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Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:34 pm
by Jeff the Bear
After England's egregious attempts at poaching our U.20's, we're looking to get one back:
Wales call up Scarlets hooker Ken Owens and Exeter Chiefs prop Tom Francis to train with squad
Wales have called Scarlets hooker Ken Owens into their 2015 Six Nations squad.
The 28-year-old, capped 26 times, met up with the squad this morning. Owens missed the autumn internationals after suffering a neck injury in September.
Owens returned to action in January in the LV Cup clash against London Irish after a 14-week absence.
The Scarlets skipper has been returning to form and fitness with his region over the last couple of weeks and was outstanding in the victory over Leinster last Saturday.
In addition, Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis will train with the Wales squad.
Francis is a 22-year-old tight-head who plies his trade for Exeter. Francis was born in York, has had previous spells with Doncaster and London Scottish and tips the scales at 21st.
Francis qualifies through his grandmother Eirlys Walters, who was from Abercrave, in the Swansea valley.
Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards said: "Ken has been a great player for us in the past. He’s a good guy, has a great attitude.
"Ken is very experienced and has been involved in two Six Nations Championships.
"He has not been brought into replace anyone.
"Francis is a big kid, he’s been going well with Exeter so we’ve bought him in.
"Francis is big, young and is coming from a great environment.
"They pride themselves on hard work and we think we have a similar environment."
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... er-8802337
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:36 pm
by Crash_12
I like what I've seen of him.
Get him capped against Italy if there's nothing riding on it.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:43 pm
by Jeff the Bear
Crash_12 wrote:I like what I've seen of him.
Get him capped against Italy if there's nothing riding on it.
Yep. We don't produce big lumps who are tightheads. If he shows himself to be half decent then we should look to get him into one of the regions on a central contract, probably Cardiff.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:50 pm
by Gwenno
Could always use a spare tighthead.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:53 pm
by theo
Hmm, we've lost Wilson and possibly Brookes. Looks like we might be losing another tighthead, permanently.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 5:03 pm
by Mick Mannock
I hope this one has real Welsh granny. Actually, I hope he hasn't. that would be amusing...again.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 5:14 pm
by fatcat
Mick Mannock wrote:I hope this one has real Welsh granny. Actually, I hope he hasn't. that would be amusing...again.
Eirlys
Sounds like a made up name so very likely kosher.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 5:17 pm
by piquant
Bit annoying as he may develop into a fine player, he's already a big one. But realistically England can't offer him anything heading into the RWC so good luck to the lad. Pain in the aspidistra for Exeter too if he drops their EQP, they can't have been hoping for this, then again they couldn't reasonably have hoped his debut AP season would've gone this well.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 5:21 pm
by JM2K6
Disgusting. I'm going to burn down henry's holiday home in protest.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 5:28 pm
by Short Man Syndrome
fatcat wrote:Mick Mannock wrote:I hope this one has real Welsh granny. Actually, I hope he hasn't. that would be amusing...again.
Eirlys
Sounds like a made up name so very likely kosher.
Eirlys is the Welsh for 'snowdrop' - it is my gran's name, and she says that it's 'a stupid bloody name to give a girl born in the summer'. Still, a beautiful name nonetheless.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:06 pm
by fatcat
I shall refrain from commenting further as I have too much respect for you and your granny.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:19 pm
by happyhooker
fatcat wrote:I shall refrain from commenting further as I have too much respect for you and your granny.
grooming alert
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:23 pm
by fatcat
happyhooker wrote:fatcat wrote:I shall refrain from commenting further as I have too much respect for you and your granny.
grooming alert
Don't be disgusting, you sicko.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:39 pm
by herb
Saesneg means the English language, as oppose to the people, who are Saes. Just saying.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 6:42 pm
by matta25
Campest prop in the league since Matt Stevens went home. Chiefs scrum improved ten fold when he was subbed off for Alex Brown.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:27 pm
by New guy
How do these players with Scottish/Welsh/Irish grannies even come to light?
Do they employ people to phone around various clubs and ask if one of the journeymen fancies a game?
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:27 pm
by New guy
matta25 wrote:Campest prop in the league since Matt Stevens went home. Chiefs scrum improved ten fold when he was subbed off for Alex Brown.
Bet you rated him until he opted for Wales.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:49 pm
by piquant
New guy wrote:matta25 wrote:Campest prop in the league since Matt Stevens went home. Chiefs scrum improved ten fold when he was subbed off for Alex Brown.
Bet you rated him until he opted for Wales.
He looks a good player. The main concern I have is whether he's picking up the back complaints as a result of an underlying injury and/or something iffy in his technique. The puppy fat is proving less of an issue coming up from the Championship and the chance to play test rugby and in the WC is only likely to improve that
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:18 pm
by Raggs
Looks like he may have potential, but international callup rather suggests Gatland is either desperate, or just wants to stick a cap on him in case.
Never nice to lose a tighthead, but we're not desperate there, and given the ages of our current THs, I suspect he'd not even be too confident of even making 2019.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:52 pm
by Fenman
Not sure where he sits in the England rankings, but Cole, Wilson, Brookes and Thomas are definitely ahead of him and there are probably another two or three before you get to the other Wilson making Francis a punt on the part of Gatland. But such is the man's coaching talent that it will probably come to pass that he has unearthed the man to replace Adam Jones.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:59 pm
by henry
Fenman wrote:Not sure where he sits in the England rankings, but Cole, Wilson, Brookes and Thomas are definitely ahead of him and there are probably another two or three before you get to the other Wilson making Francis a punt on the part of Gatland. But such is the man's coaching talent that it will probably come to pass that he has unearthed the man to replace Adam Jones.
Possibly.
I reckon Gatland knows a thing of two about front row play.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:41 pm
by fatcat
Yep, he knows that a prop no-one's heard of outside the player's own family is right up there with the best in Wales.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:43 pm
by ehr
fatcat wrote:Yep, he knows that a prop no-one's heard of outside the player's own family is right up there with the best in Wales.
T
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:52 pm
by Gwenno
herb wrote:Saesneg means the English language, as oppose to the people, who are Saes. Just saying.
Englishman = Sais.
Englishmen = Saeson
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:53 pm
by henry
fatcat wrote:Yep, he knows that a prop no-one's heard of outside the player's own family is right up there with the best in Wales.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:04 pm
by fatcat
henry wrote:fatcat wrote:Yep, he knows that a prop no-one's heard of outside the player's own family is right up there with the best in Wales.
You're not supposed to laugh.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:54 am
by Gwenno
Gwenno wrote:herb wrote:Saesneg means the English language, as oppose to the people, who are Saes. Just saying.
Englishman = Sais.
Englishmen = Saeson
And there is no word Saes.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:42 am
by MungoMan
Gwenno wrote:Gwenno wrote:herb wrote:Saesneg means the English language, as oppose to the people, who are Saes. Just saying.
Englishman = Sais.
Englishmen = Saeson
And there is no word Saes.
Saes who, you forrin caaaant!
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:54 am
by DragsterDriver
New guy wrote:How do these players with Scottish/Welsh/Irish grannies even come to light?
Do they employ people to phone around various clubs and ask if one of the journeymen fancies a game?
Wales have a big scouting network in england, clubs, youth county games and regional stuff. They soon hoover kids up for the welsh exiles side to have a closer look at them. The parents are all asked if they have any welsh heritage.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 9:59 am
by jorwar
DragsterDriver wrote:New guy wrote:How do these players with Scottish/Welsh/Irish grannies even come to light?
Do they employ people to phone around various clubs and ask if one of the journeymen fancies a game?
Wales have a big scouting network in england, clubs, youth county games and regional stuff. They soon hoover kids up for the welsh exiles side to have a closer look at them. The parents are all asked if they have any welsh heritage.
England just pick the black kids.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:45 am
by Davestar
What a daft comment.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:48 am
by DragsterDriver
Well that's one for the Boredies.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:21 am
by Mick Mannock
Hmm. What's the meaning behind that, then?
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:22 am
by Mick Mannock
jorwar wrote:DragsterDriver wrote:New guy wrote:How do these players with Scottish/Welsh/Irish grannies even come to light?
Do they employ people to phone around various clubs and ask if one of the journeymen fancies a game?
Wales have a big scouting network in england, clubs, youth county games and regional stuff. They soon hoover kids up for the welsh exiles side to have a closer look at them. The parents are all asked if they have any welsh heritage.
England just pick the black kids.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:51 am
by AND-y
jorwar wrote:DragsterDriver wrote:New guy wrote:How do these players with Scottish/Welsh/Irish grannies even come to light?
Do they employ people to phone around various clubs and ask if one of the journeymen fancies a game?
Wales have a big scouting network in england, clubs, youth county games and regional stuff. They soon hoover kids up for the welsh exiles side to have a closer look at them. The parents are all asked if they have any welsh heritage.
England just pick the black kids.
Dude...what the hell?
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:54 am
by JM2K6
Because no-one realised jorwar is a massive twat before now?
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:57 am
by AND-y
JM2K6 wrote:Because no-one realised jorwar is a massive twat before now?
I'm not even sure what he means, it makes no sense. The only thing I can think is that black people are not properly English. I really hope that isn't' it.
Re: Wales in line to poach one more Seasneg players
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:38 pm
by herb
Gwenno wrote:Gwenno wrote:herb wrote:Saesneg means the English language, as oppose to the people, who are Saes. Just saying.
Englishman = Sais.
Englishmen = Saeson
And there is no word Saes.
Diolch, butt
Still working on my written Welsh.