Squad for 2025/26

Bosh

Maybe the contract does not start until September.

I did add him when he signed but I neglected to actually save the post so I have just added him now and I saved it 😁

I posted this yesterday and apparently there should be a list of the young players not having their contracts renewed coming out today or very soon.

According to another poster in the thread - the list is revealed tomorrow.

Seems strange that Tristan left then. I always thought it was one or the other.

I think Tristan probably left once it was decided that we were signing Moriarty?

As do I. Weve still big gaps that need filled to improve. But with the current climate hanging over the team, I honestly dont know what to expect.

When you only release four players from your squad it is unlikely that more than four come in. I suspect there will be some 10/12 cover to replace Owen W but I doubt there can be many more unlesss further releases are planned.

I agree, this is all of course compunded by the current circumstances we unfortunately find ourselves in.

He played for Brive last week in the Pro D2 play offs

What I said, he had played 21 minutes in the 8 months between the end of October 2024 and last weekend when he played 38 minutes.

He may be a good player but his recent record is worrying. He hasn't lasted 80 minutes for over 16 months and hasn't lasted 40 minutes in the two games he has started since October last year. I have no doubts as to his quality just his durability.

Very cheap ones I expect

Would have expected Luke Morgan to have been on there. I guess he is under contract then.

Pretty sure that Tristan has signed for the Scarlets.

I think you have the rest pretty spot on.

I believe he offers from two T14 clubs so we would have to do very well to be competitive with that even if we manage to get this PRA agreed.

He's signed for Bath

That is a really good point. Listening to Boycie at the last press conference the plan has been to sign up all the key players and replace the key leavers. The key leavers look like being Tips Beard and Owen Wills. He also said there are two signings ready to announce. As we already have Smith for Beard and everyone thinks Moriarty for Tips the other obvious signing would be a back to replace Owen’s role in the squad. He also said after that how much depth he could build would be up to how much the new PRA when signed would increase budgets. So it is likely Owen’s replacement is a goal kicker but if not then Jack will have to do a lot of practising in the summer.

As Fiddler said below, maybe the budget isn't there to go out and sign another TH?

Agree, he’s been fantastic. I it ryan smith adds depth to the athletic second row pool. We have lots of big heavy aggressive versions

I agree Spencer has earned a contract but suspect the salary cap has to move up under this new agreement for us to keep all the depth pieces we want. I imagine there are a few players we wish were not out of contract and a few in contract we wish were not.

I took it as him saying we are going to sign players to replace the leavers but adding depth to the squad would require the increased budget to be signed off.

Could well be the case.

I will remove his X then

It was on the website last August that we were signing Dan Kasende permanently from last October.

Was it a 1 or 2 year deal?

They didn't say but they hardly ever do. It is still available if searched.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GzW5fRmCT/

Heard any more about that All Black signing you were told about last month Jim?

Nothing beyond the initial rumour

Remind me did you say it was a credible source or from a joker?

Massive shame if true.

I would have thought that he was too promising to just let go. If it is because of contracts for Greatbanks etc it is a lot more than just a shame.

Having watched Tristan today I can see why we may want to have a more powerful option like Ratti and Moriarty at 6

WoL started the rumours back in February when Ross had been out for 4 months. Had O's signed him they would have announced it on the website and despite Tips retirement Moriarty is not the sort of player that would fit in with our back rowers.

I don’t think the majority of our signings are announced as soon as they are made. They are deliberately drip fed. Moriarty damaged shoulder ligaments on his return but it did not require surgery. I would suggest he can cover 6& 8 and if we are trying to build carriers in our back five he adds to those options

Rugbypass hedge their bets and have 5 teams chasing Harris and AFIK only Steffan "Bonkers" Thomas has the rumour about Smith. Steff also thinks Moriarty is a confirmed signing so you pays your money etc etc and so on and so forth.

It all may come true but as my ex used to say; Patience is a virtue

Practise if you can

Seldom found in women,

Never in a man.

Ha ha, so true

When you try and sign quality players they are likely to have a lot of other options so you may get some but you will not always get your man. There could therefore be rumours that fall through. If you target bargain basement then you are more likely to get your man as they will not have other options

Moriarty played his first game in 5 months yesterday and lasted just 20 minutes.

I should imagine that has come from the uncertainty over funding over the last couple of years

Further to that, now that we are supposed to have an increase in funding, it must mean that we have been able to go back to Beard with an improved offer and that is what he is considering?

The complexity here is French clubs will very often ask for pre contracts to be signed so I would not be surprised if there are lot of financial issues around resigning Beard even if is what both parties would prefer. Plus we don’t yet know if this increased funding is signed up to yet.

Away for family reasons

I don't think he'd go there.

If you think about it, Moriarty is replacement for Tips who is retiring. Our back row would be Moriarty, Jac and either Morris or Morse.

Yeah that’s how I’m seeing it.

Any news on this...

I think we are just waiting for the right time to announce it officially.

As of Saturday he had not put pen to paper. It looks likely but was not as of Saturday a done deal.

Not heard anything recently but there was a rumour doing the rounds about Ngami Laumape last year. I think he is currently in Japan

Good news

Forgive my ignorance, but what is Mark Jones role then? Is he DOR or somesuch?

I could well believe we are looking for an experienced forwards coach as that was Booth's primary area of expertise.

The article is extremely speculative and we already have Dunc, Richard Kelly, Paul James, Bradley and Huw Gustaffson involved in coaching forwards at varying levels. The possibility of a seamless progression from schools and colleges through academy and transition to BUCS and SRC onto Ospreys is IMO one of the main attractions of the move to SH.

All under one roof on a cohesive Pathway with Ruddock at the helm? Ymlaen!

You should watch the footage of us scrumming against Glaws in that training session. Matholwych and Hire were manhandled. We certainly need somebody but nobody lets a decent tight head go so it would have to be somebody out of contract. The only name I know out of contract is Robert Hunt who was supposedly in talks with the Dargons before they signed Lewis. There are probably some others and I agree we have to do something there.

I would run a mile from a wq tight head. The fact somebody as weak as Dillon Lewis has 50 caps tells you it is the weakest of all positions in Wales and anybody who is better than moderately poor xould be tied up with Team Wales. We have seen this with Warren. I think we need to look for a nwq from a traditionally strong propping country like South Africa or Argentina. More likely to find a decent player from their reserves. Maybe Tomas Francis if he wanted to come home at right price.

If we do sign Moriarty, which seems inevitable, it could well be a bit of clever forward planning if either of the MMs get selected for Wales.

A new TH who can actually scrummage would also be lovely.

I think the main reason for adding Moriarty to the back row is size. Jac Morse Morris and Deaves are all very short and could never be selected in the same back row. I would be staggered if Jac and Morse were not regulars with Team Wales. I would be equally staggered if Morris and Deaves were.

Luke Morgan stands out as an obvious one. Subject to their contract terms Cokasinga and Steff Thomas have offered poor returns. I think Cam Jones may have overtaken Steff Thomas in the pecking order

All good calls but what is the position with the SRC transition players? Some appear above while others like Connor Moyse, Hire and Ben Evans are noticeable by their absence. Evans was a really exciting counter attacking full back at age grade.

I have put the players who have been playing for the First XV only. Moyse is still out injured and Kian has only just returned this past weekend.

It's at the bottom of the press release when the squad is announced for a game - https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/ospreys-announce-team-face-leinster-origin-round

To be fair that list says unavailable and not injured....I could have sworn that I read that Cokansiga had a bad attitude and it was why he wasn't playing but I could be wrong.

I haven't heard that I must admit. I'm almost certain he's injured, he'd have been sent to play in the SRC otherwise if fit and out of favour I'd have thought.

If Jarod came, he would likely block the development of Dan Edwards. We need another Stephen Myler type of signing for 10.