Talk of Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate being back in the Pro12 by the weekend ...
www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/european-...mmediately-1.1962876

Cardiff blues sign argentine wing luck amorisino effective immediately.
Ospreys Canadian wing Jeff hassler signs 3 year extension.

Ulster have signed 24 year old lock Ronald Raaymakers from Counties Manukau on a short term contract to cover for Dan Tuohy and Iain Henderson

Having read the full article he is not insisting 1/2p play this weekend as i said above but is saying that his being injured is unnacceptable and threatening to terminate contract on grounds of nondisclosure.

In addition he is threatening not to pay the wages of his players competing in rugby championship and demanding that they return to toulon immediately to help the team. He also challenges the irb to take him on on this matter. He believes that french employment law will win out in a french court over a sporting organisations rules.

Leigh halfpenny cud be on his way home as his agent has flown to toulon for crunch contract talks with boujedal after the toulon owner accused 1/2p of dishonesty and failure to disclose a groin injury before signing for toulon. He has further threatened to terminate the contract if hes not available to play next weekend. 1/2p isnt impressed by his treatmrnt in general there and this is final straw. Hr allegrdly wants out and his preference is a dual contract with wru and one of regions.

Ospreys have signed SA lock dekok steencamp from stormers. He joins after currie cup.

Munster have signed 32 year old Argentian Hooker Eusebio Guinazu on a 4 month contract to cover for Mike Sherry. Due to arrive at end of month. Played for Bath for last 2 seasons

Glasgow have signed Canadian 7's winger Connor Braid on 3 month contract

Thanks for the run down Galway_gas, I was looking for just such a list the other day when it was mentioned in another thread that the Dragons looked much improved in their preseason game against Bristol. My suspicion was they were hurt much less than the other Welsh regions by the player exodus since they had few marquee internationals to lose. They certainly have brought in more household names than lost. I guess the question will be how well some of these older players hold up for them over the course of the season.

As a Connacht fan I don't look at this list and see any teams necessarily widening the talent gap on them, but on the other hand this also concerns me because of what it might say about the Pro 12's prospects in European competitions.

Adam jones has joined cardiff blues on a 1 yr deal. Its causing quite a stir in wales with ospreys releasing whats being described in wales as a negative statement. They didnt thank him for his service thats for sure. They didnt treat him very well lately so only have themselves to blame. He has had to train on his own preseason as the ospreys offer was conditional on an agreement being signed with wru. Meanwhile warburton has enjoyed a full preseason with blues even though hes centrally contracted and they wont play him until wru agreement is reached. Lesson in employer-employee relations there.

Most teams have completed their signings for next season. There could be a change of guard in Wales with Cardiff and Dragons doing better business than Scarlets/Ospreys. The Knoyle/Anscombe partnership will be an interesting one for Cardiff but wouldn't be surprised if they use Anscombe at FB. Dragons have a lot more (aging) bulk up front and we won't be pushing their scrum around Rodney Parade like we did last season. Its a bit surprising that Glasgow haven't recruited better to compensate for losing Cusiter and Jackson. Predicitons are that it will be January before the new Treviso players will get to know eachothers names. They will be definitely be playing second fiddle to Zebre who if anything are a little stronger. Not a lot of change in Leinster or Munster. Ulster seems to have recruited well after their significant departures.

A big shout out for Flanker Jamie Ritchie who signed a SENIOR contract with Edinburgh AGE 17 :woohoo: .


Let the games begin.

Forwards Out:
Deacon Manu (prop), Gareth Thomas (Prop), Sione Timani (Lock) Josh Turnbull (Flanker)
Forwards In:
A.Peter Edwards (prop age 33 from London Welsh) B. Rory Pitman (No.8 age 28 from Wasps) C. Chris Hala’ufia (6/8 age 35 from London Irish 24 caps Tonga) D. James Davies (Age 23 Flanker from Carmarthen Quins – Wales 7’s)
Backs Out:
Olly Barclay (OH), Aled Thomas (OH), Jonathon Davies (Centre), Nic Reynolds (Centre)
Backs In:
A. Harry Robinson (age 21 wing from Blues) B. Michael Tagicakibau (age 29 wing from Saracens 5 Caps Fiji)


Forwards Out:
Richard Hibbard (Hooker), Ian Evans (Lock) Ryan Jones (6/8 )
Forwards In:
A. Sam Parry (Hooker age 22 fromDragons) B. Gareth Thomas (LH age 20 from Carmarthen Quins) C. Cai Griffiths (TH age 30 from London Welch) D. Rynier Bernardo (Lock age 22 from Eastern Province Kings)
Backs Out:
Matthew Morgan (OH), Joe Rees (fullback)
Backs In:
A. Martin Roberts (SH age 28 from Bath) B. Dan Evans (OH/FB age 25 from Dragons) C. Josh Matavesi (Utility back age 23 from Worcester)
Also Simon Easterby to Ireland
Adam Jones – contract expired. ? Staying ? Bristol


Forwards Out:
Benoit Bourrust (Prop) Bradley Davies (Lock) James Down (Lock) Andries Pretorius (Backrow) Robin Copeland (No.8 ) Luke Hamilton (Backrow)
Forwards In:
A. Craig Mitchell (age 28 TH from Exeter), B. Ieuan Jones (age 21 back row from Dragons), C. Jarrod Hoeata (age 30 Lock/No.8 from Highlanders), D. Josh Turnbull (age 26 Flanker from Scarlets), E. Manoa Vosawai (Age 31, No.8 from Treviso 17caps Italy)
Backs Out: Alex Walker (SH) Isaia Tuifua (centre) Harry Robinson (Wing) Chris Czekaj (wing), Leigh Halpenny (FB)
Backs In:
A. Tavis Knoyle (age 24 SH from Gloucester), B. Gareth Anscombe (age 23 OH/15 from Chiefs), C. Adam Thomas (Centre age 23 fro Welsh 7’s), D. Geraint Walsh ( age 26 15/Centre from Pontypridd), E. George Watkins (Age 23 wing from Bristol)

Also Sam Warbuton status unconfirmed, Owen Williams likely to retire (neck injury)

Forwards Out:
Sam Parry (Hooker), Robert Sidoli (Lock), Ieuan Jones (Backrow), Jevon Groves (Backrow), Darren Waters (Backrow)
Forwards In:
A. Boris Stankovich (age 34 LH from Leicester), B. Dave Young (Age 29 Prop from Jersey), C. Brok Harris (Prop from Stormers),D. Lloyd Fairbrother (Age 22 Prop from Exeter) E. Rhys Buckley (Age 25 Hooker from Moseley), F.Ian Gough (Age 37 Lock from London Irish), G. Rynard Landman (Age 28 Lock from Cheetahs), H. Andy Powell (Age 32 No.8 from Wigan RL)
Backs Out:
Steffan Jones (OH),Kris Burton (OH/FB) Dan Evans (wing/FB), Will Harries(Wing), Lewis Robling (Wing)
Backs In:
A. Aled Blew (age 28 Wing from Biarritz), B. Lee Byrne (Age 34 FB from Clermont)


Forwards Out:
Moray Lowe (Prop), Ed Kalman (Prop), Finlay Gillies (Hooker),
Forwards In:
A. Rossour De Klerk (Age 24 TH from Central Cheetahs), B. Alex Allen (Age 22 Prop from Edinburgh), C. Euan Murray (Age 34 Prop from Worcester)
Backs Out:
Chris Cusiter (SH), Ruairidh Jackson (OH), Folau Niua (OH), Scott Wight (OH), Byron McGuigan (Centre), Gabriel Ascarate (Wing), Carlin Isles (Wing)
Backs In:
A. Murray McConnell (Age 21 SH from Ayr), B. James Downey (Age 33 Centre from Munster)


Forwards Out:
Steve Lawrie (Hooker), Alun Walker (Hooker), Aleki Lutui (Hooker), Alex Allen (Prop), Geoff Cross (TH), Lewis Niven (TH), Sean Cox (Lock), Perry Parker (Lock), Izak Vander Westhuizen (Lock), Ross Rennie (Flanker), Dimitri Basilaia (No.8 ),
Forwards In:
A. Neil Cochrane (Age 30 Hooker from Wasps), B. John Andress (Age 30 Prop from Worcester), C. Rory Sutherland (Age 21 LH from Gala RFC), D. Anton Bresler (Age 26 Lock from Sharks), E. Fraser McKenzie (Age 26 Lock from Worcester), F. Jamie Ritchie ( Age 17, Flanker from Howe),
Backs Out:
Greig Laidlaw (SH/OH), Chris Leck (SH), Piers Francis (OH), Harry Leonard (Centre), Ben Atiga (Centre), Ben Cairns (Centre), Nick DeLuca (Centre), Lee Jones (Wing),
Backs In:
A. Tom Heathcote (Age 22 OH from Bath), B. Michael Tait (Age 23 Centre from Newcastle), C. Phil Burleigh (Age 27 Centre from Highlanders), D. Brett Thompson (Age 23 centre/wing from USA)E. Damian Hoyland (Age 21 wing from Melrose)


Forwards Out:
Leonardo Ghiraldini (Hooker), Enrico Cettato (Hooker), Alberto de Marchi (Prop), Lorenzo Cittadini (TH), Michele Rizzo (Prop), Ignacio Rouyet (Prop), Valerio Barnabo(Lock), Robert Barbieri (Flank), Manoa Vosawai (No.8 ),
Forwards In:
A. Davide Giazzon (Age 28 Hooker from Zebre), B. Albert Anae(age 25 Hooker from Queensland Reds), C. Bruno Mercanti (Age 26 Hooker from Padova), D. Rupert Harden (Age 29 Prop from Gloucester), E. Salesi Manu (Age 23 Prop from Western Force), F. Romulo Acosta (age 21 TH from Padova), G. Jose Francisco Noval (Age 21 prop from Padova), H. Matteo Zanusso (Age 21 Prop from Amatori), I. Tomas Cinalli (Age 29 Lock from Japan – 6 caps Argentina), J. Leo Auva’a (Age 29 No. 8 from Leinster), K. Marco Barbini (Age 23 Flanker from Mogliano), L. Matt Luamanu (Age 26 Back Row from Japan),
Backs Out:
Fabio Semenzato (SH), Tobias Botes (SH/OH), Luke McLean (OH/FB), Alberto DiBernardo (OH), Matt Berquist(OH), Brendan Willians (FB), Christian Loamanu (wing),
Backs In:
A. Alberto Luchesse (Age 28 SH from Mogliano), B. Henry Seniloli (Age 25 SH from Fiji), C. Joe Carlisle (Age 26 OH from Wasps), D. Jayden Hayward (Age 27 OH/FB from Western Force), E. Sam Christie (Age 27 OH from Waikato), F. Ruggero Trevisan (Age 24 FB from Zebre)


Forwards Out:
Dave Ryan (Prop), Salvatore Perugini (Prop), Davide Giazzon (Hooker), Filipo Cazzola (Lock), Michael van Vuuren (Lock/No.8 ), Emiliano Caffini (Back Row), Nicloa cattini (Flanker),
Forwards In:
A. Oliviero Fabiani (Age 23 Hooker from Lazio), B. Andrea Lovotti (Age 25 Prop from Calvisano), C. Lorenzo Romano (Age 25 Prop from Calvisano), D. Andries Ferreira (Age 24 Lock from Cheetahs), E. Valerio Bernabo (Age 30 Lock from Treviso), F. Jacopo Sarto (Age 24 Back row from Padova)
Backs Out:
Kameli Ratuvou (Wing/FB), Roberto Quartoroli (Wing), Ruggero Trevisan (FB), Paolo Buso (FB),
Backs In:
A. Edoardo Padovani (Age 21 OH from Mogliano), B. Giulio Bisegni (Age 22 Centre from Lazio), C. Hennie Daniller (Age 30 FB from Cheetahs), D. Mirco Bergamasco (Age 31 Wing/FB from Roviga), E. Michele Visentin (Age 22 wing from Calvisano)


Forwards Out:
Jack O’Connell (Prop), Leo Cullen (Lock), Quinn Roux (Lock-Loan), Conor Gilsenan (Flanker), Leo Auva’a (No.8 )
Forwards In:
A. James Treacy (Age 23 Hooker from Academy), B. Tadhg Furlong (Age 21 Prop from Academy), C. Sean McCarthy (Age 23 Prop from Jersey), D. Kane Douglas (Age 25 Lock from Waratahs), E. Jack Conan (No.8 from Academy),
Backs Out:
John Cooney (SH-Loan), B O’Driscoll (Centre), Andrew Goodman (Centre), Darren Hudson (Wing),
Backs In:
A. Luke McGrath (Age 21 SH from Academy), B. Collie O’Shea (Age 23 Centre from Academy), C. Ben Te’o (Age 27 Centre from South Sydney Rabbits), D. Sam Coghlan-Murray (Age 22 wing from Academy)


Forwards Out:
Niall Annett (Hooker), Tom Court (Prop), John Afoa (Prop), Adam Macklin (Prop), Paddy McAllister (Prop), Johann Muller (Lock), Stephen Ferris (6), Sean Doyle (Flanker),
Forwards In:
A. Ruaidhri Murphy (Age 27 Hooker from Brumbies), B. Wiehahn Herbst (Age 26 Prop from Sharks), C. Dave Ryan (Age 28 prop from Zebre), D. Franco Van der Merwe (Age 31 Lock/6 from Lions), E. Charlie Butterworth (Age 23 Flanker from Landsdowne), F. Sean Reidy (Age 25 6/8 from Counties – IQ), G. ??Rumour: Devin Montgomery (Age 24 Lock/6/8 from Wits-SA IQ)
Backs Out:
Ian Porter (SH), James McKinney (OH), Paddy Wallace (OH/Centre), Chris Farrell (Centre), Chris Cochrane (Wing), David McIlwaine (Fullback/Wing)
Backs In:
A. Ian Humphreys (Age 32 OH from London Irish), B. Louis Ludik (age 27 FB from Agen)


Forwards Out:
Quentin McDonald(Hooker), Ian Nagle (Lock), Niall Ronan (Flanker), James Coughlan (No.8 ),
Forwards In:
A. Martin Kelly (Age 24, Prop from Dublin University), B. Shane Buckley (Age 23 Flanker from Academy), C. Robin Copeland (Age 26 No.8 from Cardiff,
Backs Out:
Casey Lualua (Centre), James Downey (Centre),
Backs In:
A. Jonathon Holland (OH from Academy), B. Tyler Bleyendaal (Age 24 OH/Centre from Crusaders), C. Andrew Smith (Age 29 Centre from Brumbies)