Ospreys may have to admit defeat in chase for Williams
THE Ospreys are close to admitting defeat in their audacious attempt to prise Scott Williams away from neighbours Scarlets.
Wales star Williams is at the centre of a tug-of-war for his services between the west Wales rivals, the Welsh Rugby Union and at least two clubs from England.
One of those Aviva Premiership teams is believed to be former Wales captain and ex-Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young’s Wasps.
The Ospreys raised the bar when they offered the midfield ace, who captained Wales into battle against Ireland four months ago, a bumper pay deal worth £80,000 more than he had been offered to extend his dual contract, which expires next summer, with the WRU and the Scarlets.
That prompted a bidding war between the Guinness Pro12 leaders Scarlets and record league champions Ospreys with the former now being prepared to go it alone to keep Williams by matching the salary the latter was offering.
And it’s understood the Ospreys believe the 25-year-old will stay with his home region Scarlets if he decides not to join the Welsh exiles in England or France.
The WRU refused to be drawn into an auction for him withdrew its offer of a National Dual Contract to Williams.
Wales coach Warren Gatland and the WRU hierachy were annoyed at what they saw as a lack of consultation over the regional deals offered to Williams and recoiled at the idea of trying to match an increased salary with an improved dual contract, believing that it would set a dangerous precedent.
And power-brokers at the union are known to be concerned at the apparent breakdown of the process set out in last year’s Rugby Services Agreement, which was aimed at making the retention of Wales stars a three-way arrangement between the WRU, the regions and the player.
Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones, who was on the short-list to be World Rugby’s player of the year, his Ospreys’ scrum-half team-mate Rhys Webb and Newport Gwent Dragons No.8 Taulupe Faletau are all out of contract this summer.
Webb and captain Jones are locked in talks with the Ospreys and Gatland over their futures while Faletau wanted to join Bath following the World Cup but the WRU blocked the Dragons selling him in a transfer deal understood to be worth about £125,000.