Player movements (rumoured and confirmed)

It is inevitable that pretty much all highly paid players will be released at the end of their contracts in an attempt to make ends meet. Its going to be a tough time for Welsh rugby!

You can forget Fitzpatrick - total show pony.

I’ve taken my tongue out of my cheek  

Fifita and Lousi (as previously mentioned) have informed the club of their intention to leave at the end of the season (Lousi has requested an early release in Feb / March which is currently being considered. It now transpires, this is not only because of the situation at the club, but also the treatment of Sione Kalamafoni, a player who quite frankly carried us at stages during his time at the club. The Tongan's are a very loyal bunch and have not taken kindly to the treatment he has received and the derogatory offer that he was made both before and after his French move collapsed. Who was responsible for that?

The club have, last week and this, held urgent meetings to try and resolve the issue of giving Peel an extended three year contract which was signed only a few weeks ago. They are desperate for this not be leaked due to the backlash they will face. This is to the point of even not disclosing it to their usual outlet (reporter at the WM) and instead, next November, breaking it during the Autumn internationals that Peel has signed a two year extension....which will of course not be the case. They really are at a loss of how to handle this as it was not envisaged that we would lose to Black Lion, Ospreys and Dragons!

Hardy has signed for Cardiff.

Basham was last week shown around the facilities at PYS and is expected to sign in the next week or so.

Question to forum members....what would you expect to the minimum criteria / skill set of a GM of Rugby? Surely they would have at  bare minimum, either had to have played and / or coached the game to a reasonable standard so that he / she has a rugby background or alternatively, have an excellent business background with clear view and plan on how best to run this particular arm of the company? What does ours have? Unless I'm grossly mistaken, he was a PE teacher at Coleg Sir Gar, from that he was then given the responsibility of running the academy, a role which he failed badly at until the appointment of the Academy Director which was facilitated by Gareth Jenkins, as he could clearly see the faults which needed urgent attention! He was then moved into a secretarial role for Pivac and Short, and at the end of their tenure, he became GM of rugby.....since which time we have seen a steady decline of our great club; something that cannot continue under any circumstances!! The term 'self preservation' springs to mind where he is concerned!!

I'm off to pack for Clermont, so wish you all a great weekend if you're travelling and hopefully we can put some well overdue respect back into the jersey.