If there have been few arrivals in Welsh rugby of late, the coming days and weeks are set to see a flurry of departures as a significant number of players move on at a time of huge financial turbulence in the game this side of the River Severn.
A few will be leaving as their playing careers come to a natural end.
Some will depart for new opportunities.
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Others will be casualties of the increased belt-tightening in the Welsh game.
Judgement Day this weekend, then, will see plenty of leading players playing their final games for their regional teams before heading for pastures new.
We take a look at their circumstances and assess others who are set to exit at the end of the season.
OSPREYS
Alun Wyn Jones
It’s yet to be confirmed whether Saturday will be Alun Wyn Jones’ final match for the Ospreys. The likelihood is he’s contracted through to the World Cup, maybe beyond, so there is a theoretical possibility he could feature again, but the signs are that his 268th game for the south-west Wales region will be his last. It has been an epic stint from Jones, one that will have lasted 6,439 days from his regional debut to the date with Cardiff on Saturday. In every game since, he has given his all for the cause, contributing trademark leadership and endeavour that have established him as an Ospreys legend.
Bradley Davies
One of Welsh rugby’s biggest characters also seems likely to be facing his final Ospreys curtain. He has made 84 appearances since his debut in 2016, injuries not helping him, but there has been no more popular squad member than the big man.
Elvis Taione
A month or so shy of his 40th birthday, Elvis is set to leave the building at the Ospreys. Just 16 outings for him over two seasons, but he’s played an important role in maintaining squad morale and helping younger players.
Dan Lydiate
“You can never say never because things change,” said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth recently when asked if the flanker would be moving on. “Irrespective of being a quality player, what a top individual he is. He’s an Ospreys man through and through and obviously we want to keep Ospreys people in the building as much as we can. But, again, it comes down to the same conversations. Can we afford to do that and at what cost?”
Ethan Roots has since flagged up his impending departure from the Ospreys, meaning back-row circumstances have changed. But there has been no indication that anything has altered since Lydiate put out a tweet in March suggesting his time with the Llandarcy-based region might be coming to an end. The effort he has expended for the jersey has been eye-popping.
Gareth Anscombe
Nothing definite either way here. But it’s getting late in the day and as of a few weeks ago the signs were not exactly positive the Wales fly-half would be sticking around. Japan and France had previously been mentioned as possible options. The game with Cardiff could be his last dance for the Ospreys. Let’s see.
Stephen Myler
A player who’s admired by pretty much everyone in the Ospreys set-up for his level-headed outlook on and off the pitch and willingness to help others. He’s retiring at the end of the season.
Ethan Roots
One of the Ospreys’ players of the season is heading down the M5 to join Exeter Chiefs. He will be missed.
Joe Hawkins
Another who’s decamping to Devon to hitch up with Exeter. It was a switch that not everyone saw coming and at 20 Hawkins is still developing as a player, but he’s been popular in Swansea and is leaving behind a lot of friends at the Ospreys.
Rhys Webb
Read the French press this week and it appears the scrum-half is Biarritz-bound. But he’s also been linked with a move to Japan and there are even whispers about America. This weekend could be his final Ospreys game, then. We await clarity.
SCARLETS
Javan Sebastian
The Scarlets are still in Europe, so there will be further opportunities for their departing players to play. But Scotland international tight-head prop Sebastian is joining Edinburgh on a two-year deal and will leave at the end of the season.
Leigh Halfpenny
All the regions are under financial pressure and the Scarlets are no different. That they would want to keep Halfpenny is not in doubt. That they’ll be able to make the figures add up is less sure. He could still feature against Glasgow Warriors in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final on April 29, but there are doubts whether he’ll be around next term. His admirers in Llanelli will want to make the most of his remaining games in a scarlet jersey.
Sione Kalamafoni
Dwayne Peel confirmed this week that the relentlessly consistent and impressive No. 8 has played his final game for the Scarlets, with Kalamafoni having penned a two-year deal to play for Vannes, starting next term. He’ll leave Llanelli with the deserved status of one of the Scarlets’ finest players in the regional era.
Rhys Patchell
The arrival of Ioan Lloyd potentially gives the Scarlets another fly-half option alongside Sam Costelow and Dan Jones. Patchell is set to leave the west Walians.
He can look back with particular pride at his contribution to the PRO 12 title-winning campaign of 2016-17, when he ran play superbly for the Llanelli-based team.
CARDIFF
Dillon Lewis
The Wales international prop has signed for Harlequins and so is the final throes of his time with Cardiff. He’ll be able to continue his Wales career under the revised eligibility criteria on players outside the country.
Max Llewellyn
His move to Gloucester was announced in March.
If he features against the Ospreys, the hard-running centre will be making his final appearance for Cardiff.
Jarrod Evans
He’ll be lining up for Harlequins next term and Welsh rugby will miss him because he has brought flair and unpredictability to all he has done for Cardiff over 126 games and eight seasons for Cardiff. At the time of writing it wasn’t clear whether he’d be fit to feature against the Ospreys. Whatever the score on that front, he’s been one of Welsh rugby’s class act, an entertainer who has brought joy to supporters.
Willis Halaholo and Dmitri Arhip
These two have been fine Cardiff servants, but their time at the Arms Park appears to be coming to an end. Halaholo is facing an extended spell on the sidelines with an Achilles injury, having previously been sidelined by a hamstring problem. Front-row strongman Arhip also has an Achilles issue that’s keeping him out.
They look to have played their last games for Cardiff.
“We are there to look after rehab for Willis and Dmitri [Arhip], but where they are going next year I don't know. I don't know if they'll be our players next year,” said Cardiff coach Dai Young in early March.
"They knew the decision the club had made before their injuries. If we haven't got money to have competitive offers for Jarrod [Evans], why would we have for Willis and Dmitri?"
Rhys Priestland
There was an indication from Priestland earlier this term he couldn't see himself carrying on post-this year at Cardiff. Whether anything has changed since, we do not know. Welsh rugby is still up the creek financially. Cardiff would likely want the classy game-controller to stay with Jarrod Evans leaving, but can they make it happen? That can’t be said with certainty at this point.
Lloyd Williams
Cut Williams open and he will probably bleed blue and black, but Cardiff’s appearance record holder in the regional era has emerged as a target for ambitious English Championship club Ealing Trailfinders. There is a chance that this weekend’s game with the Ospreys could be his last for Cardiff; plenty will hope it’s not.
Teddy Williams
His projected move from the Arms Park to Exeter seems to be off the agenda with Williams looking set to stay in Wales. Cardiff will hope the talented young lock opts to recommit to them.
Corey Domachowkski
He’s hit a purple patch of form but he’s believed to be out of contract. You’d imagine Cardiff would want to keep him as they try to make all the pieces fit in their jigsaw for next season.
DRAGONS
Will Rowlands
He has been seen since November when he picked up an injury on Wales duty. That’s been a savage blow to the Dragons, for whom he had been playing so well. He’ll be playing for Racing 92 next term.
Sam Davies
Davies is exiting the Dragons with a touch of class, informing a fan who didn’t want him to go to Cardiff ‘not to worry’, adding that he wouldn’t be going to the Arms Park — ‘to put your mind at ease’. He is expected to resurface in France. Circumstances have worked against him this term in Newport, with the Dragons signing JJ Hanrahan on a long-term deal and bringing through Will Reed with Angus O’Brien as an extra fly-half option. But Davies has given a lot to the east Wales region and knows how to run matches. Most will wish him well for his next chapter.
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