Slider wrote: Decent enough prop.........but hardly a sign of intent for the new season!

I disagree, at least Phil is looking at where we are weakest and is looking to bolster those area's.. unlike his predecessor who just bought wildly and even bought without actually looking at the player...

He does have alot of experience and considering the position we're in its a good signing imo. There aren't too many tight-heads available at the moment.

Gary Coleman wrote: Wasn't this announced a few weeks ago?

Only 'unofficially' I think

salmidach wrote: Slider wrote: Decent enough prop.........but hardly a sign of intent for the new season! I disagree, at least Phil is looking at where we are weakest and is looking to bolster those area's.. unlike his predecessor who just bought wildly and even bought without actually looking at the player...

Just like Regan King.

salmidach wrote: And we are all forgetting Havilli....

I trust Rico won't be worrying about his place in the Warriors side.

Good signing. 27 years old and 43 caps for Scotland. Will be very solid at HC level - and having a solid tighthead in the HC will be worth a lot.

Excellent competition with Broster too. Very encouraging.

Thank God we didn't take another punt on a NZ prop.

Croeso Bruce.

It's a very encouraging sign in my opinion. Considering we've had alot of negativity in the last few weeks it's nice to get something positive from Stradey.

With the big decision imminent, we should be looking to a healthier future very soon!!

Mike wrote: Good signing. 27 years old and 43 caps for Scotland. Will be very solid at HC level - and having a solid tighthead in the HC will be worth a lot.

My thoughts as well. Not a spectacular player but solid and we've been missing that. Now need the hard man/psycho second row to really complete our first-choice pack. But I think Phil's looking at the right players for this team. As David Brent says: "Nothing ever changes by staying the same".

well its looking better in the front row for next year. broster and bruce douglas on tight head, with iestyn and manu (better player on loose-head). with phil john as a backup if needed. phil is addressing our weaknesses well. just hope as said previously, nice bruiser of a second row and the pack will look good for this season.

Enough props ..never.

When it comes down to it,we can cope with an injury crisis in the backs , but if our front 5 are decimated then 'goodnite all'. We mayneed a couple of hard ,orrible second rows, who can hammer the opposition into the ground on those cold winter nites , just around the corner.

Remember if we had been able to grind out a couple of wins and a few loosing bonus points over last xmas then we would now be Magners league champions, and hence seeded in the hc this week

Loosehead: Iestyn Thomas, Deacon Manu, Phil John

Hooker: Matthew Rees, Ken Owens, AN Other

Tighthead: Bruce Douglas, Ben Broster

Second Row: Vernon Cooper, Adam Eustace, AN Other, Scott MacLeod, Lou Reed

If we can get a good quality second row in, our front 5 resources are looking a world better.

Mike wrote: Loosehead: Iestyn Thomas, Deacon Manu, Phil John Hooker: Matthew Rees, Ken Owens, AN Other Tighthead: Bruce Douglas, Ben Broster Second Row: Vernon Cooper, Adam Eustace, AN Other, Scott MacLeod, Lou Reed If we can get a good quality second row in, our front 5 resources are looking a world better.

Agreed, second row seems to be the area we're missing that commanding player. A good signing there and we'll have a very good pack.

We also need Full back cover now imo and we'll have a much stronger looking squad for next year.

westwalesdragon wrote: It's a very encouraging sign in my opinion. Considering we've had alot of negativity in the last few weeks it's nice to get something positive from Stradey. With the big decision imminent, we should be looking to a healthier future very soon!!

 I agree its nice to hear a bit of good news on the fourm for a change. Douglas is a quality and experienced player. WELCOME BRUCE

I can see the headlines after he demolishes the Ashtreys front row next season:

"Bruce Almighty!"

westwalesdragon wrote: Mike wrote: Loosehead: Iestyn Thomas, Deacon Manu, Phil John Hooker: Matthew Rees, Ken Owens, AN Other Tighthead: Bruce Douglas, Ben Broster Second Row: Vernon Cooper, Adam Eustace, AN Other, Scott MacLeod, Lou Reed If we can get a good quality second row in, our front 5 resources are looking a world better. Agreed, second row seems to be the area we're missing that commanding player. A good signing there and we'll have a very good pack. We also need Full back cover now imo and we'll have a much stronger looking squad for next year.

I'm quite happy with Garan, Ceirion and Morgan at full back.

Quagmire wrote: westwalesdragon wrote: Mike wrote: Loosehead: Iestyn Thomas, Deacon Manu, Phil John Hooker: Matthew Rees, Ken Owens, AN Other Tighthead: Bruce Douglas, Ben Broster Second Row: Vernon Cooper, Adam Eustace, AN Other, Scott MacLeod, Lou Reed If we can get a good quality second row in, our front 5 resources are looking a world better. Agreed, second row seems to be the area we're missing that commanding player. A good signing there and we'll have a very good pack. We also need Full back cover now imo and we'll have a much stronger looking squad for next year. I'm quite happy with Garan, Ceirion and Morgan at full back.

I'm quite happy also, but I feel we're settling for it when we should be looking to excell if possible. I do think Stoddart is an exceptional player but I'd like to see us bring in another quality player to cover OH and FB if possible to push those that are there currently and with the experience to cover at vital times.

westwalesdragon wrote: I'm quite happy also, but I feel we're settling for it when we should be looking to excell if possible. I do think Stoddart is an exceptional player but I'd like to see us bring in another quality player to cover OH and FB if possible to push those that are there currently and with the experience to cover at vital times.

There is a good chance we could be no more by the end of the week..... I can't imagine many players wanting to sign for us at the moment, or us to be in a position to sign many players.

OwenR wrote: westwalesdragon wrote: I'm quite happy also, but I feel we're settling for it when we should be looking to excell if possible. I do think Stoddart is an exceptional player but I'd like to see us bring in another quality player to cover OH and FB if possible to push those that are there currently and with the experience to cover at vital times. There is a good chance we could be no more by the end of the week..... I can't imagine many players wanting to sign for us at the moment, or us to be in a position to sign many players.

I agree, there's a better chance that we will be moving forward though. Its a very difficult position to be in but all this is dependant on the outcome of the WAG - so as long as we get the YES, the above still applies for me.

Sant wrote: So whats our cover like at Outside half? at the start of the season?

Stevo, Ceiron and Priestland. Stoddart can cover too but he'll be needed at Full Back. Ceiron still has it all to prove in my opinion.

 27 yr old 43 caps sounds good, but..... he's not included in Scotland's WC training squad???? Where does that leave us,with a proven available international during WC or a player whos deemed not up to it anymore.....

I would love him to be a success,our gain to be Scotland's loss (like Mcleoed).

Nice to hear of a signing though amidst all the doom/gloom on the boards ltly. 

Rambo Perego wrote: salmidach wrote: Slider wrote: Decent enough prop.........but hardly a sign of intent for the new season! I disagree, at least Phil is looking at where we are weakest and is looking to bolster those area's.. unlike his predecessor who just bought wildly and even bought without actually looking at the player... Just like Regan King.

Regan was seen, albeit briefly. The management went on an end of season jaunt to see Stevo playing for CA and were rather taken by the replacement back playing for the opposition (Stade Francais).

Bruce Douglas will be a good player. With Horseman messing around each season and asking a vast salary, it is a good way out of the tighthead problem. I assume he is a good mate of Scott Mac and this will mean that both will be settled in the area. I hope this is the start of a good week.

turkishrebel wrote: welcome Bruce, hopefully your form will get you back into the scottish squad. i know his name has been mentioned before but what about mark mchugh from connaught as cover at 10/12/15? rumours a while back that he had had talks with us.

I think he'd be a very good signing. With Douglas taking up a NWQ place i'm not sure how that leaves us, but I'd be very happy to welcome McHugh.

luke wrote:  27 yr old 43 caps sounds good, but..... he's not included in Scotland's WC training squad???? Where does that leave us,with a proven available international during WC or a player whos deemed not up to it anymore..... I would love him to be a success,our gain to be Scotland's loss (like Mcleoed). Nice to hear of a signing though amidst all the doom/gloom on the boards ltly.

It seems that Bruce Douglas' Dad died at the start of last season and as a result his performances were affected. See here:

http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=808702007 - http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=808702007

SMELLYMIKE wrote: What i saw of him in the churchill cup, hell be a good aquisition.he scrumaged well and was lightening in the loose, and a verygood ball handler

Did you miss the Scotland A vs USA match then I take it?!!

Bruce and Broster are two players capable of having very big seasons, and i feel they could turn out to be big signings.