Webb returns to Wales by re-joining Ospreys

Rhys Webb will return to Wales and potentially resume his international career after agreeing to re-join Ospreys from Toulon.

The WRU selection policy – which means players taking up a new deal with a team outside of Wales must have won 60 caps to be able to continue playing for the national side – combined with Webb’s move to Toulon in 2018, ensured the scrum-half’s last appearance for his country came against South Africa in December 2017.

But he will be eligible to add to his 31 Wales caps once he returns to Ospreys in the summer and could battle with the likes of Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams and Aled Davies for the No.9 jersey.

Webb initially had another year left on his contract with French giants Toulon but has been released from his deal early after his partner and children moved back to Wales earlier this year.

And the 31-year-old – who made 16 appearances for his country in the Championship between 2012 and 2017, scoring four tries – is excited to be heading home.

New year delight for @ospreys fans with @RhysWebb_9
returning next season Dychweliad mawr i seren arall y gêm.

– https://t.co/YjgrAlsAXT pic.twitter.com/lEnN1mx7om

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) December 31, 2019

“It’s just great to come back to where rugby all started for me,” said Webb. “I am really looking forward to the challenge.

“I have loved my time in Toulon, but it’s a relief to come home to the Ospreys. It’s where my family are, where I was brought up, and where rugby all started for me.

“To return to play for my home region again is just really special for me and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to do that again.

“I have been away for two years and I know there have been a lot of changes and that there are a lot of exciting young players coming through and some familiar faces too. I am looking forward to the challenge.

“Hopefully I can pass on my experience to the younger players and I am determined to do as much as I can to help the team.

“As I said at the time, nobody turns down Toulon and I wanted to experience something different.

“I am thankful that they have released me a year early from my contract and I am as excited about returning to the Ospreys as I was at going to France.

“Everybody knows how important my family is to me and being able to return home, especially to the Ospreys, is massive for me.”

Webb’s move to France meant he was a notable absentee in Warren Gatland’s Guinness Six Nations swansong last spring, as Wales clinched a memorable Grand Slam.

That Grand Slam defence begins against Italy in Cardiff on February 1.

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Source: 6 Nations