Wales And Lions Lock Beard To Leave Ospreys

Ospreys person announced Adam Beard will time off astatine nan extremity of nan season, pinch nan Wales fastener expected to subordinate French broadside Montpellier.

Beard is retired of statement astatine nan Welsh region astatine nan extremity of this play and is group to subordinate nan French Top 14 side, though that move is yet to beryllium officially confirmed.

The 29-year-old, who has played 58 internationals for Wales and 1 Test for nan British and Irish Lions, made his Ospreys debut arsenic an 18-year-old successful 2014 and has played 139 games for his home-city side.

Beard is hoping to beryllium his fittingness for nan last United Rugby Championship (URC) location crippled of nan play against Dragons successful Swansea connected Saturday.

Flanker Justin Tipuric is group to miss his location farewell earlier he retires astatine nan extremity of nan season.

Tipuric suffered a pectoral wounded successful nan Challenge Cup conclusion against Lyon earlier this month.

Beard says it was difficult to determine to time off Ospreys having "loved" his clip astatine nan region.

"I grew up being an Ospreys protagonist and I was fortunate capable to person travel done nan academy strategy and past advancement to nan first team," he added.

"I person had tons of conversations pinch my family, friends and nan coaches here, and consciousness for illustration this is nan correct clip to task into a caller situation for myself and my family.

"I person enjoyed each 2nd of playing present and person made friends and memories that will past a lifetime. This a typical spot that has played a hugely important domiciled successful wherever I americium arsenic a player, and person, today."

Ospreys caput coach Mark Jones says Beard will beryllium missed and hopes nan adjacent procreation of locks tin capable nan void.

"Beardy's power has been ever-present successful his clip astatine nan Ospreys," said Jones.

"He will time off a large spread arsenic a player, a group -piece expert, and a leader.

"The Ospreys person historically placed a precocious value connected having a beardown beforehand 5 and he has been a cardinal contributor successful that for a agelong time.

"He's an elite professional, but astir of all, a awesome person.

"While we'll miss Beardy's beingness astatine nan club, we person precocious hopes for a batch of our 2nd rows that person travel done nan ranks recently.

"His departure will supply an opportunity for those boys, on pinch immoderate caller additions we have, to measurement up arsenic leaders."

Wales captains Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan person signed caller deals to enactment astatine Ospreys adjacent season, while Ross Moriarty is group to subordinate from Brive.