Jenkins set to follow Williams to Ospreys

ELLIS Jenkins looks set to swap Cardiff Blues for the Ospreys for the start of next season.

The flanker will become the second Wales international to commit his future to the Swansea-based region following the arrival of Scarlets centre Scott Williams.

Jenkins will not be allowed to leave the Blues without a fight given his status as one of the region's most valuable players and the capital side have offered him a new contract in the hope he’ll stay. But The Rugby

Paper understands the former Wales U20 captain is open to a move away from Cardiff Arms Park.

“I’ve spoken to the board and we are pushing on with recruitment,” said Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy. “Hopefully we will have some signings in the next couple of weeks which will make us more competitive. Last year a couple of boys were sold and we made good money from that, but it’s about getting some investment back into the group.” Ospreys have endured a torrid season to date and Tandy is a man under pressure. But the former flanker has received a vote of confidence from the region’s board who are set to back him by making funds available to strengthen his squad. Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies is an imminent arrival, while current Blues backs coach Matt Sherratt is also set to be appointed to head up the Ospreys attack for next season with Gruff Rees moving on. “We’re pretty confident of bringing some players in who will make a difference and add competition, but also take us to where we want this club to be,” Tandy said.

“We definitely need to bring more faces in. We brought two in last year and there was a hell of a lot going out. We have been reliant on a lot of young guys who have done pretty well, but any team needs new blood.”

Meanwhile, Jenkins' competitor for a Wales openside berth, James Davies, looks set for a first international call-up for the 2018 Six Nations.

The all-action flanker last week signed a new deal with the Scarlets, whose head coach Wayne Pivac said: “I believe if James was fit he would have been picked in the Wales squad this time round. We rate him very highly.

“We’d like to think that one day he’ll get an opportunity. I think he’s a very good player.”