Wales international Cory Hill is expected to make a call on his future in the coming weeks amid mounting interest from the Welsh regions in the 32-cap second row.
Hill is reportedly a target for a number of clubs in the French Top 14, including Bordeaux and Castres, while there is also set to be an option for him to stay in Japan, with the former Wales captain having made a significant impact over two campaigns with Yokohama Canon Eagles, the club making him captain of late of a team which includes World Cup winners Faf de Klerk and Jesse Kriel.
But his name is also featuring on radar screens in Wales, with three of the Welsh professional sides understood to be among those tracking a player who was once part of the national team’s leadership group.
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The Ospreys have Adam Beard, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Jack Regan and James Fender among their lock options with nothing yet announced on the futures of Alun Wyn Jones and Bradley Davies, so are unlikely to make a move for Hill, but all their regional rivals are believed to be watching his situation closely.
The Scarlets, in particular, are rumoured to be looking at the possibility of trying to bolster their lock stocks. Overseas duo Sam Lousi and Vaea Fifita have been superb for them this season, and Morgan Jones is a player on the up, but bringing in another second row would allow the west Walians to consider Fifita more as a blindside flanker.
Under the selection rule change which means an exiled player can feature for Wales if he has 25 or more caps, Hill is once again available to the national selectors wherever he plays his rugby.
But the likelihood is Warren Gatland would prefer a player he once described as one of Wales' most improved to be based at one of the regions. The New Zealander said earlier this year: “There's been chat about Cory potentially coming back, some of the other coaches have been watching his performances in Japan.”
So highly did Gatland rate him that he named him in his 2019 World Cup squad despite Hill having a leg fracture at the time.
The numbers would presumably have to add up for all concerned, but with his energy around the field, experience and leadership skills, the 31-year-old would enhance pretty much any regional squad. When Gatland names his extended World Cup training group in the coming weeks, it would be a surprise if Hill were not in it.
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