Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake: Why are Wales’ captains leaving for England?

Analysis – Gareth Rhys Owen, Scrum V commentator

There is nothing new about elite Welsh players leaving at the peak of their powers.

Jonathan Davies was 25 when he moved to Clermont, James Hook the same age when he joined Perpignan and Dan Lydiate 25 when he left for Racing.

Morgan, now 25, and Lake, 26, fit that same pattern. The best Welsh players, once they reach their prime, will often look beyond Wales.

In that sense, their decision to move on is neither surprising nor unprecedented – even if Gloucester are not a European superpower or the rugby equivalent of a ‘galactico’ destination.

What makes these departures different is the context in which they are happening.

The WRU is openly considering cutting a region and it is no secret that the Ospreys are among those facing an uncertain future.

In that climate, no player – particularly those at the top of the game – would be blamed for securing their future elsewhere. That acceptance is the key point.

When senior players leave amid ongoing structural uncertainty, it reflects the fragility of the system and the position Welsh rugby now finds itself in.