The top Wales internationals looking for new clubs right now

Going into the next season, there are a crop of Wales internationals without clubs.

The regions released their departure lists in the past month, with many shocked to see Scarlets winger Ryan Conbeer leaving the west Walian outfit. Yes, the 25-year-old isn't capped by Wales yet, but has been touted as a future Test player.

Along with the likes of Conbeer are a number of his elder Scarlets team-mates, who are also now without clubs going into the new campaign. Other players have been on shorter-term contracts Down Under and are now in search of a fresh challenge.

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The tighter budgets for the four professional clubs next season have made it very difficult for teams to keep hold of their bigger players and foreign imports. The likes of former Toulon lock Lopeti Timani departed Cardiff Rugby recently, and has instead joined French third-tier side Narbonne.

Below are some of the top Wales internationals still looking for clubs.

Leigh Halfpenny

After announcing his retirement from international rugby last year, Leigh Halfpenny signed for Super Rugby royalty Crusaders.

His season was blighted by injury from the get-go, but he did fight back to make a couple of appearances towards the latter stages of the campaign.

Crusaders endured their worst campaign in recent years, and were clearly not able to deal with life after Scott Robertson, who left to coach the All Blacks.

Despite this, Halfpenny left a moving message on social media last month: "As a kid I grew up watching Crusaders. Huge privilege to have the opportunity to make my debut for this special club and extremely grateful to everyone who’s helped me get back on the field. Proud moment with my family in the changing rooms after the game."

Halfpenny's one-year deal has now finished and the iconic full-back is in search of a club. Perhaps a lucrative deal in France or Japan awaits the 35-year-old?

Rhys Patchell

Another Welsh export who tried his hand in Super Rugby, Rhys Patchell's time in the league was much more fruitful than Halfpenny's.

The 22-cap Wales international was simply terrific at fly-half for Highlanders when he managed to get on the field, wowing commentators with his skills and passing.

Patchell didn't play as much as he would have liked, with Highlanders protecting him in some games after citing the injuries he had sustained in previous years. A pectoral strain ended his season in early May, with the fly-half out for six to eight weeks.

Highlanders ended up reaching the Super Rugby quarter-finals, where they were defeated by ACT Brumbies, but Patchell's contract is now up.

At just 31, the Llandough-born man has plenty left to give. There are rumours he could be going to Japan.

Jonathan Davies

Arguably the greatest 13 in world rugby at his peak, Jonathan Davies was a monster in the Wales midfield and bossed it for the British and Irish Lions across two tours.

Now 36, Scarlets announced their legendary captain would be leaving the club at the end of last season. He has not yet confirmed his international retirement, but his last Test for Wales came up against South Africa in 2021, so you'd imagine the door is closed after so long out of the international arena.

Davies is certainly deserving of a nice pay day to pull the curtain down on a stellar career, but he has dipped his toes into media already by working with The Good, The Bad and the Rugby as a regular host, so perhaps that's an avenue the Ysgol Dyffryn Taf product can explore.

He said upon the announcement of his Scarlets departure: “I would love to see if there is another opportunity to play elsewhere, whether that be abroad or not. I still enjoy coming to train and playing. I am always told you are a long time retired - if you feel you can add to an environment or a team I feel I’d be stupid not to.

“The Scarlets have been a huge part of my life. When you get older there is an appreciation of the effort that people - coaches, team-mates, staff - have put into your career. The supporters here have been amazing from day one as well.”

Scott Williams

Scott Williams burst onto the scene 13 years ago and was a member of the next generation of Welsh talent along with Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton and Leigh Halfpenny who were part of Wales 2011 World Cup squad.

Now 33, Williams is perhaps unlucky to have not earned more caps for Wales - despite his 58 to date. He was called into the Wales squad in 2021 as cover for Willis Halaholo, who had tested positive for COVID-19, but was released back to Scarlets shortly after and hasn't been part of the international set-up since.

He will always be remembered for that epic rip from Courtney Lawes against England in 2013, which secured Wales the Triple Crown at Twickenham. He's a man who embodied the physically imposing 12 that Warren Gatland loved so much, alongside legend Jamie Roberts.

You'd imagine the Whitland RFC product would have one or two more years left, but in a career impacted by so many injuries, you wouldn't blame him for stepping away either.

Wyn Jones

It's hard to believe that a man who was a starter for the British and Irish Lions' third Test against South Africa in 2021 is now without a club at 32. Part of a 2021 Six Nations Wales pack that conceded just one penalty on their own ball all tournament, Jones was a force to be reckoned with at loose-head.

However, the Llandovery RFC product has not played for Wales since the 2023 Six Nations, and did not go to the World Cup either.

From a farming background, Jones could always find work with his family in Llandovery, but it would be a shame to see the former Wales star's rugby career fade out after his contract with Scarlets ended.

However, it was rumoured in March that Bath and Gloucester were lining up moves for Jones, but nothing has materialised from that just yet.

Alex Cuthbert

The 34-year-old was the standout name among the likes of Nicky Smith and George North on the Ospreys' leavers list just a few weeks ago.

Affectionately known as Horse, Cuthbert's career boasts two Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam and a British and Irish Lions series victory in 2013. He burst onto the scene in 2011 and went on to start all five games for Wales in the 2012 Six Nations. The towering winger signed for Exeter Chiefs in 2018, and subsequently did not play a Test match for Wales between 2017 and 2022.

A calf injury ended his hopes of making it to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but he eventually made his return for Ospreys a few months ago, before sustaining another serious injury in March against Munster (hamstring).

You'd imagine the 6ft 6in flyer has a year or two left in the tank on the rugby field, but his successful ventures into media in 'Sportin Wales' with Gareth Anscombe, and punditry duties on various broadcasters, proves that he could really do either.