Bath have welcomed Rhys Priestland’s determination to claim their No 10 shirt ahead of England’s George Ford next season after confirming that they have signed the Welshman. The 27-year-old Scarlets fly-half will move to The Rec at the end of this season to join a growing Wales contingent in the Aviva Premiership. He has chosen to sign for Bath for a salary of £250,000-£300,000, despite having Ford as a pedigree rival. Priestland’s move is likely to curtail his Test career after the World Cup as Wales are ready to enforce a restriction on the selection of players who agree future deals abroad while the WRU’s new dual-contract system takes effect. But his decision comes against a backdrop of abuse dished out by supporters, which was condemned by coach Shaun Edwards.
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The 27-year-old joined Scarlets in 2005, graduating from their academy
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The Wales international fly-half has 32 caps for his country
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Rhys Priestland will join Bath in England at the end of the current season
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Priestland will compete with George Ford for the Bath number 10 jersey
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The move is likely to curtail Priestland's Test career after the World Cup
Scarlets
Scarlets
Yesterday, he spoke of ‘great highs and some heartfelt lows’ during his decade of first-team service to the @placeholder, his home region, while talking of his need for a ‘new challenge’, which Ford will most certainly present.