Ospreys sign another FH?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/13779706.stm

The Ospreys have signed fly-half Pete Smith on a short-term contract from an Australian semi-professional club.

The 21-year-old Welsh-qualified player, whose father is from Wrexham, will join from Shute Shield side Northern Suburbs when pre-season training begins.

"Pete comes to us highly recommended," said Ospreys chief Andrew Hore.

Sydney-born Smith said: "It's a big opportunity for me. Hopefully, I can impress the coaches enough to be able to stay there for longer."

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What does this mean for the Ospreys youngsters if they are bringing in 21 year olds from Australias semi-pro sides?

Does this mean Matthew Morgan wont be getting any gametime next season? (perhaps thats why there were rumours he had approached the Blues and Dragons)

Well its nice to see he is welsh qualified, that's a positive.

He is Welsh qualified and its only a short term contract so no harm in having a look i guess, they did the same with a Welsh qualified young scrum half from South Africa last season. No idea how that went though.

He may be welsh qualified, but I think it is odd that they have to bring in Welsh qualified players from the other side of the world - are their none in Swansea?

wales606 wrote: (perhaps thats why there were rumours he had approached the Blues and Dragons)

He approached them, or they approached him?

He approached them - The Blues arent approaching ANYBODY! - Apparently Preistland approached them too.

If we didnt have these financial troubles we could finally have a decent FH

wales606 wrote:He approached them - The Blues arent approaching ANYBODY! - Apparently Preistland approached them too.

If we didnt have these financial troubles we could finally have a decent FH

well, if it's true that Priestland approached Cardiff then they need shooting, he's twice the player Parks is and he'd probably come cheaper, somehow I can't see that being true.

Turkster - Why wouldnt he? - He will be stuck behind Jones at the Scarlets for the next few years, he would be first choice at the Blues.

Dia Young has refused to consider bringing in ANY players which is why he was furious when the WM claimed the Blues were going to bid for Henson - After all the budget cuts and having to sack players, Dai doesnt want to ruin team morale by bringing in a bunch of new players, no matter what the price. (which I sort of agree with, but I really wish he would have made an acception for a decent 10 - Though as an international perhaps the price would have been too much)

Hopefully next year when Parks leaves we will finally get a decent 10 and THP.

wales606 wrote:Turkster - Why wouldnt he? - He will be stuck behind Jones at the Scarlets for the next few years, he would be first choice at the Blues.

Dia Young has refused to consider bringing in ANY players which is why he was furious when the WM claimed the Blues were going to bid for Henson - After all the budget cuts and having to sack players, Dai doesnt want to ruin team morale by bringing in a bunch of new players, no matter what the price. (which I sort of agree with, but I really wish he would have made an acception for a decent 10 - Though as an international perhaps the price would have been too much)

Hopefully next year when Parks leaves we will finally get a decent 10 and THP.

I thought Parks was on a one year deal, why wouldn't they get Priestland in there if they had the chance? I can't see Wellies playing two more years anyway, next season will see Priestland playing the important games at 10.

No, I think Parks is on a 2 year deal - there was some confusion over it, but it would have been announced if he was leaving and then they would probably have to bring in a FH - Unless they relied on Sweeney and Gareth Davies (although Sweeney would be better than Parks) but then they would have no goal kicker (with Blair unlikely to return) - although it looks like Dai is trying to make Halfpenny the regular kicker now (although he seems a bit too injury prone to rely on at the moment).

So Blair's likely to leave and yet they can't find the money to take Priestland on board? now that's why I can't believe Priestland approached Cardiff, there's no way they wouldn't have taken him on if they had a big earner leave beforehand.

What a mediocre signing. Sums up Ospreys really.

Ulster did something similar with Adam D'Arcy last season and it turned out to be a great acquisition as hes been given a 2 year contract now. He came from Australian Rugby League side Manley much of which came down to being Irish qualified through a grand parent. He became first choice fullback at Ulster who are very much on the up and will be a very valuable player next season even with Jared Payne coming.

I wouldn't be so quick to have a go at this signing it could turn out very well and its always worth a punt on players who arent NWQ. Possibly a solid second choice flyhalf. Its a punt but why not take it.

Are Ospreys fans perhaps expecting several big big name signing every transfer period now?

Interesting that "he comes highly recommended". Does this mean they've brought a player in without actually seeing him play...can think of better ways to waste money

ruggerbyplayer wrote:What a mediocre signing. Sums up Ospreys really.

Lets not be to critical, if he's turning heads in Australia he might be worth a look.
Pity they havent tried to get Ryhs Llewellyn the Baby All Blacks centre back into their academy.

after what he saw last night there is probably very little chance of him choosing to play for wales...

All these Blues and Scarlets fans QUEUING up to have a pop at the Ospreys...............again!

This boy is WQ and being so there is no way on earth that any Welsh region would not have taken him if the chance came along, short term and he's being given the chance.
Dont we all wish that Rhys Llewelyn had been snapped up before he turned out for the Baby blacks?

As for Preistalnd and Morgan, the latter first. He has problems listening top coaches, yes it could just be Ospreys coaches but not according to rumour. He did appraoch the Dragons, but he also approached the Scarlets and Blues. Preistand did not approach anyone, that was a rumour put out by the Blues Spin Department.

ospreylian wrote:All these Blues and Scarlets fans QUEUING up to have a pop at the Ospreys...............again!

where?

ospreylian wrote: Preistand did not approach anyone, that was a rumour put out by the Blues Spin Department.

thought so, thanks for confirming.

OK McKay1402, wales606 is that enough?

Ospreylian

you have to admit that if they have brought him in without seeing him play it would be a bit daft...

mckay1402 wrote:after what he saw last night there is probably very little chance of him choosing to play for wales...

Up until 2007 he was in the Ospreys academy and left Wales at 17 with his parents who moved to work in NZ. I think he will end up in Wales again, he's 100% Welsh.

think he is worth having a look at.

think there is nothing wrong with the ospreys having a look at young welsh qualified players . hopefully the likes of mathew torrance ( sa scrumhalf) and ross jones ( from leinster) who they've brought to wales will benefit the region, and more importantly wales one day.

on a side note is hanno dirksen welsh qualified yet?

on a side note is hanno dirksen welsh qualified yet?

Not to my knowledge, but it wont be long, but most importantly Ross Jones, Torrence and Smith are all Welsh qualified, two of the three being born here.
Now is there anything wrong with that?

Is this him LINK 1
LINK 2

mckay1402 wrote:after what he saw last night there is probably very little chance of him choosing to play for wales...

no the ozzies got humped by 67 points by the B'ABs in the u 20s final last year. It's a common occurance and actually not a big deal they are just bigger and better than the rest at under 20s, sevens, and senior rugby.

I'm afraid I don't like the look of what he's come from.... although he will fit in well down the liberty

And the crowd numbers are about the same as well

Have a look at a highlights video on Youtube: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E28wxwvKUYI

Ha! Adam D'Arcy who i mentioned above is also in that clip for any Ulster fans interested.

wales606 wrote:Dai Young has refused to consider bringing in ANY players

Is that true? If it is, I can really see the Blues struggling next season.

luckless - Unfortunatly it is very true - except for academy player.

Luckly with the WC on we should be able to pick up points at the start of the season as our internationals are usually injured anyway

1. John Yapp (Sam Hobbs)
2. RTThomas
3. Tau Filise
4. Michael Paterson
5. Paul Tito
6. Andreus Pretorious
7. Martyn Williams (Josh Navidi)
8. Xavier Rush
9. Lloyd Williams
10. Ceri Sweeney
11. Tom James
12. Daffydd Hewitt
13. Casey Laulaula
14. Richard Mustoe
15. Chris Czechaj/Dan Fish/Ben Blair (if he recovers)

16. Scott Andrews (somebody...?)
17. Gareth Williams
18. Deniol Jones
19. Josh Navidi (soemone...?)
20. Rhys Downes
21. Gavin Evans
22. Chris Czechaj/Dan Fish/Harry Robinson


^ Not a bad starting 22 and should be stronger than most during the WC.

No harm in Bringing him in on a youth contract for a few months to try him out apparently hes going to Bridgend Ravens to see how he progresses.

I can't really see what the problem is. For ages many folk on 606 (and at time that included me) blasted the Ospreys for only signing big names, and NWQs. This season the Ospreys have culled their big names and are signing a fair few WQ players and they are getting stick again.

All regions take a gamble on some players every now and again. But lets face it is signing this lad as big a gamble as say signing SNK as a fly half? (there are other examples but that was the stand out).

OOOOHHHH, SS methinks you forget about that other aussie that the WRU in their "wisdom" fought the ARFU for.............James Jones Hughes???

doing accountancy now or something.

Jones-Hughes ended up with Leinster didn't he so he couldn't have been total tosh.

Thinking on those lines other dross brought in would be the likes of Iestyn Harris

wales606 wrote:He may be welsh qualified, but I think it is odd that they have to bring in Welsh qualified players from the other side of the world - are their none in Swansea?

Nope, none. Damn Ospreys throwing money at a problem again by signing a young WQ 10 to have a look at for 3 months.

Why don't they develop their own 10s?

Aside from the Henson bloke of course
And then there was that Matthew Jones bloke
Think someone named Hook just left them as well
Oh and they have a young starter named Biggar
And that teenager, Morgan
Think Gareth Owen is still knocking around as well...

All of which first started for them as a teenager

If only the Ospreys developed Welsh 10's rather than buying foreigners in...

This kid is going to Bridgend for 3 months next season to see how he gets on. He's on a nominal contract and is Welsh qualified. What is the problem in taking a look at someone?
If he's good weve picked up a Welsh qualified kid for nothing, if he doesn't he can go back to Australia. Obviously the Ospreys have watched some tapes of him and he's looked decent so their just having him on trial.