There have been an unprecedented number of departures in Welsh rugby this season with the regions releasing a host of players as they cut their squad sizes amid financial constraints. In all, no fewer 53 have moved on from the four pro teams.
Some have chosen to hang up their boots, some have found new clubs, in either Wales or England, while others are still looking. Here then is the full list and what we know so far about where they are heading next.
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CARDIFF
Hallam Amos
Has hung up his boots at 27 to focus on his medical career. Won 25 caps for Wales and played 115 games for the Dragons, ahead of a further 42 for Cardiff.
Garyn Smith
Life as a Pirate of Penzance beckons for the 26-year-old centre, as he heads for Cornwall, having been released after eight seasons and 111 appearances.
Jason Tovey
Will be on fly-half duty in Division Two East next season as player/coach of Ynysddu RFC. Scored a record 1,009 points for the Dragons in three stints. Had two spells at the Arms Park.
Rhys Gill
Having suffered badly from concussion this season, the seven-cap prop has called it a day at 35. Will now focus on his business interests in a flooring shop and a van hire company.
Iestyn Harris
The 23-year-old hooker signed for Exeter in April after Cardiff agreed to release him ahead of his contract expiring at the end of the season. A former Wales U20s international.
Alun Lawrence
The Pontypridd-born No 8 joined Jersey on loan in January and has now signed a permanent contract with the English Championship club.
Ben Murphy
Signed for Doncaster in November. The Abercynon RFC product made 19 appearances in the second row for the Arms Park-based region.
Scott Andrews
Will concentrate on coaching Cardiff’s pathway and Academy having retired from playing after winning 14 Wales caps at tighthead prop and making 189 appearances for the region.
Lewis Jones
Joined the Dragons on loan in the autumn and parted company with Cardiff in February after ten years as a scrum-half at the region, ahead of signing a permanent deal with the Men of Gwent.
Sam Moore
The No 8 once at the centre of a tug-of-war between Wales and England signed for the Ospreys in February having been plagued by injuries during his two years at Cardiff after a move from Sale.
Will Boyde
It was mutually agreed to release the 27-year-old flanker from the remainder of his contract last month. There is no news of him joining another club.
Luke Scully
This utility back made just one appearance after coming on board from Worcester in 2020. Moved to Cornish Pirates on loan only to suffer a serious knee injury.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Having failed to secure a place studying medicine at Cardiff University, the teenage threequarter has enrolled at Aston University in Birmingham and signed a long-term contract with Wasps.
Louie Hennessey
After a couple of years with the Cardiff Academy, the 18-year-old centre has signed for Bath, where he will be studying at University.
DRAGONS
Dan Baker
Was going to join Merthyr but then changed his mind by signing for Aberavon. Now 29, he won three caps for Wales at No 8 in 2013, while with the Ospreys.
Jonah Holmes
Heading back to Ealing, where he was raised, joining the Championship title winners. The Wales wing turned down a WRU contract offer after losing a wage appeal.
Will Talbot-Davies
Another player off to his old patch. The 24-year-old back three man, who grew up in the Midlands, has signed for Coventry.
Adam Warren
Just announced as re-joining his former club Llandovery which sees the Burry Port-born ex-Scarlets centre heading back west after seven seasons in Gwent. Has also been appointed backs and conditioning coach at Llandovery College.
Richard Hibbard
Retired from playing in January, aged 38, due to a shoulder injury. Played in 41 Tests at hooker for Wales and the Lions, having stints with the Ospreys and Gloucester.
Aaron Jarvis
Now out in the USA as assistant coach at Major League Rugby side Dallas Jackals, having hung up his boots in December at 35 after winning 18 caps for Wales at prop.
Jamie Roberts
Allowed to leave in January to take up an opportunity with the Waratahs Super Rugby side in Sydney. The former Wales and Lions centre has had some rugby journey.
Tom Griffiths
The 26-year-old former Saracens centre joined Coventry on loan last year and has now been released by the Gwent region.
Dan Babos
A similar story. Moved to Coventry on loan in January and let go by the Dragons, having played 18 games for them at scrum-half.
Greg Bateman
Will now focus on his People’s Captain brewing business having hung up his boots at 32 after an injury-hit couple of years since leaving Leicester.
Joe Maksymiw
The Derby-born lock made 23 appearances in his two years with the Gwent region after switching from Connacht.
Owen Jenkins
Spending the summer on the Sevens circuit with Wales, while keeping his options open over the future. Son of former Test hooker Garin Jenkins, he’s a wing in 15-a-side.
Tavis Knoyle
Merthyr will be the next port of call for one of only three men to have played for all four regions. The 11-cap scrum-half parted company with the Dragons in February.
Max Williams
Joined Coventry on loan in December after a long injury lay-off. Made 22 appearance in all at lock for the Dragons having made his debut back in 2017.
Josh Lewis
Has signed for his home-town club of Merthyr. Played 54 games for the Dragons at fly-half, full-back and centre. Previous spells with the Scarlets, Bath, Aberavon and Ebbw Vale.
Evan Lloyd
It’s just been announced this week that the 22-year-old former Oakdale Comprehensive pupil has signed to play fly-half for Ebbw Vale.
Mesake Doge
The Fijian international prop is moving on after a season at Rodney Parade. Has previously played in France and Romania.
Joe Peard
The grandson of former international referee Les Peard, Wales U20s second row Joe has been linked with a move to English big guns Saracens.
Harry Fry
Younger brother of flanker Ben, prop Harry is leaving two years after arriving from Gloucester.
Taylor Davies
Returning to the Scarlets after a spell on-loan during which he made 21 appearances at hooker
Jordan Olowofela
The Leicester winger is another player heading back to his club from loan.
OSPREYS
Olly Cracknell
Will be playing for Leicester next season having joined London Irish in November after seven years and more than 100 back row appearances with the Ospreys.
Josh Thomas
The young fly-half from near Gorseinon has signed for Gallagher Premiership club Newcastle, having played 17 games for his home region.
Ma’afu Fia
Joined Bath on loan in February. The Tongan tight-head prop has now parted company with the Ospreys after seven years and more than 100 appearances.
Rhodri Jones
Set for his third region, as he joins the Dragons following spells with the Scarlets and Ospreys. The 30-year-old prop has 21 Wales caps to his name.
Lloyd Ashley
Spent more than a decade at the region, playing 153 games at lock for the Ospreys. Off the field, has done some excellent work in the mental well-being sphere.
Callum Carson
Found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons back in March and is now departing after just three outings in the centre.
Dewi Cross
Made his debut as a teenage wing in 2018, but has been limited to 10 appearances in all since then.
Morgan Strong
The former Wales U20s No 8 will be playing under Paul Turner at English Championship club Ampthill next season.
SCARLETS
Liam Williams
Switching regions to join Cardiff after a second spell in Llanelli where his appearances were restricted by injury. Now 31, he’s set to figure mainly at full-back at the Arms Park.
Rob Evans
Another Welsh international moving east, taking up a propping berth at the Dragons having been released after nine years with the Scarlets.
Steff Hughes
Would be a decent recruit for a number of teams, with his steadying influence in the centre and his leadership qualities. Had been linked with Leicester.
James Davies
After a long spell out with concussion, the 11-cap Wales flanker announced his retirement from playing, aged 31, at the beginning of April.
Tyler Morgan
Has been on Wales Sevens duty in the wake of his release. There was talk of the five-cap centre rejoining the Dragons, but that hasn’t materialised.
Angus O’Brien
Whereas O’Brien is heading back to Rodney Parade where he will offer valuable versatility covering both full-back and fly-half.
Tom Phillips
Likely to be playing in the Welsh Premiership next season. Released after seven years with the Scarlets. Captained Wales U20s to the Six Nations Grand Slam from the flank in 2016.
Marc Jones
Has been appointed head coach at Carmarthen Quins. Now 35, the hooker from Treorchy made more than 150 appearances for Sale before heading to west Wales in 2018.
Tom Prydie
Joined Bath in December as short-term injury cover having been released in the autumn. The now 30-year-old wing remains the youngest player to be capped by Wales.
Tomi Lewis
The Brecon-born wing, who has represented Wales at U20s and Sevens, has signed for Jersey, having had time in England previously, on loan at Ampthill.
