Interesting that Neath are changing their approach, with Scott Andrews and Regan King already signed up for next season. I guess that the removal of ring-fencing probably means that other clubs will throw a bit of cash around too.
The below taken from the Neath website...
Neath RFC have signed Dragons second row Scott Andrews for the Premiership 2018/19 season. The 6’5’’, 23 year old came through the Dragons Academy when Neath General Manager Will Thomas ran the Academy and was given his first professional Dragons contract by current Neath RFC Head Coach, Lyn Jones. Scott has also played national age grade rugby for Wales U20s in the 2014 World Championship and then made his Dragons debut in 2016 against Leinster in the Pro 12. Andrews has also amassed a large amount of Premiership experience playing for Cross Keys, Newport and Bedwas and also had a loan stint at high flying Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship.
Neath RFC Head Coach, Lyn Jones, commented on this key signing ‘I worked with Scott while at the Dragons and he’s a good professional who will help us to drive standards next season. We are short of a few leaders in the squad at the moment so Scott will add vital leadership on top of his good technical and athletic ability. This is undoubtedly a key signing for us and I have no doubt the Neath community will make Scott feel very welcome at the Gnoll.’
Neath RFC Chairman, Mike Cuddy, commented ‘now that the ring fencing period in the Premiership is over we are taking a slightly different strategy to the one over the last two seasons of primarily focusing on developing young local talent. We are now adding to the young Neath squad with some key signings from professional rugby that will further help our young players in their development and just as importantly move us up the Premiership table.’
Scott Andrews commented on his move to the Welsh All Blacks, ‘I’ve really enjoyed my time at the Dragons, coming through their pathway and learning and developing to play national age grade and Pro 14 rugby so I’ve got a lot to thank them for. However it’s now time for a change and I was really excited by Lyn and Mike’s vision for Neath RFC over the next few seasons. While I’m still young and still have ambitions to return to professional rugby I’m very much concentrated on Neath next season in what is looking like being a pivotal season in the Premiership. I’m really looking forward to getting started.’
Will Thomas, General Manager at Neath RFC commented on the excitement around the Club, ‘All the supporters have been commenting about how excited they are about the plans for next season and with the addition of Regan King and now Scott will only add to the excitement. As you can imagine there was really strong competition for Scott’s signature but he wanted to work with Lyn again and he was impressed with the Club’s vision for the future.’
Changes at Neath
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chris
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Re: Changes at Neath
And another announcement this morning...
(From the Neath RFC website)
Neath RFC have signed Dragons prop Luke Garrett who won the Guinness Pro 12 with the Scarlets last season, coming off the bench to beat Leinster in the final. The 5’11’’, 121kg, 23 year old loose head flies out today as part of the Dragons squad for their Italian trip against Treviso and Zebre and will join up with Neath RFC in June for their 2018/19 season.
Luke Garrett follows fellow Dragons forward Scott Andrews to Neath RFC and like Scott he’s come through the Dragons pathway and Academy before being awarded his first professional contract by current Neath Head Coach, Lyn Jones. Luke also represented Wales U18s and was capped sixteen times by Wales U20s before making his professional debut against the Scarlets in 2015. In 2016/17 he joined the Scarlets on a 3 month loan and after initially impressing they extended it for the season with Luke playing eight times for them in their Pro 12 winning campaign. This season Luke has played ten times for the Dragons prior to his Italy trip this week.
Luke commented on his move to Neath ‘I’m really excited to be joining Neath, enjoying my rugby and linking up once again with my former Head Coach, Lyn Jones. I still think I’m young at 23 for a prop so I’d like to get back into professional rugby and Lyn is such an infectious character and motivator I know he’ll get the best out of me. I know I’m only going to achieve this if I can get back playing to my best and get Neath winning again. I’d like to thank the Dragons for the last five years which have been a great experience and where I’ve made some brilliant friends but I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and new chapter with Neath’
Neath RFC General Manager, Will Thomas, commented on the recruitment ‘I first watched Luke play for Blaenau Gwent Schools U15s when they upset Cardiff Schools U15s in the Dewar Shield completion, before recruiting him into the Dragons Academy. Like you’d expect from any Tredegar product he had an appetite for the scrum but what impressed me was his willingness to carry hard against a tough Cardiff Schools team on the side of a wet, windy and cold mountain in Tredegar. Fast forward eight years and I was in sunny Hong Kong when I stayed up to watch him win the Pro 12 with the Scarlets and was over the moon for him when he picked up his winners medal as I know how passionate he is about rugby and how hard he works. I’m looking forward to working with him again in Neath.’
Neath RFC Head Coach, Lyn Jones commented ‘This is another good addition for Neath Rugby as we need to set higher standards in everything we are doing rugby wise and Luke with his professional rugby experience will help us achieve that.’
‘Our Chairman, Mike Cuddy, Will Thomas and I have agreed a strategy to target players who are still young and hungry but who have professional experience and standards that will rub off on our other young players. Luke and Scott Andrews fit that criteria perfectly and just as importantly for Neath RFC both players want to win. It’s such an important season next year with four or five teams being relegated that we have to improve results wise while still having a sustainable model. I’m convinced our new strategy will achieve this.’
(From the Neath RFC website)
Neath RFC have signed Dragons prop Luke Garrett who won the Guinness Pro 12 with the Scarlets last season, coming off the bench to beat Leinster in the final. The 5’11’’, 121kg, 23 year old loose head flies out today as part of the Dragons squad for their Italian trip against Treviso and Zebre and will join up with Neath RFC in June for their 2018/19 season.
Luke Garrett follows fellow Dragons forward Scott Andrews to Neath RFC and like Scott he’s come through the Dragons pathway and Academy before being awarded his first professional contract by current Neath Head Coach, Lyn Jones. Luke also represented Wales U18s and was capped sixteen times by Wales U20s before making his professional debut against the Scarlets in 2015. In 2016/17 he joined the Scarlets on a 3 month loan and after initially impressing they extended it for the season with Luke playing eight times for them in their Pro 12 winning campaign. This season Luke has played ten times for the Dragons prior to his Italy trip this week.
Luke commented on his move to Neath ‘I’m really excited to be joining Neath, enjoying my rugby and linking up once again with my former Head Coach, Lyn Jones. I still think I’m young at 23 for a prop so I’d like to get back into professional rugby and Lyn is such an infectious character and motivator I know he’ll get the best out of me. I know I’m only going to achieve this if I can get back playing to my best and get Neath winning again. I’d like to thank the Dragons for the last five years which have been a great experience and where I’ve made some brilliant friends but I’m really looking forward to this new challenge and new chapter with Neath’
Neath RFC General Manager, Will Thomas, commented on the recruitment ‘I first watched Luke play for Blaenau Gwent Schools U15s when they upset Cardiff Schools U15s in the Dewar Shield completion, before recruiting him into the Dragons Academy. Like you’d expect from any Tredegar product he had an appetite for the scrum but what impressed me was his willingness to carry hard against a tough Cardiff Schools team on the side of a wet, windy and cold mountain in Tredegar. Fast forward eight years and I was in sunny Hong Kong when I stayed up to watch him win the Pro 12 with the Scarlets and was over the moon for him when he picked up his winners medal as I know how passionate he is about rugby and how hard he works. I’m looking forward to working with him again in Neath.’
Neath RFC Head Coach, Lyn Jones commented ‘This is another good addition for Neath Rugby as we need to set higher standards in everything we are doing rugby wise and Luke with his professional rugby experience will help us achieve that.’
‘Our Chairman, Mike Cuddy, Will Thomas and I have agreed a strategy to target players who are still young and hungry but who have professional experience and standards that will rub off on our other young players. Luke and Scott Andrews fit that criteria perfectly and just as importantly for Neath RFC both players want to win. It’s such an important season next year with four or five teams being relegated that we have to improve results wise while still having a sustainable model. I’m convinced our new strategy will achieve this.’