It was news that Welsh rugby had been dreading.
And, unfortunately, expected.
Confirmation of Lions flanker Jack Morgan and Wales captain Dewey Lake leaving Ospreys and heading to Gloucester It is another blow to the game in Wales, which has suffered greatly in recent times.
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Even amid Welsh rugby's notorious tribalism, the news will not be welcomed by regional rivals.
Some believe these departures are a symptom of the clear ill health of the game in Wales.
Indeed, Ospreys head coach Mark Jones cited current uncertainty about the future as a factor in the pair's departure.
Former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley described the news as “devastating” and “another sad day” for Welsh rugby.
But this is not the first time Welsh rugby's top talent has left the team. So what's special about this?
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What's happened?
On the one hand, this is a well-told story.
The player is nearing the end of his contract and renounces it to accept another contract.
Money has always been offered to those who want to travel. France was a popular destination for many stars of the Warren Gatland era. Premiership Rugby was invited by George North, Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Dan Biggar.
Look back in time and the temptation was Rugby League.
“Yes, there is a history of players going somewhere for a new experience, but this time the reasons are different,” said former Dragons player and players' union chairman Ashton Hewitt. told the Scrum V podcast.
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Namely, the uncertainty created by professional clubs in Wales will will be reduced to three by 2027.
“We don't know what the future of professional rugby will look like,” added former Wales captain Sivan Lillicrap. “If it was a different career, you wouldn’t sit around and hope.”
Why did this cause so much concern?
Because of the consequences.
With the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) saying its new structure will have one club in Cardiff, one in the east of Wales and one in the west, a battle for survival is expected between the Llanelli Scarlets and the Swansea-based Ospreys.
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Add to that the fact that WRU chairman Richard Collier Caywood would not comment on questions about Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media showing an interest in taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, the future of the Ospreys was particularly in the spotlight.
Holley doubts that Morgan and Lake based their decisions on information that was not known to the general public.
It is unknown, but it is known that the Ospreys made lucrative offers for them to stay and both players were seen as two who would like to stay closer to home.
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“I’m worried,” Hewitt added. “This seems like a nail in the coffin for osprey in terms of which region should we leave? But this will affect every region where people are thinking about leaving.
“I think more players will leave at any given time than in the past.
“Until there's some clarity and certainty in Wales, you can't blame them.”
The fans don't seem to blame the players and uncertainty is seeping into the stands.
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“The question is, will our supporters now go support Gloucester?” said Lillicrap. “Where do our young ambitious players want to play? This is caring about the future.”
What did the Ospreys say?
As well as the usual tributes to Lake – an academy graduate – and Morgan, who established himself as a world-class talent during his time at Swansea, harsh realities were reflected.
Jones insisted the club had done everything possible to keep the pair together, but added: “Unfortunately these matters sometimes get taken out of your hands, especially in the current circumstances in Welsh rugby.”
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In his statement, Morgan hinted at the factors at play, saying, “This decision has been extremely difficult for me to make, but I hope our supporters can understand my reasons for wanting to take on this new challenge.”
What did the Welsh Rugby Union say?
The fact that the governing body felt it necessary to release a statement regarding two players' transfers to clubs suggests they are aware of how it was received.
The Union expressed its disappointment before emphasizing that it was in order to avoid such a scenario that they needed to develop their proposed plans.
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“We are at the beginning of this journey and are working with all professional clubs to implement this new system as quickly as possible,” the statement said.
“As we work to create a world-class rugby environment in Wales over the coming years, we hope to see players like Jacques and Dewey – and others – return to Wales.”
The WRU declined a request for an interview with the performance's director, Dave Reddin, but referred to their statement above.
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Were central contracts an option?
The WRU statement also noted that they guaranteed existing player contracts and offered financial support to new players during this period.
This reportedly included offering central contracts to some players.
New proposals for Welsh rugby will include centralized contracts with the three remaining clubs once the three clubs' plans come into force.
But they seem to be being discussed now as a way to encourage players to stay.
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If they were part of a package to save Morgan and Lake in Wales, it didn't work.
What about the 25 cap rule?
Not long ago, anyone who played club rugby outside Wales and did not earn 60 caps could not play for the country.
As post-Covid finances came into play, that number dropped to 25 in February 2023.
But as the lure of Test rugby clashes with the realities of the career, there are caveats.
For example, if no reasonable offer has been made to keep the player in Wales, the offer may be rejected.
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And Lions caps count too – meaning Morgan (24 for Wales and two for the Lions) will remain eligible once he heads to Kingsholm, as will Lake with 26 caps.
Even so, there is no guarantee that the rule will remain in effect as changes continue.
Will others follow?
Ospreys midfielder Dan Edwards, among others, has been linked with a move away from Wales. [Getty Images]
No one knows for sure, but it's predicted that Morgan and Lake won't be first if offers from elsewhere are on the table.
It is estimated that 80 players across the four regions will be out of contract by the end of the season.
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Ospreys and Wales midfielder Dan Edwards, who failed to qualify under the 25 cap rule, has been linked with Leicester, while Test stars Aaron Wainwright and Josh Adams are among those said to have been the subject of interest from English clubs.
One small consolation may be that Prem teams are limited in the number of non-English qualified players they can have in their playing squads.
But that doesn't mean France, or even further afield, isn't a consideration for players amid uncertainty.
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“The fragility of the system that Welsh rugby is in”
Analysis – Gareth Rees Owen, Scrum V commentator
There is nothing new about elite Welsh players leaving at the peak of their powers.
Jonathan Davis was 25 when he moved to Clermont, James Hook was the same age when he joined Perpignan, and Dan Lydiate was 25 when he left for Racing.
Morgan, now 25, and Lake, 26, fit the same pattern. The best Welsh players often move beyond Wales after reaching their prime.
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In that sense, their decision to move on is neither surprising nor unprecedented – even if Gloucester is not a European superpower or rugby's equivalent of a “galactic” destination.
What distinguishes these deviations is the context in which they occur.
The WRU are openly considering downsizing the region and it is no secret that the Ospreys are among those facing an uncertain future.
In such an environment, no player, especially those at the top of the game, will be accused of securing their future elsewhere. This acceptance is key.
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When senior players leave due to ongoing structural uncertainty, it reflects the fragility of the system and the position in which Welsh rugby currently finds itself.
