Lake cites Welsh rugby uncertainty as reason for move

Wales hooker Dewi Lake says the uncertainty surrounding Welsh rugby was a major factor in him leaving Ospreys for Gloucester.

With doubts about whether Ospreys future, Lake and fellow Wales captain Jac Morgan have announced they will link up at Kingsholm next season when their Ospreys contracts run out in the summer of 2026.

"It wasn't an easy decision," Lake told the SportIn Wales podcast, external.

"When you factor in the things that are going on off the field at the minute and the lack of clarity in whether we're going to be a region next year, there's not much stability there at the moment.

"It's tough to leave but ultimately, you've got to secure a contract and your future."

It is an uncertain time in the domestic game in Wales, with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) proposing to cut one of its four men's professional sides.

Welsh rugby's governing body has said it proposes to grant three licences for men's professional clubs.

There will be one in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west, which could result in a survival fight between Swansea-based Ospreys and Scarlets in Llanelli.

After temporarily going into administration in April, Cardiff were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) with the governing body expecting to sell the organisation to fresh investors in the new year.

Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, have also been linked with taking over WRU-owned Cardiff, which could result in three professional sides.

"It was probably ongoing really from when that announcement first came from the WRU about looking to cut team from four to three," said Lake.

"Then the added news that we're probably looking at one of Ospreys or Scarlets being the ones battling it out to stay.

"We probably haven't had much news or development in terms of what's happening since then. It's a tough spot to be in.

"Jac [Morgan] maybe feels that way as well, but I can only speak for myself with what's going on.

"We've had little discussions and conversations around trying to stay, but the uncertainty of it all still hangs over you."

Lake says his contract negotiations were more with Ospreys than the WRU.

"They're [Ospreys] not really sure about what kind of position they're going to be in next year either," said Lake.

"I know it was very tough for them to be able to put contracts on the table with everything that is going on.

"It's not an easy decision, but it's one that I feel I've got to take."

Lake says he did not take the decision to leave Ospreys lightly.

"It was a tough decision because you never want to leave the club you started out at," said Lake.

"The staff and the boys are always the toughest things to leave. We've got a good group of boys that I've been with since I came through.

"The coaches as well, a lot of them were my coaches at Under-18 level.

"That's the hard bit to leave. The people that you form good bonds and friendships with. The fans as well have been class over the years, too."

Lake says he is looking forward to play in the English Prem.

"Very excited, it's an exciting league, a big league," Lake said.

"It is a new opportunity for me, leaving a place where I'm comfortable and going out of my comfort zone a bit to test myself in a new league and a new environment.

"I'm excited, but not ready to go just yet."