Powell Re-Signs
Powell Re-Signs
By Andrew Collins
November 25 2008
New Wales superstar, Andy Powell, has become the first player of the season to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Cardiff Blues. Numerous big name sides came in for the number 8, but it now seems clear that Powell will be staying in Wales, with the Blues.
It's believed that Powell, who signed from the Scarlets three years ago, has signed for a further three seasons, ensuring the Capitol region have the player through his peak.
The contract is said to be worth near 450,000, making him one of the clubs top earners, however it wasn't the biggest offer Powell had received. English giants Sale, Heineken opponents Gloucester and Anglo-Welsh opponents Northampton were all said to be interested in the Welsh 3 cap flanker, with the latter offering the biggest deal.
With Warren Gatland reiterating his desire to keep players in the Principality this week, the Blues look set to complete two pieces of business thanks to Wales' adopted Kiwi coach. Wales nearly lost scrum half Garth Cooper for the Australia match as his club, Gloucester, weren't prepared to release him for the test, much to the players frustration. Cardiff are set to snap up the unsettled scrum half, and it's believed Powell has stayed for the same reason that Cooper will arrive, improving their international chances.
The Blues are chasing some big name targets, and will also be desperate to keep hold of Maama Molitika and other's who are out of contract come the end of the year, ahead of the move to the City of Cardiff Stadium. Peter Thomas and Dai Young are expected to name one or two big names this summer, as they look to raid an assault on the Heineken Cup in their first season at the new stadium.
Powell is a good ball carrier, but if those figures are correct, then Welsh rugby is still in cloud cuckoo land.
Blues fan lost in Limerick!
Quote:mackumblues
Does the size of the contract indicate that Xavier Rush is on his way out. We wouldn't pay that much for a reserve.
Considering we re-signed Rush in February of this year, it would be shocking business to now try and offload him.
Quote:Alfie 101
More like Rush to go 6 and Molitika to be kept as reserve
Again that would be shambolic managment. Rush is an 8, the best 8 at the club. Molitika is a 6, the best 6 at the club by a massive margin. Powell would be a fantastic impact player from the bench, he has the ability to lift the entire side. On the other hand his game is too loose to be first choice (when Rush is in the sqaud), as much as he has improved he still doesn't do enough work in rucks and mauls and spends too much time on the wing.
Suspect he was getting similar, if not, better offers over from the bridge.
Just hope he stays injury free.
Need to have very strong squad, to allow rotation and keeping players fresh.
Weaknesses in the squad still tight-head, scrum half and outside half.
Sweeney has helped to raise Nicky's game, but still would like to see a better back-up ten.
Would should be aiming for a better quality tight-head than Gary Powell - difficult to name one that may be available though.
Spice is going, so room at scrum-half.