Ospreys reveal list of players set for exit

THE Ospreys have named a 15-strong list of players leaving the Liberty Stadium region this season.

The departures of Welsh halfbacks Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar to Toulon and Northampton Saints respectively have been well documented and known for some time.

But the Ospreys confirmed, at their annual awards dinner on Monday night, Moldovan frontrow strongman Dmitri Arhip and Canadian wing Jeff Hassler will be among the long list of first teamers heading for pastures new this summer.

They will be joined through the Liberty exit door by Worcester Warriors bound Ashley Beck, former All Blacks scrum-half Brendon Leonard, wing Jay Baker, South African prop Brian Mujati, Wales wing Dafydd Howells, front-rower Hugh Gustafson, centre Kieron Fonotia, who is joining the Scarlets, Rowan Jenkins and Guy Mercer.

Wales wing Eli Walker has been forced to hang up his boots after failing to overcome a back injury, while centre Ben John is taking a 12-month break from the game to overcome a series of head injuries.

Ospreys managing director Andrew Millward told the club website: “On behalf of everybody at the Ospreys, I’d like to thank each individual for their service and hard work while at the region.

“In professional sport there will always be a turnover at this time of the year with people leaving. It’s important that we recognise each one of these has contributed positively to our environment during their time as an Osprey and, no doubt, will continue to do so over the coming weeks in preparation for our Champions Cup play-off in May.”

Off the field, the Ospreys are also saying farewell to backs coach Gruff Rees skills coach Tom Smith and physio Ed Holden.

The departing players were thanked for their service to the region with a special shirt presentation to those who attended the annual dinner at the Liberty Stadium on Monday where Hassler, Dan Evans, Bradley Davies and Owen Watkin picked up the main awards.

Wales centre Watkin was the supporters’ player of the year, while veteran lock Davies was the coaches’ choice. Full-back Evans was the players’ player of the year and Hassler the social media player of the season.

The Osprey of the Year award went to kit-man Shaun Mcauliffe while president Geoff Atherton became only the third recipient of the lifetime achievement award, recognising his service to Swansea RFC and the Ospreys, on and off the field, for more than half a century.