Tyro Welsh No.8 Strong set for Championship
AMPTHILL are set to
sign former Wales U20s No.8 Morgan Strong from the Ospreys.
Strong is a powerful ball carrier who impressed at age grade level but has found opportunities hard to come by at the Ospreys.
He has recently been playing for Bridgend in the semi-professional Welsh Premiership earning rave reviews for his performances. But this hasn’t been enough to convince Ospreys boss Toby Booth to give him an opportunity in the first team, and Ampthill head coach Paul Turner, below, has moved quickly to acquire his services.
There is a school of thought in Wales the gap between the Welsh Premiership, and the United Rugby Championship is far too wide, and an A team competition needs to be established, with Strong arguably a player who would benefit from such a system.
Strong played two Ospreys A games against Ealing Trailfinders, and a Scarlets Development side this season, impressing on both occasions.
“Morgan Strong captained the side, carried the ball well and played tough,” said Booth after the game.
But with money tight in Welsh rugby several promising young players are likely to slip through the net this summer. Former Dragons head coach Turner has a reputation for getting players’ careers back on track, and currently has three Welsh players on the books at Ampthill in Ben Cambriani, Joe Goodchild, and Llewellyn Jones while Ospreys scrum-half Harri Morgan has recently spent some time there on loan. Turner will be hoping the No.8 gives his side a physical edge next season, while Strong will be aiming to use his time in the Championship to kick-start his career.