By Andrew Collins
January 30 2006

Cardiff RFC have bolstered their squad by signing 2 new Welshman. As expected, coach Howard Stone acted quickly in a bid to save the capital from relegation and their arrival comes not a moment too soon.

Flanker Gareth Gravell and utility back Richard Davies have been drafed into the squad from English National One side Coventry.

Gravell, who is 25, was part of the Newport side that led the 'Black and Ambers' to league success two years ago, and also has honurs with Wales U21 aswell as being a regular for Coventry over the last 2 years.

Richard Davies comes in as cover for a number of positions, being comfortable at full back, centre and fly-half. The Ebbw Vale and Newport player also has experience at regional level with the Dragons. At 27, he offers good long-term cover aswell as a calming and experienced head.

They join up with former Blues players James Malpas, James Goode, Mark Lewis, Nathan Llewellyn and Dean Dewdney who have all signed contracts with the feeder club.

Another new comer, Kris Kinsey made his first appearence for the 'Blues and Blacks' in the 39-31 dog fight against Llandovery last weekend. The prop arrived on 53 minutes but failed to help his new team mates overcome the side one place above.

Cardiff have to register their final squad come January 31st, and Stone will be keen to bring in as many new faces as possible, but with the Blues already releasing frindge players, it's unlikely there will be many more arrivals.

theArmsPark.co.uk wrote before Saturdays match about the importance of players appearing for the feeder sides (Glamorgan Wanderers RFC, Pontyprdd RFC and Cardiff RFC), but none of the Blues fringe-men played and questions have to be asked about why Peter Thomas is paying certain players wages. Kort Schubert, Tristan Davies, Ben Evans, Mamma Molitika and Lee Thomas all have ample talent and experience, but are getting very little game time for the region. Despite a move suiting all parties, none of the above featured and Cardiff RFC lost their crunch match to Llandovri 30-31, with relegation beckoning.