Davies set to follow Williams to Ospreys
WALES international scrumhalf Aled Davies is to follow Scarlets team-mate Scott Williams across the Loughor Bridge at the end of the season after agreeing a deal to join the Ospreys.
The 25-year-old, who came through the academy ranks in Llanelli, has signed a two-year contract with the Liberty side that runs until the summer of 2020.
Davies wore the No.9 jersey in Wales’ autumn series win over South Africa on Saturday, his fifth appearance for his country since making his debut on this summer’s tour.
He has been jousting with Gareth Davies and Jonathan Evans for the starting jersey at Parc y Scarlets and, with British Lion Rhys Webb moving to Toulon at the end of the season, Davies will see the move as a golden opportunity to nail down a firstchoice spot in Swansea.
The Carmarthen product said: “It’s been an incredibly hard decision to leave my boyhood club at the Scarlets where I’ve had a fantastic nine years at the club and I leave many good friends.
“However, having sat down a few times with Steve Tandy, it was clear that moving to the Ospreys was the correct rugby move for me and will allow me to develop further as a player.
“I believe the Ospreys game-plan will suit my style of play and I’m very excited about trying to form a good partnership with Sam Davies, hopefully playing a big part in future success at the Ospreys.
“For now though, my focus is on the rest of the season at the Scarlets and I will be working hard to try and play a role in achieving more silverware this season.”
Davies becomes the second Scarlet to sign a deal with their arch rivals in the space of a week, following Wales centre Williams’ shock decision to leave the PRO14 champions.
Ospreys head coach Steve Tandy said: “Aled is a fantastic rugby player and a great addition to the squad for next season.
“We’ve spoken at length and this is a great fit for both player and region, a move that makes perfect sense all round.
“With his ability to read a game and decision making skills, combined with real physicality and one of the best passes in the game, he is a real threat and will be a huge asset to the Ospreys, competing with Tom Habberfield and the outstanding young nines we have coming through our ranks.
“He has a really bright future ahead at regional and international level and we are delighted the he sees the Ospreys as the best place to achieve his ambitions.”
Andrew Millward, Ospreys rugby managing director, added: “We are working extremely hard behind the scenes to strengthen our squad for next season, identifying players of the calibre of Scott and Aled who are buying into the vision that Steve has for the Ospreys. With two leading internationals already secured for next season we hope to confirm further additions in the coming weeks that will be equally exciting for everyone involved with the region.”
Davies becomes the fourth member of the Scarlets’ squad who has announced he is leaving at the end of the campaign – Williams, Scotland’s John Barclay (Edinburgh) and Irishman Tadhg Beirne (Munster) are the others.
Commenting on Davies’ departure, Jon Daniels, Scarlets general manager of rugby, said: “We would like to thank Aled for his services to the Scarlets over the last decade.
“He has been a valued member of the squad over the years and has played his part in some important victories during his time here.
“We understand and respect his reasons for leaving and we wish him well with the next chapter of his career.”
HOW many of Warren Gatland’s Test Lions would make a Home Unions team of the autumn internationals and who would coach it?
Injuries have cost the likes of Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams any chance of making it, while England boss Eddie Jones has boxed clever with star turns Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell.
He rested them from part of it and the Six Nations champions have been slipping under the radar, beating Argentina, Australia and Samoa without setting the world alight.
Wales were torn apart by a glut of injuries with Lions skipper Sam Warburton yet to play this season, Ross Moriarty being sidelined and Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric suffering knocks. Ireland produced a masterclass against South Africa with their Lions on top form and put away Argentina while Scotland have been the surprise package.
They came so close to beating New Zealand for the first time and racked up a record victory over Australia. It was the second time they’ve defeated the Wallabies since the astute Gregor Townsend took over as coach following the Six Nations.
The Western Mail has been through the tapes. Here’s the verdict... 15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland) Terrorised the All Blacks with his running from deep and was the stand-out full-back of the autumn internationals. 14 Jacob Stockdale (Ireland) The big, new kid on the block has got tongues wagging with his expertise and is ready to explode on the Six Nations. 13 Huw Jones (Scotland) Injury cost him dearly last season, but the former Super Rugby star was bang on form for a Scotland team that hit over-drive. 12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland) The talk has been about his new midfield partner Bundee Aki, but Henshaw showed there’s far more to his game than the crash-ball. 11 Elliot Daly (England) A Test Lion who actually makes the team of the autumn, he’s a smooth operator and a consistent force at international level. 10 Finn Russell (Scotland) Johnny Sexton was on a high, but Russell showed why moneybags Racing 92 have signed him with sizzling displays versus New Zealand and Australia. 9 Conor Murray (Ireland) Scotland up-and-comer Ali Price impressed, but old hand Murray is still a master at scrum-half in controlling the tempo of a game. 1 Rob Evans (Wales) The only Welshman to make the team, after seeing off the challenge of Mako Vunipola and a rejuvenated Cian Healy. 2 Stuart McNally (Scotland) So dynamic and such a handful in the loose, the former flanker or No.8 made a huge impression at hooker. 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) The cornerstone of the Lions pack and, if anything, he has got better this autumn to lay claim to be the world’s most-effective prop. 4 Iain Henderson (Ireland) Narrowly missed out on the Lions Test team following a late surge and is still heading upward at lock with his rousing form. 5 Joe Launchbury (England) A controversial omission from the Lions party, but is an ultra-reliable figure in England colours to edge out Jonny Gray and Alun Wyn Jones. 6 John Barclay (Scotland) The Scarlets star is doing a tremendous job as Scotland captain and is an expert at winning turnovers at the breakdown. 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland) Rob Howley’s ‘favourite player’ was just dynamite for Ireland this autumn, months after starring for the Lions. 8 CJ Stander (Ireland) Taulupe Faletau’s indifferent autumn opened the way for consistent performer Stander to put himself forward. Coach: Gregor Townsend (Scotland) Hasn’t been in his job long, but it’s not a surprise such a clever tactician is making waves with Scotland to edge ahead of Ireland’s Joe Schmidt and England mastermind Eddie Jones.