Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Andy Howell & Simon Thomas & Anthony Woolford & Matthew Southcombe & Mark Orders

The most intriguing Welsh rugby signing of the summer

It's been a busy summer of signings for the four Welsh regions, with some fascinating new faces looking to make their mark.

We asked our team of rugby writers to pick out the one they think is the most intriguing.

GARETH EVANS (Mark Orders' choice)

It would be easy to write about Gareth Anscombe here as he is the big name who has joined the Ospreys squad for next season.

It might even be possible to come up with a few paragraphs on Shaun Venter ahead of his likely signing for the Liberty Stadium region. You can read all about how good he is here.

But perhaps Gareth Evans is the most intriguing capture the Ospreys have made this summer.

They effectively had to operate without a specialist No. 8 last term as Dan Baker’s recovery from a serious knee injury went on, and on, and on.

But there’s a fair chance Evans will sort out the problem position.

At 6ft 3in and 17st 7lb, he packs power but is also quick and willing to pick a lock as well as try to blast his way through any metaphorical door that might be in his way.

The Wales-qualified forward will give the Ospreys go-forward up front and that is something they have lacked in recent times.   

Quietly, there is optimism he may prove a serious success at the region.

SAM LOUSI (Simon Thomas' choice)

The more you read about Samiuela “Sam” Lousi, the more you look forward to seeing him in action for the Scarlets.

First the vital statistics. He’s 6ft 6ins and 19st, an Auckland-born second row of Tongan heritage who started out in rugby league before switching to Union.

By all accounts, he has the carrying, off-loading and defensive strengths you would expect from a man from a league background.

And in Union - where’s he played Super Rugby for the Waratahs and the Hurricanes - he has focused increasingly on the lineout, where his athleticism stands him in good stead.

On announcing Lousi’s signing, the Scarlets’ general manager Jon Daniels described him as “a strong, aggressive ball carrier who also possesses the handling skills that fit in with our style of rugby”.

Sounds like just what they need.

JOSH ADAMS (Anthony Woolford's choice)

Josh Adams scores Wales' first try in their 2019 Six Nations win over Scotland at Murrayfield (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

The top try scorer in the 2018 Gallagher Premiership with Worcester Warriors was among the standout performers in Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam this year.

Yet at regional level in his homeland, his career remains work in progress after heading off to Sixways in 2015, when failing to nail down a contract at the Parc y Scarlets.

That move eventually ignited his meteoric rise from regional reject to Worcester wing wonder, seeing the 24-year-old collect 11 Welsh caps to date, with the promise of many more to come, given his eye-catching performances in the 2019 Six Nations.

This fan's reaction to Josh Adams' try is priceless

And Wales' 60-cap selection criteria saw Adams having to head home for next season with the Blues bagging his signature.

Adams' ability to also fill in at full-back adds utility value.

And it will be fascinating to see if the former Warrior can continue to make a splash in the fabled Welsh 'goldfish bowl'  after making so many waves in the Gallagher Premiership with Worcester.

HALLAM AMOS (Matthew Southcombe's choice)

Wales' Hallam Amos (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Amos has always showed signs that he is more than capable at international level but has never established himself properly in the Wales starting XV.

Injuries have played their part in that but many will say he was too loyal to the Dragons, assuming that a struggling team stunted his growth, and that he should have left sooner.

His move to the Cardiff Blues, who on paper have more quality, will tell us whether he was really being held back at Rodney Parade.

At the Arms Park, he won’t shoulder the expectation of having to do it all on his own, which he may have felt at times with the Men of Gwent, as he joins a more successful region.

The 24-year-old will have a little more quality around him and it will be intriguing to see what happens, whether it allows him to take his game to the next level or not.

I have no doubt that he has enough potential to nail down a place in a competitive Welsh back three.

We’ll watch with interest to see if the first big move of his career sets him up to do that.

SAM DAVIES (Andy Howell's choice)

New Dragons fly-half Sam Davies (Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

The Dragons need an outside-half and Sam Davies needs a new platform to revive his career.

Davies possesses the ability to get the Dragons breathing fire, and I believe a No.10 of quality can galvanise them into a force virtually overnight.

The 2013 world under-20 player of the year seemed to have the world at his feet after coming off the Wales bench against Italy in their 2017 Six Nations opener to mastermind a comeback that brought 30 unanswered points in a 33-7 victory.

But his career stalled and leaving the Ospreys was essential.

The Dragons only requirement is a No.10 to boss the team and matches, and Davies certainly fits the bill. It’s going to be intriguing to see if he delivers.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.