So Where Are The Top Signings Promised by The Cardiff Blues?

At the tail end of the Magners League season Peter Thomas was interviewed about the summers spending plans – and he suggested that there were going to be a couple of top internationals joining the Cardiff Blues for their move to the new Leckwith Stadium.

So far it seems that these comments are, at best, rather wide of the mark. There is of course some of the summer left, indeed some players have just got back from British Lions tour, but considering many players are just starting their preseason training it seems that time is fast running out for any new signings to be announced.

Losing Players

There is desperate need for investment in the playing side of things for the Cardiff Blues. This is a team that won the EDF cup and was desperately close to a Heineken Cup final. But it is also a team with little by way of reserves to replace injured players – at least reserves of sufficient quality.

And when you consider the players they have lost in the transfer market this season that situation is going to get worse. Fan favorite, and form outside half, Nicky Robinson has moved to Gloucester and brother Jamie has moved over to France. Two top class players.

In their place Cardiff have signed Sam Norton-Knight, a 15 who dreams of playing 10, and Gavin Evans – the Llanelli scarlets center who couldn’t make their starting line up.

One direct replacement they have made is bringing in Welsh scrum half Gareth Cooper to replace the outgoing New Zealander Jason Spice. A good signing, but I suspect that Spice will still be missed. Spice may not have been eveyrones cup of tea but he controlled a lot of games – a skill that Cooper hasn’t got. Coopers pass and sniping may be far better but with Ceri Sweeney not exactly a controlling 10 a 9 with directional skills would be useful. That said Gareth Cooper is, in my opinion, a quality player and should be welcommed by most Cardiff fans.

Problem Positions

This has done little to help solve the problem positions at the Blues. Tighthead needs cover, the 2nd row is going to struggle after any injuries, there is desperate need for a back up 6 and 10 has some major issues (I have doubts that Ceri Sweeney is up to the job).

So signing a fullback and a center is not really going to do much good.

This is a side with huge amounts of talent. The coach, Dai Young, is one of the best young coaches in world rugby, never mind Wales. But it seems he has not been given the funds to work with. With rumors of the cost of moving from their center of the city stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, to Leckwith suggesting that Cardiff are being extremely naive money wise it could well be that there isn’t the money to spend.

Which, considering the Arms Park location and the crowds they are getting, would say a lot for how the board are failing to monetize their extremely enviable brand.

This is not a rant about money, yet. That will come if any of these rumors are proven to me. But this is a rant about promises not being followed through and a lack of interest in taking what could be a great team forward.