Who will stay... and move as the regions
WHILE uncertainty surrounds the shape of the professional game in Wales from 2020, it’s widely expected there will be a status quo for next season.
You will have the same four regions and pretty much the same budgets.
So, in theory, the teams should now be able to get on with the business of doing deals with out-of-contract players, both in terms of retention and recruitment.
Rugby correspondent
casts his eye over the highprofile players whose futures are yet to be revealed and looks at where they are most likely to end up.
JOSH ADAMS
THE former Scarlets winger was always likely to return home to Wales from Worcester at the end of this season, as he has to in order to continue playing Test rugby under the WRU 60-cap rule.
He’s been linked with both his former region and Cardiff Blues, but it’s understood he has agreed a deal to move to the Arms Park, with an announcement imminent.
The 23-year-old’s market value would have gone up following his outstanding performances during the Six Nations, so the Blues will be pleased to already have him in the bag.
GARETH ANSCOMBE
AS recently as last weekend, there were reports of Bath lining up a £500,000 move for the Cardiff Blues fly-half after the World
Cup.
But, like
Adams, he has to be playing in
Wales to remain on the international scene, as he is a long way short of the
60-cap mark.
He’s very much part of national squad plans moving forward and the indications are that he wants to stay here.
There have been suggestions that the Ospreys were keen to sign him, but there is obviously uncertainty over the long-term situation at the Liberty Stadium.
Moreover, he is settled in Cardiff, he enjoys the city and the Blues remain hopeful of retaining him.
ALUN WYN JONES
NO-ONE would begrudge the 33-year-old a lucrative late-career move after everything he has contributed to Welsh rugby.
There would doubtless be plenty of teams in England and France eager to benefit from his huge experience and he would still be able to play for his country, with the little matter of 123 caps to his name.
He also spoke out about the offfield troubles in Welsh rugby following last Saturday’s Six Nations win over England, with so much doubt swirling around the Ospreys.
But the Wales captain is such a talisman for the Liberty Stadium outfit and coach Allen Clarke said just this week they were optimistic of keeping him at the region.
HALLAM AMOS
WHILE he’s still only 24, Amos has been with the Dragons for some eight years now, making his debut aged 17 in 2011.
For the majority of that time, they have been Wales’ poorest performing region and, after showing extended loyalty, the moment appears to have come for him to switch to a more competitive side.
On 19 caps, he too has to stay within the regional game to remain a Test candidate, while he is also studying medicine at Cardiff University.
The likeliest option is him joining Cardiff Blues, along with Adams, adding real fire power to their back three.
ROB EVANS
As the man in possession of the Wales loosehead jersey and 33 caps to his name, the Scarlets prop has every reason to remain within the domestic game.
A new wage banding system is set to be introduced by the WRU and Evans seemed pretty comfortable with the situation when speaking last month.
His comments also pointed to him staying at the Scarlets and it seems to be a case of just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.
“For a lot of the boys, things have not changed. It’s pretty fair and most of the boys are pretty happy down here,” he said.
“Maybe other regions have been affected, but perhaps it shows we have been treated well down here.”
SAMSON LEE
THE Wales tighthead’s NDC ends this season and all indications are he is keen to remain with the Scarlets.
NICKY SMITH
FELLOW national squad loosehead Smith is out-of-contract at the Ospreys and another who needs to stay in Wales in order to play for Wales, as he is 34 caps short of the 60 threshold.
One would expect him to stay where he is, although there is no firm news yet.
SAM DAVIES
THE 25-yearold Ospreys pivot has slipped some way down the international pecking order at fly-half, with Anscombe, Biggar, Patchell and Jarrod Evans all now ahead of him.
That could make him more amenable to leaving the country and there has been speculation linking him with a switch to France, rumours that coincided with talk about Anscombe possibly moving to the Liberty.
As things stands, it remains unclear where Davies will be playing his rugby next season.
JOHNNY MCNICHOLL
THE Kiwi back-three man has been an outstanding signing for the Scarlets since arriving from the Crusaders in 2016, with his predatory try scoring and all-round attacking potency.
As such, he has inevitably attracted the attentions of big spending sides abroad, with a possible move to Japan being mooted.
He has held discussions with his region over a new deal, but those had to be put on hold, amid the new pay banding system being sorted out and budgets confirmed.