THE VIOLINS will have stayed inside cases at the Welsh regions when hearing sob stories coming out of Northern Ireland in recent weeks.

First there was Stephen Ferris, the magnificent former back row forward, bemoaning the way that his old province has recruited.

"If Ulster want to compete with the best, they have to bring in big names year in, year out," he said. "When you lose four or five stars and bring in one or two you won't cut it."

That was followed by the build-up to the province's away clash at the Ospreys in which the Sky Sports panel sympathised about injuries to key figures.

Talk of an Irish province struggling in terms of squad size and funding will have prompted tea to have been spat out at Rodney Parade, the Arms Park, Liberty Stadium and Parc y Scarlets.

The regions have been underfunded and have to make every penny count while the spat with the Welsh Rugby Union over a fresh participation deal made the situation especially challenging last summer.

The recruitment drive should be a bit easier over the coming months but, at this halfway stage of the season, there were a handful of super signings last summer made despite the adversity.

A few weeks ago I praised the impact that Rynard Landman has made at Newport Gwent Dragons yet he has a challenger for the title of signing of the season in James Thomas, who has been immense in the back row in November and December.

The 24-year-old earned a shot thanks to his exploits with Bedwas but rather than operating as squad filler, as the management team surely expected, he has deservedly held on to the 6 jersey.

The pair lead the way out in the east while in the west Ospreys full-back Dan Evans has made a mockery of the Dragons' decision to release him while Josh Matavesi has been superb in midfield.

Of course there are misses to go along with the hits, although there is still time for the strugglers to change the verdict.

Aled Brew and Lee Byrne have been hindered by injury at the Dragons while tighthead David Young has played just 43 minutes. Internationals Jarrad Hoeata and Adam Jones have not set the world alight at Cardiff Blues while Chris Hala'ufia's spell was an extremely short one at the Scarlets.

Hopefully the work done by the regions over the coming weeks and months will ensure that there is a lengthy list of contenders for the best signing of 2015/16.