With so many leaving, we must give youth a chance

THE strange goings on in Welsh rugby continued on Thursday night when Cardiff Rugby took to Twitter to announce the 16 players who will be leaving the club this summer.

- SHANE WILLIAMS

It coincided with their annual awards, but you’d have thought their most capped player, someone who has given countless amounts of blood, sweat and tears for the region, Lloyd Williams deserved more than a cursory social media post to thank him for his massive investment and loyalty. True, he was presented with the Peter Thomas Player of the Year Award at the dinner, but I’d have expected more of a fuss to be made of him after 250 games.

That leaves Cardiff with 26 players on their books at present. They have their academy players as well, but with little money to shop with this summer you wonder what squad they will be able to put together for next season.

The 16 leavers named from the Arms Park followed on from the Scarlets announcing they have shed 15 players and the Dragons nine. The Ospreys are still counting, although we know that Joe Hawkins and Ethan Roots have both signed for Exeter Chiefs, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler is heading to Japan, Dan Lydiate is on his way and Stephen Myler is retiring.

We still await news on the status of Alun Wyn Jones, Rhys Webb and Gareth Anscombe for next season, while Nicky Smith is still being courted by Saracens and Bristol Bears.

It means almost 50 players will be leaving Welsh rugby for one reason or another, freeing up around £5m in wages.

This huge cull of players was always going to happen given the difficult financial climate. Many of those released were at the end of their careers, and a few others have simply hung up their boots, but out of adversity comes opportunity. Will the next cab off the rank please move forward.