Wales captain Jac Morgan and hooker Dewi Lake will leave Ospreys at the end of the season to join Gloucester, dealing a significant blow to both the Swansea-based club and the wider Welsh rugby landscape.<\/p>\n
The pair will move to Kingsholm ahead of the 2026-2027 campaign to play in the Gallagher Premiership, with Ospreys head coach Mark Jones citing ongoing uncertainty in Welsh rugby as a decisive factor in their departures.<\/p>\n
Morgan has been one of the defining figures of Ospreys\u2019 recent era since joining from Scarlets in 2021. The 24-year-old flanker has made 51 appearances for the club and quickly established himself as a leader, both domestically and on the international stage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His rise culminated earlier this year with selection for his first British and Irish Lions tour, where he scored a try in the second test against Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was an extremely difficult decision for me to make, but I hope our supporters can understand the reasoning behind me wanting to pursue a new challenge,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cThe Ospreys is a club that will always hold a special place in my heart, there are some incredible people here that have played an important part in getting me to where I am now, and I will never forget that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am looking forward to the new challenge ahead, but until then, I will be working hard to get back to full fitness and giving 100% for the team until the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morgan will join a Gloucester side that has endured a difficult campaign in both the Premiership and the Investec Champions Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite the club\u2019s struggles, the Wales skipper believes the move offers an opportunity to help drive improvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m delighted to sign for Gloucester Rugby ahead of the 2026-2027 season. It\u2019s a great club with brilliant supporters,\u201d Morgan said. \u201cI know a lot of players at Gloucester who speak highly of the environment, and I\u2019m excited for the future. I\u2019m also looking forward to the challenge of playing in the Gallagher Premiership.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lake\u2019s departure is equally significant for Ospreys.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hooker came through the club\u2019s development pathway and has made 71 senior appearances, earning a reputation as one of Wales\u2019 most dynamic front-row forwards.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a really good chat with the club about their ambitions and how I could play a part in that, and it got me really excited for the challenge ahead,\u201d Lake said. \u201cI\u2019ve always admired Gloucester for the way they play. I feel like it\u2019s suited to my strengths and the way I like to play the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Gallagher Premiership is probably the most competitive league in the world, and I feel like I\u2019m at a good stage in my career to take the opportunity with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gloucester Director of Rugby George Skivington said the signings represented a major statement of intent for the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really pleased to get a deal for Jac over the line,\u201d Skivington said. \u201cHe\u2019s a genuinely world-class rugby player and has a big impact in every team he\u2019s been a part of, and that\u2019s a really exciting prospect. Jac no doubt had lots of offers on the table, so for him to commit to the project here at Kingsholm is a great nod to the program we have in place and the ambition we have for next season and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Skivington added that Lake\u2019s arrival would further strengthen Gloucester\u2019s forward pack.<\/p>\n
\u201cDewi is the epitome of a modern day hooker, dominant at set-piece and industrious around the park,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s a gritty and abrasive player, and I know that\u2019s what fans like to see in a Gloucester player. I think they\u2019ll take to Dewi really quickly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Dewi and Jac coming in, we\u2019ve significantly bolstered our pack, adding to the talent that\u2019s already here, and we\u2019re shaping up nicely for the start of the 2026-2027 season.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Ospreys, the double exit underlines the challenges facing Welsh regions as they attempt to retain leading talent amid financial and structural uncertainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I speak for everyone at the club when I say Jac will be sorely missed,\u201d Jones said. \u201cHe is a tremendous player and leader that always gives his all when he is on the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a club, we have always done our utmost to keep our most talented players, and that certainly was the case with Jac. Unfortunately, these matters are sometimes taken out of your hands, especially under the current circumstances in Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe respect his decision and wish him nothing but the best for the future. He will always be welcome back at the Ospreys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jones said similar efforts had been made to retain Lake.<\/p>\n
\u201cSimilarly to Jac, the club put in a lot of hard work to try and keep Dewi, but this became increasingly difficult with the current landscape and uncertainty in Welsh rugby,\u201d he said. \u201cHe has always represented both the Ospreys jersey and Welsh jersey with immense pride and is a fine example of the quality produced by our pathway.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Gloucester prepares to integrate two established internationals, Ospreys and Welsh rugby are left grappling with the broader implications of losing key figures to England\u2019s top flight.<\/p>\n
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