Cardiff Rugby PROFILE

Wales prop Rhodri Jones has confirmed he will leave the Scarlets this summer to join the Ospreys. It means the tight-head, who has found his chances limited by competition with Samson Lee, will have to give up his current national dual contract, shared by the Scarlets and the Welsh Rugby Union.

Steve Shingler’s move from the Scarlets to the Cardiff Blues next season has been confirmed and he could be joined at the Arms Park by George Earle. Fly-half Shingler, 24, has been earmarked for the switch to the Blues since Rhys Patchell decided he would be travelling in the opposite direction.

Alex Cuthbert is out of Wales’ tour to New Zealand this summer after undergoing a knee operation. The Cardiff Blues player is expected to be sidelined for at least 12 weeks, putting him out of contention for the June trip which includes three Tests against the All Blacks.

Wales captain Sam Warburton has been warned he may have to settle for second best in his head-to-head with Scarlets flanker James Davies. The notice has been issued by Davies himself who believes his own form will allow him to put Warburton in the shade when they clash in his region’s Guinness Pro12 derby at home to the Cardiff Blues on Saturday.

Cardiff Blues have signed Hurricanes centre Willis Halaholo for next season on a three-year deal. Auckland-born Halaholo – who turned down a chance to play for Tonga at last year’s World Cup – will move to the Arms Park after playing for Waikato in the NPC competition later this year.

Kirby Myhill will become the third Scarlets player to leave the region and join the Cardiff Blues at the end of the season. The former Wales U20s hooker is joining second row George Earle and fly-half Steve Shingler in swapping red for blue in a bid to earn more regular rugby.

Jim Botham – grandson of cricket legend Sir Ian – has signed to play for the Cardiff Blues next season. The 18-year-old has agreed a one-year academy contract with the region and will move to the capital in June.

Sam Warburton picks his way through the scattered chairs inside the empty Cardiff Blues players’ lounge and finds a seat near the dartboard. “You wouldn’t sit here normally,” he says. “You’d probably get a dart in your head.”

Rhys Webb can be the Ospreys general who continues their battlefield dominance over the Cardiff Blues, according to his coach. Steve Tandy believes Webb’s recent elevation to captain will be a decisive factor in Saturday’s Judgement Day clash at the Principality Stadium.

GARETH Anscombe is expecting a black and red fan club when he returns to New Zealand in a fortnight. The Celtic Kiwi reckons half his old mates will turn up to cheer him on for Wales, but admits some could never do anything other than back the All Blacks.

Bradley Davies has admitted Wales were given “a right kicking” by the All Blacks this summer – but insists his teammates are ready to respond. Davies, who left the tour early because of a knee injury, has been declared fit for the start of the season which kicks off on September 2.

Nick Williams can provide the power to light up the Arms Park this season, according to his Cardiff Blues coach Danny Wilson. Williams, signed from Ulster in the summer, provided the energy supplies for the Blues and one of their four tries as they hammered Edinburgh 34-16 in their opening Guinness Pro12 fixture.