These are your rugby headlines on Friday, April 19.
Welsh area goal seven new signings
Dragons boss Dai Flanagan has focused seven new signings forward of the 2024/25 season.
Flanagan has succeeded in retaining senior Wales internationals Aaron Wainwright, Rio Dyer and Taine Basham whereas he has additionally held onto a few of the greatest up and coming expertise within the nation. But the Dragons are determined to strengthen the squad with new signings regardless of the wage cap dropping to £4.5m.
“Ideally we’re seven new faces across the building, possibly, however ideally round 4 to seven can be nice,” stated Flanagan. “If you spend your money correctly in as we speak’s market you will get the fitting gamers.
“For us to attain higher outcomes and to be a greater place subsequent 12 months we’d like the fitting gamers. If we spend our money appropriately we will get the fitting gamers. I consider we have completed that and we’re nonetheless doing that.”
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Flanagan admitted the Dragons are a tough promote to any potential new recruit given their lack of success during the last decade. But he’s determined to alter the notion surrounding the area subsequent season.
“Try promoting a membership who’re repeatedly ending fourth out of the Welsh areas on the backside of the league when you’re making an attempt to recruit folks,” stated Flanagan. “It takes work, it takes power and it takes perception in what we are attempting to do. If I walk right into a room with a participant and attempt to promote him a product that I do not consider in they will see straight via it.
“We must align myself and the possession group over the place we’re. We’ve obtained a 3 stage plan and we have been very clear with each person we have met on which step-by-step we’re in and the place we at the moment are.”
Shingler joins fifth-tier facet
Welsh rugby stalwart Steven Shingler has signed for London Welsh within the fifth tier of English rugby.
Shingler, who represented Llanelli, the Scarlets, Cardiff and London Irish, is presently captain of Championship facet Ealing Trailfinders, however has dropped down the divisions to play for Welsh from subsequent season. He has labored because the membership’s attack coach since 2019 whereas representing Ealing.
The 32-year-old, who primarily performs at fly-half however may also play centre or full-back, is the younger brother of Wales worldwide Aaron Shingler. However, whereas he represented Wales U20 on 14 events and was known as as much as the senior squad for excursions to Japan and South Africa, he by no means received a senior Test cap for his nation.
London Welsh presently play within the Regional 1 South Central league, after the skilled group went into liquidation in 2017. They are presently third within the desk behind Camberley and Havant.
Announcing the signing on X, the membership wrote: “Croeso/ Welcome Steven Shingler. No introductions wanted right here: Shings steps away from his position as attack coach in an effort to signal for Welsh!
“The present Ealing Club Captain will be a part of up with the squad he is aware of & loves for pre season! Welcome (once more) Shings!”
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Scarlets to make Davies announcement
The Scarlets will likely be making an announcement quickly surrounding the way forward for Jonathan Davies.
At 36, Wales legend Davies is nearing the top of his profession and has just lately introduced a testimonial 12 months from June 2024 to May 2025 and Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has revealed the membership will announce the centre’s future plans quickly.
“In phrases of readability for Jon a testimonial is nicely deserved from his perspective,” stated Peel. “He’s been an impressive Scarlets and a British & Irish Lion.
“For Jon whether or not he is right here subsequent 12 months or not we might be actually happy with what he has achieved and what he is given this shirt. I want him all the perfect in his testimonial over the approaching season whether or not he’ll be with us or not. We’ll resolve over the following couple of weeks.”
One participant who has been linked with a transfer away from Llanelli is former All Blacks star Vaea Fifita. According to experiences the Scarlets can be ready to promote Fifita for the fitting supply however Peel was non-committal on the 31-year-old’s future.
“Vaea is underneath contract and that is the place we’re on the minute,” he stated. “Obviously there’s going to be curiosity in folks like Vaea Fifita as a result of he is an athletic six, eight, lock. So, there’s going to be curiosity from golf equipment, I get that.
“There was a number of discuss that Sam Lousi was going to depart the membership and that did not occur.”
Smith: It’s time to depart
Wales worldwide Nicky Smith says it is the fitting time for him to depart Ospreys.
The free head prop has signed a multi-year cope with Gallagher Premiership membership Leicester Tigers, and can be a part of up with the membership this summer season, forward of the 2024-25 season. With the United Rugby Championship reaching the ultimate levels, and Ospreys out of Europe, there are simply 5 video games left for Smith within the black jersey.
“It’s a wierd feeling,” defined Smith forward of Ospreys’ conflict in opposition to Stormers this weekend. “But I’m simply useless excited to get into the play-offs and finish on a excessive. This group of boys deserve some recognition. The greatest means to do this is to climb up via the play-offs and get some silverware.”
Smith was additionally requested what being an Ospreys participant has meant to him.
“Everything,” he stated. “Being a neighborhood boy, a Swansea boy, residing 10 minutes from the Liberty, it has meant completely every thing to me. It’s been an absolute honour to tug on the jersey. I’m simply seeking to end on a excessive.
“It was actually a troublesome resolution [to leave]. I feel the place I’m in my rugby profession, and extra importantly the place I’m in my household life, I feel it was the fitting time to check myself in a special league. I’m wanting ahead to it, however proper now I’m simply so eager to assist the boys as a lot as I can, no matter that position seems to be wish to get into these play-offs and push for silverware.”
Smith has 46 caps for Wales, which suggests he’ll nonetheless qualify to play worldwide rugby regardless of plying his commerce in England. Smith confirmed that this had crossed his thoughts, however the precedence of the swap is a contemporary problem.
“It’s everybody’s ambition to play for his or her nation, I’m no totally different,” he defined. “With that transfer it was purely considering – how can I take a look at myself in a special atmosphere? If worldwide honours come from it, then sensible. But the principle factor was (getting) a chance to have a look at myself and suppose – is that this the fitting alternative to essentially take a look at myself?
“Of course, worldwide honours can be nice. But it’s what it’s, you’ll be able to’t depend on that, we’ll simply have to attend and see.”
Ospreys are presently seventh within the URC desk and are hoping to seal a place within the play-offs. They face the Stormers on Saturday on the DHL Stadium in South Africa.
