Davies the leading light in Welsh quartet

FOUR international flyhalves took flight from Wales last year, understandably so given the alternative of staying put on contracts shredded by the rugby recession.

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The quartet, one from each region, headed for greener pastures, a scattering to the four winds or, to be strictly accurate, to three continents: Gareth Anscombe from Ospreys to Japan, Rhys Patchell from Scarlets to New Zealand, Jarrod Evans from Cardiff to London, Sam Davies from Dragons to France.

Anscombe, his Oriental odyssey with Suntory Goliath destroyed by yet another long-term injury, is due to resurface at Gloucester before the end of summer. Unable to make more than 14 club starts in four seasons, he is long overdue a break of a different sort.

The same prognosis can be applied to Patchell whose pleasing progress half a world away in Dunedin in negotiating six Super Rugby starts at ten for the Highlanders has been disrupted by a damaged pectoral muscle.