Aaron Wainwright Leaves Dragons for Leicester Move
Aaron Wainwright, a prominent Welsh rugby player, is set to leave the Dragons to join Leicester. This move comes after a notable tenure at Dragons, where he made 129 appearances since debuting in October 2017. However, his record includes only 29 wins, offset by 93 losses and seven draws.
Aaron Wainwright’s Transition to Leicester
Wainwright’s decision comes after he previously declined other offers for a new contract with Dragons in January 2024. Now, he aims to embrace new challenges alongside fellow Welsh players Tommy Reffell and Olly Cracknell at Leicester.
International Availability
A significant aspect of Wainwright’s move is that he remains eligible for selection in the Welsh national team. He has earned 62 international caps, surpassing the Welsh rugby’s 25-cap rule, which restricts players with fewer caps from participating internationally if they sign with clubs outside Wales.
Welsh Players in England
Wainwright’s transition reflects a wider trend among Welsh rugby players. Currently, a considerable number of players from Steve Tandy’s Wales squad are based in England, including:
- Dafydd Jenkins
- Louis Rees-Zammit
- Tomos Williams
- Rhys Carre
- Nicky Smith
- Nick Tompkins
- Jarrod Evans
- Max Llewellyn
- Freddie Thomas
In addition, lock Adam Beard is playing for Montpellier in France.
Future of Dan Edwards
Leicester has expressed interest in Welsh fly-half Dan Edwards. However, he is close to extending his contract with the Ospreys. At just 22 years old, Edwards has participated in seven international matches, making him ineligible for Wales selection if he moves to a club in England.
The recent move of Wainwright underscores ongoing changes in Welsh rugby and player mobility within the UK leagues.
