‘Turnover king’ Will looking for a new challenge

FRUSTARTED by a lack of gametime at Cardiff, turnover specialist Will Boyde decided to leave the club and become a free agent.

The former Wales U20s back row, now 28, made just seven starts last season but was still 15th on the list of turnovers won in the URC with 15, despite playing fewer games than his counterparts.

Despite that record, Boyde faced stiff competition in Cardiff’s back row that includes Welsh internationals James Botham, Ellis Jenkins, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Josh Navidi and Josh Turnbull.

So Boyde has opted for pastures new, but his next move is still undecided.

He said: “The decision came late on in the season. It was just a point of looking at my age and the depth of the squad next year and with the new signings I felt the opportunity to leave the club was right for myself.

“The landscape of rugby is ever changing but it’s a critical one for our family situation at the moment, we’re expecting our second baby in October, and we just wanted to make sure our home life and work life would be right for us.

“The next couple years in Cardiff wasn’t going to look right for myself and my family going forward.”

The former Scarlets forward had been linked with a move to Bayonne. Boyde says he is not going there but confirmed he would be tempted if a French club came knocking.

He said: “I think it would be up there with the top experiences I’d really like to do. To immerse myself into a completely different culture that I’m used to. If I got a chance to go out there, I would grab it with both hands.”

Boyde revealed becoming a ‘turnover king’ was a target set out before the start of the season and is delighted with that facet of his game.

He said: “I’ve had a look back and I’m in the top 15 in the league for turnovers this season and I’ve played half the gametime of anyone else in that bracket. The turnover per game average was really high, so it’s a good strength of mine and I’d like to show it somewhere else now.”