Ospreys retain another youngster
Ospreys are looking to the future after they retained the services of talented scrumhalf Rhys Webb for next season.
"I’m absolutely thrilled," Webb said.
"To be able to commit to another three years with my home region is fantastic. It’s a brilliant environment here, the only place I want to play rugby.
"Having done so well last season I’ve obviously been disappointed to not get so much game time this year, but I’ve had to knuckle down and work hard. Kahn [Fotuali'i] has been a great help for me in terms of development and I believe that if I keep on working hard I can become a much better player over the three years of my new contract.
With the departure of Samoan Kahn Fotuali'i at the end of the season the scrumhalf position at Ospreys is going to be up for grabs and with a new contract being signed Webb hopes that he can make that position his own.
"I take great pride in wearing the Ospreys shirt. We’ve got a good, young group of players together here that can serve the region well for a long time and I’m pleased that I can be a part of it," Webb added.
Andy Lloyd, Rugby Operations Manager at the Ospreys, said: "It’s great news for Rhys and for the region. It’s important that we keep hold of young, talented home grown players who have already shown that they can compete at the top level and he certainly fits that description.
"He’s been unfortunate in the amount of game-time he’s had this season due to the form of others in the squad, but we saw last season what he is capable of when he was one of the form scrumhalves in Wales.
"He thoroughly deserved his place in the starting line-up for the PRO12 Final in Dublin and on the Wales tour to Australia," Lloyd explained.
"He is only going to get better over the course of this contract. He’s a fantastic athlete and is totally committed to the Ospreys cause, coming from one of the hotbeds of the region in Bridgend, and we are delighted to have him on board for the next three years.
"With the addition of Tito Tebaldi confirmed for next season, someone of Rhys’ proven ability signing a new contract, and then with the potential of Tom Habberfield, it bodes well for the Ospreys.
"Ideally, we would want to go into a season with as many as five scrumhalves available to cover injury and potential international recognition, but the reality of the salary cap is that we have to go with three for next season," mentioned Lloyd.
Webb follows on from Joe Bearman in recommitting to the Ospreys this week, while young forwards James King and Lloyd Peers signed new deals at the end of December.