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'I'm delighted to have secured my future ' - Ospreys confirm Anscombe capture

Gareth Anscombe with some Wales team-mates (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Gareth Anscombe will leave Cardiff Blues at the end of the season to join their Guinness PRO14 rivals Ospreys.

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The Wales fly-half, 27, had been offered a new contract by Blues and also been linked with English clubs Harlequins, Bath and Bristol.

“I’m delighted to have secured my future to play professional rugby in Wales and to be joining the Ospreys. I am very happy to finally be able to put pen to paper during what’s been an unsettling time and commit to staying in Wales,” Anscombe told Ospreys’ official website.

“I know a lot of the boys from my time with the Wales team and they can’t speak highly enough of the spirit and ambition within the Region, which really excites me.

“I’ve been impressed with the vision and the long term goals of the coaches and Region as a whole and I would like to thank them for supporting my dream to continue playing pro rugby in Wales and, if I am playing well enough, to play for my country.”

Anscombe’s contract with Blues expires in the summer, while his decision to join Welsh regional rivals Ospreys means he will still be eligible to represent Wales.

He signed a national dual contract (NDC) with the Welsh Rugby Union when he joined Blues from New Zealand side Waikato Chiefs in 2014.

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NDCs have been replaced by a new player banding pay system by the WRU, with wages and categories set by the new Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and Anscombe’s appeal against his pay banding had been rejected.

Anscombe, Wales’ first-choice fly-half during their 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam, would not have been eligible to play for Wales had he moved out of the principality as he has not played in 60 Tests.

He made his debut for Wales in 2015 – he qualifies due to his Welsh mother – and has established himself as their first-choice number 10 after winning 26 caps. He has scored 597 points in 76 appearances for Blues.

PA

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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