The new Welsh rugby signing who's left people shocked and gutted he's gone

When a Welsh side announces a deal for an overseas signing, you can usually predict the reactions in the comments section without the need to look first.

The bingo card for Welsh rugby imports has a few familiar staples.

Replies about the regions 'signing up foreign players rather than develop Welsh players' in different forms and iterations.

It's a tired constant in the Welsh game, as the people who tend to moan about foreign imports blocking the path of young Welsh talents tend to be the same ones who want to scrap the 25-cap rule so Welsh talent can ply their trade outside of the country.

But regardless of whether you get to shout 'bingo' as you sift through the replies to a Welsh club's announcement tweet, perhaps the more interesting part of the latest addition to Welsh rugby is not the reaction over here, but elsewhere.

As the Dragons announced a deal for Waratahs centre Harry Wilson, it's the reaction in Australia that should tell you exactly what Dai Flanagan has got on his hands for next season.

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ABC Sport commentator Brett McKay couldn't hide his surprise on social media, saying: "Whoa, really? The Waratahs have let Harry Wilson go overseas?!?"

He then added that the Dragons were getting a "good'un".

Some Waratahs fans bemoaned the fact they weren't keeping hold of Wilson, with some hoping he didn't turn out to have Welsh heritage as they praised his potential.

What makes Wilson's departure all the more galling for those in New South Wales is that, while his opportunities have been fairly limited so far, he was expected to play a bigger part in things moving forward in Sydney.

Having made eight appearances in his first season in Super Rugby, Wilson - the son of former Wallabies captain and World Cup winner David - has played four times this season, crossing for his first try in their Round 2 win over the Crusaders.

Part of the reason for that relative lack of game-time was competing with the likes of Wallabies duo Lalakai Foketi and Izaia Perese, as well as Joey Walton and Mosese Tuipulotu.

However, Perese is off to Leicester Tigers next season, while Tuipulotu is set to join brother Sione in Scotland. The Tahs wanted to keep Wilson, according to reports in Australia - understandably so, given the impending loss of Perese.

Many in Australia saw the versatile Wilson - who can also play full-back and wing - as the natural successor. However, they weren't able to put together a compelling package to convince him to stay.

Part of that could be down to the fact that NSW Rugby announced a $4.8million deficit in 2023. Rugby Australia also announced their own $9.2million loss this week, with the governing body taking over the operational running of the Waratahs earlier this year.

The Waratahs are also bracing themselves for the arrival of rugby league convert Joseph Suaalii. The Sydney Roosters star was pursued by former Wallabies coaches Michael Cheika and Dave Rennie, signing a three-year multi-million deal last year.

Suaalii is expected to feature at 13 for the Waratahs, although there's already speculation about his return to league in 2028 or even earlier- despite having not played a game of union yet.

All that points to the fact that the Waratahs might have been better off keeping hold of Wilson, but that's a moot point now. Instead, it'll be the Dragons benefitting from the centre next year.

Certainly, as Flanagan's seeks to add a bit more physicality to his backline, Wilson seems an ideal signing for the Rodney Parade side.

The Waratahs' loss appears to be the Dragons' gain.