England Based Welsh Players to Return

By Lestyn (27/04/03)
April 27 2003

Even more transfer news today, the main player's being linked with moves to the regional sides are those currently with clubs in England. Those rumoured to be returning are Gareth Cooper, Andy Lloyd, Tom Shanklin and Andy Williams.

As the Bath trio return home along with the Saracens based Shanklin, Darren Morris is likely to head in the opposite direction. The notoriously overweight prop could be off to play at Welford road with Leicester. Morris's move could be a good one for everyone concerned, the Tiger's could knock him into shape, something nobody in Wales has ever managed to do.

The players signing for Welsh regions would be a major boast, certainly adding to the depth of players the sides have. Gareth Cooper and Andy Williams currently at Bath are very likely to move to the Bridge-Ponty and Neath-Swansea region's respectively. Both teams really lack a quality scrum half with Paul John at Ponty and Andy Moore at Neath both coming towards the end of their careers. Cooper's a class scrum half as he showed during the Six Nations for Wales. Williams on the other hand isn't that well known, born in Swansea he had a good 2001/2002 season before getting injured, he's played sevens for Wales this year.

Another good Welsh player at Bath rumoured to be coming home, is Andy Lloyd who had a great tour with Wales to Japan in 2001. With a real shortage of decent number eight's Lloyd is a good signing for the Neath-Swansea region. Hopefully we'll look to sign another Bath based Welshman, Gareth Delve. Delve is one of the strongest and mobile Welsh forwards for a long time.

Tom Shanklin, one of our most consistent performers in the six nations could be filling the inside centre role at Cardiff next season. The London Welsh product could make a surprise move to the club that tried to sign him last summer. A Shanklin and Jamie Robinson centre partnership would certainly be something to behold.