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Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The big-name Welsh players now looking for new clubs as exits confirmed
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Several top Welsh rugby players are on the hunt for new jobs after it was confirmed that they would be leaving their current clubs this summer. As is the case every season, the culmination of the 2024/25 campaign will see some high-profile departures take place in Wales and across the rugby world, with big names saying their farewells. For some, their stints with their team may have been short, while others are leaving after years of service, having become fan favourites or even club legends. For the likes of Wales legends Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate, their playing careers have simply reached the end of the road with all three hanging up their boots this summer. However, there are other big Welsh names who believe they still have plenty to offer on the field and are now looking to move to pastures new after becoming free agents. Wales international Regan Grace is one of nine players who will leave Cardiff this summer, having made four appearances for the Arms Park side since joining as injury cover on a short-term deal in January. After an injury-hit start to his time in rugby union, the former St Helens star has previously said he is determined to crack the code and, as a result, he may look to sign for a team to stay in the 15-a-side code. Such a move would help him in his bid to win his first Wales cap, having made his one and only international appearance to date in last summer's uncapped match against Queensland Reds. However, Grace has also admitted that a return to rugby league remains "an option" for him this summer, with another code switch certainly not off the table. Fellow Cardiff wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb is also on the market after announcing his departure from Arms Park, although he is widely expected to sign for Leicester Tigers after a strong end to the season in blue and black. Over in Llanelli, Wales international Steff Evans is moving on after 11 seasons with the Scarlets, having made over 190 appearances for the region and helped them to the PRO12 title in 2017. Evans, who battled back from a serious Achilles injury this season, is still only 30 and could provide any interested clubs with a solid back-three option, although he hasn't given any indication yet of what his next move will be. The Dragons have also revealed their end-of-season departures, with 58-cap former Wales star Scott Williams not offered a deal to stay on at Rodney Parade. The former Scarlets and Ospreys centre had trained with Filo Tiatia's side this season and made three appearances, including an impressive performances against the Scarlets at Judgement Day. However, the 34-year-old - who also played for Pontypool in Super Rygbi Cymru earlier in the season - is now looking for a new club again. Wing Ashton Hewitt will also leave the Dragons after making 130 appearances in 12 years, parting ways with the Men of Gwent as their second-highest try scorer of all time. His next destination is also yet to be confirmed, but it is believed that Worcester Warriors - who have also signed Welsh stars Will Reed and Lloyd Williams ahead of their Champ Rugby return next season - recently showed interest in the 30-year-old. However, it is not just within Wales that top Welsh players are searching for a new club, with Liam Williams confirming that he is on the lookout for a new adventure after leaving Saracens. The 93-cap international signed for the English giants in November after a spell in Japan, but a knee injury sustained during the opening match of the Six Nations against France has ruled him out of action since. But with his recovery progressing well, 34-year-old Williams is not ready to hang up his boots just yet. "I'll be looking for a club after that [recovery]," he told the Sportin Wales podcast. "It's nice going into training. I've enjoyed it over the last 12 years so if there's any clubs out there who want me for an extra year, sign me up." Earlier this year, he told WalesOnline: "I think I've got a couple of years left, to be honest with you. My aim is to get 100 caps for Wales and if that happens it is the icing on the cake and if it doesn't then it doesn't that is just the way it is. But that's my aim." Meanwhile, Rhys Patchell could also potentially move back to Wales after taking up a break clause to leave Japanese side NEC Green Rockets a year early and become a free agent. The 22-cap international fly-half also enjoyed a stint at New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders before his move to Japan, but could prove to be of interest to one of Wales' professional sides with plenty still to offer at the age of 32. Patchell previously admitted that he had missed Wales during his time in Japan, telling S4C's Jonathan in March: "This might sound really deep now, but I didn't think 'hiraeth' was a real thing. I thought it was just this really wishy-washy thing that people spoke about which wasn't real. "When you reach the longest stint I've done out there, 10 or 12 weeks, by then I was ready to come home. I wanted my fix of Wales."
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ospreys' Justin Tipuric targeting potential play-off return
Justin Tipuric is targeting a potential United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off return having been ruled out of Ospreys' matches against Sharks and Lions. The flanker, 35, has not travelled to South Africa for his side's final two games of the regular season due to a pectoral injury suffered during the Challenge Cup defeat by Lyon in April. Ospreys are currently 11th in the URC table and know that they realistically need two wins from their final two matches to climb into the top eight and qualify for the play-offs. Those knockout games are held in June, with head coach Mark Jones hopeful Tipuric could be back in time for those fixtures. "Fingers crossed, we'll be coming back to a fixture he's available for and we're trying to keep the fires burning this end so that he hasn't played his last game of rugby," Jones said.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Injured Tipuric to miss Ospreys home farewell
United Rugby Championship: Ospreys v DragonsVenue: Stadium, Swansea Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Listen live on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric will be denied a home farewell appearance after being ruled out of the United Rugby Championship (URC) derby against Dragons on 35, is retiring at the end of the season to become the Ospreys defence coach and might have played his final professional was due to have a farewell home match at the Stadium this weekend but picked up a pectoral injury during the Challenge Cup defeat against Lyon earlier this have two regular away league matches remaining when they travel to South Africa to play Sharks and Lions in May with no chance of a home match should they reach the are currently 13th in the URC table and have a slim chance of play-off qualification if they win their final three games. The play-offs are held in June with Tipuric not yet ruled out of a return by those dates. Tipuric, who won 93 Wales caps and made a Lions Test appearance before his international retirement in 2023, made his Ospreys debut in November 2009 and has so far played 229 games for his home region. Only Alun Wyn Jones (268) and Paul James (232) have played more lock Adam Beard, who Ospreys announced this week will leave at the end of the season, was hoping to play against Dragons after missing the defeat against Cardiff. Ospreys name their team on Friday.
