Ball to leave with Scarlets’ blessing
WALES and Scarlets lock Jake Ball is moving back to Australia at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on his international career and his time in Welsh rugby.
The region confirmed the news yesterday afternoon and it will come as a real blow to Wales boss Wayne Pivac.
The move has been made for family reasons. Ball’s wife Christie returned to Australia earlier this year with the couple’s three children and she gave birth to their fourth last month.
The popular lock, 29, is yet to meet his new son Max.
With his family now settled back Down Under, Ball will join them in the summer.
“It has been a difficult decision to make but one I have made for the family,” he said.
“My wife was expecting our fourth child and with Covid around and players having to be in bubbles and everything, we made the decision that she and the kids should go home to have some family help and support around her.
“Max was born last month; there have been Zoom calls and things, but I haven’t seen him yet and it has been difficult.
“As the season goes on, it would be pretty tough of me to ask Christie to come back here away from her family again.
“It has been a fantastic nine seasons I have been here. I love the Scarlets and playing with Wales has been unbelievable and something I will never forget.
“It has been a massive honour to represent my country, but at the end of the day I made a huge sacrifice in staying behind for a year without my family. I have four kids now and I won’t have seen them for close on a year.”
Ball was born in Ascot but grew up in Perth, Australia. He is eligible to play for Wales through his Welsh father and has 49 caps to his name.
Even if he features in the Six Nations, he will fall short of the 60-cap mark, which means he will be ineligible for selection under the Welsh Rugby Union’s selection policy after he moves in July.
In the last 18 months Ball has played some of the best rugby of his career and was a standout operator at the 2019 World Cup, partnering captain Alun Wyn Jones at lock.
His sizeable presence will be missed by both region and country.
“I owe a lot to the Scarlets and Welsh rugby,” Ball added. “I was at the Western Force before, but it was the Scarlets who gave me my first real shot in senior rugby and it will be nice to finish off on a high and reward the Scarlets for everything they have done for me over the years.
“I have some very special memories and have got to do some fantastic things. We have won the PRO12, made a European semi-final; there has been a Grand Slam and two World Cups with Wales. I have no regrets with what I have done here.
“I am just hoping we can have supporters back at Parc y Scarlets before the end of the season. It would be great to have them here so I can say my farewells properly.”
Ball signed for the Scarlets in 2012, joining from Australia’s Super Rugby franchise Western Force.
He has since played 127 times for the region and would have racked up far more appearances for club and country were it not for a myriad of injuries during his stay in Wales.
Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney said: “As a club we fully respect Jake’s decision. Family is a massive part of the Scarlets and Jake has sacrificed a huge amount being away from Christie and his children for so long.
“He has been a wonderful servant for the Scarlets, an outstanding player, a great bloke around the group and a fantastic mentor to the young players coming through.
“You saw by his performance against the Ospreys on Boxing Day what playing for the Scarlets means to him. Let’s hope we can have some supporters back into Parc y Scarlets by the end of the season to give him the send-off he deserves.”
It is understood that Ball talked Pivac through his decision during the recent autumn campaign and he leaves with the full support of the Wales boss.