Return of Davies boys gives Pro12 sparkle
Matthew Emery runs an analytical eye over the ins and outs of the new Pro 12 season
There are half a dozen or so stellar names joining the Pro 12 next season but there are a good number of top players heading for the exit door. Warren Gatland will be pleased to see the return of Wales centre Jonathan Davies to the Scarlets from Clermont Auvergne, and his namesake Bradley joining Cardiff Blues from Wasps. However, for the neutral, losing top players such as Taulupe Faletau and AJ McGinty to the Aviva Premiership is not good for business.
Cardiff Blues head coach Danny Wilson pulled off one of the coups of the summer by enticing Bristol fullback Matthew Morgan home to Wales. Used sparingly by Andy Robinson as the West Country side marched back into the Premiership, Morgan is desperate for a run of games to push his Wales selection. A silky, dangerous runner on the counter with bags of pace and a threat from anywhere.
New centre Willis Halaholo from the Hurricanes in New Zealand will add real class in midfield. Cardiff describe the Auckland-born man – who has also represented Southland in New Zealand – as a powerful and creative centre who will add even more attacking edge and depth to the squad. Halaholo will compete with Gavin Evans, Samoa international Rey Lee-Lo and Wales youngster Cory Allen. Other notable aditions include fly-half Steven Shingler from Scarlets, powerhouse No.8 Nick Williams from Ulster, and loosehead prop Rhys Gill returns to Wales after seven seasons with Premiership champions Saracens.
Champions Connacht will be hit hard by fly-half AJ McGinty’s departure to Sale but, in Marnitz Boshoff, Pat Lam has signed a quality playmaker who was an integral part of the Lions returning to Super Rugby and helped consolidate their place in it with a stellar 2014 season in Johannesburg.The departure of Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw to rivals Leinster will be harder to cover. Top prospect Cian Kelleher comes the other way from Leinster while Eoin Griffin arrives from London Irish. Kelleher, 21, is an established full-back, who can also play at centre, like Henshaw. Irish-qualified utility back Josh Rowland, 27, has been added to the squad. With a background playing club rugby in New Zealand for Tana Umaga’s Counties Manukau, plus time playing Sevens, Rowland certainly has the gas to trouble defences.
Edinburgh have extended the contract of Jason Tovey following the Welsh fly-half’s impressive loan spell from the Dragons. He will stay until May 2018 and will have competition for the No.10 jersey in the diminutive shape of Scotland stand-off Duncan Weir, who comes on board from rivals Glasgow. Alan Solomons has also snatched the Bryce brothers from Glasgow. Tighthead prop Kevin and wing/full-back Glenn have agreed to move to the capital and will cover the loss of former Harlequins prop John Andress to Munster and centre Matt Scott to Gloucester. Ulster wing Rory Scholes, 22, has also joined on a two-year deal looking for more opportunities. Tongan international back-row Viliami Fihaki has joined on a two-year contract from Sale.
Glasgow have signed Leonardo Sarto from Zebre to replace the departing Taqele Naiyaravoro after the Fijian activated a release clause in his contract to join the Waratahs in Super Rugby. Sarto has proven himself a clinical finisher who should relish playing outside a dangerous runner like Mark Bennett. Former Newcastle fly-half Rory Clegg should provide back-up to Finn Russell. Fiji international scrumhalf Nemia Kenatale has also joined to replace the retiring Mike Blair. Former All Black hooker Corey Flynn, 35, arrives from Toulouse on a two-year deal and will add serious clout to the front-row, but there is no replacing Fiji second-row star Leone Nakarawa, who has joined Top 14 champions, Racing 92 and will leave huge boots to fill.
Last year’s beaten finalists Leinster have been relatively quiet in the market, but all four of their signings are quality additions to the squad. Connacht’s hero last season, Robbie Henshaw, will line up in the midfield with mounting expectation that he can be the province’s new Brian O’Driscoll while also filling the void left by new Worcester Warrior Ben Te’o. Winger Niall Morris re-joins the side on a short-term deal from Leicester, second-row Ian Nagle from London Irish and All Black Maori scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, 25, from the Hurricanes in New Zealand. With international duo Isaac Boss and Eoin Reddan retired, Gibson-Park could have an influential role to play. An area of potential weakness could be fly-half, with Ian Madigan’s move to Bordeaux leaving them light on cover for Jonathan Sexton.
Munster have been ever quieter in the transfer market with centre Sam Arnold their best signing, from Ulster. The Ireland U20 star made his Guinness Pro12 debut as an 18-year-old against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in March 2015 and completed the season as Ulster Rugby's Academy Player of the Year. John Andress reinforces the front-row from Edinburgh and Darren O’Shea adds to the secondrow resources from Worcester. The most
pleasing thing for coach Anthony Foley is the retention of all the big name players with a handful released – some finding clubs in the English Championship. Arguably the biggest loss to the Pro12 for next season is Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau after his decision to quit Rodney Parade for the Rec in Bath. As yet, the Newport Gwent Dragons have not moved to replace their star man. Ed Jackson will need a huge season to try and emulate the Welsh star, while youngster James Benjamin, 22, will likely play a much bigger role. Cardiff Blues prop duo Craig Mitchell and Sam Hobbs bolster the pack, while Northampton centre Pat Howard and Sale fly-half Nick McLeod will add more class to the back line. While the return of Bradley Davies to the Principality after his stay at Wasps is big for Ospreys and Wales, the arrival of Kieron Fonotia from the Crusaders in New Zealkand promises to be their signing of the summer.The 28-year old, who can play centre or wing, has been a regular fixture in a star-studded Crusaders back line since making his Super Rugby debut at the start of the 2014 season. Wales tighthead Rhodri Jones joins Ospreys from Scarlets on a twoyear deal after seeing his dual-contract with the WRU come to an end after an injury-plagued 2015. He fills the hole left by Wales prop Aaron Jarvis after his shock deal to join French big-spenders Clermont Auvergne. Coming back the other way is Wales centre Wales centre Jonathan Davies, who returns to the Scarlets from Clermont Auvergne on a dual deal with the Welsh Rugby Union.
Davies left Scarlets to join Clermont Auvergne on a two-year contract before the 2014-15 season. Full-back Tom Williams has made his stay permanent having joined on a season loan from Cardiff Blues, while Rhys Patchell has also left the capital club in a bid to expand his game under the tuteledge of former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, now Scarlets backs coach. Up front former Springbok prop Werner Kruger replaces Ospreys-bound Rhodri Jones.
Amid a clutch of Italians from Mogliano, Rovigo and Viadana, Treviso have signed Scarlets flier Michael Tagicakibau and Italy fly-half Tommaso Allen from Perpignon. Marty Banks has also joined from the Highlanders to compete with Allen.
Leading the cavalry into Ulster is Wasps dangerman Charles Piutau. The New Zealander was one of the Premiership’s star backs last year and comes high on confidence.
Connacht prop Rodney Ah You is a quality signing up front, while Springbok Marcel Coatzee is one of the very best. Unfortunatley a knee injury sustained on duty for the Sharks will rule him out of the opening few months of the campaign. Former England U20 lock Kieran Treadwell is another shrewd signing. At 6ft 6ins and close to 19 stone,Treadwell could form a deadly long-term partnership with Iain Henderson in the second-row.
Zebre have signed New Zealand Sevens star Kurt Baker for next season to counter the loss of speedster Leonarado Sarto to Glasgow. And to ensure Baker has some ball to play with, the Italians have swooped for pack reinforcements in the formidable shape of Joshua Furno and Giovanbattista from Necastle, and Carlo Festuccia from Wasps.