Several top players have become free agents with five Wales internationals among those now searching for new opportunities
Several top Welsh rugby players are on the hunt for new jobs after it was confirmed that they would be leaving their current clubs this summer.
As is the case every season, the culmination of the 2024/25 campaign will see some high-profile departures take place in Wales and across the rugby world, with big names saying their farewells. For some, their stints with their team may have been short, while others are leaving after years of service, having become fan favourites or even club legends.
For the likes of Wales legends Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate, their playing careers have simply reached the end of the road with all three hanging up their boots this summer.
However, there are other big Welsh names who believe they still have plenty to offer on the field and are now looking to move to pastures new after becoming free agents.
Wales international Regan Grace is one of nine players who will leave Cardiff this summer, having made four appearances for the Arms Park side since joining as injury cover on a short-term deal in January.
After an injury-hit start to his time in rugby union, the former St Helens star has previously said he is determined to crack the code and, as a result, he may look to sign for a team to stay in the 15-a-side code.
Such a move would help him in his bid to win his first Wales cap, having made his one and only international appearance to date in last summer’s uncapped match against Queensland Reds.
However, Grace has also admitted that a return to rugby league remains “an option” for him this summer, with another code switch certainly not off the table.
Fellow Cardiff wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb is also on the market after announcing his departure from Arms Park, although he is widely expected to sign for Leicester Tigers after a strong end to the season in blue and black.
Over in Llanelli, Wales international Steff Evans is moving on after 11 seasons with the Scarlets, having made over 190 appearances for the region and helped them to the PRO12 title in 2017.
Evans, who battled back from a serious Achilles injury this season, is still only 30 and could provide any interested clubs with a solid back-three option, although he hasn’t given any indication yet of what his next move will be.
The Dragons have also revealed their end-of-season departures, with 58-cap former Wales star Scott Williams not offered a deal to stay on at Rodney Parade.
The former Scarlets and Ospreys centre had trained with Filo Tiatia’s side this season and made three appearances, including an impressive performances against the Scarlets at Judgement Day.
However, the 34-year-old – who also played for Pontypool in Super Rygbi Cymru earlier in the season – is now looking for a new club again.
Wing Ashton Hewitt will also leave the Dragons after making 130 appearances in 12 years, parting ways with the Men of Gwent as their second-highest try scorer of all time.
His next destination is also yet to be confirmed, but it is believed that Worcester Warriors – who have also signed Welsh stars Will Reed and Lloyd Williams ahead of their Champ Rugby return next season – recently showed interest in the 30-year-old.
However, it is not just within Wales that top Welsh players are searching for a new club, with Liam Williams confirming that he is on the lookout for a new adventure after leaving Saracens.
The 93-cap international signed for the English giants in November after a spell in Japan, but a knee injury sustained during the opening match of the Six Nations against France has ruled him out of action since.
But with his recovery progressing well, 34-year-old Williams is not ready to hang up his boots just yet.
“I’ll be looking for a club after that [recovery],” he told the Sportin Wales podcast. “It’s nice going into training. I’ve enjoyed it over the last 12 years so if there’s any clubs out there who want me for an extra year, sign me up.”
Earlier this year, he told WalesOnline: “I think I’ve got a couple of years left, to be honest with you. My aim is to get 100 caps for Wales and if that happens it is the icing on the cake and if it doesn’t then it doesn’t that is just the way it is. But that’s my aim.”
Meanwhile, Rhys Patchell could also potentially move back to Wales after taking up a break clause to leave Japanese side NEC Green Rockets a year early and become a free agent.
The 22-cap international fly-half also enjoyed a stint at New Zealand Super Rugby outfit the Highlanders before his move to Japan, but could prove to be of interest to one of Wales’ professional sides with plenty still to offer at the age of 32.
Patchell previously admitted that he had missed Wales during his time in Japan, telling S4C’s Jonathan in March: “This might sound really deep now, but I didn’t think ‘hiraeth’ was a real thing. I thought it was just this really wishy-washy thing that people spoke about which wasn’t real.
“When you reach the longest stint I’ve done out there, 10 or 12 weeks, by then I was ready to come home. I wanted my fix of Wales.”
