Up for grabs... the lengthy list of players released by English

THE last few weeks have seen teams across Wales and England axe swathes of players from their squads at the end of their contracts.

With lockdown having a huge impact on clubs and regions, budgets are tighter than ever as organisations do all they can to survive.

It means players being left in limbo, with no club and potentially limited interest given the current situation. We look at the top players who’ve been released by English Premiership clubs and the ones who could yet end up in Wales...

Matt Garvey (Bath)

THE physical forward spent two of his six seasons as skipper of the west country club after arriving from London Irish in the 2013/14 campaign.

His performances in the lineout and loose earned the Essex-born lock/back-row a call-up to the England Saxons squad. He was out of contract this month, and having started just two games for the club under new director of rugby Stuart Hooper, was one of 16 players released by Bath.

Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints)

THE 2019 Rugby World Cup winner was announced as a departure from Franklin’s Gardens just a few months after being part of the victorious Springboks squad in Japan.

France was the likely destination of the jet-propelled scrum-half, who cut cult figure status in the east Midlands for some spectacular solo tries.

But a move to Montpellier has yet to materialise for the player who forged a potent half-back pairing at Saints with Welsh star Dan Biggar.

Aled Brew (Bath)

THE 33-year-old wing has played for 10 different teams in three different countries over the past 15 years.

Along the way, he’s won nine Wales caps and was part of the squad that reached the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup.

After four seasons at The Rec during which he played some of his best rugby - the winger is moving on and is keen to secure a regional deal back home in Wales.

You can read his story in our interview with him, here.

Sione Kalamafoni (Leicester Tigers)

THE powerful Tongan back-rower, capped 37 times by the Pacific Islanders, was a fans’ favourite at Welford Road for his robust style of play.

His ball-carrying went down a storm at the Tigers and since his release, the 32-year-old is now being heavily linked with the Scarlets.

He previously played more than 100 times for Gloucester and his signature would be a big coup for new boss Glenn Delaney.

All the signs are that this will