https://www.scarlets.wales/article/scarlets-confirm-2022-23-player-departures/" rel="nofollow - https://www.scarlets.wales/article/scarlets-confirm-2022-23-player-departures/

Agree both very good squad players.

Also surprised with Iestyn Rees, got loads of potential.

But it’s prob all due to having to cut the squad due to funding cuts.

Some unfortunately haven’t played much rugby the last few years due to injuries.

Some useful money freed up there,  to bring in one or 2 quality players ?

I wish all leavers all the best for the future (unless any will be joining the Ospreys, then I hope you step on Lego) 

So we  are looking at around that. Not sure how many we got so far

Im  not sure if the 38 include transitional  players(that's the term they are using), academy players to us, or not

I agree that releasing two hookers is a bit surprising, especially as both Ken and Ryan are likely to be in the Wales squad for the RWC... and I doubt that Ken will play very much longer. 

Second row we are fairly light in weight and numbers in that position, unless we play Vaea Fifita but I’d rather have him play 6 with Carwyn at 8 and Dan Davis and Mcloed fighting for the 7 shirt.

At Tighthead hopefully Samson can be available from the start of next season that would be like a new signing with Wainwright and Harri O’Conner but only having 3 tightheads seems a little low, I’d definitely say we need 4 props for each side.

I was hoping that Shings would have an another  season, particularly,  as he playing  well, likewise Halfpenny.My other concern, echoed by other Scarlets  fans on here, is losing TWO hookers. We have two Welsh Internationals, one at the end of his career, leaving us with one hooker during WC & 6N, unless we sign another. 

A real concern. 

Back row, and second are thin, so I am hoping in hope , we can pick up a couple more signings.

All those who are leaving, I would like to thank,  for their loyalty and commitment  to Scarlets. 

Fortunately,  we will have a chance to thank them properly  a week tomorrow., on what will hopefully  will be a hell of a night of rugby.

We have paid our tributes to Shings in another wonderful thread, but I would like to add my own appreciation of Lewis Rawlings.

Lewis has been with us now 10 years and played both second row and back row.An incredibly  mobile , athletic  forward, who was also a good line-out  forward .Sadly  dogged by serious  injuries in the last two seasons,  ending  his career. My abiding  memory  of him was in the pro 12 final in 2017,when Jake was injured, he was pared with Tag Beirn. Early doors,  when were watching Shings, Lewis took the first three or four lineouts , setting the tone for a never forgotten  afternoon.It says it all.

Thank you Lewis and all those who are departing  Scarlets. 

We wish you well, wherever life takes you,and there will always  be a welcome here at Parc.

Diolch. 

Regardless of this terrible situation, I honestly believe we are the strongest region to survive this financial onslaught because of the ongoing commitment of the board, the business savvy Simon and some deep seated crystal magic of West Wales and the power it holds. I’m not joking, I didn’t even grow up there. 

Onwards…

He has another year on his contract.

Ken will play another season.

I hate these announcements, these guys wore a Scarlet Jersey and for that , as a useless nobody I'm gratefully they did. Faces that created confidence when they stepped on the pitch are leaving. Maybe because its time to retire, maybe because of different ambitions...maybe it doesn't bloody matter, we all have players in that 15 we are sad to leave.

What do you say at these moments,  each and everyone of them have parents and family who wanted the very best for their Scarlet hero's,  so for them, all of them, thankyou for your commitment,  your effort and desire to play in Scarlet,  if it was my club no one who desires the Jersey would ever leave....May I wish everyone of you the best success and happiness in this World in whatever you do and thankyou. 

After today’s leavers announcement I’m already looking at next years leavers as I’m 100% sure Dwayne is, and thankfully this year he can get the contracts sorted early, maybe before the opening weekend given the late start.

Going to be an interesting opening month or two of the season without Wyn, Ken, Elias, Fifita, Lousi, Hardy, Cawdor?, Costelow?, JBR & McNicholl? on RWC rest.

Really looking forward to seeing Sam O’Connor, Lewis Morgan & Archie Hughes next season as well as Price & Jones in the boiler house together.

As for losing two hookers I like many was a little surprised. From what I have seen of Shaun Evans he will be challenging very hard top be first choice - two Welsh Internationals or not. Lewis Morgan I think is the academy lad to step up. The WRU may call this progress - I just cannot agree. 

Shaun Evans has been superb this season not a bad number 3 hooker.

The reality of what the WRU have done is now coming home to roost. What they have done to young rugby players who are now unemployed because of their bad governance is the real shame of the Welsh rugby debacle. 

Shame on you blazer wearing hangers on who just take and are in it for themselves. 

Yes the hooker position doesn't quite seem to be as we expect but it is about the only position where we seem really short and the chaotic governance of the WRU was always going to stress test this process. That we only have one position where we are worse than a bit short is a tribute to our management. If the other regions are not in a worse place at the start of next season, I'll be very surprised.

Do you mean the 2024-5 season?

I always thought he'd want another crack at the RWC in 2023-4, but might well call it a day after that.

Think we need another wing/back 3 player, tighthead prop, second row and 2 in the back row including a number 8. 

We're short to an extent everywhere but if Ken and Ryan are with Wales, we've got two hookers left. That's really short before one of them gets an injury.

I think all clubs have carried too many players in the past the amount of players that only play 3 or 4 games a season is unbelievable. 

I believe Llandovery have signed Iestyn Rees aswell according to reports

Dacey apparently going to Merthyr 

I guess it will be similar to what the Ospreys have done with Doel.

It is & to be honest it's systematic of what's happening across the community game too.

They can if they’re playing for their club of origin. Played against Jack Price last season in div 3. 

Agreed Wil, we share our pitch with the cricket team so we have to get our home games done by the end of April. We have played midweek games to get this done. Our last scheduled match is the 20th May by which time half our team will be playing cricket.

It's similar in youth rugby too with the added mess of having some pre and post Christmas leagues, with the pre Christmas uncompleted league deciding who goes into what leagues post Christmas.

More games called off 

will be keen to thrash our backsides for years to come. 

This is another of those decisions which has baffled me. 

he must be a cheap signing with his track record . Im sorry that he did nothing with us despite the gnashing  and wailing of people when he went to Exeter because he felt English and talk of how good he was. He is 24 now and so really needs to pull his socks up next season. Hopefully someone like Steff Hughes will mentor him.

I think a few on here did get a bit carried away with regards to his potential. He’s never really struck me as someone who would be an influential player. 

Don't want to get into a long drawn argument but how many chances has he been given to prove his point?without delving into stats i think when he has played he has scored.

1. At under 20 level he was regarded as a rising star at 13.

2. When available during his time at PYS & when we had a selection crisis at 13 he was overlooked with even Steff Evans selected ahead of him.

3. His injury record since 20's time has been poor. 

All told I don't think I would disagree with anyone who felt that maybe we lost an opportunity somewhere along the line to give him some time at 13 but I would also agree with Wil that injuries may well have played a significant part in that lack of gametime. 

Nobody is right or wrong here - I am glad that he has picked up another contract because, like many in Wales, he was looking at perhaps giving up rugby professionally. Good luck Corey - stay fit young man & show what you can do. 

Frank Bradshaw-Ryan. Only 27 but has only made 1 appearance for Ulster this season.

I don't think we'd be that lucky but apparently he only signed for Ulster on a 1 year deal after 6 years in France after coming through the Munster academy and Ireland U-19s. Known for his carrying and lineout ability. 

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/rugby/introducing-frank-bradshaw-ryan-ulsters-23190301" rel="nofollow - https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/rugby/introducing-frank-bradshaw-ryan-ulsters-23190301

Includes a Youtube highlight reel. 

He'll probably head back to France but he's big, athletic, a lineout specialist, and some of the clips show good hands too. 

Anyway, point is, very few large second rows come up in budget, even less flukes like Beirne.

Yeah looking on a couple of other forums, he was signed with a view to a couple of Ulster players being away & injuries but that wasn't the case & he wasn't given a look in.

Might be worth a one year deal if cheap enough.

hoping van den burg when he comes in knows a 2nd row or 2 from south africa. 

As far as reinforcements from SA, Wil and others on here would know more about comparative pay. You’d imagine getting better value in that market and with Van den Berg, it’s likely he’d be well-placed to identify someone appropriate. Plus haven’t our SA signings generally gone well?

Werner yes a real nugget, Bullbring yes during our Championship season, Cassiem yes in his second season, we now know he was carrying an injury 1st season, Snyman was ok, George Earle was a little injury prone from memory. Clayton Blommetjies not so good. 

Can't think of any other SA players we've had. So I'd agree, overall they've gone well.

I'd love another Tongan, unfortunately if you look at the Tonga Rugby wiki, we have two of their and two others are Fifita's brother and Timani at the Blues!

Speaking of... looking at the Scarlets wikipedia page they've updated the squad and it makes for very interesting (visual) reading. 

3LH and 3TH - Sam OC would be 4th LH, not sure who from the academy is TH

Hooker - fine - Young would come in as 5th

2nd Row - 5 - potential for Salmon to step up but he's not that tall. Don't know the other two.

Back row - Eeek. 4 players technically on the books. Assuming Fifita moves to 6 more regularly, still only 2 sevens and 2 sixes. Ben Williams and Giannini both to step up at 8 (?) and 7. Hoping Will Plessis is a massive Saffer!

SHs - Fine

OHs - Fine as long as one of the academy guys has potential

Centres - with the ability of Steff and McNicholl and Nicholas to slot in, and Gwilliam and Page coming up we're OK here. I don't think Joe Roberts will make the final RWC squad either (and that's a good thing for him and us I think).

Wings / FB - Callum Williams getting involved... a little shy at FB tbh but I think we'll have to manage.

Trying to be realistic, personally I think we need to forget about signing a prop. A second row is needed so that Fifita can move into the back row regularly. We're still looking light there though. I think the backs will largely stay as they are. Overall 1 SR and 1 BR player... decent signatures with through the year potential. 

Maybe a fullback in addition can offer a batter covering, but all depend of o

Our budget