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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Matthew Southcombe

Six players and coach leave the Ospreys as Wales U20s youngster involved in 'unacceptable' incident makes exit

The Ospreys have revealed six players and one coach have left the region, including the Wales age-grade international involved in the "totally unacceptable" incident involving degrading actions towards a homeless person earlier this season.

Wales international prop Rhodri Jones, who represented the region 87 times, has already confirmed his move to the Dragons for next season, while promising young fly-half Josh Thomas has signed for Newcastle.

After seven years and more than 100 appearances, tight-head prop Ma'afu Fia also heads out the door. He made just two appearances last season before spending the rest of the term on loan at Bath. The Tongan's next move is unknown.

Lock Lloyd Ashley, who has spent more than a decade at the region and is a well-liked figure, also departs with his next destination not yet known. He played 153 games for the Ospreys and has done some incredible work in the mental wellbeing sphere through his company Living Well With Lloyd Ashley. Also departing is Dewi Cross.

The final player to leave is 23-year-old Wales age-grade and Sevens cap Callum Carson. He played just three games for the Ospreys but was suspended by the club earlier this season when a video of him degrading a homeless person emerged on social media. Carson and Matthew Aubrey, the other player involved, later apologised for their actions.

Also leaving the region is attack coach Brock James. The former Clermont fly-half was Toby Booth's first appointment when he took over as head coach but James is now returning to New Zealand to be with his family.

There had been 41 confirmed departures in Welsh rugby this season before the Ospreys had released their list as organisations trim their squads amid a financial squeeze ahead of next term. Read more about that here.

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