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Actually, he doesn’t look that small. There’s one video of him on YouTube from 3 years ago in some school cup final. Has some decent height then and was only 17.
 
Welsh Exile said:
Actually, he doesn’t look that small. There’s one video of him on YouTube from 3 years ago in some school cup final. Has some decent height then and was only 17.
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Do you know you posted three times about a new player and didn't actually post his name once?

Yes, I know it's in the BBC article, but you could be a bit more expensive.
 
AlRums said:
Do you know you posted three times about a new player and didn't actually post his name once?

Yes, I know it's in the BBC article, but you could be a bit more expensive.
Click to expand...
You’re quite right. His name is Isaac Murray-Macgregor.

Very in keeping with Scarlets signing back 3 players from NZ with a Scottish surname.
 
Lloyd should go to Ospreys and be Edwards’ back up. Cardiff will have Evans and Sheedy with Lloyd being a utility back. With Walsh off at least Ospreys have a need for a back up 10.
 
Cheers AlRamus, I've mostly stopped looking at WO since they started introducing paid for ****, and limiting the number of articles you can read per month.

I understand Evans returning to Cardiff, as that's where he came through, but I agree @Welsh Exile, the balance across the regions is a bit off at the minute. Ospreys lack a back up to Edwards, especially with Walsh off. Dragons also struggle with depth at 10 behind de Beer, usually with O'brien having to switch there from 15. Scarlets are probably OK with Leggatt-Jones coming through to backup Costellow and Hawkins moving from 12.

I am excited to see Evans back at Cardiff. Wonder if he'll be seen as first choice, or Sheedy. For me it'd be Evans all day, but Sheedy has been a pivotol player for them the last few years, so it'd be harsh on him too.

Then what happens with Lloyd? He showed real signs v Stormers that he could still have something to offer at 10 if given gametime to settle, but what's the chances of that with Sheedo and Jarrod there? Shame, as he's obviously hugely talented, but could end up never settling in any 1 position, or at any 1 club to really properly develop. Ospreys would suit him with Walsh going, quite similar players in some ways.
 
Hennessey out for the whole summer. Needs shoulder surgery. Gutted about that. I was hoping we’d see him and James finally moved to 12 but alas.

Assiratti also likely to be out. I won’t lose any sleep but he was alright in the autumn. Griffin was already out as well so down to bare bones. Can’t believe Coleman didn’t get a call up.
 
Welsh Exile said:
Hennessey out for the whole summer. Needs shoulder surgery. Gutted about that. I was hoping we’d see him and James finally moved to 12 but alas.

Assiratti also likely to be out. I won’t lose any sleep but he was alright in the autumn. Griffin was already out as well so down to bare bones. Can’t believe Coleman didn’t get a call up.
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That's a real shame about Hennessey, was excited to see him play.

Sounds like Rhys Henry is next in line at tighthead, which I'm happy with. He should have been there originally, as he's a player that can actually scrummage. Coleman should be there too though.

I still get depressed every time I read our options at tighthead, truly appalling!
 
Welsh Exile said:
I’ve only ever seen Henry play 6 mins of decent rugby in my whole life.
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He's a better player than Sam Wainwright and Ben Warren, neither of which can scrummage to save their lives. Dillon Lewis has more experience, but has always struggled in the set piece too.

Coleman has really come on, but again, his weakest aspect of his game is the scrum where he get's exposed against stronger opposition.

I'm not saying Henry is some sort of scrummaging monster, but I'd say he's better than all of those above, and behind Francis probably our second best scrummaging tighthead. He's got nice hands and carries OK too. There's a lot of potential there imo.

As I said though, it's a very poor pool of players, so I am comparing mediocre vs average here at best.
 
Officially confirmed that Assiratti is out of the summer games. With Francis already being rested and Griffin already missing out due to injury that’s our first 3 TH out. I mean, our first 3 TH aren’t even good so worrying about options 4,5 and 6. lol.
 
Welsh Exile said:
Officially confirmed that Assiratti is out of the summer games. With Francis already being rested and Griffin already missing out due to injury that’s our first 3 TH out. I mean, our first 3 TH aren’t even good so worrying about options 4,5 and 6. lol.
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Need to replace the fancy nutritionist diets at the academies with pies I think, nurture some good old fashioned fatties!
 
Saintjay said:
Because the Dragons are ass. Didn't they come under the WRU because they were becoming unviable?
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No, bad ownership, and underfunded. Same happened to Cardiff, ownership changed hands lol.

This recent anouncement is to have the public force the Ospreys and Scarlets to merge, try to make them look like the bad guys because both refuse.
 
dirty harry said:
The WRU already own the Dragons, why would they delete their own asset?
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WRU don't own Dragons, it's been quite a few years since that was the case.

Valid question from @Saintjay though, not sure how they are spared given their record. They're probably in a more financially stable position than the rest atm though, and cover a large number of clubs in the Gwent area. They have always been under funded, so you could also argue that with equal funding they'd be competitive with the other regions too.

Still though, I haven't checked the numbers, but they must be last in terms of international players produced, as well as regularly being the worst performing region, so you do have to question why they aren't at least in the conversation for the chop.
 
dullonien said:
WRU don't own Dragons, it's been quite a few years since that was the case.

Valid question from @Saintjay though, not sure how they are spared given their record. They're probably in a more financially stable position than the rest atm though, and cover a large number of clubs in the Gwent area. They have always been under funded, so you could also argue that with equal funding they'd be competitive with the other regions too.

Still though, I haven't checked the numbers, but they must be last in terms of international players produced, as well as regularly being the worst performing region, so you do have to question why they aren't at least in the conversation for the chop.
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One of the reasons I'm gutted for the Ospreys. They seemed to do well for the Welsh national team. They have had some great players over the years.

Attendance wise I'm not sure how they compare i always got the impression Ospreys were more popular
 
Again, the WRU have been too scared to sort the issue out properly.
A properly funded SRC, with 8-10 teams, playing a proper season, and including a cross-border event with the CHAMP, would have been better.
Then gave 2 WRU franchises in the URC.
SRC
Newport, Ebbw Vale
Cardiff,
Swansea, Neath, Bridgend
Llanelli
RGC
These clubs get secure funding to provide development pathways for their area, e.g. Gwent academy move to Newport abd Ebbw Vale, determined and supported by WRU.

URC
Cardiff Dragons - playing in Red, white and black
Swansea Bay - playing out of PyS and in cyan, teal and white.
 
dullonien said:
WRU don't own Dragons, it's been quite a few years since that was the case.

Valid question from @Saintjay though, not sure how they are spared given their record. They're probably in a more financially stable position than the rest atm though, and cover a large number of clubs in the Gwent area. They have always been under funded, so you could also argue that with equal funding they'd be competitive with the other regions too.

Still though, I haven't checked the numbers, but they must be last in terms of international players produced, as well as regularly being the worst performing region, so you do have to question why they aren't at least in the conversation for the chop.
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Oh bloody hell I stand corrected, shows how much ive been paying attention last few years, i just assumed they were still at least in part WRU owned.

Theres a number of reasosns I think, the latge number of private schools being one.
 
Llandovery College likely closing down is another issue facing Welsh Rugby. Without it, even more young players will leave to attend English private schools.
 
Saintjay said:
Because the Dragons are ass. Didn't they come under the WRU because they were becoming unviable?
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If I couldn'tmake a Bath away fixture I used to enjoy an afternoon across the bridge at Rodney Parade when Tony Brown was in charge (1997-2003+). Some great players on their books then.


"During Brown's time at Rodney Parade included a host of South Africa stars, including Bobby Skinstad, Gary Teichmann, Percy Montgomery and Adrian Garvey as well as New Zealand and Wales full-back Shane Howarth, Wales prop Peter Rogers and Canada's Rod Snow while Jason Jones-Hughes was recruited from Australia before playing for Wales."
 
Jason Jones-Hughes 😂. He came over with a lot of hype, but was utter ****! Newport did have a good side back then though, Dragons did well in their first year - all downhill since then...

I do think they're building something exciting at Rodney Parade though, results haven't quite come their way yet, but they're playing some good stuff and their squad is improving every season. If they can turn a lot of those close losses/draws last season into wins this season they'll be up there the top Welsh regions.

I actually think all the regions have done some OK recruitment ready for next season, so hopefully there'll be improvements across the board, we'll see if that translates into results.
 
dullonien said:
Jason Jones-Hughes 😂. He came over with a lot of hype, but was utter ****! Newport did have a good side back then though, Dragons did well in their first year - all downhill since then...

I do think they're building something exciting at Rodney Parade though, results haven't quite come their way yet, but they're playing some good stuff and their squad is improving every season. If they can turn a lot of those close losses/draws last season into wins this season they'll be up there the top Welsh regions.

I actually think all the regions have done some OK recruitment ready for next season, so hopefully there'll be improvements across the board, we'll see if that translates into results.
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Its not positive recruiting though is it, Jarrod Evans returns, Anscombe... peita, Domachowski and Togers seitch regions...

Scott Sio would have been great, 4 years ago ffs whats he now 34/35, couldnt guarentee game time this year, played a dozen times or so last year.

Regions are where they have been for 7/8 years, shuffling around middling talent between them, resigning those who have left Wales and not really done anything.
 

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