Lots to Report…

Lots to Report…
By Andrew Collins
February 26 2007

Phillips off, Nicky stays, Robinson linked to Sale and Spice arriving, what a bad week to choose to go skiing!

Firstly, I would like to extend apologies for the lack of updates over the last week, I was in Lapland skiing – at which I am a natural by the way – and was unable to write any stories.

 

And what a lot I missed! Probably best to start with the big news, that Mike Phillips is to leave the Cardiff Blues for our Welsh rivals, the Ospreys.

 

It comes as a massive hammer blow for Dai Young, who was delighted to secure the re-signing of Nick Robinson just days before. His signing meant the proposed switch of Ceri Sweeney to the Arms Park fell through, with the Dragons stand off penning a new deal at Rodney Parade days after Robinson announced news of his contract extension.

 

But going back to the Phillips news, the scrum half looks 99% set to leave for the Liberty Stadium on a deal worth £180,000 a year, for four years. This site broke news of Phillips’ bidding wars beginning before Christmas, with Leicester offering a similar amount, while Gloucester and Stade Francais were thought to be offering even more than Lynn Jones’ side.

 

As to who will replace the 24 year old Welsh international, Jason Spice looks like he has already signed for the region, softening the blow some considerable amount. However it would mean the addition of yet another Kiwi to Young’s squad, which takes up another one of the foreign player slots.

 

That could have a knock-on effect if Young were chasing other foreign players, as it’s unlikely they had planned to lose Phillips when arranging transfers for next season.

 

Gareth Cooper is out of contract at the Dragons, and would be an ideal replacement, but is thought to have already pledged his future to Gloucester.

 

Elsewhere, Ritchie Rees or Andy Williams could be brought back to Wales with the Blues, but neither have that cutting edge ability that make them first choice material.

 

Justin Marshall may think of trying his luck elsewhere with Phillips’ arrival, and would be a superb signing, but at the moment there are no signs that he will leave.

 

As for the Ospreys, they themselves are preparing to be raided in a similar fashion as we have been, with Sale expressing more than an interest in Gavin Henson. The centre is currently out of favour with Wales, and has been subject to poor form and contrasting reports of being fit and injured, leading to much speculation over his future.

 

He has fallen as meteorically, as he rose in 2005. Having been a key figure in Wales’ Grand Slam, winning the Celtic League with the Ospreys and touring with the Lions, he now finds himself out of the Welsh set up and in all sorts of bother.

 

He was targeted as an unsettling influence after the release of his controversial book, ‘My Grand Slam Year’, and was involved during the Ruddock Gate saga, to which the Welsh public still know very little about.

 

So he may well see a move away from Wales a good thing, and still being under contract would mean Sale would need to buy him out, a possible explanation as to where the Ospreys are getting all their finances from as they are also set to announce the signing of Ian Gough.

 

Sale are also interested in Jamie Robinson, who has featured in all 3 of Wales’ 6 Nations matches this year, scoring in this weekends loos to France.

 

He has been offered a deal with Cardiff, and hopefully will stay to continue his run in the Welsh squad. But Sale are a wealthy outfit, and normally acquire their transfer targets.

 

As for the other Welsh regions, The Scarlets have confirmed the signature of the Dragons Nathan Brew, and are interested in Jason Spice, but are unlikely to get him with Spice wanting first team rugby.

 

Chris Horseman is being linked with all 4 regions, though Cardiff are emerging as favourites as he is hopeful to join an all Welsh front row with Gethin Jenkins and Rhys Thomas.

 

And finally, Mark Taylor is in talks with the Dragons and the Ospreys.

 

Think that’s everything…