Justin Tipuric has a huge decision to make over his future in Welsh rugby, with the Ospreys engulfed by crisis.
The Wales star’s contract is up at the Swansea-based region at the end of the season and he is allegedly a target for some of France and England's top clubs.
His former Ospreys team-mate and Wales’ record try-scorer Shane Williams believes the flanker has much to consider with the Ospreys having won just one of their eight matches this season and having parted company with coach Allen Clarke.
You can read the latest on that situation here.
“He’s probably thinking ‘I’m signed up with a team that is not doing particularly well’,” said Williams, who is a pundit with Guinness PRO14 broadcaster Premier Sports.
“I know Justin though, he’s quite close to his roots and is quite loyal to the Ospreys, and that will be a big factor in his decision at the end of the year, I imagine, as it was for Alun Wyn Jones.
“Players like Alun Wyn, Tipuric, James Hook, players who have been there a long time, understand the culture of the Ospreys.
“They haven’t become a bad region overnight, they believe it is a region that can win things and I’m sure they still do believe that.
“But it’s going to be a tough couple of months for Justin because, let’s be honest, any team in world rugby would love to have Justin Tipuric in their team.
“He’s one of the best players I played alongside and he’s got a big decision to make. He has been very loyal to the Ospreys and that might be a factor when it comes to putting pen to paper.
“It was the same for me but, perhaps in hindsight, I should have gone to France when I had the opportunities.
“He has to look after his family, he has to do what’s right for him and them.”
