Ambitious Steelers are targeting Wales star Hadleigh

WALES star Hadleigh Parkes has become a prime target for bigspending Japanese club Kobe Steelers, according to reports.

The Steelers’ star-studded squad this season included New Zealand greats Dan Carter and Brodie Retallick, as well as Australia stalwart Adam AshleyCooper.

The ambitious Japanese side are said to have next targeted Welsh centre Parkes.

It’s unclear when Parkes’ existing contract with the Scarlets, which he signed two years ago, runs out, or whether they have offered him an extension.

The Rugby Paper claim Parkes, who will be 33 in October, is in talks with Kobe about joining them in November despite the tantalising prospect of extending his Wales career and being picked by Warren Gatland for next year’s Lions tour of South Africa.

Parkes has been a regular in the Wales team since bagging a brace of tries on his debut in the win over South Africa at the tail-end of the 2017 autumn internationals.

He has been capped 29 times and was a key player during last year’s Six Nations Grand Slam, and was among the nominations for the player of the tournament which was won in the end by by Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.

Parkes helped Wales reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Japan, before they lost narrowly to eventual champions South Africa.

New Wales coach Wayne Pivac brought fellow New Zealander Parkes to Llanelli in December 2014 while head honcho of the Scarlets, and also picked him in his Test starting XV.

The popular Parkes, who qualified for Wales on residency, has made 122 appearances for the Scarlets.

From Hunterville in the North Island of New Zealand, the former sheep farmer played provincial rugby for Manawatu and Auckland, who he captained under Pivac.

He had spells in Super Rugby with the Auckland-based Blues, fellow Kiwi franchise Hurricanes and Southern Kings in South Africa before joining Pivac at the Scarlets.