Jenkins announces he is leaving the blues

First topic message reminder :

surprised no one has put this up on ere yet...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17110717

what sort of lineups will your region be putting out next season....ill give the dragons a go

15. Will Harries (thomas rumoured to be off to leicester
14. Poole
13. Hughes
12. Tuilagi/Smith
11. CHavhanga
10. Jones/Robling
9. Evans/Evans/Bedford
8. Faletau (thank god!)
7. Evans/Waters
6. Lydiate
5. Jones (?) Groves
4. Sidoli (?)
3. Buck
2. Jones BUckley Price
1. Williams

hardly star names there aside from the obvious two, and it the WRU announce they are cutting our funding i predict an empty rodney parade for most games

Toulon really don't contribute anything to French rugby. But the best clubs have always based their long term success on a home grown production line of talent. I don't think that will change.

For over a decade now the Irish have kept almost all their best players at home for their entire careers. And the Heineken Cup results speak for themselves. The Scottish lose loads of their best players to foreign teams. I don't think it's a major problem for the Welsh national side that they're somewhere in between those two extremes. There'll be minor quarrels with French clubs over player release. But as long as the regions keep producing the talent the test team will be OK.

However if the regions want success in their own right, they're going to have to follow the Irish example. Successful regions will bring in more cash, which can be used to provide better facilities and better coaches than they currently have. I think coaching mightn't be up to scratch at the regions. Just look how much more Gatland gets out of the players.

Yeah the backline's not so bad, but Foxy is much better than either Maule or Scott, so he'd be a pretty massive loss for us. Losing Iestyn in the front row would hurt us too I reckon.

But it's not as bad as it could be. losing Morgan would hurt, but we've got the likes of Murphy and Gilbert coming through that could provide cover there along with McCusker, so it isn't the worst thing

Think you might just be spot on there Feckless.

I have just been on the Ospreys web forum and they have a thread on Dr G Jones comments regarding I Evans. The fans believe as Dreamer stated above he has another year on his contract and it is believed Jones is s**t stiring as there is nothing coming out from the Ospreys rumor mill. I can't see the Os getting shot of such a key player.

I can't either alun. Wouldn't surprise me that Dr Gwyn has got his facts wrong either.

I don't get why the Welsh media always needs to be bad mouthing something; either team Wales, or when they are going well, the regions. Why can't they look at ways to help instead of just muttering about doom and gloom? Tis not helpful!

Feckless Rogue wrote:Toulon really don't contribute anything to French rugby. But the best clubs have always based their long term success on a home grown production line of talent. I don't think that will change.

For over a decade now the Irish have kept almost all their best players at home for their entire careers. And the Heineken Cup results speak for themselves. The Scottish lose loads of their best players to foreign teams. I don't think it's a major problem for the Welsh national side that they're somewhere in between those two extremes. There'll be minor quarrels with French clubs over player release. But as long as the regions keep producing the talent the test team will be OK.

However if the regions want success in their own right, they're going to have to follow the Irish example. Successful regions will bring in more cash, which can be used to provide better facilities and better coaches than they currently have. I think coaching mightn't be up to scratch at the regions. Just look how much more Gatland gets out of the players.

"4.2. The IRFU acknowledges the tax allowances made available by the State to Irish Professional Sports people domiciled in this country, whereby an athlete can reclaim 40% of the tax paid on his/her sporting income at the end of a 10 year period. This initiative has had a positive impact in assisting the IRFU retain players in this country."

This must equate to a big chunk of cash after 10 years. Perhaps this is why the Irish players stay put in Ireland?

http://www.irishrugby.ie/save/the_facts.php

Jesus. 40% of the their tax paid for 10 years. No wonder non of them want to bloody leave.

Coleman wrote:Jesus. 40% of the their tax paid for 10 years. No wonder non of them want to bloody leave.

Is that possibly why the ROI went bust as a country though?

""Who? I don't know much about Thomas, is he a specialist 15 or a utility player? There are rumours we were mulling over another winger but I can't see we'd need another full back unless he is either a secondary play maker or a real speed merchant.""

He's flying, if you're in need of a speed merchant then he's your man. If it wasn't for his injures I'm sure he would be capped. Possibly the Dragons best player this season. Still young at 23/24.


We (dragons) are looking weaker again next season. I honestly think we should tear up Danny n Toby's contracts n let them play for a top top side... Or invest and make us a top team!

""Who? I don't know much about Thomas, is he a specialist 15 or a utility player? There are rumours we were mulling over another winger but I can't see we'd need another full back unless he is either a secondary play maker or a real speed merchant.""

He's flying, if you're in need of a speed merchant then he's your man. If it wasn't for his injures I'm sure he would be capped. Possibly the Dragons best player this season. Still young at 23/24.


We (dragons) are looking weaker again next season. I honestly think we should tear up Danny n Toby's contracts n let them play for a top top side... Or invest and make us a top team!

hmmm... I wonder if a draft system would work with the regions.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Coleman wrote:Jesus. 40% of the their tax paid for 10 years. No wonder non of them want to bloody leave.

Is that possibly why the ROI went bust as a country though?

No. ROI went bust as a country because banks ran up huge gambling debts. And I mean huge. The Irish government stupidly said they'd guarantee any bank losses, without knowing how big they were. It turns out they were bigger than a small country like Ireland can deal with. But now the private bank debts are public debts. And we'll all be paying for them for a long time.

Nothing to do with a few artists, musicians and sports stars getting generous tax rebates. In fact, I'd say the success of provincial rugby is a boost to the economy.

This is like the late eighties early nineties all over again. Only (thank god) this time the national side should not suffer like the last time. This sort of exodus will hurt regional rugby in Wales and I hope it does not take whole generation to be competitive again. What I am worried about though, is if all the good players chase the coin at a young age. This will mean that we will have to fill up the gaps sooner with under developed substandard players who we all think are world beaters when playing each other, but as soon as they come up against any side outside of Wales will look like rabbits in the headlights. But on the bright side, for every Gethin Jenkings there is a Rhys Gill, for every Mike Phillips there is a Lloyd Williams, for very Lee Byrne there is a Halfpenny and so on. If rugby stays professional in Wales, then Wales will produce the players, of that I have no doubt, but it is of the utmost importance that we keep them here, if a region develops a player of international standard and he make the elite squad then they need to be centrally contracted or otherwise we will loose these players forever.

some good news at least coming from the Scarlets camp. Captain Matthew Rees calls for a show of unity and loyalty, stating he still wants to stay playing rugby in Wales, and calls for his felow Scarlet team mates to do the same:

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/13261.php


da iawn Smiler

Whilst its bad for the regions to lose their best players then from a National view point at least most seem to be heading to France.

The French clubs seem far more open to negotiations on player release than the English so their availability doesn't seem so much of an issue.

Plus like has been mentioned before with jenkins going then it opens the door for maybe Gill to come back or for a youngster to come through and boost the strength in depth pot etc.

every cloud hey bedford, we are lucky in Wales that we seem to be building some strength in depth up at the moment, I remember on scrum V when they had a whole show devoted to where are all the tightheads gone. Now we have Adam Jones, Craig Mitchell, Gardener, and that youngster at the Blues who's name escapes me. What I do not want is everybody going at once like what happened last time, and all we were left with were the players that the rugby league sides didn't want, I remember being to afraid to buy the Western mail as every day there was an article saying so and so were going north, and I will never forget that Jiffy interview outside the Arms Park as he was not allowed in there for turning his back on Welsh rugby union.

From Gethin's point of view he will not need to speak French as all the players at Toulon are imports from around the world.

LD,

yeah but least they are going to Union and will still be allowed to play unlike them days.

That said they could go to league these days and still theoretically be allowed to play.

Feckless Rogue wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Coleman wrote:Jesus. 40% of the their tax paid for 10 years. No wonder non of them want to bloody leave.

Is that possibly why the ROI went bust as a country though?

No. ROI went bust as a country because banks ran up huge gambling debts. And I mean huge. The Irish government stupidly said they'd guarantee any bank losses, without knowing how big they were. It turns out they were bigger than a small country like Ireland can deal with. But now the private bank debts are public debts. And we'll all be paying for them for a long time.

Nothing to do with a few artists, musicians and sports stars getting generous tax rebates. In fact, I'd say the success of provincial rugby is a boost to the economy.

Sorry to be honest that was a bit of a dull pst by me.

Feckless Rogue wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Coleman wrote:Jesus. 40% of the their tax paid for 10 years. No wonder non of them want to bloody leave.

Is that possibly why the ROI went bust as a country though?

No. ROI went bust as a country because banks ran up huge gambling debts. And I mean huge. The Irish government stupidly said they'd guarantee any bank losses, without knowing how big they were. It turns out they were bigger than a small country like Ireland can deal with. But now the private bank debts are public debts. And we'll all be paying for them for a long time.

Nothing to do with a few artists, musicians and sports stars getting generous tax rebates. In fact, I'd say the success of provincial rugby is a boost to the economy.

So you could say that a minority of already well paid people receive handsome bonuses funded by the tax payer.
It's the way of the world and we have a similar thing over here except it's pen pushers who benefit not rugby players.
I tend to agree with you Feckless; tax payers money well spent in my opinion.