Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake Join Gloucester: Why Are wales Losing Their Captains?
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It’s the news many in Wales were dreading. Jac Morgan and Dewi lake, the national team’s two captains during the recent Autumn Nations Series, have signed deals too join PREM Rugby side Gloucester Rugby for the 2026-27 season.
With both players out of contract at the end of this season, the Ospreys stars were free to look for new employers. Thay’ll join Welsh teammates Freddie Thomas and Max Llewellyn at Kingsholm next year.
The news has, unsurprisingly, sent shockwaves through the principality.Welsh stars opting to ply their trade in England or overseas is nothing new, but the timing of the forwards’ departure – with Ospreys’ future currently uncertain – feels especially ominous.
Below we explain the possible reasons behind Morgan and Lake’s departure, and what it might mean for the wider Welsh game.
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Why have the Welsh captains signed for English clubs?
While we don’t know the exact thinking behind their decisions, it’s easy to speculate on why Morgan and Lake have opted to cross the Prince of Wales Bridge.
Over the last four seasons, Ospreys have only finished in the top half of the URC table once – even then they finished eighth – and reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup twice. the team are nowhere near making a realistic bid for top-level honours, so it’s easy to see why the duo might want to turn out for a more competitive side, with more chance of taking part in the Champions Cup. It’s also reasonable to assume that they’ll be able to command a bigger salary in the Gallagher PREM.
But there might potentially be bigger factors at play. The Welsh Rugby Union’s recent consultation on the future of the game recommended that the current four regions be cut down to three, with one in Cardiff, one in the east of the country and one in the west. This suggests there won’t be room for both Ospreys and Scarlets in the new structure, meaning morgan and Lake’s current club may not even exist in a few years’ time.
players have left Wales for England before. Why is this such a big deal?
Back in the amateur era the likes of Jonathan Davies,Scott Gibbs and Scott Quinnell left Wales to play rugby league,while many members of Warren Gatland’s successful Wales side also had spells in England. However, the current situation feels different.
The exodus of players like Morgan and Lake, who are at the peak of their powers and represent the future of Welsh rugby, is a worrying sign. It suggests that the best players are no longer convinced that Wales can offer them the competitive environment and financial rewards they deserve.
Welsh Rugby Players Head for France
Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake, two key players for Wales, are leaving Welsh clubs to join French teams. This news delivers a significant blow to welsh rugby, especially considering the current challenges facing the sport in the country. Morgan will join the Top 14 side Montpellier, while Lake is heading to Bordeaux.
Why is this happening?
Financial difficulties plague Welsh rugby. The regional clubs struggle to compete with the lucrative contracts offered by French clubs. Players are understandably seeking financial security and career advancement. This situation isn’t new, but the departure of players of Morgan and Lake’s caliber is particularly concerning.
What does this mean for Wales?
Losing these players weakens the national team. Morgan and Lake rank among Wales’ best players, a fact highlighted by the makeshift nature of the side Tandy selected for the recent South Africa match, wich took place outside the international window.
How has the Welsh Rugby Union reacted?
The WRU is clearly shaken by the news and, in an unusual move, has issued a statement in response:
“We are striving to build a world-class system in Wales to maximise the potential for the success of our professional clubs and national teams,” the statement said. “We want Welsh talent to be at the heart of the system.
“We are, of course, disappointed when players leave the system in Wales. But we are also realistic that top-class players will get opportunities to explore new experiences and to challenge themselves as they develop their careers.
“Creating the right environment for Welsh talent in Wales is a fundamental part of the new plans we announced for the Future of Elite Rugby in Wales at the end of October. We are at the beginning of that journey and are working with all of the professional clubs to put that new system in place as quickly as possible. The WRU has guaranteed all existing player contracts and also written to our regional clubs and the Welsh Rugby Players’ Association to confirm financial support for new signings.
“As we work to create a truly world-class rugby environment in Wales in the next years, we hope that players like Jac and Dewi – and others – will come back to Wales. We wish them both the vrey best in the meantime – and we still have them at the heart of our national game from an intern