Here’s the latest rugby news for Monday 3rd April.

Exeter lands a double whammy on the Ospreys

The Exeter Chiefs continued their Ospreys foray for Joe Hawkins, signing his Swansea.com Stadium teammate Ethan Roots.

The New Zealander broke through in the Heineken Champions League Round of 16 tie against Saracens on Sunday, the latest in a string of impressive performances for the Welsh side. But they will be few and far between when Exeter takes on it to complete a one-two punch in southwest Wales.

Roots leaves the team amid wage cuts and job losses in Welsh rugby.

Prominent Wales player quits Welsh rugby to compromise World Cup and future of Tests

He said: “Wales has been a home away from home for me and everyone at Ospreys has played a key role in helping me adapt. I’ve had the honor of playing with some special players during my time here and I want to thank the fans for their support.”

The defender signed a two-year deal with the Ospreys in 2021 after joining from Canterbury Crusaders. Since then, the 23-year-old has brought an advantage to the Welsh side, admits manager Toby Booth.

“Ethan is a strong, physical player and he always gave 100% when he took the field for the Ospreys,” said Booth. “He has always brought an abrasive edge to our team. We will miss him. He’s improved in his time here and it’s a shame he’s leaving. Players have short careers and he was transparent throughout the process about how to secure a future for himself and his family.”

Like Hawkins, the Ospreys wished Roots well in his next chapter.

Josh Adams agrees to stay in Cardiff

Wales and Cardiff winger Josh Adams has said he will be going nowhere after attracting interest from France.

The 27-year-old has attracted interest from Lyon, who were prepared to offer a transfer fee to release him early from his Cardiff contract.

Adams, who scored two tries to help Cardiff beat Sale 28-27 in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup at the weekend, told BBC Sport: “I’m not going anywhere. I’m from Cardiff, I have a contract.

He said the confidence surrounding the new six-year financial agreement signed between the Welsh Rugby Union and the four regions of Wales has boosted player performance on the pitch.

“The less we talk about it, the more we can focus on the games,” he said. “I think you can see at regionals when we can close things out and things settle down, we can make plays.

“I don’t know who would put money into us beating Sale like that, not a lot of people. It just goes to show that when you do the right thing and we come together, this is the kind of result you can get.”

Hawkins explains move to Exeter

Joe Hawkins explained why he decided to leave Welsh rugby and move to England. The center joined Exeter Chiefs from the Ospreys on a long-term deal.

There is a chance the 20-year-old could jeopardize his future during trials under the selection rule, which bans players already in exile from playing for Wales unless they have played 25 or more games for Wales. Hawkins has five games.

His contract with Devon is due to start on July 1st. At first glance, this would disqualify him from playing in the World Cup.

But the youngster is looking forward to his next club, saying: “I’m really happy with the move. It’s a new challenge for me and something a little different, especially coming out of my region, which I’ll always be grateful for giving me the gaming opportunities I’ve had so far. That said, it really does feel like home away from home, especially with all the Welsh lads already there.”

Indeed, the 20-year-old will be greeted by many familiar faces around Exeter, having played alongside the likes of Ollie Burrows, Dafydd Jenkins, Dan John and Christ Tshiunza in the same age group.

“I already know a few guys, which will definitely help with the setup process,” added Hawkins. “I spoke with some of them and they spoke very well about the club and the culture that exists there.

“Also talking to [coaches] To steal [Baxter] it’s there [Hepher]I liked what they said about how they want to play and how they want to build a new team capable of challenging at the top. It really appealed to me, I wanted to be a part of it and I wanted to be there at the beginning of this journey.

“Over the years, the Chiefs have been known for bringing in youngsters and giving them a chance on the biggest stages. I want to be a part of that and try to take the club forward and upwards.”

Having played all of his club rugby in his native Wales, the Swansea-born star will also be delighted to challenge for the Gallagher Championship for the first time. “Obviously I’ve played against Premier League teams in the Champions League in the past and the teams are always strong and physical. There is no doubt that this is a tough league and challenges arise every week. It’s something new for me, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to taking on. Like I said, being part of the journey Rob and the club want to continue is something I want to be a part of.”

Source: Wales Online