     Tyler Ardron 1,     Paul James 2,     Dan Suter 1,    Rhodri Jones 2, and Sam Underhill 2 but on permit from Bridgend RFC.
Fixture list for 16/17    
2/9   Zebre                                         H                        Guinness                   W 59-5
10/9 Connacht                                    A                        Guinness                   W 32-11
17/9 Treviso                                       H                         Guinness                   W 64-10
23/9 Leinster                                      A                         Guinness                   L  19-31  
1/10 Ulster                                        A                          Guinness                   L  7-9
7/10 Blues                                         H                          Guinness                   W  46-24
15/10 London I                                   H                           BIC                          L  14-25
14/10 Newcastle Falcons                      H                          RCC2                       W  45-0
23/10 Cornish Pirates                          A                           BIC                          L  5-41
22/10 Lyon Olympique                          A                          RCC2                       W  31-13
29/10 NGD                                        H                            W                          W   35-15    
4/11 Munster                                    A                           Guinness                   L   0-33
11/11 Harlequins                               H                            AWC                         L   12-15
18/11 Blues                                      A                           AWC                         W  31-7
25/12 Glasgow Warriors                      H                           Guinness                    W  22-5  
2/12 Edinburgh                                  H                          Guinness                    W  31-22
9/12 Grenoble                                    H                          RCC                          W  59-7
10/12 Connacht Eagles                        A                          BIC                           W  20-17
17/12 Grenoble                                  A                          RCC                           W 71-3                                 
18/12 Connacht Eagles                       H                           BIC                            W 55-14
27/12 Scarlets                                   H                          Guinness                    W  19-9
1/1 NGD                                           A                           Guinness                    W  10-0
7/1 Connacht                                     H                           Guinness                    W  29-7
14/1  Cornish Pirates                          H                            BIC                           L  10-34
15/1 Lyon                                         H                           RCC                           W 47-7
21/1 Newcastle Falcons                       A                          RCC                           W  26-21  
21/1 London I                                   A                            BIC                            W 26-24
28/1 Bristol                                      H                            AWC                          W  20-14
5/2 Wasps                                        A                           AWC                          W  31-22
10/2 Zebre                                       A                           Guinness                     W  40-10
18/2 Munster                                    H                           Guinness                     L  23-25
26/2 Glasgow W                                H                            Guinness                     W  26-15
3/3 Edinburgh                                   A                            Guinness                     W  13-9
25/3 Treviso                                     A                            Guinness                     L  5-13
2/4  St. Francais                               H P/S                       RCC Q/F                     L  18-20  
8/4 Leinster                                      H                            Guinness                     L  18-20
15/4 Blues                                        A                            Guinness                     L  17-35  
29/4 Ulster                                       H                            Guinness                     W  24-10
6/5 Scarlets                                     A                            Guinness                      L  17-40
20/5 Munster                                    A                            Guinness S/F
Will add RCC2 matches when they've been finalised.
Contrary to popular belief some of the Guinness League games will be affected by the Autumn Internationals, our players will be with TW when we play the Dragons, Munster and Glasgow Warriors, the first 2 because of the 13 day call up period and the Warriors because of the infernal 4th game which this year is against SA, and to think some people think everything is hunkydory now that Dodger Lewis has left his legacy rolls on.               
The number after each player signifies how many years they have left on their Ospreys contract, there are a few others who are on either Development Contracts or appear not to be under contract, Jonathon Spratt, Jordan Collier, and Alex Jeffries and a few others come into that category.
Our first 5 games of the season account for the 2 Italians at home and 3 Irish, Connacht, Ulster and Leinster away, so we shouldn't have as bad a start as last season, but not as good as the previous seasons start, in certain positions especially during International periods we are only 1 or 2 injuries away from disaster, and I just hope Steve has learned his selection mistakes from the last few seasons.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

From the Dragons thread:

The state of the pitch at RP is just one of a whole word of c0ckups that have been made within that setup. The whole thing stinks. What gets me the most is though, that things are being allowed to carry on this way. You keep harping on about Merthyr's new pitch, and how they got funding, Merthyr are not the only semi pro club to sort this aspect of their structure out, why don't you look at how Pontypridd managed to do it ?

If I were the WRU I would seriously be questioning why we should be nominating Newport Gwent Dragons as a representative of Welsh pro rugby in the Pro12.

The thing is, people like yourself seem unwilling to accept the fact that things could drastically change unless things improve. The WRU own RGC1404, it is a very real possibility that the WRU could decide to put their eggs into that basket and chose to put that team in the Pro12. This should be the reality, to both the fans and the cowboys running Newport Gwent Dragons.

Einstein's Theory of Insanity. Albert Einstein was quoted as saying: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This is what seems to be happening with your region. The more we put up with this failure, then the more insane we all are for just accepting it.

Dowlais, will you do me a favour? Post this as a new topic. It might be worth discussion and of interest to other posters. But we've got a game on Friday, and I'd rather get talking about that rather than how diabolical we are and how great it would be if we were shut down.

[LordDowlais]

Thats me talking about Dragons, on the Dragons thread.

I think you need to stop being so sensitive.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

[Luckless Pedestrian]

I'm not saying it's not worth discussing - they were talking about it on Scrum V - all I'm saying is, start a thread about it.

You have a habit of coming on the Dragons thread only to say the same things, and you'll only get the same replies if you do that.

What was that Einstein quotation again?

[wayne]

Apparently, according to the Times, Sam Underhill has signed for Bath for the beginning of next season, with Ospreys receiving £150,000. Have to say Sam has been an excellent under the radar signing for us. We'll have to have a good look at our Academy products, watched a good youngster Joe Tomalin Reeves playing for us in one of the Development competitions, if he's not ready could we go out and sign somebody? At least with our injury situation we shouldn't need somebody until next season.

If it is true good luck Sam and thanks for the effort.

[True Raven]

Gutted, Underhill was superb and is the only English Rugby player i want to succeed  

Will Jones can step up.  He's got a bright future.

[wayne]

Gutted, Underhill was superb and is the only English Rugby player i want to succeed  

Will Jones can step up.  He's got a bright future.

Don't know if it's true TR, but somebody on our Forum reckoned we accepted a lower offer from Bath, because the money was available NOW, so possibly somebody will be brought in either as a flanker or better still a competent tight head.

[True Raven]

Wayne, mark orders reckons we accepted a Lower offer as bath agreed to have Underhill at end of season whereas other clubs bid higher but wanted him now

[wayne]

Wayne, mark orders reckons we accepted a Lower offer as bath agreed to have Underhill at end of season whereas other clubs bid higher but wanted him now

Yeh I've read that since I posted my piece. What do we know eh?

[wayne]

I heard during the week that we were putting out a very strong squad for this game to qualify with a home Q/F, this is true by the chosen team

Dan Evans, Keelan Giles, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Hanno Dirksen, Dan Biggar, Tom Habberfield, Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Ma'afu Fia, Rory Thornton, AWJ (C), James King, Justin Tipuric and Dan Baker starting with Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Adam Beard, Sam Underhill, Brendon Leonard, Josh Matavesi and Sam Davies on the bench. Lyon had their match last weekend postponed so who knows what team they will put out Sunday.
Looking forward to this game, as it's NOT on TV in any form and a decent KO time, let's see what sort of a crowd will turn up, I DON'T expect it to be above 8000, which considering our form is outstanding, will be an abysmal turn out.

[wayne]

I heard during the week that we were putting out a very strong squad for this game to qualify with a home Q/F, this is true by the chosen team

Dan Evans, Keelan Giles, Kieron Fonotia, Ashley Beck, Hanno Dirksen, Dan Biggar, Tom Habberfield, Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Ma'afu Fia, Rory Thornton, AWJ (C), James King, Justin Tipuric and Dan Baker starting with Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Adam Beard, Sam Underhill, Brendon Leonard, Josh Matavesi and Sam Davies on the bench. Lyon had their match last weekend postponed so who knows what team they will put out Sunday.
Looking forward to this game, as it's NOT on TV in any form and a decent KO time, let's see what sort of a crowd will turn up, I DON'T expect it to be above 8000, which considering our form is outstanding, will be an abysmal turn out.  

Basically Lyon are coming over with the team that we beat 31-13 out there, 11 of their starting team that day turn out on Sunday, with one player changing position, hopefully we can pick up another 5 points on the day. I reckon it will be fairly close up to the hour mark and then we'll pull clear and winning the BP 5 minutes before no side.

[wayne]

Grenoble beat the Falcons 31-27, so that puts Newcastle out of the equation for a Q/F slot. Totally within our own hands now.

[Seagultaf]

If the Ospreys cannot qualify for the knock out stages of this rather low standard competition, by playing their first team against opponents who field second and third choice players, then that is a very poor incitement of the standard of Welsh rugby!

Hopefully the teams that qualify for the knockout stages will (like the Ospreys) start taking the competition seriously and we will see some truely competitive European Rugby.

[wayne]

Shock horror, it appears Justin Tipuric is leaving the Ospreys immediately, after scoring a try by dribbling the Rugby ball from outside of the oppositions 22. Clement the Swansea City boss watched the highly skilled performance, and has put in a multi million pound offer for the Trebanos born flyer, the talk is that the Ospreys will accept the offer:D .

All joking aside he should have been awarded MOTM today, from the above bit of skill, his lineout takes, passing from base of rucks and mauls, his interplay between forwards and backs, and his tackling stats were impressively improved yet again He truly is an exceptional performer, the only sorry thing about this scenario is the fact that he has been performing like this for years and years, and never had the recognition he truly deserves.

As for this game Lyon came with a doggedness that was good to see, they were not lambs to the slaughter, the score was only 12-7 to us at half time, 2 quick tries at the early part of the 2nd half finished them off. There was a couple of exceptional passing move tries in the 2nd half, which shows the class of our backs coach Gruff Rees in a very good light. Probably the worst part of this game was the inconsistent lineout, with Parry proving to be very poor overall in that facet of play, yet in the loose he was again excellent. Lyon were very fortunate in the first half when Dan Biggar chipped and recovered the ball over their half backs, he then chipped their fullback and was going through to catch the ball when he was blatantly impeded and pulled back, he would have been over under the posts. None of the officials apparently viewed the incident, it should have been at least a penalty and a yellow card, probably the ultimate sanction IMO should have been awarded.

Can only look forward now for a home Q/F in a couple of months time, the permutations for whom we play are very complex and are not worth the bother, just have to wait till next weekend to find out. Just hope we can set the record of 6 Bonus Point victories next weekend, but wouldn't surprise me if we totally miss out, that Deano is a wily old Fox, yet it would be good to be the first team that EVER set that record in European competition.

[LordDowlais]

Ospreys might be struggling at TH for the next few weeks wayne, what is the news on Dimitri Arhip ?

[maestegmafia]

Great result nine in a row...

[wayne]

Ospreys might be struggling at TH for the next few weeks wayne, what is the news on Dimitri Arhip ?

Funnily enough Lord spoke to the Moldovan for over 5 minutes, just before and during half time, he is hoping to be available before seasons end, but wasn't in the slightest specific exactly when, let me say our players are most affable in talking to SOSs (Silly Old Sods) like myself.
Yes we could see our season go rapidly downhill if Ma'afu is out for any period of time, Rhodri frightens the hell out of me, if some of the teams we have coming up in the next few months, we really HAVE to find another T/H as soon as possible. I don't rate Dan Suter but I think he would do a better job at anchoring our scrum

[wayne]

Great result nine in a row...

Maes was you there? if yes what did you think of our skills levels, I thought some were remarkable.

[RiscaGame]

Tipuric's try was decent. Fair play for controlling a rugby ball like that, at full tilt

[wayne]

Congratulations to the 11 Ospreys that have been selected for the TW Squad for the 6N. Special praise for the ones who up to this minute are uncapped. For this period in a couple of positions we are very close to the bone (3 and 10 in particular). The fitness of Ma'afu Fia is critical to our hopes, after hobbling off on Sunday things were not looking good. Probably the best 23 that could be selected for 3 very important Guinness League matches could be as follows.
15) Dan Evans, 14) Hanno Dirksen, 13) Kieron Fonotia, 12) Ashley Beck, 11) Dafydd Howells, 10) Josh Matavesi, 9) Tom Habberfield, 8) Dan Baker, 7) Sam Underhill, 6) Joe Bearman/ Rob McCusker/ Tyler Ardron, 5) Adam Beard, 4)Lloyd Ashley, 3) Ma'afu Fia, 2) Sam Parry, 1) Paul James with Scott Otten, Gareth Thomas, Dan Suter, Tyler Ardron????, Joe Bearman????, Brendon Leonard, ??????????, Johnathon Spratt????.
If Ma'afu is deemed injured we have nobody on our books who should be experienced enough to play at this level, we HAVE to sign a player who is capable of playing at this level. It is not so urgent at 10 as we have a couple of youngsters from the Academy who could possibly fit in.

[wayne]

I wonder what route our Team will take this weekend, will we go with our strongest squad and try to set the record of 6 Bonus Point wins, which has never been done before, or do we give some of our more experienced players a well earned rest. Personally I would prefer option 2, give the likes of AWJ, Tips, Nicky, Dan and Josh the weekend off, but then again Tandy and Co will probably go the other way.
Going by both TW and our Press Conferences this week Rhys Webb will be partaking, so either Brendon or Tom will have a weekend off, considering Rhys has been seen taking a very full part in the last 2 weeks Match previews, I wouldn't be surprised to see him start this game, although I would bench him and fetch him on around the hour mark.

[maestegmafia]

Falcons are a tough team I think we will need a decent starting 15

Though we are qualified it would be great to win all games and even better still with all BP wins

[True Raven]

I never understand why clubs like Newcastle put out weakened team like they did at the Liberty because when your main aim each year is to avoid relegation, surely when theres an opportunity to win silverware you should go all out to win it.

We're top of the league atm yet have gone all out to win this trophy

[PhilBB]

I never understand why clubs like Newcastle put out weakened team like they did at the Liberty because when your main aim each year is to avoid relegation, surely when theres an opportunity to win silverware you should go all out to win it.

We're top of the league atm yet have gone all out to win this trophy

If your aim is to avoid relegation, you rest players from games that are less important to you. Just like the Os rest players for games against lesser teams. The reason is the same: to keep your better players fresh for the more difficult and meaningful games.

e.g. will the army of NDC players play in this weekend's game?

[wayne]

I never understand why clubs like Newcastle put out weakened team like they did at the Liberty because when your main aim each year is to avoid relegation, surely when theres an opportunity to win silverware you should go all out to win it.

We're top of the league atm yet have gone all out to win this trophy

Yes totally agree with you TR, even though this is CC2 it is still a worthwhile competition to win, and if we manage a win in the home QF and are lucky enough to get a home SF, it will give extra momentum to the other competitions we are competing in at the moment.
Going by the Match interviews by Gibbes and the 2 players Baldwin and King, we are going in fully loaded, with just a few changes from last weekend. I can see a Team something like the following step out at Kingston Park on Saturday.
15) Dan Evans, 14) Dafydd Howells, 13) Kieron Fonotia, 12) Josh Matavesi, 11) Hanno Dirksen, 10) Sam Davies, 9) Rhys Webb, 8) Dan Baker, 7) Justin Tipuric, 6) James King, 5)AWJ, 4)Rory Thornton, 3) Ma'afu Fia, 2) Scott Baldwin, 1) Nicky Smith with Sam Parry, Paul James, Rhodri Jones, Adam Beard, Sam Underhill, Brendon Leonard, Dan Biggar, and Ashley Beck on the bench. The 10s could be the other way around and it could be any 1 from 3 for both centre and scrum half. If Ma'afu hasn't recovered from last weeks injury, it could well be Rhodri starting and Dan Suter on the bench, also Olly Cracknell could be asked by Howley to have a runout, he does deserve it after his MOTM exploits in the last month or so.

[True Raven]

Giles and Fia have both been ruled out of action for about 4-5 weeks best case scenario.

Alex Jefferies to get game time?

[True Raven]

15 Dan Evans

14 Hanno Dirksen

13 Kieron Fonotia

12 Josh Matavesi

11 Dafydd Howells

10 Sam Davies

9 Rhys Webb (Captain)



1 Gareth Thomas

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Rhodri Jones

4 Adam Beard

5 Rory Thornton

6 Olly Cracknell

7 Sam Underhill

8 James King



REPLACEMENTS

16 Scott Otten

17 Nicky Smith

18 Daniel Suter

19 Lloyd Ashley

20 Rob McCusker

21 Brendon Leonard

22 Jonathan Spratt

23 Ben John

[wayne]

15 Dan Evans

14 Hanno Dirksen

13 Kieron Fonotia

12 Josh Matavesi

11 Dafydd Howells

10 Sam Davies

9 Rhys Webb (Captain)



1 Gareth Thomas

2 Scott Baldwin

3 Rhodri Jones

4 Adam Beard

5 Rory Thornton

6 Olly Cracknell

7 Sam Underhill

8 James King



REPLACEMENTS

16 Scott Otten

17 Nicky Smith

18 Daniel Suter

19 Lloyd Ashley

20 Rob McCusker

21 Brendon Leonard

22 Jonathan Spratt

23 Ben John

Pleased with that selection, we've given the stalwarts a week off, had the backs correct except for one positional change, whether that pack is good enough to hold its own, who knows? 3 good lineout options, it's the scrum that worries me.

[True Raven]

Came back from 21-7 down at half time to win 21-26 at Newcastle to be the first team ever to score 30 points in a group. Not a bad day after the PS team won late at London Irish

[maestegmafia]

Great result, only team ever to score BP wins in every match in the European cup.

[wayne]

Great achievement to be the first team to get the 6 Bonus Point winning Pool stage, to come back from a 21-7 first half deficit shows the true character of this Squad.
A home Q/F, at least a half full stadium is what this Team deserves, let's see what the Welsh public can come up with?

[maestegmafia]

We'll be there....

They are really playing some great rugby at the moment...

[Geordie]

We should never have let you win that game.. But well done all the same...

[wayne]

We should never have let you win that game.. But well done all the same...

Geordie that was a very inexperienced pack that we put out today, apart from Baldwin and King the rest I would imagine have less than 100 Osprey caps between them, I was very nervous about this game beforehand. Last week we were only leading 12-7 at half time, we invariably improve as the game wears on, this looks as though that happened again today.

[Geordie]

Ah I know,it was,a weaker side as was ours...but from that position at half time we should have taken it to victory. That's an area of our game we need to improve.

Having said that we could be,Leicester ha ha ha

[wayne]

So it's Stade Francais at home in the QF, and if we pass that test, it is either Bath at home or Brive away in the SF.

Whoever we play the Tight Head conundrum will have to be fixed, we CANNOT go into any of those matches with Rhodri Jones as first choice, and better still not even on the bench.
Scott Baldwin was seen having a right go at Rhodri on 2 separate collapses when we were penalised yesterday evening. This cannot go on, I said a couple of weeks ago that he is going to cost us a very important game if this experiment is allowed to continue. It could well be this game.

[ScarletSpiderman]

You can't go into any game, where your hooker and tight head are not on the same page.

[wayne]

You can't go into any game, where your hooker and tight head are not on the same page.

SS, there is a rumour on our board that we are signing Aaron Jarvis back on loan from CA, not the signing I expected, or would have had, but we have to have somebody.

[ScarletSpiderman]

Could be good for him and you. He took a lot of stick in the past, but it quite likely he will be more accepted this time as you know how bad other options are.

Also, I really hope something clicks for Rhodri soon, ideally he goes back to the loose, or his career will have been ruined by Gats being to impatient for Samson to come along.

[LordDowlais]

Great achievement to be the first team to get the 6 Bonus Point winning Pool stage, to come back from a 21-7 first half deficit shows the true character of this Squad.
A home Q/F, at least a half full stadium is what this Team deserves, let's see what the Welsh public can come up with?

wayne, you have also forgot to pat your team on the back for scoring 100 tries in one season for the first time ever, and the season is only half way through as well.

[True Raven]

I hope its not Jarvis. Theres a reason no one was upset he joined Clermont.

[wayne]

[quote="True Raven"]I hope its not Jarvis.  Theres a reason no one was upset he joined Clermont.[/quote

TR, a couple of points, a poster on our Forum who was totally against Jarvis in his final 2 years with us, watched him on the weekend totally outplaying Francis in the tight and loose, he is of the opinion that Jarvis is far superior than Rhodri, and that is also my opinion especially in the tight, it could be down to who is around him in the scrum.

What is definite, is what Lee Byrne commented during the game that Scott Baldwin was having a go at Rhodri when he was penalised on 2 separate occasions, that cannot be allowed to continue.

We HAVE to get somebody in and if the best we can get is Aaron Jarvis so be it, IMO he is a better option, even Tandy after the match commented that Dan Suter (sausage) improved the scrummage when he came on.

[wayne]

So both Rhys Webb and Rhodri Jones have been released back to us for this weekends match against Bristol, since Rhodri has been included in the Team Wales setup as covering both sides of the scrum, it will be interesting to see where he is selected for this match.

These are the only players released from the TW setup, I think that Rhys being released for match time is significant, I think Howley really wants Rhys to be ready for the Italian game.

[RiscaGame]

That was my first thought about Webb.

[True Raven]

This passed me.....

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/27343/young-gun-dylan-moss-wellington-college-full-back/

An exile joining the O's next season

[wayne]

This passed me.....

http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/features/young-gun/27343/young-gun-dylan-moss-wellington-college-full-back/

An exile joining the O's next season

That is good to see TR, it offsets the bad news in my eyes that the young winger Tom O'Flaherty has signed for the Exeter Chiefs, I thought he would be a good acquisition for us, but there we go.

[True Raven]

I was annoyed when I saw that too but he's English who came to Wales to study.  He spent last year in Montpellier so has no real attachment keeping him in Wales (like Underhill) plus with Howells and Giles stepping up, probably thought his chances are limited.

Plus we snatched Morgan and Tom Williams from RGC1404 last season who are talented back three players so I'll get over the loss of O'Flaherty

[wayne]

It'll be interesting to see some of the youngsters playing with a few old hands, a couple returning from injury having a run out, Ardron and John particularly, I'm probably way out with with this selection, but this is what I would like to see.
P Jones, J Baker, B John, J Thomas, T O'Flaherty, L Price, R Webb, G Thomas, S Otten, R Jones, L Ashley, A Beard, W Jones, S Underhill and T Ardron, with H Gustafson, R Jenkins, D Suter, M Dodd, J Tomalin Reeves, M, Aubrey, J Spratt and K Williams on the bench. It could be that TOF will not be selected because of his impending transfer, but I would get the most out of him while he's still with us.

Should be a reasonable turnout considering Bristol is under a hours travelling time away, will they play this in the right way (Development Competition) or want to go for a morale boosting win, with a strong lineup.

[True Raven]

Is Ardron back??? Great news with Munster coming up

I'd like to see a few kids get gametime such as Charlie Davies at 6 and I like the look of Reuben Morgan Williams at 9 too but Webb has thirt shirt already sown on

[Guest]

What does everyone think about the WRU Exiles programme (mentioned in the link about Dylan Moss above)?  Essentially the WRU trawling the world for players who have some link to Wales, e.g. a grandfather in the case of Moss.  Sees a bit.... wrong (in a way) to me!  Under IRB laws of course a grandparent is perfectly fine eligibility criteria but it almost feels like 'grooming' when we're sending scouts out to find someone young lad in college with a Welsh link and then smoothing the way to a contract with a Welsh region.  This isn't a criticism of the Ospreys in any way as it sounds like a purely WRU scheme, but just wondered what you thought?  Are we just 'keeping up with the Joneses' and only doing what other nations are doing?  Or should this sort of thing be stamped out across the board?  I think I'm siding more with the latter.

[True Raven]

I'm fine with it, Dylan is now actually at the O's as hes played for our under 18's recently but before that was only in Berkshire.

I dont think we should be uprooting kids in the SH with a welsh link but see no harm in keeping track of players playing in England as its a strong possibility that they could have been born in Wales to Welsh parents but a parent got a job in England so had to relocate such as Jonny Williams from London Irish who was in our under 16's and I think under 18's before playing for England at under 20's.  It would be a shame to miss out on him because of circumstances beyond his control.

Mathew Protheroe has said he's playing for England at age grade because they were good to him and he had no contact from Wales at the time so to offer an opportunity for players outside of Wales to stay in the welsh system is something i'm all for.

I would stress I would be dead against bringing someone over at a young age with no links to qualify on residency but I know that's not the question you asked

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