I wish I’d left sooner – Priestland

RHYS Priestland has admitted he regrets not quitting Welsh rugby sooner because the competition is better in England than his homeland.

The 50-times capped Wales outside-half left the Scarlets to link up with English club Bath following the 2015 World Cup.

He was initially in and out of the side due to a number of injuries and having George Ford on the Bath books. But since the departure of the England fly-half to Leicester last summer, the 31-year-old playmaker has grabbed his chance for first team action with two hands.

He penned a new contact with the west country giants in January 2017 and his performances in the Premiership earned Priestland a recall from the international wilderness last autumn. Priestland hasn’t any remorse about making the move across the border, speaking candidly in an episode of Bath sponsor Land Rover’s Open Range series.

He was adamant England’s Premiership is a superior tournament to the PRO14, despite Guinness champions Leinster last month being crowned kings of Europe record-equalling fourth time.

Saracens were the only English team to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup with Bath eliminated at the pool stage after a heavy home defeat against the Scarlets.

“I’m not saying the teams are better because you can see in the Champions Cup, the Irish teams have done well, and Scarlets got through,” said Priestland.

But he insisted: “The competition (in England) is definitely better. Week in week out you’re playing against teams that are not going to field a second string team.

“I probably should have left (Wales) a year or so earlier than I did; I got convinced to stay for an extra year. I went to Bristol University, so I had spent one year outside of Wales and I had seen players that I had been playing with go away and enjoy experiences.”

“I have no regrets leaving, it was nothing to do with the pressure as when you come to a club like Bath, there is pressure for you to perform every week and win.” for a