Beck’s the latest back to depart Ospreys

WALES international Ashley Beck will become the fourth high-profile back to leave the Liberty Stadium this summer when he joins team-mate Dan Biggar in the Aviva Premiership next season.

While Biggar heads to Northampton Saints, gifted centre Beck will link up with Worcester Warriors after spending more than a decade with the Ospreys.

Beck has played 132 times to date with the region, a figure that could well have been doubled or more had it not been for a catalogue of injury problems.

He will be the second Ospreys centre heading for pastures new, with former Crusader Kieron Fonotia switching to regional rivals, the Scarlets, with Scott Williams moving in the opposite direction.

And Rhys Webb joins the Ospreys quartet leaving the region, with the Wales and Lions scrum-half heading off to Top 14 giants Toulon, meaning he, like Beck, will not be eligible to continue their international career.

Beck, 27, made his Test bow against Australia, in Brisbane, in the summer of 2012 with the last of his seven caps coming in the 2013 autumn international series clash with Tonga.

Beck said: “I’ve had a fantastic time with the Ospreys and I’m immensely proud to have played so many times for my home region, so this has been an incredibly tough decision.

“I’m grateful to everyone at the region for all the support I’ve had over the years and will always be an Osprey.

“However, given the stage I am at in my career I believe that the time is right for me to take on a new challenge. Worcester is a great club with some fantastic facilities. I’m excited about joining a backline full of pace and energy and look forward to the prospect of playing Premiership Rugby which I believe is the most competitive league in the world.

“Before I go to Worcester there is still plenty for us to play for this season and my focus between now and May is firmly on helping the Ospreys to improve our league position and, hopefully, ensure a place in next season’s Champions Cup.”

Warriors’ director of rugby Alan Solomons added: “Ashley is a superb player with international experience and will be a real asset to the side.”

Dan Griffiths, rugby general manager at the Ospreys said: “Ashley has served the Ospreys with distinction since coming through as a teenager and, while sad to see him leave, we understand that is the nature of professional sport.”