All the Welsh rugby transfer ins and outs after flurry of major announcements

As the season draws to a close, attention has already turned to the 2024/25 campaign with the Welsh regions already hard at work with their preparations.

The transfer market has now sprung into life, with a flurry of announcements being made by all four sides as players make decisions over their future. As has been the case in recent times, more players are heading for Welsh rugby's exit door, particularly with regional budgets falling even further next season, dropping down from £5.2m to £4.5m.

Some of the biggest names in the regional game won't be there next season, with the likes of Ken Owens and Ellis Jenkins retiring and Wales internationals George North, Tomos Williams and Nicky Smith among those heading for pastures new.

SIGN UP: Get the new exclusive Inside Welsh rugby newsletter for full insight into what's really going on around all the big issues. This special offer will get you full access for the entire year for just £10 instead of £40.

READ MORE: The best youth rugby team in Wales nobody can beat

But business certainly isn't going one way only, with all four regions bringing in some exciting new talent ahead of the new campaign and new faces joining from England, France, South Africa and Australia.

Perhaps even more importantly, the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Cardiff have all been successful in retaining the services of some of their brightest talents, with feared potential flight risks tied down ahead of next seasons. For many, it has seen them keep their international careers alive, with Warren Gatland also boosted by new deals for the likes of Rio Dyer and Harri O'Connor.

After a flurry of announcements, it can be difficult to keep up to date with the latest deals. Here's our breakdown of the confirmed ins and outs in Welsh rugby so far, as well as the players who will be staying put.

Cardiff

Some big names will be leaving Cardiff Arms Park at the end of the season, with Wales internationals Rhys Carre and Tomos Williams heading over the border to join Saracens and Gloucester respectively and Ellis Jenkins and Josh Turnbull both retiring.

Also departing are forward Shane Lewis-Hughes, who has joined the Dragons, and wing Owen Lane, who will start a new life in France after signing for Pro D2 side Valance Romans. Fellow wing Aled Summerhill is also set to leave, while tighthead Ciaran Parker has retired aged 28 after one season with the region.

Attack coach Richie Rees is also heading for pastures new, taking up a new role as director of Haberdashers’ Monmouth School's Sports Academy.

However, Matt Sherratt will still be able to field plenty of new faces next season, with Cardiff-born fly-half Callum Sheedy returning home from Bristol Bears the headline signing so far. The region have also bulked up their front-row options, with Ireland prop Ed Byrne joining from Leinster and Welsh-qualified loosehead Danny Southworth being brought in from Exeter Chiefs.

Iwan Stephens - son of former Llanelli and Wales fly-half Colin - will provide some depth on the wing, as will Gabriel Hamer-Webb, who will return after spending three months with the Blue and Blacks earlier this season.

Sherratt has also added highly-rated South African forwards coach Corniel van Zyl to his backroom team, while the region have somewhat turned the tide on the player exodus to England by persuading top young talents Tom Bowen and Steffan Emanuel to return to Wales and sign senior academy contracts.

Importantly, Cardiff have also managed to retain the services of 10 important players - including seven Wales internationals - while Gethin Jenkins' role as defence coach will become permanent this summer after acting as a part-time consultant this season.

In: Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Ed Byrne (Leinster), Danny Southworth (Exeter Chiefs), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Northampton Saints), Iwan Stephens (Newcastle Falcons), Tom Bowen (Bristol Bears), Steffan Emanuel (Bath), Corniel van Zyl (forwards coach - Ealing Trailfinders)

Out: Tomos Williams (Gloucester), Rhys Carre (Saracens), Shane Lewis-Hughes (Dragons), Owen Lane (Valance Romans); Ellis Jenkins (retired), Josh Turnbull (retired), Ciaran Parker (retired); Richie Rees (attack coach - Haberdashers’ Monmouth School)

Re-signed: Keiron Assiratti, Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Cameron Winnett, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, James Botham, Jacob Beetham, Evan Lloyd, Harri Millard; Gethin Jenkins (defence coach).

Dragons

Compared to the other regions, the Dragons had been quiet about incomings until they announced the signing of back rower Solomone Funaki at the end of April. Since then, however, the region have been doing some smart business, with three more players confirmed to be following the Tongan international to Rodney Parade.

As above, Wales international Lewis-Hughes has moved from Cardiff and will provide a new option in the Dragons pack, as will former Scarlets lock Steve Cummins, who joins from French side Pau. Australian centre Harry Wilson - the son of former Wallabies captain and World Cup winner David - has also signed from NSW Waratahs, with the 23-year-old also able to play at full-back or on the wing.

Head coach Dai Flanagan has also got his new defence coach, with former All Black Filo Tiatia returning to Wales in a statement appointment.

In terms of outgoings, club legend Jack Dixon announced earlier this season that he was hanging up his boots aged 29. Meanwhile, popular front-rower Aki Seuili and Argentina scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou - who spent the final weeks of this season on loan with Cardiff - are among the nine other players confirmed to be departing.

However, Flanagan has been boosted by the retention of the likes of Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright and Taine Basham, with all three Wales internationals deemed potential flight risks earlier in the season. Promising youngsters including Ryan Woodman, Harri Ackerman and Sam Scarfe have also committed their future to the region.

In: Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff), Steve Cummins (Pau), Harry Wilson (NSW Waratahs), Solomone Funaki (Manu Pasifika), Filo Tiatia (defence coach - Manu Pasifika)

Out: Gonzalo Bertranou, Lewis Jones, Aki Seiuli, Sean Lonsdale, Sio Tomkinson, Max Clark, Corey Baldwin, Nathan Evans, Ellis Shipp, Jack Dixon (retiring).

Re-signed: Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright, Taine Basham, Matthew Screech, Angus O'Brien, Will Reed, Ewan Rosser, Ryan Woodman, Harri Ackerman, Joe Westwood, Che Hope, Morgan Lloyd, Sam Scarfe, Oli Andrew.

Ospreys

As the best-performing team in Welsh regional rugby this season, the Ospreys have made some tidy acquisitions ahead of the new campaign, bringing in Scarlets pair Kieran Hardy and Steff Thomas for the 2024/25 season.

Toby Booth will also welcome new faces from England and France, with Phil Cokanasiga - brother of English wing Joe - and Welsh-qualified lock Will Greatbanks joining from Leicester Tigers and Pro D2 side Soyaux Angouleme respectively.

However, the region will also lose some of its best-loved talent, with George North's career in Welsh rugby ended by the Achilles injury he suffered in the final moments of Wales' Six Nations campaign. The Test centurion will join French second-tier outfit Provence next season, while Wales prop Nicky Smith has signed for Leicester Tigers.

The Ospreys revealed their released players list earlier this week, with Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert departing after suffering a fresh injury setback just weeks after making his comeback from a year on the sidelines. He is one of five players now left without a club, with wings Toby Fricker and Mat Protheroe, flanker Will Hickey and scrum-half Cam Jones also let go.

But the region have been proactive in ensuring they keep hold of players for next season, with Harri Deaves, Max Nagy, Keelan Giles and James Fender among the 14 players to have signed new deals ahead of the new campaign.

In: Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Steff Thomas (Scarlets), Phil Cokanasiga (Leicester Tigers), Will Greatbanks (Soyaux Angouleme)

Out: George North (Provence), Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), Alex Cuthbert, Toby Fricker, Mat Protheroe, Will Hickey, Cameron Jones.

Re-signed: James Fender, Jack Walsh, Ethan Lewis, Lewis Lloyd, Garyn Phillips, Luke Scully, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Dan Edwards, Max Nagy, Keelan Giles, Tom Botha, Tom Florence, Cam Jones.

Scarlets

The Scarlets will lose a great deal of experience ahead of the new season, with front rows Ken Owens and Samson Lee both retiring and veteran centre Jonathan Davies departing after playing over 200 games for the region.

As above, also heading for the exit door are the Swansea-bound Thomas and Hardy, while Wales international Johnny McNicholl rejoined the Crusaders in New Zealand earlier this season. A further seven players have now been confirmed to be leaving, with Welsh internationals Wyn Jones and Scott Williams among those now without a club.

However, the region have also pulled off somewhat of a transfer coup by signing Scotland loosehead Alec Hepburn from Exeter Chiefs while Cheetahs hooker Marnus van der Merwe has also joined as Dwayne Peel looks to bulk up his front row options again.

Flanker Jarrod Taylor signed from the Stormers in February, while the Scarlets are reportedly closing in on the signing of Wales tighthead Henry Thomas, with the 32-year-old's contract with French side Castres expiring at the end of the season.

In a further boost, Sam Lousi, Tom Rogers and Harri O'Connor are among those to have signed new contracts to stay at Parc y Scarlets.

In: Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Marnus van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Jarrod Taylor (Stormers)

Out: Wyn Jones, Scott Williams, Jonathan Davies, Johnny McNicholl (Crusaders), Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), Steff Thomas (Ospreys), Dan Jones, Ryan Conbeer, Ken Owens (retiring), Samson Lee (retiring), Iwan Shenton, Eduan Swart, Joe Jones.

Re-signed: Sam Lousi, Tom Rogers, Harri O'Connor, Ben Williams, Dan Davis.