With the agreement between the regions and the WRU signed off, the regions should at last be able to make deals with the players that they want to keep. It has been mentioned in another thread (NEWS) that the regions are being asked to cut their squads down to 36 players plus transitional and academy players. The current Ospreys squad has 10 players named so we would be looking at releasing 16 or more of them. Most, if not all, of the players will more than likely be taking a significant wage cut due to drop in funding. We know that Roots and Hawkins are off to Exeter.
Is this how our squad shapes up for next season?
Loosehead prop - G Thomas G Phillips N Smith C Jones (T)
Hooker - D Lake S Parry E Lewis
Tighthead prop - T Botha R Henry B Warren E Fackrell (T)
Locks - A Beard R Davies J Regan H Sutton W Griffiths J Fender (T)
Back Row - J Morgan M Morris J Tipuric W Hickey H Deaves J Ratti T Davies J Grabham (T) C Davies (T) M Morse (T) = 28 - 7 (T) = 21 forwards
Scrum Half - RMW L Davies C Jones
Outside Half - O Williams J Walsh L ScullyD Edwards (T)
Winger - K Giles A Cuthbert L Morgan M Protheroe H Houston (T)
Centre - G North K Williams O Watkin D Morris (Loan) T Florence (T)
Fullback - M Nagy I Hopkins = 17 - 3(T) = 14 backs
Players we know have gone - E Taione, D Lydiate, E Roots, Francis, AWJ from the forwards
S Myler, J Hawkins, G Ansconbe, M Collins, C Evans, Webb in the backs.
We need to recruit at scrumhalf. *Edited to show a 37 man squad and the recent news.
*The players highlighted in grey are in contract. *Edited to include Jac, Kieran and Morgan.
*Edited to show Nicky and Owen Williams signing and now including James Ratti and all the departures.
Now including our new 9s.
Now including our new hooker.
Ethan Lewis finally confirmed.
Another scrum-half has been signed, Cameron Jones:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66585819
Ospreys had a controlled game against the university over at Llandarcy this morning with two further hit outs planned for next week.
One is at Sketty lane maybe on Tuesday and the other is at St Helens definitely next Friday which is open to the public.
6 Ruddock recruits from English academy sides on view two of which are southern hemisphere origin, Falatou/Tuilagi connections, the tight head is massive 140 kg plus a centre from Harlequins who's good and a unit, think it's Rory something or other.
ECOWATT is definitely on the new blue/ black kit.
Rumours over there that Pivac may have joined Cardiff in a consultancy role, anyone heard anything?
Rhys Davies and Sam Parry we're back there watching from the touch lines.
Nothing else new to offer today sorry
Perhaps it's in the wrong topic, but thankfully my informant was right with his information weeks ago of Mark Jones joining us, a really good signing.
Well done Ospreys for securing him.
Sam Cross has joined Newcastle Falcons.
How bonkers (don’t hold back!) would it be to consider Max Nagy as a potential centre option? While I do think it’s probably too late to convert him, they’re hard channels to defend, particularly spot-blitzing in the 13 one, there’s a little bit of me that wonders what his size and speed could do there.
Just heard from an ultra reliable source that we have signed a hooker.
Welsh, from Saracens and before that a Cardiff player.
I won't name him but should be obvious from tje above info
Just took a look at my calendar and the sense of frustration with the slow pace of news has eased a little. We still have 12 weeks to go to the first competitive game which is 5 whole weeks later than last year. Plenty of time for things to filter through.
Ospreys have signed Dom Morris on loan from Saracens.
Squad now updated on website. Lists 40 senior players
Who is the big guy in todays video , walking with Ben Warren haven't seen him before is he new?
Over an hour ago, on the Ospreys Facebook page they asked "How do you fancy a new signing to end the week" it would be nice to see an actual new signing.
URC fixtures out tomorrow (Tuesday).
Well radio silence is well and truly over, new signings next by the looks of things.👏👏
They've added Rhys Henry as well, as good as all these signings are it would be nice to see an incomer or 2 as well.
Will Griffiths - new contract.
The Fail say Dragons are favourites to sign Cai Evans, but ourselves and Cardiff want him, whereas TRP say that he has signed for the Dragons.
I think I would believe the latter.
Think I've spotted ex-Scarlets nine Luke Davies in the training video released yesterday. Was at Jersey last season. Makes sense given our lack of depth at nine.
Is there anything positive happening in the background that is to come out, he says hopefully?
Lewis Lloyd our Wales U20 hooker has signed on at the Whites so we have to recruit at hooker now.