There are a number of players leaving Wales at the end of the season
15:29, 19 May 2026Updated 15:30, 19 May 2026
Tom Rogers is leaving the Scarlets v Ospreys(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
As the United Rugby Championship season draws to a close, Wales’ four professional clubs have confirmed the players who will leave at the end of the current campaign.
Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets have all announced their departing squads ahead of next season, with 32 players set to move on from Welsh rugby.
Here is the full list of all 32 players leaving Wales at the end of this season.
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Cardiff
In total, 11 players are leaving Cardiff, including those in the academy who have not been offered contracts.
The headline departure is Leigh Halfpenny with the 37-year-old Wales legend retiring at the end of this season.
Wales prop Corey Domachowski is leaving after almost a decade at the club to join the Scarlets. The 29-year-old has had a tough time with injuries over the past couple of seasons and has fallen behind the likes of Rhys Barratt in the pecking order.
Versatile forward Ben Donnell is a loss because he can cover the back-five of the scrum while Rory Jennings is a decent squad player.
Cardiff departures: Leigh Halfpenny (retirement), Corey Domachowski (Scarlets), Ed Byrne (Leinster), Ben Donnell (Ulster), Will Davies-King (English Championship), Rory Jennings (England), MacKenzie Martin (Beziers), Dylan Barrett (released), Ollie Das (released), Joseff Jones (released), Harrison Rock (released).
Dragons
By far the biggest loss to the Dragons is Aaron Wainwright who is undoubtedly one of the finest players to have ever played for the club.
Wainwright has taken his game to a whole new level this season and was Wales’ best player during the recent Six Nations.
He will join Leicester Tigers next season and his loss will be keenly felt by the Dragons.
But other than Wainwright the Dragons aren’t losing any front line players ahead of the 2025/26 season.
One notable departure is Rodney Parade stalwart James Benjamin who leaves after 13 seasons with the club.
Dragons departures: Aaron Wainwright (Leicester Tigers), James Benjamin (retirement), Ewan Rosser (released), Luke Yendle (released), Niall Armstrong (released), George Roberts (Scarlets).
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Ospreys
The Ospreys have been hit hardest by departures with Wales stars Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake joining Gloucester—a hammer blow for the club.
Utility-back Jack Walsh has also been a very important player for Mark Jones’ side over the past few seasons, while second-row James Fender’s exit is also a blow.
The majority of players leaving the Ospreys are front-line players.
Ospreys departures: Jac Morgan (Gloucester), Dewi Lake (Gloucester), James Fender (Grenoble), Phil Cokanasiga (Gloucester), Jack Walsh (Montauban)
Dewi Lake (left) and Jac Morgan (right) will be leaving the Ospreys at the end of the season(Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency)
Scarlets
The Scarlets are losing some key players at the end of the season and their supporters will not be happy to see Wales wing Tom Rogers join arch rivals the Ospreys.
Losing Springboks hooker Marnus van der Merwe will come as a blow with the 29-year-old off to join Munster.
But arguably the biggest loss is versatile forward Max Douglas who has been a valuable player for the Scarlets over the last couple of seasons.
Scarlets departures: Jake Ball (retirement), Tom Rogers (Ospreys), Marnus van der Merwe (Munster), Max Douglas (Japan), Alec Hepburn (Edinburgh), Ben Williams (Pontypool), Rhodri Lewis (released), Dan Gemine (released), Tom Phillips (released), Steff Jac Jones (released).