Delve Released

Although I can't find anything on this I am sure I heard yesterday that Delve has been released from the Welsh Squad.

Has anyone any updates or did I mis-undertsand? If he has been then it really puzzles me as IMO he should be our starting No8 more worringly if he has is that Buggy Boy might be going to NZ.

He's been released to play for Melbourne Rebels v Bath


He could well still be in contention to play against los Pumas and be on plane to NZ though, fingers crossed

Where did you hear that? It's not good news if it's true.

Thanks Munkian,

It was mentioned briefly on BBC Wales last night but that all I seen. Can't see the logic in it for me sorry, playing against England on Saturday would have been far more beneficial.

I suppose we will have to wait until later today to see what it means for Saturdays game but I am guessing Jones at N08

I added a link to my reply, hes still in WC squad.

Toby to start , Jones on Bench I reckon.

Bedford, I'd like to see Toby get another start. Ryan Jones can always come on like he did at Twickenham.

I think I saw a report that in training Wales number 8 prospect Delve released Andy Powells head from a vice like grip and it just fell off! - Maybe you only got the Delve released part. Powell is apparently recuperating very well next to Humpty Dumpty in Morriston Hospital, Swansea. Powell however has been suffering with some severe Anticipatory Anxiety and Phobic Avoidance, which he is blaming on the rioting across the UK. I wish both egg heads well.

Munkian,

I still think that he would have been better off getting game time for Us on Saturday as opposed to his Club.

I really hope Gatland gives him fair crack of the whip next week.

LP,

I would love to see Toby get another start and if he does then great just hope Delve goes to NZ.

Obviously it's just a rumour at the moment, but what is it that Delve does in the Wales camp to make them leave him out all of the time?! Has he got tourettes or something?! Does he keep swearing at the coaches??? Sorry, shouldn't make those sort of jokes. But seriously, he's always one of the stand out players in the teams he plays for. Was very good from what I hear at Bath, but had a lot of injuries. Gloucester fans were bemused that he didn't have more international call ups and thought he was great. He was their captain (I think) so must be pretty good. Also, being a stand out player at 8 in a phsical league like the English prem must stand for something! Then, he goes to the Rebels and is a stand out player for them in probably the best rugby competition in the world! Something doesn't stack up. He can't be 'just a good club player' as Wales have plenty of those who are elevated to regular international rugby! He also seems like a very likeable bloke, so I can't see him being a divisive character like a certain Mr H so that confuses me even more.

Delve could have been a great player if he stayed at Bath.

Griff,

Some may have noticed that I have banged the Delve drum for years now.

Injury has always blighted his carear but as you say he was great at Bath and I have loads of shedheads and seen him fair few times at Kingsholm.

They cannot speak highly enough of him and sometimes carried Glouceser single handedly, for me he would be my No8 everytime.

On the flip side and after speaking to friends at Kingsholm he is certainly NOT a yes man and speaks his mind about how things could be changed etc etc.

As you say only a rumour but maybe the Welsh coaches involved during his time haven't liked that.

Hope I am wrong as he will be a huge assets to us in NZ if he goes, which he should.

It's a strange one, Griff. When he was at Gloucester, Robin McBryde said he was too far away for any of the Welsh coaching team to go and watch him play, which is ridiculous. It's clear that he's an excellent number eight so surely we have to take him to the World Cup.

Delve could have been the welsh captain for the past 5 years. It's a great point and one of those mysterys. My only suggestion is that it is down to the innefectual welsh management over the years. Ask yourself when we are not blessed with great 8's - what is aguy like Delve doing playing in Australia!! It beggars belief. He is intelligent, powerful and should have been around for a long time by now. Let me crystalize this with a comparison:

Delve welsh caps - Not Many
Popham welsh caps - Too Many

Out of site in Gloucester!!! England scour the globe and ours are out of sight in Gloucester

I could go on

RubyGuby, I know what you mean, but for me Popham is another case in point similar to Delve. OK, he may not be as good as Delve, but he went to france and became captain of his side and won player of the year for them if I'm not mistaken! Yet, not considered by the Welsh mamagement for a few years. You have to ask why he's in France too when some of the regions struggle at 8. However, I don't know the ins and outs so maybe he was offered regional contracts but truned them down? Powell on the other hand may be a good comparison!

My sister's good friends with Alix Popham's wife and I'm sure she said they're moving back to Wales.

Luckless, yes that's correct. It's because Popham has retired from rugby due to injury. No career now in France so moving home to find something else to do.

Ah, that's right.

Popham!! upset Gatland and that was the end of his international career. He was a useful impact player but not much more IMO - Yet look at his caps and international career next to a class act like Delve!!

Just seen the Welsh team, and we have Toby starting and we seem to have no number 8 cover at all. I just can't work out why the hell Delve isn't even on the bench. Seen on another thread that he is playing for Rebels this weekend, but seriously - WTF?!

What the hell is going on!?

Is it a contractual thing?

God knows. Who the fupp is covering 8 ? Turnbull ?

Is it a contractual thing?.

No the international selection window is open, would be against IRB rules to withold players.

munkian wrote:God knows. Who the fupp is covering 8 ? Turnbull ?

Guess Turnbull would go to flank and Warburton to 8 - but who the hell knows, neither is an 8 (don't think Turnbull is even up to this level as a flank).

MarcusHalberstram wrote:(don't think Turnbull is even up to this level as a flank).

munkian wrote:God knows. Who the fupp is covering 8 ? Turnbull ?

Tipuric I reckon, from the way the bench is lined up.

Delve has to start next week though, that I do agree.

It shows the benefit of having Ryan Jones on the bench as someone who can competently cover 6, 8 and second row.

The bench for Saturday has no cover for 2nd row at all and only makeshift cover for 8 and 6.

Delve has just been named on the bench for that Rebels game as well, surely a game for Wales would have been much more beneficial?

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/146053.html?addata=chromium

I wonder if the Welsh amagement will watch Delve as Bath is almost as far from Wales as Glaws, at least 45mins in a car!

May be Delve is simply not good enough, with Toby having a poor game last Sat, Ryan injured and not picking J Thomas or Powell then Delve is either not fit enough in Gatland's eyes or as stated not good enough (or both).

Not that fussed whether Delve makes the cut or not tbh. He's a player whose presence is usually undoubtedly a positive addition to any side, yet when he has had int'l opportunities he has failed to stand out and raise any serious questions. Though recently, contest for #8 is very nearly at its bleakest.

Meflanker wrote:Delve has just been named on the bench for that Rebels game as well, surely a game for Wales would have been much more beneficial?

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/146053.html?addata=chromium

So he's not even bloody playing. What is Gatland doing?

As for No8 cover I guess it would be Warburton if Toby got injured.

Ryan and Turnbull can both cover 8 and Warburton can. I think all 3 will go

Harsh on Delve not to even get some game time over the 3 matches, why call him up?