Jones considers Scarlets exit

Jan 19 2008 by Simon Thomas, Western Mail

STEPHEN JONES has 12 days to decide on his future, with English giants Leicester among the front-runners to lure him away from Stradey Park.

The Scarlets fly-half is in talks with clubs in both England and France having activated a clause in his contract which would allow him to leave at the end of this season.

Jones signed a three-year deal when he returned to Stradey from French club Clermont Auvergne – who he faces in the Heineken Cup today – in the summer of 2006.

But he has an option within that deal to leave a year early and he is now considering doing just that and following his Sale-bound half-back partner Dwayne Peel in heading for pastures new.

Under the terms of his contract, Jones is entitled to speak to other clubs during January and has to let the Scarlets know whether he intends staying or going by the end of the month.

This early warning system was put in place so the Stradey outfit would know in advance whether they needed to look for a replacement for the 30-year-old Wales and Lions star.

The Scarlets have offered him a new three-year deal, but he may be tempted to follow his close friend Peel in trying his hand in the Guinness Premiership or look for another spell in France, with Biarritz in the market for a 10.

Two-times Heineken Cup winners Leicester are understood to be among the clubs keen on signing the 66-cap former Wales skipper.

The Tigers came close to recruiting him in 2004 before he chose to head for Clermont and they are looking for a top-quality fly-half for next season.

They had been linked with Argentina’s World Cup hero Juan Martin Hernandez, but the trail of the Stade Francais star appears to have gone cold.

So the Welford Road outfit may well be ready to pull out all the stops to finally get their man and land Jones.

Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher last night said he was waiting for the player to make a decision on a proposed contract extension at Stradey.

“We have made an offer to him and he is considering it,” said Gallacher.

“We’re in negotiations with his representative, hopefully to agree a contract for another three years.

“Stephen has activated the option to look around. We have no issues with that because it’s a contractual agreement.”

Kiwi centre Regan King has also been linked with a possible move away from Stradey – to Welsh rivals the Ospreys.

But Gallacher insists the 27-year-old All Black is going nowhere.

“Regan is contracted until July 2009 and he is comfortable to stay,” he said.

“I don’t see him leaving under any circumstances.”

Gallacher has also rejected speculation that Wales back-row forward Alix Popham could be exiting the region.

“Alix is contracted until July 2009 as well and is happy here,” he said.

Despite Peel’s departure and the possible loss of fellow Lions star Jones, Gallacher insists it’s far from doom and gloom at the Scarlets as they look ahead to a future at their new stadium in Pemberton, which should be built by the end of this year.

“We would have loved to have Dwayne stay, but he’s chosen to move on for the reasons he’s already explained. We keep going,” he said.

“He is high profile and naturally it was of interest to the media, but it doesn’t really affect the morale of the team or indeed the club.

“Life goes on, it’s professional sport and contracts are contracts.

“You have to accept at times that players wish to move on, or indeed wish to stay.

“We have got long-term contracts finalised and signed with the likes of Simon Easterby, Mark Jones, Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Morgan Stoddart, Scott Macleod and Gavin Evans.”

It’s been a tough season for the Scarlets, who have lost all five of their Heineken Cup group games and failed to secure a single point along the way – a dramatic comedown after last term’s heroics.

But director of rugby Phil Davies remains upbeat about the future, insisting the squad is to be reinforced with a view to making a push for European glory.

“We have got belief in the talent we have, but it is also obvious we need to strengthen,” said Davies.

“We have looked to increase our budget considerably next season from where it has been in terms of recruitment.

“We have not had an easy time of it in terms of moving this region forward. There have been question marks over the new stadium, but we know where we are now.

“We have got a vehicle and we know we can progress into an exciting product over the next six years.

“You will get blips over the years, it never goes in a straight line, it would be boring if it did.

“We had a board meeting last week to discuss the pros and cons of moving the team and structure forward. I still feel we are four or five professional staff off where I would like us ultimately to be.”

Looking ahead to today’s final Heineken group match against Clermont, Davies said, “This game is about making sure we don’t leave the group without any points on the board.

“We are obviously very frustrated not to have reached the heights we had hoped for in this tournament this season. Nevertheless, we have gained a lot out of it in many ways.

“Yes, we are having a tough time at the moment, but now is where we have to show a bit of character, plenty of heart and that is all in this team.

“You learn more about yourself and more about people in these type of periods.

“It is easy when you are winning, I said that last year. I never got hysterical when we had great wins last season or when we lost, and I am the same now.

“We are going through everything as professionally and objectively as we can. There is a bit of emotion around at times like this, of course there is, and people will have all sorts of views about what is happening with the team, myself and Dwayne’s decision. But there’s plenty to look forward to here.”

Scarlets: C Thomas; D James, M Watkins, G Evans, M Jones; S Jones, L Davies; I Thomas. M Rees, D Manu, A Eaustace, S Macleod, S Easterby (capt), D Jones, G Thomas. Replacements: M Schwalger, B Broster, N Thomas, A Popham, G Cattle, D Daniel, M StoddartC Thomas; D James, M Watkins, G Evans, M Jones; S Jones, L Davies; I Thomas. M Rees, D Manu, A Eaustace, S Macleod, S Easterby (capt), D Jones, G Thomas.

Replacements: M Schwalger, B Broster, N Thomas, A Popham, G Cattle, D Daniel, M Stoddart