Scarlets linked to move for Davies
THE Scarlets are among a host of clubs being linked with Sam Davies.
Head coach Wayne Pivac is looking for fly-half cover at the region for Rhys Patchell.
And Ospreys fly-half Davies, the son of former Scarlets favourite Nigel, is thought to be among his potential targets.
Gloucester’s Owen Williams has also emerged as a possible signing, though he has two years remaining on his contract with Gloucester.
Davies has already opened talks with the Ospreys about extending his stay at the Liberty Stadium.
And if the Scarlets are serious about the Wales international, they could face some serious competition as four English clubs are set to join the fight for his signature.
Leicester Tigers and Harlequins are among those thought to be monitoring his position, with at least two other Gallagher Premiership clubs also interested.
The former junior world player of the year becomes a free agent next summer and a scramble for his services, here and across the Bridge, is looming.
As well as the Scarlets, the Dragons are also believed to be watching the Davies situation with interest.
And Davies, overlooked for Warren Gatland’s Wales squad, seems certain to have offers from England slapped on the table as well.
He would be an attractive proposition for sides in England as a talented player in a key position who would potentially be available throughout the season.
There is also the complicating factor that Welsh rugby is contemplating introducing a banding system for player payments in Wales.
Under such a structure, a player such as Davies, who isn’t part of the Wales set-up, could potentially see his wages reduced.
The new arrangements would limit the amounts that regions could offer Welsh players, but not everyone agrees it is the way forward.
Nor is it altogether clear that the players’ union in Wales would be happy with the idea of some of their members potentially seeing their pay cut.
Davies, capped eight times, would make himself unavailable for Wales if he opted to move to England.
But he hasn’t featured in a Test squad for 16 months and there are no obvious signs that situation is going to change soon, despite an impressive spell of form for the Ospreys. The assumption is that the Ospreys would want Davies to stay, given how much they have invested in him and taking into account that at 25 he is pretty much hitting his prime.
Meanwhile, the Scarlets return to Guinness PRO14 action this weekend looking to bounce back from defeats in their opening two Heineken Champions Cup encounters.
Pivac’s side went down 45-27 to Leicester on Friday, a week after losing 14-13 to Racing 92.
It leaves them bottom of their pool ahead of a double-header with Ulster in December and they face an uphill task to reach the knockout stages of the competition.
But for the moment their focus switches to league action and a trip to South Africa to face Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth on Friday night. They have travelled without their Wales contingent, who are preparing for the autumn internationals.
Pivac said: “It’s going to be a good challenge for the boys that are with us. We wish the international boys well and now we return our focus to the PRO14.
“We know that we’re going to have to play well and play with a little bit more possession and territory to make it easier on ourselves.”