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Wales Online
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The Welsh rugby signings already announced and what you can expect over the coming months
The Welsh rugby signings already announced and what you can expect over the coming months There has been a lot of business done in Welsh rugby this season New Ospreys signing Ryan Smith (Image: Getty Images ) This season has not come to a close just yet with the Scarlets facing Leinster in a United Rugby Championship quarter-final in Dublin on Saturday, but all four Welsh clubs have been busy recruiting ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. There have been some eye-catching new signings to date with some yet to be announced but are in the pipeline. Of course, every club will also have their fair share of departures too but things are slowly falling into place ahead of the 2025/26 season. Take a look at all the business which has been done so far and what to expect over the next couple of months. Cardiff Rugby It will be a new era at the Arms Park next season with Cardiff now under the ownership of the Welsh Rugby Union. Thus far Matt Sherratt has added three new signings to his squad with Wales international Ioan Lloyd joining from the Scarlets. Lloyd is a talented footballer who can cover outside-half, centre and full-back, while he is also an outstanding goal kicker. But the 24-year-old has been primarily signed as a 10 and will compete with Callum Sheedy and rising Wales U20s star Harri Wilde. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Taine Basham is a signing worth getting excited about and the 25-year-old is a key recruit with Thomas Young heading to the Dragons. A few years ago Basham was viewed as one of the brightest backrow prospects in the UK after a series of outstanding performances for Wales but he has fallen down the pecking order since. He will hope a move to Cardiff can reinvigorate his career, while Sherratt will also be excited at the potential of Wales U20s lock Tom Cottle, who joins from RGC. They are also set to bring on board George Nott from the Dragons while Sherratt is also looking for a centre and a lock. New signings: Ioan Lloyd (Cardiff), Taine Basham (Cardiff), Tom Cottle (RGC), George Nott (Dragons) Departures: Rhys Litterick (Edinburgh), Efan Daniel (Ospreys), Seb Davies (Dragons), Thomas Young (Dragons), Gwylim Bradley, Tinus de Beer (Cardiff), Rey Lee-Lo (retired), Regan Grace, Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers). Dragons RFC The Dragons have been by far the busiest Welsh club when it comes to recruitment ahead of the 2025/26 season. So far Filo Tiatia has added 11 new players to his squad as the Dragons look to bounce back from what has been a dreadful season for all involved with just one URC victory to their name. Last season's recruitment was a disaster and likely played a part in the club parting ways with former head coach Dai Flanagan. Tiatia has strengthened his pack with some key signings which include experienced Wales props Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis, with South African prop Robert Hunt from the Cheetahs also coming on board. Giant Welsh-qualified lock Levi Douglas joins from Biarritz along with Seb Davies from Welsh rivals Cardiff, while backrower Thomas Young is also joining. They have also moved to bring in South African outside-half Tinus de Beer from Cardiff and Moana Pasifika centre Fine Inisi. Crucially the Dragons also have an eye on the future with Wales U20s captain Harry Beddall along with Wales U19s front-rowers Codi Purnell and James Talamai returning from England, joining the club's senior academy. This season has been a car crash on the field but off it the Dragons are well-placed to kick on given they have the strongest balance sheet of all Wales' professional clubs and the fact they have signed the new Professional Rugby Agreement. WalesOnline understands their recruitment is not over yet with a centre and a backrower in their sights. On the other side of the coin there are 14 leavers, with Wales backrower Basham's move to Cardiff a big blow. New signings: Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers), Fine Inisi (Moana Pasifika), Wyn Jones (Harlequins), Dillon Lewis (Harlequins), Levi Douglas (Biarritz), Robert Hunt (Cheetahs), Seb Davies (Cardiff), Tinus de Beer (Cardiff), Thomas Young (Cardiff), Codi Purnell (Bath), James Talamai (Saracens). Departures: Scott Williams, Nathan Evans, Lloyd Lewis, Dmitri Arhip, Taine Basham (Cardiff), Dane Blacker (Scarlets), Joe Davies, Lloyd Evans, Ashton Hewitt, Paula Latu, Dan Lydiate (retired), George Nott (Cardiff), Will Reed (Worcester), Josh Reynolds, Josh Thomas, Jordan Williams, George Young. Ospreys The Ospreys haven't been as busy as the Dragons but Mark Jones has been working hard to strengthen the squad ahead of next season. There are two big signings with Queensland Reds second-row and Wallabies squad member Ryan Smith coming on board. Smith has been signed to replace experienced Wales and British & Irish Lions second-row Adam Beard who is joining French big spenders Montpellier next season. The 28-year-old is a high-quality signing and has been outstanding for the Reds this season in Super Rugby Pacific. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free Smith is the Reds captain, so his leadership qualities are not in question, while he is an athletic forward who is comfortable in the wide channels and doesn't shirk physical confrontations. The Ospreys have also done a deal to bring experienced Wales backrower Ross Moriarty back to the country from Brive. Moriarty is a no-nonsense backrower who will add a huge amount of physicality to the Ospreys pack. WalesOnline understands the Ospreys are close to signing young hooker Efan Daniel from Cardiff. New signings: Ross Moriarty (Brive), Ryan Smith (Queensland Reds) Unconfirmed: Efan Daniel (Cardiff) Departures: Justin Tipuric (retiring but joining the backroom team as defence coach), Adam Beard (Montpellier), Tristan Davies, Owen Williams (Nice). Scarlets The Scarlets have made four key signings ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Veteran scrum-half Gareth Davies has been outstanding this season but at 34 he is at the tail end of his career and the Scarlets needed to add some depth in that area. As a result Dane Blacker returns to Parc y Scarlets from the Dragons. Blacker was a member of the Wales squad the last time he was at the Scarlets but his move to the Dragons did not work out well, so Dwayne Peel will be hoping he can regain his best form. Former Wales second-row Jake Ball was a cult hero during a hugely successful nine-year stint at the Scarlets before leaving to join Japanese club Green Rockets. Ball initially retired but has done a U-turn and re-joined the Scarlets where he will be a key figure next season, especially after Alex Craig's departure to Glasgow Warriors. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Article continues below The Scarlets have also lost the services of Ioan Lloyd to Cardiff but have succeeded in bringing talented Wales international Joe Hawkins back from Exeter Chiefs. New signings: Dane Blacker (Dragons), Ioan Jones (Gloucester), Jake Ball, Joe Hawkins (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (coach - Bridgend) Departures: Shaun Evans, Alex Craig (Gloucester), Morgan Jones, Efan Jones, Ioan Lloyd (Cardiff), Steff Evans, Edd Scragg, Charlie Titcombe (Leicester Tigers), Carwyn Tuipulotu (Pau).
Sydney Morning Herald
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NRL 2025 LIVE: Cowboys v Tigers, Sea Eagles v Broncos
Go to latest Pinned post from 4.50pm Who wins in Townsville tonight? 5.06pm Tigers team list: Mason to partner Luai in the halves Benji Marshall's team are 1-17 from the one named on Tuesday. Here is how they line up. 1. Jahream Bula, 2. Sunia Turuva, 3. Adam Doueihi, 4. Starford Toa, 5. Charlie Staines, 6. Heath Mason, 7. Jarome Luai (c), 8. Terrell May, 9. Apisai Korisau, 10. Royce Hunt, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Alex Seyfarth, 13. Alex Twal, 14. Brent Naden, 15. Jack Bird, 16. Sione Fainua, 17. Tony Sukkar Moments before kick-off, in a bid to rev up the faithful and celebrate St George Illawarra's invitation to Vegas, an Elvis impersonator did his thing. When Elvis left the building, the real 'King' strutted onto Nestrata Jubilee Stadium. Clint Gutherson may only be 11 games into his Dragons stint, but already he has given the Red V a slew of hits and memories. Against a form fullback – Fletcher Sharpe again deputised for Kalyn Ponga, whose ankle pulled up sore after State of Origin – Gutherson again left his mark. The former Parramatta captain scored a try and led from the front as the Red V climbed into sixth spot on the ladder with a 20-6 win over Newcastle.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Health
- News.com.au
‘It's ridiculous': Newcastle coach erupts over NRL stitch up
Knights coach Adam O'Brien has launched a stinging tirade at the NRL over the draw after he was forced to rest skipper Kalyn Ponga from his side's 20-6 loss to the Dragons. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > The Knights are 14th on the ladder, but O'Brien refused to use his captain for what would have been three games over an eight day period, including next week and Origin I. 'He was doing everything he could and I took the decision away from him because it is the right thing to do,' O'Brien said. 'I know Val (Holmes) backed up, but he is a centre and Kalyn had a pretty rough 10 days up there while he was trying to get that ankle right and it is the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. 'Two days is not enough. He is disappointed and angry with me but we have got to protect him. 'Look in this battle we lost to the scheduling and the draw. Someone has got to play Friday okay we get that. 'But then they hit us next Thursday as well. Hit us again, so it would have been three games in eight days. 'That's not looking after our players, so I had to look after him.' O'Brien confirmed Ponga's ankle injury won't stop him playing next week, but took aim at the draw for not looking after player welfare. 'He will play Thursday,' O'Brien said. 'I always knew that once the draw came out we would cop the Friday after Origin, but it would have been good if someone said, give them the Saturday or the Sunday the following week. 'But whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is. 'You have got teams like Canberra who haven't had a bye yet and then you have got teams who haven't left home in seven games in a row. Like it's ridiculous. 'But the draw didn't have anything to do with the way we played tonight.' O'Brien felt discipline cost his side of competing with a bigger and more experienced Dragons side in his eyes. 'We had much more discipline last week,' O'Brien said. 'We made it really hard on ourselves in the first half. When you come here and you are giving away some experience and certainly size, you can't afford to triple whammy that by giving them easy possession. 'We certainly were our own worst enemy with nine penalties at half time. We just can't afford to do it.' The Dragons, meanwhile, have momentarily shot back into the top eight. The 18-0 half-time score would've felt like a recurring nightmare for O'Brien, having now been held scoreless in the opening 40 minutes seven times in just 12 games this year. Following a stack of poor defensive efforts in the opening half, you couldn't blame O'Brien for blowing up after his side gave up a 70m line break to debutant and two-time Olympian Nathan Lawson in the first minute of the second stanza. While the break wouldn't bare points, the burst just sucked the energy straight from the red-and-blue outfit. The Red V did a number on last week's star duo in Fletcher Sharpe and Dylan Lucas, the pair hardly sighted in attack as their halves Tyson Gamble and Jack Cogger tried steering the ship. A penalty goal midway through the second stanza stretched the lead to 20 points, and put the final nail in any chance that Newcastle had of clawing their way back into the contest. A flick pass from a drifting Leo Thompson found Kai Pearce-Paul for his second NRL try, finally getting the Knights onto the score board with under 15 minutes left on the clock. The Englishman's four-pointer would signal the third time this season that Newcastle have scored their first points of the game in the final 12 minutes of play, and the seventh time they've scored 12 or less points in a game. Rookie winger Fletcher Hunt was denied his maiden first-grade try after bobbling the ball into Tyrell Sloan, however the mullet-clad youngster's efforts didn't stop all game. It leaves Newcastle to face Manly next Thursday night, as the Sea Eagles desperately cling on to the bottom of the top eight, and the Knights linger on just two wins from their last ten outings.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The King delivers as Dragons' new faces step up against clunky Knights
Moments before kick-off, in a bid to rev up the faithful and celebrate St George Illawarra's invitation to Vegas, an Elvis impersonator did his thing. When Elvis left the building, the real 'King' strutted onto Nestrata Jubilee Stadium. Clint Gutherson may only be 11 games into his Dragons stint, but already he has given the Red V a slew of hits and memories. Against a form fullback – Fletcher Sharpe again deputised for Kalyn Ponga, whose ankle pulled up sore after State of Origin – Gutherson again left his mark. The former Parramatta captain scored a try and led from the front as the Red V climbed into sixth spot on the ladder with a 20-6 win over Newcastle. 'He has been fantastic all year with his leadership and encouragement, he's been great,' said Dragons coach Shane Flanagan. There were many other contributors. Damien Cook, another veteran with a point to prove, showed all his wile and deception with a hand in the first three tries. Jaydn Su'A scored a try but came off with a syndesmosis injury that effectively ended hopes of a call-up for Origin II. The new faces also played their part. Nathan Lawson, whose background consists of rugby sevens and an Olympic Games, looked at home on debut. The winger ran hard and finished as one of the game's top metre-eaters. Then there's Loko Pasifiki Tonga, a 123kg giant just shy of two metres. When he stormed towards the tryline from close range, only one outcome was possible. Another 'King', Lyhkan King-Togia, has also shown early promise in the halves. Not that they were up against much. Newcastle scored a solitary try and otherwise never looked likely. The two forwards who combined for that rare highlight, Leo Thompson and Kai Pearce-Paul, are heading for the exit out. Just over a week ago, coach Adam O'Brien said he had the full support of the board. What he really needs is the support of his players. They appear to suffer from a lack of imagination with the football; it's hard to believe this was the same side that blew the premiers off Carrington Park in the opening half last week. 'In this battle, we lost to the scheduling and the draw,' O'Brien said of his decision to rest Ponga. 'Someone has to play Friday night, I get that, but then they give us next Thursday as well. 'It would have been three games in eight days. That's not looking after our players. I had to step in and look after them … Whoever does the draw hasn't lived it or doesn't care. I don't know which one it is … it's ridiculous.' This is a side that can't wait until next year for Dylan Brown. With the June 30 transfer deadline approaching, the decks need to be shuffled to accommodate him early. yesterday 9.57pm Full-time stats snapshot: Red V on top across the board yesterday 9.49pm Dragons have learnt their lessons, Knights need Brown ASAP yesterday 9.48pm Full-time: Dragons too good for Ponga-less Newcastle And that ends a match that was pretty much decided some time ago, the Dragons earning a comfortable 20-6 win over a Newcastle side that once again looks like a genuine wooden spoon contender – despite last week's win over Penrith. The win pushes St George Illawarra up to sixth place on the NRL ladder for now, an excellent result at the halfway point of the season. yesterday 9.45pm Holmes lets try slip through his grasp Lovely stuff here from the Dragons, Kyle Flanagan jabbing in a well-weighted grubber for a fast-chasing Valentine Holmes. But replays show Holmes spilled the ball before grounding it, and the try is disallowed. They've left plenty of points on the table tonight but are still going to win this one easily. With the game gone the Knights are finally throwing the ball around a bit here, reaching the Dragons' 10-metre line on the last tackle, but that last tackle play ends with a half-hearted Dylan Lucas grubber straight into the legs of a St George Illawarra defender. Kind of sums up their night really. Dragons 20, Knights 6 with two minutes left yesterday 9.36pm Newcastle score at last through Kai Pearce-Paul We have a Knights try! The visitors break their scoring drought through an unlikely combination, with front-rower Leo Thompson making a weaving run across field to the right, then going to the line and flicking a pass away for second-rower Kai Pearce-Paul to crash over. It's almost certainly too little too late for Newcastle, but at least they have something on the board. Dragons 20, Knights 6 with 10 minutes left yesterday 9.32pm Red V come up just short, twice Toby Couchman, back from injury and a late inclusion in the starting side for the Dragons tonight, goes oh-so-close to crashing over for the Dragons' fourth try of the evening but it stopped by a strong try-saving tackle from Mat Croker. The hosts then force a dropout, and get a scrum feed when Newcastle's Fletcher Hunt tries to regain Fletcher Sharpe's kick but puts it down. The Dragons go oh-so-close again when a backline shift to the right ends with a diving Tyrell Sloan dropping the ball over the line. It's been that kind of night. We've had a string of cracking Friday night footy games of late, but this hasn't been one of them. yesterday 9.27pm Holmes kicks Dragons more than three converted tries clear And that might just about do it. An offside penalty against Jayden Brailey – he was out of play in front of a Newcastle play-the-ball, then came back and received an offload – gives St George Illawarra a penalty right in front of the goal-posts and Valentine Holmes slots over the goal for another two points. If scoring three tries looked unlikely for this Knights outfit, scoring four times looks impossible. Dragons 20, Knights 0 with 17 minutes left yesterday 9.24pm Holmes bone-cruncher ends Knights' attacking raid Now the Knights are starting to make an impact in attack at last. James Schiller makes a break down the right and throws a pass back inside for Dane Gagai, who is grabbed a little early by a Dragons chase. Penalty Knights. Can they do something this set? Nope. Valentine Holmes produces a crunching tackle on Jack Cogger, popping the ball loose, and it's a turnover. yesterday 9.22pm Where did last week's attacking Knights go?
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Atrocious': Kalyn Ponga disaster adds to calls for NRL competition to be suspended
Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien has let rip at the NRL scheduling after withdrawing superstar fullback Kalyn Ponga from their 20-6 loss to the Dragons after playing State of Origin only two days ago. Ponga played 80 minutes for the Maroons on Wednesday night as they went down to NSW in a gruelling State of Origin Game 1. However, Ponga was keen to back-up for the struggling Knights who only managed their fourth win of the season last week against a depleted Penrith Panthers outfit who were also decimated due to Origin. Except O'Brien said he made the decision to withdraw the fullback from the game for his own good. The fullback has been battling an ankle injury and didn't train for the first few days during Queensland camp, but appears in no doubt for next Thursday's home game against Manly. But the Knights now sit in a perilous position in 14th with just four wins from 12 games. And O'Brien joined in on the chorus having slammed the NRL draw for handing Ponga the prospect of playing three games in 10 days. "In this battle we lost to the scheduling and the draw," O'Brien said in his post-match press conference. "Someone has got to play Friday … we get that but then they hit us next Thursday as well so it would have been three games in eight days (for Ponga). I always knew that once the draw came out we would cop the Friday after Origin, but it would have been good if someone said, give them the Saturday or the Sunday the following week. "But whoever does the draws either hasn't lived it or doesn't care, so I don't know which one it is. You have got teams like Canberra who haven't had a bye yet and then you have got teams who haven't left home in seven games in a row. It's ridiculous." O'Brien admitted Ponga was 'angry' at him with the fullback keen to back-up for his club after he wasn't able to lift his state to a win on Wednesday. 'He was doing everything he could and I took the decision away from him because it is the right thing to do,' O'Brien said. 'I know Val (Holmes) backed up, but he is a centre and Kalyn had a pretty rough 10 days up there while he was trying to get that ankle right and it is the type of injury that takes a few days to settle down. Two days is not enough. He is disappointed and angry with me but we have got to protect him." While O'Brien claimed it was the ill-discipline that cost his team in the 20-6 loss to the Dragons, fans were not buying it. The Knights last week defeated the Panthers 25-6 with the reigning champions missing five players to Origin. Only Ponga played Origin for the Knights and his absence doesn't paper over the cracks with the club once again failing to ignite in attack. While fans took aim at O'Brien for what appeared to be another excuse for his team's failings, others were sympathetic having claimed the NRL draw needs a revamp. Many agreed no club should be forced to decide whether a star player should back up from Origin only two days later. For the record: we think Mr O'Brien has a point BUT most clubs and superstar players have played in shorter turnarounds. So he should butt out. — The League Scene (@LeagueScenePod) May 30, 2025 If DCE plays this weekend then he will be playing 3 in 8 aswell. Val Holmes, storm and cowboys play next Friday so they are going to be 3 in 9 days. — Maj (@majdenno) May 30, 2025 I mean, he's not wrong, a 4 year old could come up with a better draw than we've seen this year. But blaming his teams performance on it after what we've seen all year? Yeah, nah. — For Bucks Sake (@for_bucks_sake) May 30, 2025 He's right but it doesn't change the outcome. Scheduling is actually atrocious and he has every right to call it out, knights weren't winning regardless tho — Freethug (@freejeffery01) May 30, 2025 Last year Cows didn't have their first bye until round 16. Every club had at least one, most had two by that stage. The NRL draw is one of the worst in professional sport. Your odds of success are hugely affected before round 1 kicks off. — MJ (@_m_j_1_1) May 30, 2025 However, O'Brien's gripe comes as calls have been growing for the NRL to hold a stand alone Origin period after last week's scenes. Last week, 15th-placed Dolphins came to Accor Stadium and put 44 points on the first-placed Dogs, who were missing 11 regular first-graders due to injury, suspension or State of Origin duty. The Bulldogs woes only added to calls for the NRL to suspend the competition during the representative period. The Roosters and Panthers were both missing My goodness, what a load of rubbish. Stop making excuses and acknowledge we weren't good enough. — NewyDaz (@DazMac42) May 30, 2025 five players each during round 12 and it is not a guarantee all of them will back-up for their clashes this weekend.
