Scarlets offered record sum to keep Peel

Jan 16 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

THE Scarlets were prepared to break the bank in a bid to make Dwayne Peel the highest-paid player in the region’s history.

But not even a £200,000-plus offer was enough to stop Peel from joining Sebastien Chabal, Andrew Sheridan and Luke McAlister at the top end of the Sale Sharks salary structure.

The Scarlets revealed, in a short statement yesterday, that the 59-times capped scrum-half had joined the ambitious Guinness Premiership outfit.

However, that was contradicted by sources in Manchester last night, who said the terms and length of Peel’s deal had yet to be confirmed – or indeed signed.

But, having seemingly lost the battle to keep Peel at Stradey, Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies rapped, “It’s got nothing to do with finance.

“We offered him the biggest deal in the region’s history. So it’s definitely not about that.

“He has made a decision and it’s disappointing for us. What I would like to do now is get everybody a Magners League winners’ medal and he can take that away with him.

“We are grateful for the contribution Dwayne has made over the years and I’m grateful personally for the contribution over the last 15 to 18 months while I have been here.

“I know he has been thinking about it for a while and good luck to him.

“I don’t think it was a wrench for him to go because if it had been I don’t think he would have made that decision to go.

“Simon (Easterby) made a decision to come from Leeds a long time ago. I made the decision to go from Llanelli to Leeds and Stephen (Jones) made a decision to go to Clermont.

“You make decisions in life and you know with that comes a little bit of doubt and uncertainty.

“But after a while he will be fine. I think he wants to experience something different, a new rugby culture.

“Playing in the Magners League is different from playing in the Guinness Premiership.

“There are all sorts of experiences which I’m sure he will enjoy. I hope he does.

“It’s an opportunity for Dwayne and it’s an opportunity for us. We have got to develop players and try and find the best No 9 to put that red shirt on and take this team forward.”

As far as the Scarlets are concerned they will have to unearth a scrum-half of similar ability and pedigree as the Lions star.

As well as developing the likes of home-grown talent like Liam Davies, the Scarlets are bound to trawl the world in pursuit of a world-class scrum-half.

Chief executive Stuart Gallacher has already indicated there will be a bigger budget for recruitment available to Davies in the close season.

Peel’s Wales future seemed secure last night after coach Warren Gatland appeared to distance himself from previous remarks about the scrum-half’s future.

On the controversial selection strategy the WRU proposed last week, when suggesting that players moving outside Wales would be harming their international prospects, Davies said, “It’s professional sport and decisions have to be made in a clear, unemotional and objective fashion.

“And I think that’s the way those rugby decisions should be made.”

It was only yesterday morning that Peel’s Scarlets team-mates were officially told of his move north, and Scarlets skipper Easterby confirmed the scrum-half was determined to try pastures new.

“Dwayne’s been a part of the club and region for 11 years and he is a good guy on and off the field.

“So there is a disappointment here that he is leaving. But we wish him the best.

“As he is moving to a different place in his life, so we have to move on as well.

“The club have been excellent in terms of trying to keep hold of him. I don’t think it was a financial decision, he wanted to try something new.

“He is born and bred in this area and he has supported and played for the Scarlets all his life, so it will give him a different focus.

“He’ll be playing in a different environment and working with different coaches and players.

“He has got to go and prove himself again. He has proved himself here and his reputation will precede him, but he has got to go there and deliver that reputation.”

Peel will certainly not have it his own way at Sale with Richard Wigglesworth, who has just been included in England’s RBS Six Nations Championship squad, and former Celtic Warriors tough guy Sililo Martens the other main scrum-halves in the squad.

While the Scarlets were bracing themselves to lose Peel, they also dipped into the transfer market themselves yesterday to sign Samoan World Cup hooker Mahonri Schwalger for the rest of the season.

The 28-year-old is registered and available to play against Clermont on Saturday at Stradey Park in the Scarlets’ final Pool 5 clash.

Matthew Rees (shoulder) hopes to return and Stephen Jones, Alix Popham, Gavin Thomas, Dafydd James and Nathan Brew have all been back in training this week after missing the weekend thrashing at Wasps.

Davies is due to finalise his team today, but it is unlikely to include Peel (shoulder), Regan King (ribs) and Vernon Cooper (shoulder).

There is also a question mark over the fitness of Morgan Stoddart, who missed out on Wales squad selection on Monday.