I am sure there is truth in the fact we are considering it. The problem is he is under contract and has 60 caps so there is no need for him to do anything. Contrast that with Owen Williams who is out of contract and does not have 60 caps. Glaws fans seem sure Williams is headed this way. TRP said welsh regions not thinking nwq in this uncertain climate but will all try and fill their boots with top 38 players who can be 80% funded.
Anybody who is out of contract may find themselves in a poor negotiating position now
Would 80% of his salary come from the WRU? I didn't know this. Since joining Gloucester in 2017 one source says that he has made forty four appearances. As you say, not a great injury record.
That is the way it apparently will work. The top 38 wales based players have their salary determined by PRB and then union pays 80%. Nobody knows who is in top 38 and who is not and for how long your contract is covered.
The new 50/20 kicking law coming in next season is going to make distributors and kickers far more important than they have been. Powerful driving line outs will also have their importance raised. It is a time to ignore undersized tight forwards and backs with poor distribution and kicking skills.
@Allthewaythere Cracknell is a far better player than Ashley but with Lydiate by some distance our best 6 now likely to be fully available and King as a back up 6 with far more position flexibility spending money on Cracknell makes little sense to me. It was a hall mark of the stupidity of the Tandy years that we were loaded in certain positions and threadbare in others. This is what you get when there is no DOR or people with no expertise pretending to be one No strategic balanced thinking.
We need an 8 and if it is a choice between TF and RM the former is by far the better 8. If TF is not coming then RM is by far the best 8 we could afford.
Madigan talking to Ulster because of our delay. We’re doing to him what we did to Sam Davies ‘just wait there while we try and wrap someone else up and leave you in the lurch’
Talking to Glaws fans Owen Williams is out of contract but his value has to go through PRB which will mean delay. In all honesty Madigan is likely to take ulster over us as it gives him a route back to international rugby money.
@Fiddler He’s not even top tier. He’s not a first 23 player so his pay cut will be pretty big. I’d take Jonno Lance over both But that’ll mean more outlay and this position is being funded privately so I’d assume they’d go all out for Williams (who I sadly don’t think we’ll see anything off given fitness history and Wales duty)
@MD MILLDEW Glaws fans reckon Williams will have to take a pay cut from 400k to 200k to stay so depends what players outside 23 get on the scale. I doubt he is that heavily involved in international though with Anscombe Biggar Evans and Patchell likely to be ahead of him but his fitness record is a concern
No comment Miss Marple, but a player of that quality would have to be top band, purely because of Lions tours (3?) and importance of being Wales‘ only specialist 8 going forward.
@Allthewaythere I am not sure any of the Welsh teams can avoid having to chop and change offers with the way this top 38 proposal is being implemented. Not only do you have to get a player in the top 38 but his banding has to acceptable to the union. There is going to be fluidity across the board
@Fiddler Yep, your right. I didn’t really think it through properly. I guess i got blindsided by my distaste for promising someone a contract and then reneging on that. Like you point out, the farce of the 38 and how they are determined, will probably lead to this scenario repeating itself.
I have only watched the U20s score on the net , but it seems the Scarlets have signed a gem in Sam Costelow. Excellent win for our U20s now having beaten France and England. Could Morgan Strong be one answer to our number eight problem?
@MD MILLDEW TRP today with fair bit of news. Maybe they are following our friend MD Mildew to get their news!!
Confirms Owen Williams a target with Lance and Madigan also in picture. Also confirms our interest in Rhys Davies and Nicky Thomas. Also confirms Ruddock staying on next year.
Cardiff Blues now favourites to sign Tompkins on one year loan from Sarries.
He is indeed Ross’ agent. Hard to deal with by all accounts. Out of the three id take Lance. Very good attack and strong defence. Which is a bonus if Anscombe’s is targeted and we need a tactical swap.
Moriarty's current contract is 450k because the Dargons outbid everybody for it. He has been terrible value for them with injuries. I doubt he gets that in England if he goes there and he has not got 60 caps so misses out on international money. He won't get anywhere near 450k but if the appeal gets him up to say 325k then with international monies on top I doubt he beats that in England. Question then becomes can Magic Mike persuade his old man who is I believe his agent to advise him to come here over the Dargons
I am pretty sure Owen Williams has another year of his £400k pa contract left at Glaws.I think Glaws would be glad to release but doubt the PRB would value him at that figure so to come to Wales he would have to take a drop which he has no need to as he is still eligible for Wales until his current contract expires. If he did take the drop expect the Scarlets and Cardiff to be in for him as well.
Also on another thread Paul queried if Protheroe might be used at 10. I think that is possible because he has the same fierce acceleration that Anscombe has. For all the shambles we have been this year we could have been pushing for third place with a semi competent 10 and a back three that has some idea how to defend.
We are still very light in terms of back three players. Luke Morgan has been great in attack but is one of the worst defenders in pro rugby. Hanno gives his all but is too slow for defence.
I really cannot understand why we don't see what Cai has to offer at 10 over the closing matches. As his old man has pointed out he will struggle to make a pro 15 so let's give him a go at 10 instead of Price. Price has no pace and any team that uses him as their 10 will lose the vast majority of their games.
Is that considered good business? He didn't seem to kick on after his U20 performances and hasn't stayed at any club foe too long. We have made mistakes before when signing players that have moved elsewhere.
I have the same reservations. At under 20 level he showed great promise especially at scrum time. His mobility and fitness was always questioned and was probably the reason that he didn’t progress further. It is possible, that as he went to school with Nicky Smith & Scott Otten and also played junior rugby with them, that they will encourage him and get him to put some serious effort in. If he does join us, this is likely to be his last chance at a pro contract.
@paul.rogers83 Yes in the context of him doing a mentoring role plus the fact we have properly sized young wq locks in the pipeline it does have logic to it. The big issues with the pack are what are we going to do at tight head(Fia and Ghajon I believe out of contract) and are we going to try and improve our back row balance. Tips Evans King and I think Morris under contract. Lydiate Baker Cracknell Cross Volpi all out of contract. We were interested in Moriarty and Refell but both those look o have hit the rocks. They were decent dynamic players. If we sign the 4 out of contract players our back row pool lacks dynamism and balance and other than Lydiate proven ability to be competitive aainst top teams.
L'idiot is the only one I'd keep, if we could get him on the right deal. Our hooker pool has been poor and neglected for years, we could really do with a new 1st and 2nd choice there. Fia is a poor option to have in your matchday squad, we need improvement there, we need to bring in a nwq to replace BBBD the other two will not be missed
@Brynhyfryd I would go along with Lydiate even if he does not make the top 38 cut. I would also go with Parry because if Lake is as good as most people think he is going to be resource will need to go elsewhere. Outside of Botha there are no serious tight heads if we let fia go.
If we can get Refell and Rhys Davies I don't think BBBD or Cracknell become worth it. The trouble with Cracknell is he gets so much smoke blown up his arse because of the number of carries and tackles but most of these are not dominant carries or tackles.
Great news indeed. Watched Ruddock on the Protheroe signing and you get the feeling there may be a few more players we are looking at "bringing back". The acid test though is going to be our back up players. and the quality of our nwq. If we don't get this right we are not going to progress.
The news we have all been waiting for (and I knew would happen) has finally been announced that Justin Tipuric has resigned with the Ospreys, Bloody great news.
Unfortunately, Gashley epitomises everything that is wrong at the Ospreys, and I can't see us moving onward and upward until he has gone. There are lots of others within the org that need to be off to pastures new, Millward standing out in that lot, but I feel that we just can't progress with the Gashley albatross hanging around Millward's neck
Yep, I just saw that. I feared he might have gone elsewhere as he is being mentioned by most as an outside half. When Dan Evans is fit I don't see why they don't try Cai at ten; he can't be any worse than the present incumbent.
He will never make a pro standard 15 based on what I have seen. I would like to see him at 10 because he has a huge boot and I don't think he can be any worse than Price. Hopefully he gets a run against Ulster and can become a decent squad player over next few years.
@paul.rogers83 More concerning according to the Fail negotiations with Tips have stalled it is implied because PRB will not offer top dollar. Also that Moriarty is considering staying with the Dargons which seems strange since the deal we struck with him was apparently too high.
I have also heard that the JSG have had the new funding formula explained to them and all agree it is fair and transparent. Given the OSC are forum members and on the JSG perhaps one of them could advise if this is true, how the above para is fair and transparent and also if it is true when they intend letting the rest of us in on how it works?
TRP today expresses our interest in two wq players in England. Refell at Leicester and Prothero at Bristol. Dargons and Scarlets interested in Joe Thomas now at Leicester. Saracens also wanting transfer fees for under contract players which may slow up Tompkins moving to Wales.
@paul.rogers83 The obvious wq out of contract is Owen williams but he is reputedly on more than any welsh rugby union pay scale would give him. Do we know if Biggar signed a two or three year contract with saints? We can't really go on much longer with Price as any kind of option.
Dan Evans possibly out for six weeks, Volpi out on loan to Doncaster under Clive Griffiths, Will Jones with Wales 7s in Australia and Luke Morgan and Dewi Lake training with Welsh squad. Hope this link works, if not it's on theOspreys news page.
@Fiddler I think Lydiate could do a job for us, obviously his top figure will be set a lot lower than his existing contract, if he could be used to take the ball into contact without going to ground as he is presently doing, with Hogg getting a driving maul around him he could be good value, and he has been on a number of occasions used as a lineout option, Fia could be let go if we can get a WQ substitute, but has has been noted they don't grow on trees, I suppose Will Griffiths has to come good soon, the only trouble being if AWJ and Beard are called up to TW we are awfully short of decent lineout options, it might be we have to keep BBBD if only for 1 season, this boy Fender in the U20s played well in a development game last season I think, we need IMO to hold onto one of the experienced boilerhouse contingent to fetch those 2 on.
@ogwrwayne We need a very decent nwq lineout forward who can cover 4 and 6. I would take Lydiate over BBBD if it was a choice but fear even with a reduction he will be expensive. Ideally Cracknell would be out of contract and we could then keep Lydiate with a dynamic young 6 but I think unfortunately Cracknell is still under contract.
WOL reporting that the Scarlets have signed Sam Costelow on a two year contract from the end of the season. He hails from our neck of the woods (Llantrisant/Pensoed) so why have we let him slip through the net? That makes four players they have that can play to OH. Who have we got apart from Anscombe?
And the Blues have announced the signing of Sam Moore. Both Sam’s are highly regarded and are tipped to make it international level. Where‘s our recruitment scouts?
@Uplands9 In fairness to our scouts, assuming of course we have any, and have not spent the off field budget on a raft of unnecessary duplicating positions they would be be very aware of this type of player. The whole world knows of exiles with this level of talent. The real question is why would talented young exiles want to join the shambles that has been created here until we have shown we are capable of turning it around
I know this is only a rumour and these are not encouraged on this topic, but on a different Forum from a respected Leicester Tigers supporter, there is strong talk that Scarlets are trying to get Sam Costelow, what are our deal makers doing to get somebody instead of Luke Price, I just hope we are doing something along the Owen Williams or somebody similar lines. I wouldn't have thought that Costelow would come into the top 38 in which the CVC money can be invested so if true it would be Scarlet money paying for him. If he comes they will have Patchell, Dan Jones, and Angus O'Brien who are ALL miles better than Price to complement Costelow.
Our recruitment function has been desperate. Will Griff John was playing for Doncaster a couple of years ago and before he went to Exeter Francis was recommended by Brett Davey. Ruddock also recommended Tadhig Berne and the Scarlets were the ones who took him up.
It is almost as if Millward Tandy and Lloyd were just sitting there taking the piss., thinking they knew best. Making Ashley captain and finding the slowest payers they could find.
@Fiddler Apparently the Blues tried to sign him last year but he ended up staying at Saracens. If he were to become available we would need to move extremely quickly to secure him as the Blues would certainly be back in for him.
@ospreysfanforum He is under contract until 2022 so whoever wants him will have to negotiate with Saracens. don't see them releasing him without a fee.
@edwar53 I think a few people who were there at the time have since gone into print that those concerns were little more than an attempt by a group of four senior players led by the captain who tried to undermine Ruddock at every turn and who were in total thrall to our old friend Jawnson
@Fiddler Yes, totally agree with notion that they like many of us we were all taken by Scott Johnson and his evangelical attitude of practicing rugby that was all talk and no substance. The result in the end is that he has been shunted and moved around the rugby fraternity by those who were taken in by his facade bolstered by those that saw the need to get rid of him. To me he was passed around like the Emperor with no clothes but no one actually called him out as a medicine charmer with the answers to everyone's problems but in reality his lack of achievements and success demonstrates that he was just a wizard hiding behind the curtains with no actual magic just tricks to keep people amused.
I have more faith in Ruddock mainly because time demonstrates the true perception of person especially as he has held his own counsel, got on with what ever was in front of him and pretends to convince no one beyond the basics of what he hopes he can offer and achieve. The one thing the Ospreys need more than anything else at the moment is someone who looks at life for what it is and doesn't raise expectations to keep the masses happy. If anything he the closest to a world class coach we have come across to date.
@edwar53 The thing about the Jawnse is he has managed to work out to the benefit of his bank balance that people who run unions are dopes. Because of Regulation 9 allowing unpaid release and the amount the international game generates they have money to burn and on the whole they are pretty dumb people who have got to the top of the union through serving time and/or saying the right thing at the right time. The Jawnse got to be DOR of Scotland and now DOR of Australia. I suspect he sounds incredible knowledgeable and in many ways is a latter day Pied Piper in much the way Hore is. They have both skilfully put themselves in positions where they now fire the bulletts rather than have bulletts fired at them. Unfortunately we end up in the same position as the people of Hamblin. The Pied Pipers run to the hills with their gold.
eirian40, the responses from the new website controller since they took over is pathetic, we only get the barest bones of news. We are like the very old mushroom joke.
I wonder how much money was spent on setting up the news website. IMO it pathetic. The only problem with the old one was that it was not secure, but a lot easier to navigate and I don't think it is just because it's new. Where has all the historical data gone?
@eirian40 Ben Glynn's injury was a pectoral one that put him out for the rest of 2019 according to Wales Online. That could mean he is due back soon along with the likes of James King, Rhys Henry and Harri Morgan.
It has been said that the 60 cap rule is to be looked at. With LRZ being picked for the squad after signing an extension on his contract, maybe the 60 cap rule could be on it's way out?
You are okay under the 60 cap rule if you don;t have an offer from a welsh region when you sign up. It is why Carre is ok to be picked. He had not been made an offer when he signed for Saracens. Same with LRZ
Only 5 Ospreys named in Pivac's 6 Nations 38 man squad - No Nicky Smith, BBBD, Dan Lydiate or Scott Williams and Aled Davies so we will at least have them available during the tournament.
@Nidum Webb was given a special dispensation because he signed to return. Looking at that selection suggests next season we should have AWJ Beard (assuming he signs he does not have 60 caps so is unlikely to move outside Wales) Tips(assuming he does not leave as he has 60 caps) Watkin, Webb North and Anscombe in the 80% funded top 38. Nicky Smith is going to be on the borderline. A deal may be worked out on Moriarty,
If you knock out Webb and Biggar and Faletau who have 60 caps that means 7 players who at their next contract will have to come to Wales or lose selection. These 7 are Holmes, Rees-Zammitt, Tompkins, Williams, Griff -John, Rowlands, Francis. I wonder if any of those 7 are on our target list and what their contract status is.
@ospreysfanforum Tompkins would be interesting as Scott Williams' body looks shot. Saracens will have cap issues. We could desperately do with a WQ tight head and Williams is out of contract and way short of 60 caps so one of the regions may want to bite there.
I agree that’s it’s great news but if I’m honest, I was hoping it was going to be either the re-signing of Tips or a new, quality addition to the squad.
Have to pay tribute James Hook, he may not have demonstrated anything like his best lately but it does not take away what he was at his best.
I don't follow the notion that he didn't reach his potential because of being moved around the field in different positions because he was that type of player. he was better and could do more than the average player because of his versatility, but even at his best he was never a Dan Biggar or Carter but he was himself an entity in his own right a 'James Hook' because like Iestyn Harris he had the ability to ghost past defenses, create space for others and produce a flat pass that split defenses open not forgetting the tenacity to score tries when all seemed lost. Cheers Hooky, I told you in the bar at the Gnoll in 2004 you are destined to bigger things it was nice that you proved me right, even if I had a few beers by that time; plus shows the person you were to be so polite and listen to me.
Can't agree they are all slow. Owen Watkin and Kieran Williams are on the injury list and I think our main problem is the ten/twelve which I agree is too slow. If Webb is near his best I think he will be a huge asset. We may have a few nines on our books, but are they good e enough? Venter is improving, Aled is, well, Aled (and may be moving on), Harri Morgan is injured at the moment and I'm not sure about the rest. I think RMW has gone backwards since he went away to play sevens a while back.
webb will be a swap for aled. it helps upgrade us but you are spot on this team lacks pace. in the back row the midfield and the back three. Think players with pace in our recruitment. The big issue is lack of pace. The likes of Hanno Price and Cracknell cannot outrun front row forwards.
I was in conversation last night at the Liberty stadium and was told that Rhys Webb could be joining the Ospreys as early as the end of the month? I took this to be speculation on behalf of the person speaking to me who like me had been enjoying the hospitality of our employer.
However, just listening to the Cardiff Blues -v- Leicester game on the radio the commentator announced that Toulon and Webb / Agents met yesterday and came to an agreement to release him early.
@Nidum Like mined, I put down the comment last night to wishful thinking but following Fiddlers comment re-TRP about Aled Davies > to Bath it appears to be making sense.
@Nidum@edwar53 I have closed the Webb thread so we can continue the discussion in here. It wold be good news if does come back but we could well lose him to Team Wales for the 6 Nations.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing especially with the Ospreys recruitment, for the past two years we have played the lottery hoping to get quality players on the cheap without working out the level of investment for the duration of their contracts. What bothered me was the policy of buying cheaply was an illusion and a false economic strategy, everything done was for the short term until we are in the situation we are now because the investment in the academy players and overseas players lack experience and skills to cope with limited numbers. Thus the likes of Ashley appeared to be worthwhile based on his length of service and lets not knock him the fella did his best. The problem is with players like Ashley is the they are stop gap, to finish a game with fresh legs, or manage weaker teams, they are not players to plan for the future. Basically journey men or mediocre players are worthwhile having and makes sense in keeping them provided they are in the minority of the squad, our problem has been that we have become dependent on them to lead by example but the example was well below the standard needed.
Nail on the head there. It is not having the odd player who at best is a cheap squad filler it is having so many of them and so few nwq quality players to lead the team in the windows. Not having a specialist defence coach whilst shelling out to replace a perfectly competent marketing function with an incompetent one is pretty good evidence of managerial incompetence.
Once the incredibly dull decision was taken to offer Ashley a contract then Ratti had to go. Not sure he will be a huge loss because of his lack of size for a pro lock. I had to be one of Clarke or Millward who made the decision to contract Ashley. On the Welsh squad fact are you taking into account that the top 38 players may be totally funded by PRB monies which would change the equation on their value for money?
TP, you have MacKenzie in the full team and Window, I suspect you mean to have Anscombe in the Full team, also Mulvihill Blues Coach is quoted today that he wants some 2nd Rows I wonder if that means they are willing to release Thornton, he could be good for the Window Team
How does this look for our potential recruitment for next season? Seeing as the budgets have been set, teams are bound to be seeing who they will keep or release and who they will sign. The Internationals have been underlined and the new players are in itallics, they do not necessarily need to be NWQ but they must be available for the whole season.
LooseHeads – Nicky Smith, Rhodri Jones, Gareth Thomas + 1 NWQ to be signed
Hookers – Sam Parry, Scott Otten, Dewi Lake, Ifan Phillips
Tightheads – Tom Botha, Ma’afu Fia, Gheorge Giajon.
Locks, AWJ, Adam Beard, Will Griffiths, 2 NWQ to be signed
Back row – Justin Tipuric, Sam Cross, Olly Cracknell, Will Jones, James King, Morgan Morris + 1 NWQ to be signed
No8 – Ross Moriarty, Dan Baker, Gareth Evans
Released – Dan Lydiate, Guido Volpi, Bradley Davies, Lloyd Ashley
ScrumHalf – Rhys Webb, Shaun Venter, Harri Morgan, one of RMW or MA
Outside Half – Gareth Anscombe, Marty MacKenzie + 1 NWQ to be signed
Wingers – Keelan Giles, Luke Morgan, Hanno Dirksen, George North, Tom Williams
Centres – Owen Watkin, Kieran Williams, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Cory Allen + 2 NWQ to be signed
Fullback – Dan Evans, Cai Evans
Released – Aled Davies, Scott Williams one of RMW or MA, Luke Price, James Hook
Heard on the news that Owen Watkin has had an operation on his knee and is likelyy to be out for eight weeks. Also Gareth Anscombe has had a second minor procedure but might be back before the end of the season.
Massive congratulations to our former captain. current talisman and future legend Alun Wyn Jones who has won the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2019 Award - much deserved.
One interesting point to note is that Marty McKenzie does not have a Super Rugby contract for next season. This could mean that he could be available for us to sign on a proper contract once this short term deal finishes. The benefits would be that he can play 10 while Anscombe is away and maybe at 15 when Anscombe is available (not a slight on Dan Evans).
MCkenzie on his way, Liam a done deal with hands shaken ( unless rediculous money is on offer), British league closer on the horizon than most think ( 3 years is the optomistic plan). Hook on his way at the end of the season which is no surprise.
@Allthewaythere they are worth it in the games that they do play but not so much in RWC years. If we truly want to be a successful team and in the words of Millward "reach the latter rounds of the competitions" we do need world class players such as Sanjay but we need a hardcore of NWQ players who can lead the team when the internationals are away.
First things first though, we must re-sign Tips and AWJ.
Any truth in the Faletau rumours, he would be a fantastic signing.
Carre signed for Blues on a permanent deal, or a year "loan"?
News from TRP today.
Confirmed Booth is talking to Faletau. The press weeks behind our mate Milldew.
Confirmed Moriarty signs for Dargons.
Hill leaves Dargons for Blues
Parkes considering move to Japan in November.
Carre signs for Blues
Tompkins only prepared to sign for welsh region on 12 month loan from Sarries May therefore fall through.
Would 80% of his salary come from the WRU? I didn't know this. Since joining Gloucester in 2017 one source says that he has made forty four appearances. As you say, not a great injury record.
Is this VFM? I'm not so sure.
According to Wales online we have given up on Ross Moriarty to concentrate on Owen Williams.
Ospreys news says that he has been replaced by Nicky Thomas. I suspect Thomas is in the last chance saloon and really needs to knuckle down.
Gajion on his way at the end of the season.
the clear out continues:)
Looks like Moriarty has won his appeal, and WOL are reporting that it’s a choice between remaining at the Dragons, or us. MD, any further info?
TRP today saying Parry has turned down Blues and committed to ospreys
Dan Lydiate has signed a new 2 year deal at the Ospreys.
Maddigan apparently signed for Ulster.
At least we are talking to the right standard of player, I just hope we land one. The recruitment so far has been better.
Madigan talking to Ulster because of our delay. We’re doing to him what we did to Sam Davies ‘just wait there while we try and wrap someone else up and leave you in the lurch’
Dirksen being one who got mugged off by a bad deal in days gone by, allegedly of course !
At least things seem to be moving forward. Could this be down to Ruddock?
ospreysfanforum Dash · Top Poster Jan 1
There is a young Welsh lock at Bath - Rhys Davies, who is from Swansea. Perhaps he could be persuaded to return home.
Rhys has joined the Ospreys for next season - welcome Rhys
Any more signing news due u\out this week anyone heard anything?
If the link works its a try of the game....
https://twitter.com/i/status/1236023051814346752
I have only watched the U20s score on the net , but it seems the Scarlets have signed a gem in Sam Costelow. Excellent win for our U20s now having beaten France and England. Could Morgan Strong be one answer to our number eight problem?
Fia 2 more years
He is indeed Ross’ agent. Hard to deal with by all accounts. Out of the three id take Lance. Very good attack and strong defence. Which is a bonus if Anscombe’s is targeted and we need a tactical swap.
Heard Moriarty wanted £450k but only £300k was on offer
Owen Williams is primary target. Ian Madigan (stock considerably lower now) and Jonno Lance are back up options if we can’t 20% Owen.
Also on another thread Paul queried if Protheroe might be used at 10. I think that is possible because he has the same fierce acceleration that Anscombe has. For all the shambles we have been this year we could have been pushing for third place with a semi competent 10 and a back three that has some idea how to defend.
We are still very light in terms of back three players. Luke Morgan has been great in attack but is one of the worst defenders in pro rugby. Hanno gives his all but is too slow for defence.
I really cannot understand why we don't see what Cai has to offer at 10 over the closing matches. As his old man has pointed out he will struggle to make a pro 15 so let's give him a go at 10 instead of Price. Price has no pace and any team that uses him as their 10 will lose the vast majority of their games.
A poster in another thread has said that Nicky Thomas is supposed to be coming back to replace Ghiajon and that Fia is staying.
Someone else told me that we were looking for a new TH as Fia was not staying so I guess it is wait and see on that front.
BBBD has signed a a new 2 year deal at the Ospreys.
Looking at the out of contract players we have not yet signed.
Sam Parry Ma'fu Fia BBBD Lydiate Cross Cracknell. How many of those do you think are good enough/offer value for money?
Players who look definitely/probably gone are Hook Aled ,Glyn, Klim, Volpi. Anyone worth keeping there?
Not sure on contract status of Baker Ghajon.
Out of that group only BBBD have a shot at being in top 38 welsh based union funded players and I think highly unlikely they will be.
Who fancies a bet that Webb will be injured before end of the season playing for bath
Brilliant brilliant news
Yes, superb news, plus the fact that we have signed a reespectable and proven coach,things are finally hopefully looking up.
Fantastic news.
Great news.
the future suddenly looks rosy
Fantastic news.
The news we have all been waiting for (and I knew would happen) has finally been announced that Justin Tipuric has resigned with the Ospreys, Bloody great news.
Mathew Protheroe confirmed as joining the Ospreys next season. Welcome Mat.
Unfortunately, Gashley epitomises everything that is wrong at the Ospreys, and I can't see us moving onward and upward until he has gone. There are lots of others within the org that need to be off to pastures new, Millward standing out in that lot, but I feel that we just can't progress with the Gashley albatross hanging around Millward's neck
Why do we let a proper sized lock leave and keep a LA, it just doesn’t make sense.
Ben Glynn has joined Northampton Saints on a short term loan.
Yep, I just saw that. I feared he might have gone elsewhere as he is being mentioned by most as an outside half. When Dan Evans is fit I don't see why they don't try Cai at ten; he can't be any worse than the present incumbent.
According to WOL Justin's salary appeal has been successful so it is hoped he will re-sign with us.
Was there any word on who we were looking at?
TRP today expresses our interest in two wq players in England. Refell at Leicester and Prothero at Bristol. Dargons and Scarlets interested in Joe Thomas now at Leicester. Saracens also wanting transfer fees for under contract players which may slow up Tompkins moving to Wales.
This is a shame....https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/ospreys-statement-marty-mckenzie hope he's OK.
Good he looked a decent signing hope he had more luck with injuries this time around.
Is Ben Glynn back in training?
Dan Evans possibly out for six weeks, Volpi out on loan to Doncaster under Clive Griffiths, Will Jones with Wales 7s in Australia and Luke Morgan and Dewi Lake training with Welsh squad. Hope this link works, if not it's on theOspreys news page.
https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/squad-news
It could also mean that Gareth Evans is back fit hopefully.
Guido Volpi has gone to Doncaster on loan. Could be the start of the clear out.
The good news keeps on coming Tom Botha signed for an extra 2 years, and Owen Watkin could be available for this weekend
A bit of good news at last Rhodri Jones has re-signed. This guy is top quality.
WOL reporting that the Scarlets have signed Sam Costelow on a two year contract from the end of the season. He hails from our neck of the woods (Llantrisant/Pensoed) so why have we let him slip through the net? That makes four players they have that can play to OH. Who have we got apart from Anscombe?
I know this is only a rumour and these are not encouraged on this topic, but on a different Forum from a respected Leicester Tigers supporter, there is strong talk that Scarlets are trying to get Sam Costelow, what are our deal makers doing to get somebody instead of Luke Price, I just hope we are doing something along the Owen Williams or somebody similar lines. I wouldn't have thought that Costelow would come into the top 38 in which the CVC money can be invested so if true it would be Scarlet money paying for him. If he comes they will have Patchell, Dan Jones, and Angus O'Brien who are ALL miles better than Price to complement Costelow.
Given the problems unfolding at Saracens in terms of them having to dump players I hope we are all over Joel Tompkins.
He’s there in everything going on but Sherratt and Hogg are taking charge of sessions.
Theres a definite urgency
The only one of the above who I have seen train fully with the squad this week is Gareth Evans.
Yeah I thought I had just missed any injury updates.
eirian40, the responses from the new website controller since they took over is pathetic, we only get the barest bones of news. We are like the very old mushroom joke.
It will be good news if BG is back for the 6 nations. Any idea when Gareth Evans is back?
Great news I agree. As much as we need to strengthen we need to keep our best too. Really hope these announcements are building up to tips staying.
Anyone know if the 2nd row we signed from Harlequins will be fit to play any time soon or even at all this season.
Adam Beard signed up for another two years. Good news following Owen Watkin. Is someone doing something right at last?
It has been said that the 60 cap rule is to be looked at. With LRZ being picked for the squad after signing an extension on his contract, maybe the 60 cap rule could be on it's way out?
Only 5 Ospreys named in Pivac's 6 Nations 38 man squad - No Nicky Smith, BBBD, Dan Lydiate or Scott Williams and Aled Davies so we will at least have them available during the tournament.
I agree that’s it’s great news but if I’m honest, I was hoping it was going to be either the re-signing of Tips or a new, quality addition to the squad.
Great news! 3 year contract!!!
Good long term signing, just hope he can stay basically injury free
Looks like Owen Watkin has re-signed.
Have to pay tribute James Hook, he may not have demonstrated anything like his best lately but it does not take away what he was at his best.
I don't follow the notion that he didn't reach his potential because of being moved around the field in different positions because he was that type of player. he was better and could do more than the average player because of his versatility, but even at his best he was never a Dan Biggar or Carter but he was himself an entity in his own right a 'James Hook' because like Iestyn Harris he had the ability to ghost past defenses, create space for others and produce a flat pass that split defenses open not forgetting the tenacity to score tries when all seemed lost. Cheers Hooky, I told you in the bar at the Gnoll in 2004 you are destined to bigger things it was nice that you proved me right, even if I had a few beers by that time; plus shows the person you were to be so polite and listen to me.
Its a centre with a bit of speed we need not another scrum half. All our centres are so slow and ponderous the wings rarely get the chance to impress.
I was in conversation last night at the Liberty stadium and was told that Rhys Webb could be joining the Ospreys as early as the end of the month? I took this to be speculation on behalf of the person speaking to me who like me had been enjoying the hospitality of our employer.
However, just listening to the Cardiff Blues -v- Leicester game on the radio the commentator announced that Toulon and Webb / Agents met yesterday and came to an agreement to release him early.
From Wales Online re having Welsh Squad players ie one of the 38 on the books...
What bearing do they have on the funding split?
Under the new system, tier one of the funding is set aside to cover wages of the elite 38 players.
That’s separate to the general weighted distribution to the regions, which is based on criteria such as business plans, coaching and governance.
To be precise, 80 per cent of the elite players’ wages will be paid out of the first tranche, leaving the regions to fund the remaining 20 per cent.
This means it is now much more beneficial to have Wales squad players on your books.
In the past, the value of them to the regions has been questioned, given how much time they spend away on international duty.
This was particularly the case when it came to players who weren’t on dual contracts.
The regions were paying all of their wages but only seeing them for a limited part of the season.
Now, with the new formula, employing one of the elite 38 is largely cost neutral.
And the more of them you have on board, the more you benefit.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing especially with the Ospreys recruitment, for the past two years we have played the lottery hoping to get quality players on the cheap without working out the level of investment for the duration of their contracts. What bothered me was the policy of buying cheaply was an illusion and a false economic strategy, everything done was for the short term until we are in the situation we are now because the investment in the academy players and overseas players lack experience and skills to cope with limited numbers. Thus the likes of Ashley appeared to be worthwhile based on his length of service and lets not knock him the fella did his best. The problem is with players like Ashley is the they are stop gap, to finish a game with fresh legs, or manage weaker teams, they are not players to plan for the future. Basically journey men or mediocre players are worthwhile having and makes sense in keeping them provided they are in the minority of the squad, our problem has been that we have become dependent on them to lead by example but the example was well below the standard needed.
Who is calling the shots on recruitment
big name stars in the welsh squad are not value for money. The most depressing part of the last month was to see James Ratti playing against us.
TP, you have MacKenzie in the full team and Window, I suspect you mean to have Anscombe in the Full team, also Mulvihill Blues Coach is quoted today that he wants some 2nd Rows I wonder if that means they are willing to release Thornton, he could be good for the Window Team
How does this look for our potential recruitment for next season? Seeing as the budgets have been set, teams are bound to be seeing who they will keep or release and who they will sign. The Internationals have been underlined and the new players are in itallics, they do not necessarily need to be NWQ but they must be available for the whole season.
LooseHeads – Nicky Smith, Rhodri Jones, Gareth Thomas + 1 NWQ to be signed
Hookers – Sam Parry, Scott Otten, Dewi Lake, Ifan Phillips
Tightheads – Tom Botha, Ma’afu Fia, Gheorge Giajon.
Locks, AWJ, Adam Beard, Will Griffiths, 2 NWQ to be signed
Back row – Justin Tipuric, Sam Cross, Olly Cracknell, Will Jones, James King, Morgan Morris + 1 NWQ to be signed
No8 – Ross Moriarty, Dan Baker, Gareth Evans
Released – Dan Lydiate, Guido Volpi, Bradley Davies, Lloyd Ashley
ScrumHalf – Rhys Webb, Shaun Venter, Harri Morgan, one of RMW or MA
Outside Half – Gareth Anscombe, Marty MacKenzie + 1 NWQ to be signed
Wingers – Keelan Giles, Luke Morgan, Hanno Dirksen, George North, Tom Williams
Centres – Owen Watkin, Kieran Williams, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Cory Allen + 2 NWQ to be signed
Fullback – Dan Evans, Cai Evans
Released – Aled Davies, Scott Williams one of RMW or MA, Luke Price, James Hook
Release 8 players as above as a minimum
Sign 7 players as above as a minimum
Full Team
Smith, Parry, Botha, Beard, AWJ, King, Tips, Moriarty
Webb, Anscombe, Giles, New Centre, Watkin, North, D Evans
Reps
R Jones, Otten, Fia, New Lock, Morris, Venter, C Evans, L Morgan
Window Team
R Jones, Otten, Botha, New Lock, New Lock, Morris, W Jones, J King
Venter, MacKenzie, Giles, New Centre, Thomas-Wheeler, L Morgan, D Evans
Reps
G Thomas, Lake, Fia, W Griffiths, G Evans, RMW or MA, K Williams, C Evans
Discuss.....
It begins!
Webby's back for next season....the Ospreys have confirmed the signing of Rhys Webb on a 2 year deal.
Ospreys have signed Scottitsh prop Darryl Marfo until the end of the season. Welcome to Ospreys
Heard on the news that Owen Watkin has had an operation on his knee and is likelyy to be out for eight weeks. Also Gareth Anscombe has had a second minor procedure but might be back before the end of the season.
@paul.rogers83 Sanjay confirmed to the Scarlets
Think he will be a great addition to the squad. We have lacked a ball carrying 8
Wales Online says we are in pole position to sign Ross Moriarty who was an Ospreys RAG player at U16.
Discuss....
Massive congratulations to our former captain. current talisman and future legend Alun Wyn Jones who has won the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2019 Award - much deserved.
We have signed two props from the Scarlets on loan until the end of the season - https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/ospreys-loan-deals
Well done Scott Williams on being called up to the Wales squad. This could be your last chance so make the most of it.
One interesting point to note is that Marty McKenzie does not have a Super Rugby contract for next season. This could mean that he could be available for us to sign on a proper contract once this short term deal finishes. The benefits would be that he can play 10 while Anscombe is away and maybe at 15 when Anscombe is available (not a slight on Dan Evans).
You sure we haven't signed Marty McFly ?
McKenzie signed until the end of the season.
rumour one was correct.
Rumours doing the rounds.
MCkenzie on his way, Liam a done deal with hands shaken ( unless rediculous money is on offer), British league closer on the horizon than most think ( 3 years is the optomistic plan). Hook on his way at the end of the season which is no surprise.
Anybody know where ther's another Filo floatign around that wants to play in Swansea?
@Allthewaythere they are worth it in the games that they do play but not so much in RWC years. If we truly want to be a successful team and in the words of Millward "reach the latter rounds of the competitions" we do need world class players such as Sanjay but we need a hardcore of NWQ players who can lead the team when the internationals are away.
First things first though, we must re-sign Tips and AWJ.
As this weekend has proven with the WRU dictating who plays when, I really don’t know if Welsh players are worth the figures being banded around.
Tips' management company have denied the alleged £500K per season offer from Bristol. I would love to see him stay with us.