Fewer signings, but is the quality greater?
BY now the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Welsh rugby has been well documented.
But it is perhaps highlighted most clearly in the lack of transfer activity at the regions this year compared to how things usually are in normal circumstances.
The way the regions have behaved around recruitment is to adapt a cautious approach, and understandably so.
Few signings have been announced by the professional teams in Wales as the organisations look after money, with the majority of revenue streams having dried up as a result of the pandemic.
Players and staff are also still taking pay cuts to ease the financial burden, so teams would have taken the view that it would not look, or indeed feel, right to be splashing money on lots of new signings under such circumstances.
There is also the point that their budgets for next season have been largely unknown until now, with Welsh Rugby Union CEO Steve Phillips saying last week that they were now “reasonably comfortable with what they look like”.
It must also be pointed out that all the regions have been working tirelessly to tie down their star players on longer-term contracts. Retention has very much been a priority given the limited funds.
But, though they are few and far between, the signings which have been made by the regions are exciting ones.
Let’s take a closer look...
OSPREYS
Tomas Francis, Jac Morgan, Will Hickey: Francis had to come to Wales to ply his trade if he wanted to continue his career at Test level.
Ahead of the end of his current contract at Exeter, the tight-head is stranded three caps short of the 60 required to continue playing outside of Wales and remain eligible for selection.
The Ospreys have benefited and moved quickly to give Francis a home, adding to their already sizeable contingent of Welsh internationals.
Francis, who was part of Wales’s exceptional front row in the recent Six Nations success, will be a welcome addition at the Liberty Stadium.
Arguably, the most exciting transfer so far is that of Jac Morgan.
The home-grown Scarlets starlet from Brynaman is crossing the Loughor and joining the region’s closest rivals in the Ospreys next season.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow for fans in Llanelli, losing the Wales Under-20s captain who looks destined to have a long and illustrious career.
For the player, though, he is now going to be learning from Wales’s premier openside in Justin Tipuric and is
likely to get regular game time.
Young back-rower Hickey has signed having come through the academy at Leinster, with performance director Mike Ruddock using his contacts over the Irish Sea.
He looks to be one for the future but may turn out to be a shrewd move.
SCARLETS
Willgriff John: With fan favourite Werner Kruger retiring at the end of the season, John will arrive from Sale Sharks.
Having come through the Cardiff Blues academy, the tight-head went the long way around to make it in professional rugby.
He took in spells in the English championship and New Zealand before being picked up by Sale, where he made a mark in the Premiership.
His performances then caught the eye of the Wales management.
John was in line to earn his Wales debut against Scotland before it was postponed 24 hours before kick-off
last year. He is still waiting for that cap. He was, though, called up to Wales’s 2021 Six Nations squad to replace an injured Dillon Lewis.
His move home is likely motivated by his desire to pull on that red jersey at some point in the future.
Either way, the Scarlets have signed a mountain of a bloke and there is plenty of excitement to see what he can achieve there.
CARDIFF BLUES
Rhys Priestland: The former Wales international fly-half will be coming back to Welsh rugby next season after a long stint at Bath.
But he will be heading to Cardiff Arms Park and not all the way down the M4 and back to Llanelli.
Priestland is best remembered for his stunning form when he broke on to the international scene, particularly at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
He went on to earn 50 caps for Wales before ending his international career by crossing the Severn Bridge.
At the age of 34 he is still turning in impressive performances at Bath and is largely expected to have a huge influence when he arrives in the Welsh capital.
DRAGONS
Will Rowlands: The sizeable second row was a bit of a surprise call-up in the early days of the Wayne Pivac Wales regime but quickly established himself with an eye-catching performance against France in the 2020 Six Nations.
Due to the WRU’S 60-cap policy, Rowlands had to play his club rugby in Wales next season if he wanted to further his international career and the Dragons moved quickest.
It appears a shrewd signing for the region, who lost Cory Hill to the Cardiff Blues last term.
Rowlands has fallen slightly out of favour with Wales this year but plying his trade week in, week out at Rodney Parade may help rejuvenate his prospects.