In recent years the English Championship has proven itself to be the perfect place for Welsh players to get their careers back on track after being discarded by the regions.
In 2016 Test scrum-half Kieran Hardy got released by the Scarlets and ended up having to drop down a level to play for English second-tier outfit Jersey.
But in actual fact the Championship provided the perfect level for Hardy to improve his game and earn a second chance with the Scarlets.
READ MORE: Dragons in talks with Leigh Halfpenny over new job as they target Wales team-mate
Fast forward a few years and he is an established international with 16 caps for Wales.
Would it have happened without his stint in the English Championship? That's hard to tell but the experienced scrum-half has waxed lyrical in the past at how Jersey gave him the platform to progress.
It has become a well trodden path for Welsh players of late, and Wales U20s back-rower Iestyn Rees, who was recently released by the Scarlets, is keen to follow in Hardy's footsteps after signing for Ampthill.
"It's always going to be disappointing when your club tells you they don't need you anymore," Rees told WalesOnline.
"I expected it though because I wasn't used as much in the first part of the season, and with everything going on with Welsh rugby off the field tough decisions needed to be made.
"It was disappointing when I got the news but I was quite lucky.
"In the week leading up to the Challenge Cup semi-final I had a phone call from Paul Turner at Ampthill which was really positive.
"He was keen to get me on board with Ampthill going into their fifth consecutive year in the English Championship. They are an ambitious club, and are looking to move up the table.
Rees, who is an athletic loose forward in the Aaron Shingler mould, played in the same Wales U20s side as Taine Basham, Jac Morgan, Rhys Davies, Dewi Lake, and Rio Dyer who have gone on to win senior caps.
His short-term goal is to cement his place in the Ampthill side, but make no bones about it, he has ambitions to climb back up the professional rugby ladder.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't," said Rees when asked if it was a goal of his to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Hardy.
"The English Championship is a very good league where you play against very strong opposition.
"The likes of Kieran Hardy and Tomi Lewis took a year or two in the English Championship, and look at them now.
"Tomi Lewis has signed back with the Scarlets after a great year with Jersey, whereas Kieran Hardy is a full Welsh international now.
"I will see what happens, I'm taking it game by game and I'm fully concentrating on doing well for Ampthill but I'd love to come back to Wales with a region one day.
"My goals are to play consistently while putting in good performances, and then help to push Ampthill up the table.
"It is a target of mine to get back into top end professional rugby, be it with a Welsh region or even an English Premiership club but to do that I need to get my head down, work hard, and impress for Ampthill."
Before leaving Welsh rugby, Rees played a crucial role in Llandovery's Premiership winning campaign, which ended with a stunning cup final victory over Cardiff.
It was a moment to savour for Rees, but his memory of the post-match celebrations are a bit hazy to say the least.
"No, it was a quiet one!," joked Rees when asked how the players celebrated.
"There was a bus back to Llandovery and all the supporters along with the committee were there.
"It was a really good night out to be fair. There's photos of me on social media doing an Alex Goode, going out drinking in my full playing kit.
"We ended up sleeping in the clubhouse so it was a pretty good night.
"From a Llandovery point of view I had a text from Joe Rogers, the team manager, asking me if I was able to come to training on Tuesdays and Thursdays leading up to the big games.
"I jumped at the chance. It was hugely special to win the league and it was a great way to say goodbye to Welsh rugby for now.
"To be the best club team in Wales is massive."
In order to successfully navigate his way back to the big time, Rees will have to do it the hard way.
While he was a fully fledged professional at the Scarlets, he will be part-time at Ampthill, having to balance a job in a car dealership alongside his rugby.
But Rees is just keen to play on a consistent basis and is extremely excited to work with Ampthill head coach Turner who has an exceptional track record at developing young talent.
During his time at Ampthill the former Dragons boss has helped nurture the likes of Sam Costelow, Joe Roberts, Ben Earle, Nick Isiekwe, and Alex Mitchell.
"I am really forward to working with him, and I think he can help me improve as a player," said Rees.
"I'm still only 23 which, relative to my rugby career, is quite young.
"I'm at that stage in my career where I just need to play week in week out at a decent level.
"I'm hoping next season with Ampthill I will be able to get consistent rugby under my belt while also improve as a player.
"Work rate is everything to me, and I really pride myself on that as a player.
"I'm a good lineout operator in attack and defence.
"I'd describe myself as an athletic back-rower rather than a big bruiser, who likes to run good support lines to get on the end of offloads.
"Growing up, my rugby idol was actually Aaron Shingler so it was really surreal to train with him most days.
"I took a lot from watching his games, and I'd say I'm similar in style to him."
READ NEXT:
