Tom Habberfield is being strongly linked with Welsh Cup winners Cardiff RFC after his release from the Ospreys.
A number of Welsh Premiership clubs are believed to have been tracking the 27-year-old scrum-half who captained the Liberty Stadium region and played 135 games for them over eight seasons.
But Cardiff have emerged as favourites to secure the former Wales Under-20s man’s signature.
Habberfield's name is believed to have appeared on Harlequins' radar screen, but the Bridgend product is said to be keen on a local move.
Should Cardiff win the chase for his services, as seems likely, they will have snared a hugely reliable player with the ability to shine in quality company.
Indeed, when the Ospreys played an away Champions Cup game against a Saracens side boasting five British and Irish Lions last season, including Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje, Habberfield played as well as anyone else on the pitch, making a number of try-saving tackles.
The Ospreys’ then defence coach Brad Davis later admitted to being mystified why Habberfield hadn’t been chosen for Wales’ tour the previous summer.
“I was surprised he didn’t get a call for the tour,” said Davis at the time.
“He’s been a stand-out for us.
“Not only is he diligent and hard-working, he’s a top nine who always wants to develop his game.
“He was outstanding against Saracens. There again, I don’t think you’ll see Tom Habberfield have a bad defensive performance.”
The Bridgend product had first come to prominence by orchestrating Wales Under-20s memorable 9-6 win over their New Zealand counterparts at the Junior World Championship in 2012.
The previous year the Baby Blacks had crushed Wales’s juniors 92-0, but in South Africa Habberfield dished out a tactical masterclass, repeatedly turning the young Kiwis with pinpoint kicking in the driving rain at Stellenbosh.
