Thomas And Skanklin Move To Cardiff

Cardiff have completed a double raid across the border by signing English-based Welsh internationals Tom Shanklin and Nathan Thomas.
Saracens centre Shanklin and Bath back-rower Thomas are the latest in a rush of Wales Test stars to join coach Dai Young’s drastic overhaul on the back of the club’s worst ever showing in Europe.
They follow second-rows Craig Quinnell and Andy Moore, prop Ben Evans and hooker Gareth Williams to the Arms Park.
Shanklin has been capped 12 times since making his debut on the 2001 tour to Japan and had been targetted by a number of regional sides in Wales while nine-times capped Thomas ends a seven-year stay at Bath.
“Our squad is taking shape and brining Tom and Nathan back to Wales shows what we are all about,” said Young.
“We want to be competing at the highest level and you have got to have quality players to do that.
“The fact that Tom has chosen to come here is a vote of confidence and a big boost to what we are trying to do and he wants to be part of the new system.
“So does Nathan who I think will have a very big impact here at Cardiff. He can play right across the back-row and he’s a real grafter who does a lot of the unseen stuff.”
Cardiff have gone to great lengths to bolster their heavily criticised pack given their obvious strengths among the backs with the likes of Iestyn Harris, Rhys Williams and Jamie Robinson.
But despite this double signing, Young is still desperately on the hunt for another prop as the final piece to the jigsaw.
The Blue and Blacks failed to steal Martyn madden from Llanelli and yesterday lost recent recruit Tim Payne to Wasps.