Leicester lose out on Handre Pollard replacement as Wales hopeful makes shock switch
There looks to be a fly-half merry-go-around in Wales ahead of next season.
Leicester Tigers look set to miss out on who is reportedly their lead candidate to replace Springboks fly-half Handre Pollard.
Pollard’s future at the East Midlands Premiership club is up in the air with his contract expiring with the pivot linked with a move to Japan.
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However, nothing has been made official yet with even the player admitting that he is unsure about his future beyond the current season.
“I can tell you the truth, I do not know yet what I’m doing or where I’m going. I’m just happy being at Leicester and I will enjoy every minute I have here,” Pollard told BBC Radio Leicester last month.
In preparation for life after Pollard, Leicester reportedly turned their attentions to Wales and Scarlets‘ playmaker Sam Costelow who joined the Tigers’ academy back in 2018 before returning to Wales.
However, a fresh report by Wales Online states that Leicester have missed out on the opportunity to sign the Welsh playmaker as Scarlets have ‘succeeded in retaining’ his services beyond this season.
It’s a major boost for the Scarlets as the same publication reports that will be losing fellow playmaker Ioan Lloyd who joined the side from Bristol Bears in 2023.
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It is reported that Lloyd won’t be returning to the Premiership either as he has penned a deal to join Cardiff, where he kickstarted his career in the club’s academy set-up.
He is being recruited not only to challenge Callum Sheedy for the number ten jumper at Cardiff but also to fill the void of South African fly-half Tinus de Beer who is expected to depart Arms Park.
Lloyd’s return to Wales earned him a recall to the Test team for the 2024 Six Nations but he failed to crack Warren Gatland’s squad for the July and November Tests. He has however been in good form with the Scarlets featuring in the number ten jumper and at full-back and will be hoping to earn another recall for this year’s Championship.
As for De Beer, he enjoyed a fine debut season with Cardiff in 2023/24 playing 22 games, 21 of which in the starting XV, but he has been used more sparingly this campaign featuring in the number 10 jersey on just two occasions coming off the bench thrice.
The former Bulls pivot is reportedly attracting interest from the Dragons in a fly-half merry-go-round in Wales but it is understood that French clubs are also keeping an eye on his situation.
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Sam Davies stays in France
Sticking on the topic of Welsh fly-halves, Sam Davies has opted to sign a contract extension with French Top 14 hopefuls Grenoble.
The 31-year-old has joined the club from the Dragons in 2023 and has been a standout performer for the side as they continue their fight to gain promotion back to the Top 14. They currently sit top of the PRO D2 table with a five-point buffer over Brive.
Davies was also linked with a possible move to the Premiership notably the Tigers with a return to Wales with the Scarlets but he rejected both offers to remain in France until 2028.
Finally, the Dragons confirmed earlier this week that prop Leon Brown has hung up his boot with immediate effect after three neck injuries.
READ MORE: Wales forward has ‘no regrets’ as he retires with immediate effect
