Top English clubs lining up to sign Osprey Sam

FOUR English clubs are set to join the fight for Sam Davies’ signature as the Wales international moves towards the end of his contract with the Ospreys, we can reveal.

English giants 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 has opened preliminary talks about his future with the Ospreys.

But a scramble for his services, here and across the Bridge, is looming.

The Scarlets and the Dragons are 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.

Fly-half Davies 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.

“We don’t know all the details, but on the surface you could have a situation where overseas players in Wales earn a lot more than Welsh players,” said an independent source.

“We already have a situation where players from other countries are in the Wales setup while Rhys Webb, someone who was born here and came through the system, can’t pull on the red jersey.”

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 any time soon, despite an impressive spell of form for the Ospreys.

The assumption is 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. Davies’ availability throughout the season, combined with his kicking skill and tactical awareness, could also appeal to Quins, who, like Leicester, have a good frontline fly-half in Marcus Smith who could be on Red Rose duty for much of each campaign.

More rugby: Sport Wales