Wales centre Joe Hawkins is leaving Welsh rugby to join Exeter Chiefs.
He has penned a long-term deal with the Devon club in a move from the Ospreys that will put a major question mark over his Test future.
One of Welsh rugby's breakout stars this season, Hawkins currently has five Wales caps, having made his debut against Australia in the autumn and played in the first four rounds of the Six Nations.
Wales have a selection rule in place that prevents any already-capped exiled player from pulling on the red jersey unless he has 25 or more caps.
Hawkins's contract with the Chiefs is thought to start on July 1.
Unless there are exemptions or exceptional reasons that can be applied in his case, he could thus find himself ineligible to play at the global tournament in France.
The youngster and attracted many plaudits for his efforts during the recent Six Nations, but he has decided a switch to the Gallagher Premiership is right for him at this point. It is a blow for Welsh rugby amid the cutbacks and financial constraints that are taking place.
Certainly, the Ospreys had hoped to keep one of their brightest young talents. They have nurtured Hawkins in their pathway system and some had spoken about him as a future captain of the region.
He leaves the Llandarcy-based team with 28 appearances for them on the board. Hawkins will link with Exeter at the end of the season, the region says.
Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said: “Obviously it is a disappointment to lose Joe. He is a player that we have spent a lot of time developing over the last two years. A big focus of what we are trying to do is to keep our young talented Welsh players but sometimes this is not possible.”
Hawkins said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Ospreys, and I’ve come along leaps and bounds in my time here. I have made some great friends here and would like to wish the players and staff all the best for the future.”
The Ospreys also offered their thanks to the 20-year-old for his efforts for the region and wished him all the best for the future.
It is an odd one, though. Barely five weeks ago, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter was reported to have no interest in signing Hawkins.
He said then: "I don't know where the rumour has come from and I don't know where it's started, but right here and now there's no truth in it. It's a lot of talk and I have no idea where it's started.”
Hawkins played alongside Exeter forward Dafydd Jenkins for Wales Under-20s and Baxter added in his interview in February he was aware of the centre's talent.
"I've watched and looked at Joe many times,” he said. "Daf had mentioned to me personally that he's a good player and said to me two or three times that he thinks he's got potential, so I've watched him play many times for Ospreys and watched him play the Welsh games. But watching a player to see where they are and talking to them, sitting down, making contract offers and signing them are worlds apart."
Evidently, those worlds have now come together. A lot can seemingly change in a short space of time.
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