2024/25 Squad Updates

Sounds like he will be involved. In the presser Toby seemed keen to rest Fender and confirmed Deaves is out with a HIA

22/23 he was involved in a dozen games for Tigers. 23/4 played early season in France in pro d2. 24/5 played a couple of pre season games for Saints. I dont think we were going to pick up any current first teamers that are under contract in mid December. He has been a decent player in his time but age and injury have put him on the market and it is a low cost gamble that we may get some game time out of him if he is needed as Beard and Sutton are gone until April/May.

He's 6'7 and over 19 stone according to his bio so he should at least at some grunt to training and possibly even the match pack. As you say, it is a low cost gamble that could well pay off.

We have just registered Will Spencer in our ERC squad on their website so an announcement is likely to be imminent probably tomorrow.

Cheetahs drew 20-20 with Perpignan in Amsterdam (of all places) last weekend so them coming to provide fully opposed training before the Arms Park game is almost a no-brainer.

I've heard a name though don't know for certain. It's an experienced pro who worked with Toby in the Prem, but hasn't been getting much gametime lately so it makes sense.

You can't stop talking there.... come on and spill the beans please. 👍🙂

That moving of players only happens if the players want to go. I think it is to stop clubs stockpiling players in one position so I don't see anyone having to move.

I don't think it will be a problem in that Ospreys began it when they released Thornton and then Ratti to Cardiff who were pretty desperate. We produce a surplus of players in most positions so if a Welsh international can't get game time here then moving him is a win-win-win situation for player, country and receiving region.

James Ratti wouldn't be half the player had he not gone to Cardiff and we sent Fender off for a year at Pirates to toughen him up so it won't be a new thing.

I have to agree there Wayne. I think Steffan Thomas was a seriously bad signing that has already cost us. Man handled in scrums and dozing around the ruck when the Dargons got their stoppage time winner. Far better to have used Henry as a double sided and built up strength on the tight head but what is done is done.

He has spent half his life associated with Ospreys and, like Nicky, has earned the right to seek security for his family. He will be missed but when all are fit we actually have a surfeit of locks so I think Greatbanks may have been a bit of forward planning.

I have absolutely no issue with Adam nor Nicky or anyone seeking financial security for the family. I was gutted to see Nicky leave and will be gutted when Adam goes.

I do think we will miss him but if we can get our locks fit, the loss may not be as bad.

Whatever happened to Alex Ashton and Rhys Thomas and where is Evan Hill who was listed as SRC at Bridgend but doesn't seem to be on their squad list? Has anyone seen Fender Mk 11 (Luke) who is a lock at South Gower and with O's age grades? I can't keep up.

They are not that blessed with Tightheads that they can just send the cavalry. Even our Canes cousins only list 5 props. Getting a starter TH at this point in the season will be incredibly hard.It could be Ben and Iorwerth for the foreseeable future unless Kian steps up big time.

They have 4 tight heads better than any we have. Van Wyk Hunt Coetzee and Victor.

Victor is supposed to be a decent scrummager and he’s young, we need a solid TH for a good few weeks. I live in hope.

Seems like Botha has a bicep tear and is out for possibly the season.

Just exarcebates the need for reinforcements. We are really going to struggle with Warren as our starting 3 otherwise.

Bish Bash Boshoff is Back

We may not get any of them until the end of October as the Cheetahs have three fixtures in October.

The Squad has been updated and the SRC players denoted above remain in it.

Now the web-page squad looks enormous with 52 names on it. Erasmus and Whitlock are unfamiliar but I think that Erasmus has been with Bath and Whitlock might have been playing league in Aberavon.

With just 31 senior squad positions I would imagine that there will be a fair bit of traffic among those transition players which could be a very good thing indeed.

Whitlock was with the Green Stars until recently and came on in the last 10 minutes of the Origin series.

We can but hope.

Which one? Hunt has been their first choice in recent matches Van Wyk older but perhaps stronger in scrum. Victor not as good as the first two but better than our depth. Coetzee experienced but now 37.

Bloody hell that’s a lot of tight head props, one decent one will do.

The Cheetahs have fixtures against Western Force and Emerging Ireland in October so they may not be here before that

Thanks for that Fiddler

I have edited the op to show Kasende and also Connor Moyes although he is yet to be announced (maybe on a trial)

Conbeer looks a short term 3 month contract through to end of October which could be extended if he performs. Wales on line suggesting Boshoff and Fortuin from the Cheetahs.

Fortuin looks a real handful from highlights reels and at 15 stone could be an asset.

Decent player but more interesting, if true, is the possibility of Lucca Setaro, a very promising 9 at under 20.

Setaro is a swap with Rhodri Lewis and I would not put money on us getting the better of that swap Hope I am wrong.

Hopefully we get him on a cheap one year deal and he does enough for a better deal and can replace Luke Morgan who will be 33 and coming out of contract

I think the forward was Will Greatbanks and the blonde was Tom Florence I believe.

Hardy was not there yesterday but RMW and Luke Davies were there with another 9 who I did not recognise.

Sounds like it was Luca Setaro.

Just looked at a pic of Setaro and I'm not sure it was him...

There are indeed.

Interview with three team Thomas

Thanks mate

JOE BYRNES: “Corner Moyse, most deadly wing for Nottingham in BUCS Super Rugby. 50 appearances as well, which is a feat for any player it really, really is. English students (capped) as well. Quite tall, and a good finisher.”

The Old Elthamians website say he rocked up here a fortnight ago to join two former OE players in Huw Sutton and Ed Thompson. Thompson is a Swansea player so whether Moyse is there or at Llandarcy is moot. I believe Thompson is a tight head while Moyse is a very promising wing/centre who scored 7 tries in a game last season for OE. Highlights reel on web.

The squad looks ok in depth other than outside backs. If we assume Kasende is signed but not announced I would be surprised if there are not two more outside backs added one of whom like Kasende will have size.

The Currie Cup group games finish on 7/9 then semis 14/9 and final 21/9

Yep Rhodri's gone now!

Attitude?

No idea. I would have thought might be a size issue? Didn’t make the bench for the 20’s against Nz. Interesting that the starter is a South Gower boy who went to Millfield and is currently with Bath.

His mental health issues are well documented but he is/was some player.

I’ve heard of the other names potentially linked to us but Nkosi that’s a new one, is there any Ruth in the rumour?

No idea which rumours are true and which are not. I suspect we have spoken to a fair number of back three players. Sanjay was another rumour but these are rumours not facts.

We’ll need to sign two big wings. One won’t be enough

In fairness to Luke he has improved as a player and has a big heart. But you can see at 32 he has lost his pace being unable to chase O Brien down last week for their try. He is fine as reasonably priced back up but not as a starter.

The squad wings for 24/5 are going to be Giles out and out first choice plus a big nwq wing which I suspect will be a priority signing. The back up behind that include Nagy when we use Walsh at 15 and Cokanasinga and Florence can play there and centre. Behind that you will have Morgan for another season and the youngsters Houston and Hopkins. We may try and bring in a bigger younger prospect given how small Houston and Hopkins are.

I would have thought guys signed at the last minute like Fricker Luke Davies and Cam Jones would all have one year deal or one year options. I suspect any further recruitment will be back three and centre depth. Based on what I have seen we have no credible depth at third tight head for at least one season

We are probably going to hear something on departures around the final home game. At the moment we know of North Nicky Regan. It would surprising if Dom Morris and Cutty were not added to this and Tips is always going to be a retirement risk.

I imagine there will be two or three more and injury history will no doubt be a factor.

Cutty is not having his contract renewed so he is going.

Good points. The one thing we don't yet know is how the "Elite League" will take up some of these fringe players. Swansea is already crammed with Houston, Hickey, Fackrell and the like. If that level becomes a kind of "B" squad with its own funding and the academy and transition players get some accommodation things may not be as bleak as some claim.

Where has Llien Morgan got to?

The EDL may well offer an opportunity to keep the likes of Houston outside the main salaried cap squad. The plan is to use it to develop 18-24 year old so you would probably be looking at players within that age group who need further development before getting a full senior contract. Llien Morgan has been playing for the Whites this season.

Ta.

Will Griff?

I think he has a good year left yet.