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Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

The Welsh rugby transfer ins and outs, rumours and what each team needs for next season

The rugby season is drawing to a close, with plenty to play for in the final few weeks of the season.

It also marks the period when sides tend to announce their recruitments for next season, with Scarlets-bound Super Rugby star Sam Lousi the latest to be revealed.

So, who has put pen to paper with a Welsh region so far, who is leaving and what more can we expect in the coming weeks?

CARDIFF BLUES

The arrivals so far:

Josh Adams (joining from Worcester Warriors)

Hallam Amos (Dragons)

The departures so far:

Jack Roberts (joining Doncaster Knights)

Steven Shingler (Ealing Trailfinders)

Matthew Rees (Retired)

Retained on new deals:

Josh Navidi, Jarrod Evans, Willis Halaholo, Kristian Dacey, Tomos Williams.

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

What do they still need?

It's quite simple really. A grizzly, seasoned second-row to add some grit is a necessity, while a front-rower of similar weathered status wouldn't go amiss.

In that regard, Scarlets lock David Bulbring has been linked with the Arms Park region as he nears the end of his contract in Llanelli.

Perhaps another No 8 could help share the workload with Nick Williams as he enters his twilight years.

Finally, the future of Gareth Anscombe continues to dominate the headlines, with big-money contracts in England threatening to lure him from Wales as he looks to earn more than the new banding system would allow.

However, Fresh twist as Gareth Anscombe's future becomes clearer, leaving a move to another Welsh region as his likeliest option were he to leave.

Keeping hold of him would be pretty useful.

Fresh twist as Gareth Anscombe's future becomes clearer 

Otherwise, the Blues squad is fairly well set, particularly in the backline, with Adams and Amos adding strength to an area that probably didn't need too much work anyway.

If they do lose Anscombe and Jarrod Evans continues his elevation towards the Wales team, then Shingler's departure would leave them short at fly-half.

DRAGONS

Sam Davies is someone the Dragons are interested in (Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)

There have been no official arrivals as yet.

The departures:

Gerrard Ellis ( joining Coventry)

Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues)

Calvin Wellington (Sale FC)

Retained:

Lewis Evans, Matthew Screech, Adam Warren.

What do they still need?

Where do you start?

It looks like Gavin Henson's race in professional Welsh rugby is run, with the 33-cap former international failing to secure a new deal at Rodney Parade.

He's unlikely to be the only one leaving Newport this summer as another mass clear-out could happen as the region look to balance the books and rebuild after calling time on Bernard Jackman's failed project this season.

That's the exit door likely to be taken off its hinges, but what about incomings?

Fly-half is the area they'll have to target.

Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies has been mentioned in dispatches, with the region keen on a game controller at fly-half.

Otherwise it's been fairly quiet in terms of new additions, but that's not to say they're not needed.

Because they are. Desperately.

Whether they have the funds to troubleshoot the problems is another matter.

The man hired to lead troubled Welsh region to a brighter future has quit less than a year later 

OSPREYS

There have been no official arrivals as yet.

The departures:

Scott Baldwin (joining Harlequins)

Retained:

Cory Allen, Luke Morgan, Dan Evans.

What do they still need?

The rumour mill has been pretty active around the Liberty Stadium in recent months, but it has had little to do with incomings or outgoings.

But now with the future of the region safe and secure, thoughts can turn to sorting out recruitment for next season.

So what's top of the agenda for the Ospreys?

Fly-half could be, with the Dragons' potential interest in Davies noted above. Even if he doesn't join the Dragons, there's enough interest abroad to suggest he's leaving.

Anscombe has been rumoured to be an option, while Rhys Priestland looks set to stay at Bath this summer.

Otherwise, front-row needs sorting. Nicky Smith's future is unconfirmed as yet, while there's probably scope for a new tighthead.

Retaining some key faces, such as Alun Wyn Jones, is also a priority for Allen Clarke.

Wales international set to stay in England after club's dramatic U-turn 

SCARLETS

Sam Lousi in action for the Waratahs (Getty Images)

The arrivals

Sam Lousi (joining from Hurricanes)

The departures:

Scott Jenkins (joining Bedford Blues)

Tom Price (Exeter Chiefs)

Retained:

Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Johnny McNicholl.

What do they still need?

The Scarlets have been hit heavily by injuries this season, so, without sounding like too much of a cliché, getting some players off the medic's table and on the pitch could be like a raft of new signings.

Particularly someone like Blade Thomson, who has missed a large portion of this season with concussion. Getting him back would be a welcome boost.

Fly-half could need strengthening, with Dan Jones having fallen out of favour under Wayne Pivac and Rhys Patchell having also struggled with concussion this season. Hence why they're another region to be linked with Anscombe at the moment.

They could perhaps do with a little extra cover at lock, despite the addition of Hurricanes star Sam Lousi. They could do worse than look at Bradley Davies or Luke Charteris.

This is how much Wales' best rugby players are now getting paid and why Gareth Anscombe is not happy

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