Ospreys are ready to make a move for Cardiff star Thomas
THE Ospreys are in talks over signing Wales international Ben Thomas from Cardiff. WalesOnline understands that no official deal for the two-cap Thomas, who can play either fly-half, centre or full-back, has been tabled yet by the Ospreys, but their interest in the playmaker makes sense given the upcoming retirement of Stephen Myler and the uncertain future of Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe.
The Ospreys are also set to lose centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, with the young midfielder set to accept an offer in Japan.
The uncertain financial situation at the Arms Park is also likely to be a factor. Last month, WalesOnline revealed that a dozen players, earning somewhere between £50,000 to £250,000, were only able to be offered £30,000-a-year.
Understandably, that has severely hampered recruitment for next year.
Fly-half, in particular, could be a position of relative weakness next season.
Rhys Priestland is set to leave the Arms Park, while Jarrod Evans has agreed a deal with Harlequins.
Were Thomas to also leave, that would leave Dai Young with just Matthew Morgan and Jacob Beetham capable of playing 10.
Naturally, bringing in another flyhalf will be on the agenda - with former Cardiff outside-half Rhys Patchell seemingly set to leave the Scarlets this summer.
While a potential move to Japan might be of interest to the Wales flyhalf, a return to the Welsh capital would make sense.
However, any deal would be dependent on the finances.
Last month, Cardiff had 21 players contracted and just £400,000 left in their budget.
Quite simply, money is limited and a decent fly-half doesn’t come cheap.
Another problem position moving forward could be tight-head, with Dillon Lewis and Dmitri Arhip set to leave.
It’s a sorry reminder of the desperate situation in Welsh rugby, with Cardiff currently in pole position to be playing Champions Cup rugby next season despite the concerns over their squad for next year.
Losing a homegrown talent like Thomas would come as a blow for Cardiff, too.
The former captain of Cardiff and Vale College came through the academy at the Arms Park, winning the Premiership’s Best Newcomer in 2019 before going on to make 55 appearances for Cardiff.
He made his Test debut against Canada in the summer of 2021 before winning a second cap against New Zealand that autumn.
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