Transfers rumours

[Peat]

Dont get me wrong. Boric I can understand.

But yes the other 2 are good players but who'd loose out? Not just of 15 but 23

With everyone available, Robinson would be fighting for a place on the bench with Gilroy and Olding. But you never have everyone available. Robinson could cover both Payne and Jackson, both of whom are guys who need better cover.

Likewise with everyone fit Daniel is probably on the bench - but he covers Henry to a far higher standard than Doyle, which is crucial, and can cover the other two positions as well I believe.

Look around the team, those are the positions that need cover where we'll be allowed to sign it. A prop or maybe even another scrum-half would be nice, but that's not happening, at least not foreign qualified...

 

[munstermuffin]

That was my point as in like fight with Gilroy for bench but regards backrow there'll be hell of a lot of competition of good standard

 

[IRISH RUGBY MAN]

I think Boric Would be a good signing as we need a new second row cause of Muller. I think Daniel has played 8 and I think he would be better then Wilson or Williams. Now that you lay it out like that I can understand why Robinson would be a no go when I would rather see Olding come on and Gilroy

 

[Peat]

That was my point as in like fight with Gilroy for bench but regards backrow there'll be hell of a lot of competition of good standard

That's what we need. We need competition and we need depth. Twice in the last couple of years we've been bummed on the big stage because of an injury crisis in the back row at the wrong moment. We got the guys back for the big game but in no real fit state to play. Having more serious operators is essential.

Look at Leinster. At full strength they have internationals off on the chip run. That's where we want to be.

 

[munstermuffin]

That's what we need. We need competition and we need depth. Twice in the last couple of years we've been bummed on the big stage because of an injury crisis in the back row at the wrong moment. We got the guys back for the big game but in no real fit state to play. Having more serious operators is essential.

Look at Leinster. At full strength they have internationals off on the chip run. That's where we want to be.

Well that a way of looking at it for sure

 

[j'nuh]

Pretty strong rumour going about that Jim Hamilton is on the way back to Gloucester. Gloucester front 5 looking fantastic for next season.

Multiple people claim to be in the know, and Ryan Walkinshaw was in France last week for some "meetings". (Although he could have been meeting with Stephen Brett too.)

 

[munstermuffin]

Anyone catch on sky there about Warburton has resigned with WRU.

 

[Draggs]

Anyone catch on sky there about Warburton has resigned with WRU.

Hope the blues don't play him, should be ashamed if they do.
I expected Warburton to do something like this.

 

[munstermuffin]

Yeah it was mentioned something like he's not guaranteed international spot. Was also mentioned something Warburton likes the WRU system. I missed it fully though

 

[psychic duck]

Hope the blues don't play him, should be ashamed if they do.
I expected Warburton to do something like this.

Agreed. He's got a reputation as a Gatland Yes Man, certain players said on Twitter last summer when he was appointed Lions captain. AWJ seems to have more of his own will and stronger personality, it's probably why he was never made captain under Gatland.

 

[Draggs]

Yep, Tipuric could be the best openside by a mile and best he will get is Sam shifted to blindside.

 

[munstermuffin]

Agreed. He's got a reputation as a Gatland Yes Man, certain players said on Twitter last summer when he was appointed Lions captain. AWJ seems to have more of his own will and stronger personality, it's probably why he was never made captain under Gatland.

To be honest he's the man I think Wales should have as captain. AWJ that is. Like all here in Ireland talk about POC as being a great leader and how much of an influence he is and scarily enough I see the exact same attributes in AWJ but for some reason he's not being unleashed in same way

 

[j'nuh]

Hope the blues don't play him, should be ashamed if they do.
I expected Warburton to do something like this.

To be fair, the BBC is reporting that the Blues will have access to Warburton at no cost to the region.

In the past, the issue with the central contracts put forward by the WRU was that they wanted to do it in lieu of the money they were already giving to the regions. If the WRU turn around now and say they are going to decrease their funding to the WRU, then shame on the WRU absolutely.

However if this isn't the case, then Cardiff will get to keep the money they were spending on Warburton to spend elsewhere in the squad, as well as having access to Warburton for most of the season. This would be a very respectable deal put forward by the WRU, but they'd have to do it over a large number of internationals for it to be a realistic alternative to the regions finding funding elsewhere.

 

[Draggs]

Blues should turn him down, otherwise the wru have split the regions. Sam only plays for WRU RFC anyways.

 

[psychic duck]

To be fair, the BBC is reporting that the Blues will have access to Warburton at no cost to the region.

In the past, the issue with the central contracts put forward by the WRU was that they wanted to do it in lieu of the money they were already giving to the regions. If the WRU turn around now and say they are going to decrease their funding to the WRU, then shame on the WRU absolutely.

However if this isn't the case, then Cardiff will get to keep the money they were spending on Warburton to spend elsewhere in the squad, as well as having access to Warburton for most of the season. This would be a very respectable deal put forward by the WRU, but they'd have to do it over a large number of internationals for it to be a realistic alternative to the regions finding funding elsewhere.

Well the first paragraph is the correct one unfortunately. The WRU are a disgrace, competing with the regions for AWJ and Adam as well which and driving up wages. And as Draggs says, Warburton has an awful ratio of games played for the Blues anyway, his 43 international matches aren't that far off how much he's played for the Blues since his Wales debut. The Blues have to compete with Toulon for players they hardly see, whilst the other is spending on all but the international weekends, it's a flawed system.

Yep, Tipuric could be the best openside by a mile and best he will get is Sam shifted to blindside.

One thing I don't like about Gatland is that he is overly loyal to his favourites. Sam got Lions captaincy based on being buddies with Gatland which blocked SOB's Test chances, and another one of his favourites Mike Phillips got the competition from Peel totally removed and his Rhodri Jones too tighthead idea flew in the face of Samson Lee logically being the starter there and Rhodri knuckling down to his best suited loosehead position. A good coach, but too stubborn.

 

[dullonien]

Blues should turn him down, otherwise the wru have split the regions. Sam only plays for WRU RFC anyways.

I disagree, central contracts were inevitable imo. They put the pressure on the WRU to compete with the money being offered by clubs in England and France, instead of the regions, and the WRU has more financial clout. Whilst only one player being on one isn't exactly ideal, it's a start, and hopefully more will follow and the regions can concentrate on developing more players, leaving the WRU to negotiate new contracts for their star players.

As long as funding to the regions isn't sacrificed, then surely it'll be the regions who win, getting access to top level players for free. They may not like the idea of giving up control, but it's still better than losing those players from Welsh domestic rugby altogether.

Also it's not really the WRU's fault that Warbs is injury prone. I don't hear people criticising the Ospreys because Eli Walker get's injured playing for them every time he's in line for international honours. Hopefully Warburton will get a period of injury free rugby, and he can play more for the Blues from now-on, but time will tell really.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be honest he's the man I think Wales should have as captain. AWJ that is. Like all here in Ireland talk about POC as being a great leader and how much of an influence he is and scarily enough I see the exact same attributes in AWJ but for some reason he's not being unleashed in same way

From what I've read it's because Warburton is a Gatland-yes-man whereas AWJ has his own opinions.
AWJ would make more sense as a captain these days as he shows all the leadership qualities and is in blistering form/should be the second (after A.Jones) name on the teamsheet whereas Warburton should be (if Gatland was fair) looking over his shoulder for Tipuric.

 

[psychic duck]

I disagree, central contracts were inevitable imo. They put the pressure on the WRU to compete with the money being offered by clubs in England and France, instead of the regions, and the WRU has more financial clout. Whilst only one player being on one isn't exactly ideal, it's a start, and hopefully more will follow and the regions can concentrate on developing more players, leaving the WRU to negotiate new contracts for their star players.

As long as funding to the regions isn't sacrificed, then surely it'll be the regions who win, getting access to top level players for free. They may not like the idea of giving up control, but it's still better than losing those players from Welsh domestic rugby altogether.

Also it's not really the WRU's fault that Warbs is injury prone. I don't hear people criticising the Ospreys because Eli Walker get's injured playing for them every time he's in line for international honours. Hopefully Warburton will get a period of injury free rugby, and he can play more for the Blues from now-on, but time will tell really.

It's certainly not the regions who win, the WRU wants to kill off the regions, how can you not see this? The WRU contracts are being paid for out of the regions money and they have tried to compete with the regions for contracts and drive prices up. This is a strategic reaction from the WRU to AWJ snubbed them and part of the power hungry Roger Lewis' plan to get full control. Alastair Eykyn and Brian Moore summed up the situation well on 5 Live.



And regarding Warburton. To keep players like him the regions have to pay him enough to compete with the French but without seeing him as much, it's not value for money. And Eli Walker recent injury was in the Wales camp by the way as well.

 

[munstermuffin]

From what I've read it's because Warburton is a Gatland-yes-man whereas AWJ has his own opinions.
AWJ would make more sense as a captain these days as he shows all the leadership qualities and is in blistering form/should be the second (after A.Jones) name on the teamsheet whereas Warburton should be (if Gatland was fair) looking over his shoulder for Tipuric.

Well I'd agree with that and AWJ is a player I've been a fan of for long time with super heart.

Regards Warburton deal it seems part of the new bargaining is Wales will adopt IRFU policy and pay central contracts on behalf of clubs.
For example Cardiff don't pay a Penny towards Sam Warburton wage

 

[psychic duck]

Well I'd agree with that and AWJ is a player I've been a fan of for long time with super heart.

Regards Warburton deal it seems part of the new bargaining is Wales will adopt IRFU policy and pay central contracts on behalf of clubs.
For example Cardiff don't pay a Penny towards Sam Warburton wage

Coming out of the regions funding.