Blues stepping up bid to sign Jones Dec 31 2005 Delme Parfitt, South Wales Echo CARDIFF Blues have moved their bid to sign Stephen Jones on a stage further by meeting the Wales fly-half for talks this week. The Echo has discovered that Jones met up with Blues coach Dai Young while home from France on a Christmas break to discuss a possible move to the Arms Park. As revealed in these pages last week, the Blues have made the British Lion stand-off their number one target and it's understood they are ready to put a contract worth £200,000 a year on the table in an attempt to end his exile in French rugby with Clermont Auvergne. And Jones, whose two-year Clermont deal expires this coming summer, is believed to be ready to return to his homeland amid fears his ability to take a full part in Wales' World Cup build-up will be jeopardised if he stays put. However, the Blues look set for a fierce tug-of-war with Llanelli Scarlets over Jones' services after the Stradey Park region also held talks with their former player over the festive period.
If the Blues sign him i think there near the complete team. But he will probably go to the scarlets to play with peel
If it comes down to him going back to Wales, yes, because they won't want him going to Blues, playing against them. He was a quality player for the Scarlets when he played, and they could do with a 10 like Jones. I'm pretty sure they would try and sign him if the Blues do. I don't understand why he feels he need to leave, it has done him the world of good since playing in France. Maybe the season is too long in France, and he feels he will burn out. After all, he is a major player for Wales.
he loves france and feels he has learnt alot there but is ready to come home - if it comes down to money - then i very much doubt the scarlets will be able to afford 200,000 a year for one player.
On the other hand if he stays in France I think that his current club will progress both in the Top14 and in the H-cup. It may be more likely for him to get then some club Rugby titles.
Jones is coming back to Wales as he is woried that playing abroad is likely to harm his RWC 07. His game has blossomed since moving to France ( I say France as no bugger can make up their mind what to call his team, Mont, Montferrand, Clermont Ferrand or Clermont Auvergne ) The last is the clubs new name as I understand it. Anyhow, this is the thing. He was a good player when at Llanelli, but his game was limited as he was told what plays to play two plays in advance, whereas at Mont, they basically make the first play, get the ball to him, and he decides how the play progresses. The blues would be able to accommodate this style, but Gareth Jenkins the Llanelli Scarlets coach is a control freak and still calls the next two set pieces. I think this is a major factor to where he goes. As for The Cardiff Blues not being able to afford him Peter Thomas their benefactor sold his company Peters Pies a few years ago, he nad his family are very shrewd businesspeople, who recently sold Cardiff Wales Airport, with Peters share around £37 Million. So the answer to the question is yes, they can afford it. Personally I would rather he stayed in France, as although the French can be shitty, there is no way they can prevent him from playing in RWC, nor is there anyway they can overplay him anymore than he has been overplayed the last two seasons.
Well I understand that in these provinces salaries are at least partly paid by the Unions so the salary cap may be useless.
The way it works is that the four Welsh regions get funded from the WRU. This season it is £1.8 million (give or take a few £££). To give you an idea of how much the benefactors are spending, Peter Thomas (Cardiff Blues) loaned the club another £1.2 million this season. The simple answer though is that NO there is no salary cap, but the WRU is trying to bring in central contracts for International players, the Regions however are fighting tooth and nail with some wanting it while others do not.
isnt there a limit on how much thye regions can spend though? Im sure i read it somewhere, and it would explain Real Tolouse.
Nope they can spend what they like. And it is now official, Steven Jones is going back to Stardey Pac (llanelli Scarlets) on a 3 year deal.
I must admit I'm suprised at that. The Blues look to be developing very well, and Jones would probably fit well into their system. Almost seems like a step back returning to Llanelli.
Don't think so, he's certainly a class above compared to Bowen and Hercus and Scarlets don't look that bad even with them there so with Jones back they should improve imesurably next season, could make the difference between them getting out of their pool in the HEC as well.
