The Scarlets are facing a fight to keep hold of Wales fly-half Sam Costelow, with a handful of English clubs understood to be interested in securing his signature.
Costelow is out of contract at the end of the season and he has admirers in the Gallagher Premiership. The 25-year-old is a key player for the Scarlets and even though they have the prodigiously gifted 18-year-old Carwyn Leggatt-Jones on their books they will be keen to retain Costelow.
At his best Costelow is a very good player with a strong kicking game and the vision to bring his outside backs into the contest.
Wales caps and eligibility
Costelow, who has been named in Steve Tandy's squad for the second instalment of the Nations Championship this month, currently has 22 caps for Wales. That means, barring injury, he is on course to reach the 25-cap threshold required to remain eligible for international selection should he move outside of Wales.
But the Scarlets will be working hard to hold onto the Wales playmaker. Costelow is set to be a key player for Wales this season and will fight it out with Dan Edwards for the Wales number 10 jersey.
English clubs circling
There are 14 members of the current Wales squad who ply their trades in the Gallagher Premiership and there is a good chance that will increase ahead of the 2027/28 season. With uncertainty continuing to surround the future of professional rugby in Wales, the prospect of the WRU pressing ahead with plans to reduce the number of clubs from four to three is likely to leave players considering their options, with a move across the border to England an increasingly attractive proposition.
As things stand the WRU's plan will see one of the Ospreys or Scarlets ceasing to exist in a couple of years' time unless they agree to a merger.
