Movers and shakers... All the deals so far as PRO14 teams build for new term
THE Guinness PRO14 is coming to an end with teams already looking forward to next season.
Recruitment has been taking place for a number of months with, on the Welsh front, there being a big turnover of players at the Ospreys and Dragons.
Cardiff Blues have been inactive in the transfer market while top region Scarlets have replaced big-name departures John Barclay, Tadhg Beirne and Scott Williams with like for like players.
Here’s all the transfer news...
Benetton
MARQUEE signing Marty Banks is leaving after just a year with the Italian franchise for Japanese club NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Former Highlanders back Banks failed to establish himself at the Treviso-based outfit and has been allowed to leave.
Fiery Italy back-row or lock forward Francesco Minto has surprisingly been released as Benetton look to build on an improved and successful campaign which saw them win 11 out of their 21 fixtures in this season’s PRO14.
Just one player has been recruited so far by Benetton’s coach Kieran Crowley, the former New Zealand fullback, with Marco Zanon being brought in from Italian club Mogliano.
Ins: Marco Zanon. Outs: Marty Banks, Whetu Douglas, Francesco Minto, Michael Tagicakibau, Matteo Zanusso. Cardiff Blues
COACH Danny Wilson is heading to English club Wasps to link up with Dai Young but it’s been quiet so far on the transfer front at the Arms Park.
Chief executive Richard Holland has concentrated on giving fresh deals to players who were coming out of contract.
There’s only been two departures with Wales international wing Alex Cuthbert joining Aviva Premiership big guns Exeter Chiefs and lock Damien Welch stepping down a level to join part-timers Cross Keys in Wales’ Principality Premiership.
Popular veteran prop Tau Filise has retired after years of sterling service.
Ins: None. Outs: Alex Cuthbert, Damien Welch, Tau Filise. Cheetahs
THE South African entity did well in their inaugural season in the PRO14, finishing third in Conference A to reach the title play-offs.
But they went out during a heavy drubbing at the Scarlets and have had some of their best players picked off by European rivals.
Most of their recruits for next season have come from feeder team Free State Cheetahs.
Ins: Dian Badenhorst, Aidon Davis, Louis Fouche, Lloyd Greef, Sibabalo Qoma, Clinton Swart, Boan Venter, Henco Venter. Francois Venter, Johan Goosen, Uzair Cassiem, Clayton Blommetjies, Tom Botha, Reniel Hugo, Niel Marais, Clinton Swart, Henco Venter, Carl Wegner.
Outs: Connacht
IT’S been downhill for the Irish province since they were shock champions two seasons ago.
And there’s a high turnover for next season with club captain John Muldoon having retired.
The back-rower has been an inspirational figure and will be missed in the west of Ireland.
Flanker Jake Heenan joins former coach Pat Lam at Bristol while Pita Ahki has joined Toulouse.
Former Cardiff Blues favourite Robin Copeland has signed for Connacht from Munster while exciting Australia centre cap Kyle Godwin is an interesting addition.
Ins: Peter Claffey, Cillian Gallagher, Conan O’Donnell, Robin Copeland, Kyle Godwin, David Horwitz, Joe Maksymiw, Jonny Murphy. Jake Heenan, John Muldoon, Pita Ahki, Andrew Deegan, Cormac Brennan, Denis Coulson, Steve Crosbie, Naulia Dawai, Stacey Ili, Pat O’Toole, JP Cooney, Andrew Browne.
Outs: Dragons
WHERE do you start with the Gwent region?
There’s a massive turnover of players with 14 new faces coming in and 19 players having been released.
Coach Bernard Jackman, the former Ireland hooker, will be under severe pressure to produce better results after a horrible first season in charge which brought only two wins in 21 attempts in the PRO14.
His big-name recruits are Lions and Wales forwards Ross Moriarty and Richard Hibbard, while scrum-half Rhodri Williams could be a major plus.
Wales prop caps Ryan Bevington and Aaron Jarvis have also been recruited but only time will tell whether they can shore up Dragons’ scrum.
They have also signed Samoa lock or back-row forward Brandon Nansen from French Top 14 club Stade Francais Paris.
Talented outside-half Angus O’Brien has joined the Scarlets after being deemed surplus to requirement while dangerous scrum-half Sarel Pretorius has returned to his native South Africa to join Southern Kings after surprisingly being used as a bit-part player by Jackman.
Ins: Ross Moriarty, Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington, Aaron Jarvis, Jordan Williams, Rhodri Williams, Rhodri Davies, Josh Lewis, Huw Taylor, Dafydd Howells, Tian Loots, Jacob Botica, Rhys Lawrence, Brandon Nansen. Angus O’Brien, Sarel Pretorius, Charlie Davies, Phil Price, Luke Garrett, Adam Hughes, Scott Andrews, Pat Howard, Carl Meyer, Sam Beard, Barney Nightingale, Rhys Buckley, Sam Hobbs, Keagan
Outs:
Bale, Liam Belcher, Thomas Davies, Ashley Sweet, Lloyd Lewis, Robson Blake.
Edinburgh
FORMER Leicester Tigers coach and ex-England hooker Richard Cockerill is a shrewd operator who takes no nonsense and demands high standards.
He performed wonders during his first season in charge with Edinburgh and Glasgow topping the win count in the regular PRO14 campaign with 15 apiece.
But it hasn’t prevented him from making a major clear-out of his squad with Dragons’ record points-scorer Jason Tovey leaving for Cross Keys.
Scotland No.10 cap Duncan Weir and back-rower Cornell du Preez have joined English club Worcester Warriors while flanker John Hardie was among others not to be offered a new deal.
Cockerill has only brought in seven players but made a huge signing in talisman Scotland captain John Barclay from the Scarlets and a dangerous outside-half in former Blues Super Rugby pivot Simon Hickey from Bordeaux-Begles.
Ins: John Barclay, Simon Hickey, Matt Scott, Juan Pablo Socino, David Cherry, Pietro Ceccarelli, Pierre Schoeman. Cornell du Preez, John Hardie, Sam Hidaglo-Clyne, Duncan Weir. Robbie Fruean, Jason Tovey, George Turner, Jordan Lay, Neil Cochrane, Junior Rasolea, Elliot Millar-Mills, Glenn Bryce, Phil Burleigh, Kevin Bryce, Jason Harries, Matt Shields, Tom Galbraith.
Outs:
Glasgow Warriors
NEW Zealander Dave Rennie, who led the Chiefs to two Super Rugby titles and is a serious contender to succeed Warren Gatland as Wales coach, guided Glasgow to top sport in the league section of the PRO14.
But they were comprehensively beaten by defending champions Scarlets in the title play-off semifinals.
Rennie has been quiet in the transfer market for next season, only bringing in George Turner from rivals Edinburgh.
Ins: George Turner. Outs: Finn Russell, Ryan Grant, Richie Vernon, Leonardo Sarto, Pat MacArthur. Leinster
THE crack Irish province joined Toulouse as the most successful club or province in the history of the European Cup by beating French outfit Racing 92 in this season’s final.
That took their haul to four and their success, plus the number of quality young players coming through from their academy, means it’s not a total surprise they haven’t made any new signings.
They will miss popular captain Isa Nacewa, who is retiring, while Lions and Ireland No.8 great Jamie Heaslip was forced to give up without playing a game this season because of a back injury.
Back-row forward Jordi Murphy has signed for Ulster.
Ins: None. Outs: Jamie Heaslip, Isa Nacewa, Richardt Strauss, Jordi Murphy, Cathal Marsh, Peadar Timmins, Oisin Heffernan. Munster
THEY have arguably made the best signing of the lot in the shape of Tadhg Beirne.
The lock or back-row forward has been enticed back to Ireland to pursue his dream of being capped.
Sale Sharks’ full-back Mike Haley has been brought in to replace