Wales teen wonder Tom Prydie aiming to fly high again
The former Ospreys wing wonders, part of Wales’ 2010 Six Nations squad, fell down the pecking order at club and country due to injuries and loss of form.
They left the Ospreys in the search of regular rugby at the end of last season with Prydie, following his heroics at the Junior World Cup, moving east to Newport Gwent Dragons.
The Porthcawl-product, who became Wales’ youngest player and try-scorer two years ago, admits his time at the Liberty Stadium became hugely frustrating but he hopes to continue his Wales U20 form at Rodney Parade. Prydie, 20, said: “The injuries (ACL and shoulder reconstruction) were a frustrating time and I wasn’t getting many games.
“But the JWC was a great positive for me. We went out there and did really well, we couldn’t have imagined coming in the top three in the world.
“But it does feel like a second chance at the Dragons. I’m feeling good and just want to show what I can do.”
It has been suggested that Prydie was introduced to senior rugby too early and burnt out as a result.
But the full-back-cum-wing has dismissed the suggestion and is determined to prove himself again in the quest for further honours.
Prydie said: “If you ask any Welsh player at the regions they would all love to play for Wales. I am no different but I have to focus on the Dragons, it’s a fresh start and my priority.
“Darren (Edwards) is a great coach. He coached me through the U18s, I really get on with him and hopefully I will get some good game time.”
While Prydie moved east along the M4, Phillips, 21, has made the short trip across the Loughor to west Wales rivals the Scarlets.
Like Prydie, Phillips, right, has suffered a succession of injuries and was left behind at the Ospreys following the emergence of Hanno Dirksen and Eli Walker.
But after mastering his trade under Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe, Phillips reckons he is ready to reannounce himself in the regional game.
He said: “The last two years have been very frustrating – I went from being involved in the Six Nations squad to not having much regional experience.
“Having a shoulder reconstruction at a young age, when playing senior rugby is tough and it takes a while to get back into things. It also takes a toll mentally.
“But it was brilliant learning and working with Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe and Nikki Walker every day.
“I really enjoyed my time at the Ospreys but I was looking for a new challenge and more game time.
“I’ve got a fresh start at the Scarlets and hopefully things will go well for me.
“It’s still a tough challenge with all the good youngsters we have and the competition for place but I’m really excited for the new season.”
PRO 12 TRANSFERS
CARDIFF BLUES
IN: Lou Reed (Scarlets), Benoit Borrust (Perpignan), Andi Kyriacou (Ulster), Jason Tovey (Dragons), Campese Ma’afu (West Harbour Pirates), Robin Copeland (Rotherham Titans), Rob Lewis (London Welsh), Marc Breeze (Aberavon), Ryan Tyrrell (Western Force)
OUT: Richie Rees (Edinburgh), John Yapp (Edinburgh), Rhys Thomas (Wasps), Dan Parks (Connacht), Casey Laulala (Munster), Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Xavier Rush, Paul Tito, Ma’ama Molitika, Deiniol Jones, Martyn Williams, Gareth Williams, Ben Blair (all retired), Gavin Henson (released)
CONNACHT
IN: Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Nathan White (Leinster), Willie Faloon (Ulster), Jason Harris-Wright (Bristol), Brian Murphy (Galwegians), Danie Poolman (Stormers)
OUT: Ray Ofisa, Henry Fa’afili, Dermot Murphy, Dylan Rogers, Jamie Stephens, Brian Tuohy, Niall O’Connor (Ulster)
DRAGONS
IN: Tonderai Chavhanga (Lions), Andy Tuilagi (Sale), Tom Prydie (Ospreys), Dan Evans (Scarlets), Ian Nimmo (Cornish Pirates), Tim Ryan (Cavalieri Prato)
OUT: Jason Tovey (Blues), Matthew Jones (Bristol), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Aled Brew (Biarritz), Martyn Thomas (Gloucester), Tom Riley, Jaime Leadbeater, Gethin Robinson (Newport), Rhys Buckley (Doncaster), Royce Cadman (Doncaster), Hugo Ellis (Rosslyn Park), Rhys Jenkins (Newport), Ben Castle (retired), Tom Willis (retired), Scott Morgan (Coventry)
EDINBURGH
IN: John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), WP Nel (Cheetahs), Izak van der Westhuizen (Cheetahs), Perry-John Parker (Esher), Dimitri Basilaia (Valence d’Agen), Richie Rees (Cardiff Blues), Greig Tonks (Northampton), Ben Atiga (Otago), Mike Penn (Nottingham), Andy Titterrell (Leeds)
OUT: Kyle Traynor, Andrew Kelly, Jack Gilding, Esteban Lozada (Agen), Alan MacDonald, Mike Blair (Brive), Phil Godman (London Scottish), Jim Thompson (London Scottish), Chris Paterson (retired)
LEINSTER
IN: Michael Bent (Hurricanes), Tom Denton (Leeds), Quinn Roux (Stormers), Andrew Goodman (Tasman Makos)
OUT: Matt Berquist (Biarritz), Nathan White (Connacht), Eamonn Sheridan (Rotherham), Brad Thorn (Fukuoka Sanix Blues), Ciaran Ruddock (released)
MUNSTER
IN: James Downey (Northampton Saints), Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), CJ Stander (Blue Bulls), Sean Dougall (Rotherham Titans), Christy Condon (Dolphin RFC), Barry O’Mahony (Clontarf RFC)
OUT: Tomas O’Leary (London Irish), Lifeimi Mafi (USA Perpignan), Denis Fogarty (Aurillac), Declan Cusack (Garryowen), Peter Borlase (released), John Hayes, Mick O’Driscoll, Jerry Flannery, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Darragh Hurley (all retired)
OSPREYS
IN: Stefan Watermeyer (Blue Bulls), Jonathan Spratt (London Irish)
OUT: Paul James (Bath), Huw Bennett (Lyon), Nikki Walker (Worcester), Shane Williams (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Tommy Bowe (Ulster), Sonny Parker (London Welsh), James Goode (Newcastle), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Kristian Phillips (Scarlets), Cai Griffiths (London Irish), Gareth Owen (Scarlets), Scott Johnson (Scotland)
SCARLETS
IN: Gareth Owen (Ospreys), Kristian Phillips (Ospreys), George Earle (Cheetahs), Tomás Vallejos (Harlequins), Manual Carrizza (Biarritz)
OUT: Stephen Jones (London Wasps), Dominic Day (Bath), Lou Reed (Blues), Damian Welch (Exeter), Dan Evans (Dragons), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Sean Lamont (Glasgow), Nigel Davies (Gloucester), Ruki Tipuna (Bristol), Iestyn Thomas, Rhys Thomas (both retired)
TREVISO
IN: James Ambrosini (Queensland A), Dean Budd (NEC Green Rockets), Michele Campagnaro (Mirano Rugby 1957), Alberto de Marchi (Aironi), Angelo Esposito (Ruggers Tarvisium), Simone Favaro (Aironi), Marco Fuser (Mogliano), Doppies La Grange (Lions), Christian Loamanu (Toulon), Giovanni Maistri (Rugby Calvisano), Luca Morisi (Crociati), Jacobus Roux (Bordeaux-Begles), Giulio Toniolatti (Aironi)
OUT: Benjamin de Jager (Calvisano), Carlo Fazzari (Zebre), Ezio Galon (Mogliano), Gonzalo García (Zebre), Enrico Pavanello (Mogliano), Simon Picone (Calvisano), Augusto Allori (released), Willem de Waal (released), Gonzalo Padro (released), Bian Vermaak (released), Diego Vidal (released)
ULSTER
IN: Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), Roger Wilson (Northampton), Niall O’Connor (Connacht Rugby), Rob Herring (Western Province), Michael Heaney (Doncaster), Sean Doyle (Southern Districts), Nick Williams (Aironi)
OUT: Conor Gaston (London Irish), Ian Whitten (Exeter Chiefs), Willie Faloon (Connacht Rugby), Pedrie Wannenburg (Castres), Andy Kyriacou (Cardiff Blues), Ian Humphreys (London Irish), Tim Barker (Rainey Old Boys), Simon Danielli (retiring), Stefan Terblanche (retiring), James McKinney (Rotherham), Jerry Cronin (Doncaster Knights)
WARRIORS
IN: Angus Macdonald (Coca Cola West Red Sparks), Tim Swinson (Newcastle), Viliami Ma’afu (Sagamihara Dynaboars), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Taylor Paris (Ontario Blues), Jason White (Toulon), Nikola Matawalu (Navy Rugby Club)
OUT: Fergus Thomson, Richie Gray (Sale), Rob Verbakel, Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), Calum Forrester, Rob Dewey, Mike Doneghan (Rotherham), David Lemi (Worcester), Colin Shaw, Federico Martín Aramburú (retired)
ZEBRA
IN: Matías Aguëro (Aironi), Andrea de Marchi (Aironi), Salvatore Perugini (Aironi), Andrea Manici (Crociati), Carlo Festuccina (Aironi), Davide Giazzon (Rovigo), Flavio Tripodi (Crociati), Dave Ryan (Lazio), Luciano Leibson (San Luis, Argentina), Marco Bortolami (Aironi), Quintin Geldenhuys (Aironi), Filippo Cazzola (Cavalieri Prato), Nicola Cattina (Aironi), Nicola Belardo (Cavalieri Prato), Michael van Vuren (Crociati), Filippo Cristiano (Rovigo), Filippo Ferrarini (Aironi), Emiliano Caffini (Crociati), Tito Tebaldi (Aironi), Luca Martinelli (Fiamme Oro), Alberto Chillon (Petrarca Padova), Alberto Benettin (Aironi), Paolo Buso (Aironi), Luciano Orquera (Aironi), Matteo Pratichetti (Aironi), Roberto Quartaroli (Aironi), Gonzalo García (Treviso), Giovanbattista Venditti (Aironi), Leonardo Sarto (Petrarca Padova), Ruggero Trevisan (Aironi), David Odiete (Reggio), Dries van Schalkwyk (Free State Cheetahs), Alberto Chiesa (Cavalieri Prato), Andrea Manici (Crociati), Carlo Fazzari (Treviso), Luca Redolfini (Aironi), Josh Sole (Aironi), Mauro Bergamasco (Aironi), Samuele Pace (Rovigo), Sinoti Sinoti (Aironi)
OUT: N/A
