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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
@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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Any truth in the Faletau rumours, he would be a fantastic signing.
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.
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
Dirksen being one who got mugged off by a bad deal in days gone by, allegedly of course !
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
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.
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
Great news.
the future suddenly looks rosy
Mathew Protheroe confirmed as joining the Ospreys next season. Welcome Mat.
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?
This is a shame....https://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/ospreys-statement-marty-mckenzie hope he's OK.
Is Ben Glynn back in training?
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.
The only one of the above who I have seen train fully with the squad this week is Gareth Evans.
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.
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?
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.
Good long term signing, just hope he can stay basically injury free
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.
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
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.
Think he will be a great addition to the squad. We have lacked a ball carrying 8
Well done Scott Williams on being called up to the Wales squad. This could be your last chance so make the most of it.
You sure we haven't signed Marty McFly ?
McKenzie signed until the end of the season.
rumour one was correct.
Anybody know where ther's another Filo floatign around that wants to play in Swansea?
Tips' management company have denied the alleged £500K per season offer from Bristol. I would love to see him stay with us.