Boiler Room Upgrade Required?

By Craig Muncey
January 27 2016

Been some great news this week of the recruitment for next season of Rhys Gill, the Welsh international front rower. Cardiff Blues have now acquired two props a number eight and a player who can play at 10 or 15. All excellent signings, the position however, many fans feel need enforcements is in the second row. This piece looks at the current group and potential targets for next season that would aid the resurgence of Cardiff Blues for future years.

Cardiff RFC and Cardiff Blues over the years have had some outstanding second row forwards, who have been fine line out exponents plus add real grunt in set pieces and in the tight. Players such as Ian Robinson, Robert Norster, Tony Rees, Craig Quinnell, Bradley Davies and Paul Tito, great players.

Cardiff Blues front five have struggled in recent seasons and no doubt a head coach such as Danny Wilson, recognised strength with the forwards is fully aware of this, and with two of his signings already being a tight head prop and a loose head prop, he is looking to address this, the question is the next step second row?

Currently, the second rowers in the pro side squad are Jarrad Hoeata, James Down, Miles Normandale, Lou Reed and Chris Dicomidis. In my view with this group I feel only Hoeata and Down are up to the standards that Cardiff Blues are looking for moving forward. There has been some signs with Normandale when he initially signed, but the progression has not happened as Cardiff Blues would of wished, and very rarely is selected in match day squads and plys his trade most weekends with Cardiff RFC. Reed is a Welsh international, is very inconsistent and loses the battle often in contact, he is a strong scrummager and often is used to boost a pack that is struggling at scrum time, but in my view is not the player he was of a few years ago. Dicomidis came from Premier rugby with Pontypridd, he is a whole hearted player and gives his all when given gametime for Cardiff Blues, but this is not very often and in my view is not suited to Cardiff Blues.

In terms of players currently at academy level, there are two players who are highly thought of, Seb Davies has made a few appearances including a try against London Wasps last season, unfortunately he was injured earlier this season and has suffered a bad shoulder injury. In the few instances I have seen him, he looks very useful seems to have a physicality to him and certainly one to keep an eye on. The other academy player is Callum Bradbury, a young man who again looks like he may have a skill set which could set him apart from other players in his age group. Two young players who over next few seasons could really make an impact in the first team squad.

So that is the options as it stands so who is being rumoured to be potential targets? George Earle of the Scarlets has been linked for sometime, he has lost his way somewhat with the West Wales side, and may be open to the idea of a new challenge. Is he a player that improves Cardiff Blues? For me the jury is out on that question, when first joined the Scarlets, looked a strong useful player, but has had a number of injuries and when fit, has not made starting fifteen that often. Dominic Day has also been mentioned. Day is in the current six nations squad, plays for Bath and may feel a move back to Wales will aid his international chances. The player is a whole hearted player with no little talent, is well liked at Bath and certainly would improve the player group at Cardiff Blues. Is the move likely? It is possible but Bath would like to keep him, and if he is made available then likely that Scarlets would be interested as well.

In terms of players I think could be of interest then Rory Thornton of the Ospreys could be potentially interested. The player is young and has signed a national dual contact so is liked by the Welsh management group, at the moment his place in the Ospreys side is thwarted by Lloyd Ashley and Alun-Wyn Jones and with James King on their books, maybe he sees a move to be good for him. He is a good athlete and would give Cardiff Blues a stronger line out. Another player I have been a fan of for years who could be ready for a return to the Principality is Ian Evans from Bristol. Evans has had some cruel luck with injuries in recent years but when fit is a very strong lock with a real edge to his game and would be a strong recruit for Cardiff Blues. Many fans (including me) would like to see the return to Cardiff Arms Park of Bradley Davies, however he is with a fine emerging European rugby power in London Wasps and still has a year on his contract, so unfortunately I do not see that being an option this summer. However, end of next season who knows?

Those are my thoughts on a position that if you have good quality can make a real difference to a rugby side, fingers crossed we can recruit and bring in a player or two to aid those players we have.