Wales Player Of The Year Quits Welsh Rugby For Top 14

Welsh star Will Rowlands has today agreed to terms to join French giants Racing92 from the beginning of next season.

Rowlands move away from Welsh club rugby is a major blow to both the Dragons and the Welsh national side as he will no longer be eligible for international selection.

The former Wasps lock was rumoured to be heading back to the Premiership with Bath but is now on his way to the French capital where he will be coached by former England coach Stuart Lancaster.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the Dragons could not hold on to Rowlands due to an embargo placed on them by Welsh Rugby who have yet to confirm the regions budgets for next season.

At thirty-one-years-old, Rowlands is very much in his prime as secondrow and will be a major loss to the Welsh ahead of the World Cup.

Welsh Rugby is now at perhaps its lowest eb since their 2007 World Cup Pool exit with calls being made for radical changes to the structure of the union.

It is being reported that Rowlands could well be joined by a number of other Welsh players in leaving the regional set-up. It is understood that the Ospreys have up to thirty players out of contract ahead of next season.