History-making Wales international Tom Prydie is among five players to be released by Bath.
Ma’afu Fia, who has been on loan from the Ospreys, is also part of the group. Loosehead prop Will Vaughan, one-cap England international Joe Simpson and lock Harry Casson complete the departing quintet.
Prydie moved to The Rec before Christmas after being parting company with the Scarlets. He had made the record books in 2010 when he became Wales’ youngest-ever senior international at the age of 18 years and 25 days, going on to win seven caps, with his most recent coming against Argentina in 2018.
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Quick, skilful and blessed with a calm temperament, he had been part of the Wales U20s squad which beat their New Zealand counterparts at the Junior World Championship in 2012. In appalling conditions, Prydie kicked the decisive penalty to hoist his team to a 9-6 success.
He had spells with the Ospreys and Dragons before joining the Scarlets, for whom he made 40 appearances over four years. There were also 10 tries for the west Walians, including one in the memorable European Champions Cup pool win over Toulouse at Parc y Scarlets in 2018, with his regional form earning him an international recall. He was, though, released aged 29 in something of a surprise announcement last November.
Bath signed the fleet-footed back-three man during an injury crisis. Now the 30-year-old who can play wing and full-back is looking for a fresh club, with Bath’s head coach Neil Hatley calling him a consummate professional and saying he had helped develop some of their young players.
Fia, meanwhile, went out of loan from the Ospreys to Bath in February. He was among six players to officially exit the south-west Wales region earlier this month.
Before this latest batch of departures, Bath had previously waved goodbye to Anthony Watson, Semesi Rokoduguni, Taulupe Faletau, Danny Cipriani, Tian Schoeman, Max Clark, Ollie Fox, Valery Morozov and Jacques du Toit this season.
