Ospreys consider new signing after Anscombe injury

THE Ospreys may look to bring in another flyhalf after the devastating news on Wales star Gareth Anscombe.

Wales are coming to terms with the loss of their 28-year-old playmaker, who sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Sunday’s clash against England at Twickenham.

But it’s shaping up to be a brutal setback for the Ospreys, too.

They made Anscombe their star signing of the summer in luring him from Cardiff Blues, but are set to be without him for much of the coming season, subject to confirmation on how long he will be sidelined.

There are concerns most of his debut campaign could be wiped out, with any participation in the Six Nations also in grave doubt.

The late start to the domestic season because of the World Cup means the regular term extends into late May, offering hope that Anscombe might yet see some action in 2019-20, but how much has yet to be determined.

The time-scale for an ACL recovery can vary, in some cases taking only six months. But at the other end of the scale it can be around nine months for an injured player to return to his pre-knock condition.

All of which has left the Ospreys pondering their options. With Sam Davies having departed for the Dragons, they have three other flyhalves on their books in James Hook, Luke Price and Cai Evans.

The Ospreys have to decide whether to ask the 34-year-old Hook to turn back the clock as their top fly-half or whether Price or Evans is ready for first-choice regional duty that could involve running the show in the Champions Cup.

But they could go outside their squad for additional cover if the right quality of player is out there at the right price.

Meantime, the Liberty Stadium region are still waiting for clearance over Shaun Venter, with the scrum-half’s move from to Wales having become entangled in red tape.