More turmoil in Welsh rugby has impacted the squad-shaping at Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets ahead of 2026-27.
This season has been played amid uncertainty due to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) aiming to cut one of the four professional clubs.
The WRU still wants to press on with their proposal but the quartet will remain as they are until at least 2028.
That small amount of clarity has helped coaches retain talent and bring players in, although star names Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake and Aaron Wainwright are heading for new challenges.
BBC Sport Wales rounds up the moves that have been confirmed so far.
Cardiff
In:Cardiff have bolstered their midfield with Namibia centre Le Roux Malan from Sharks and replaced Scarlets-bound loose-head prop Corey Domachowski with former Australia international Scott Sio, who has spent four years with Exeter.
The Blue and Blacks also bolstered their back row and lock stocks with Tonga international Semisi Paea’s arrival.
Wales fly-half Jarrod Evans has returned to the Arms Park after three seasons with Harlequins.
Re-signed: An important bit of contract business was ensuring some clarity by agreeing a deal with head coach Corniel van Zyl, who stepped up after the loss of Matt Sherratt to Wales on the eve of the 2025-26 season.
He will be in charge of a raft of Wales internationals who have extended their Arms Park stays, including captain Liam Belcher and lock Josh McNally.
Josh Adams, Alex Mann, James Botham, Mason Grady, Keiron Assiratti, Danny Southworth, Callum Sheedy, Jacob Beetham and Evan Lloyd have signed new contracts along with Aled Davies, Sam Wainwright, Ellis Bevan, Dan Thomas, Rory Thornton, George Nott and Rhys Barratt, who will hunt a first cap this summer.
South African scrum-half Johan Mulder has committed to a third season in the Welsh capital, while Wales Under-20s talents Steff Emanuel and Tom Bowen have both signed new contracts.
Van Zyl also has a new assistant coach in Dan Bowden, who has worked with Japan among other roles in an extensive career.
Leigh Halfpenny tops the leavers list after announcing his retirement but the list does not currently include Wales legendary number eight Taulupe Faletau.
Out:Halfpenny (retired), Corey Domachowski (Scarlets), Ben Donnell (Ulster), Ed Byrne (Leinster), Will Davies-King, Rory Jennings, Mackenzie Martin.
Dragons
In: After a busy 2025 recruitment drive, Dragons are looking to build on a promising campaign with a handful of signings.
Filo Tiatia has so far brought in Tonga wing Anzelo Tuitavuki from Colomiers and Caio Parry will have a chance to impress on a dual contract with Pontypool after standing out in Super Rygbi Cymru with RGC.
New Zealander Terrell Peita, who made his Super Rugby debut with Blues in May, arrives to bolster a back row that will be hit hard by the loss of talisman Aaron Wainwright to Leicester.
Samoa scrum-half Ere Enari arrives from Super Rugby Pacific (SRP) table-toppers Hurricanes.
Off the pitch, Dragons have lost Dan Lydiate to the Wales coaching staff but former fly-half Shaun Connor returns as kicking and skills consultant.
Re-signed: Rejuvenated wing Rio Dyer signed fresh terms along with Che Hope, who would have been a leading candidate for Wales’ summer tour were it not for injury.
Wales back row Shane Lewis-Hughes has also signed a new deal to remain at Rodney Parade. They 28-year-old, who has three Wales caps, joined the club ahead of the 2024-25 season and has so far made 36 appearances, scoring four tries.
Angus O’Brien, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, David Richards, Oli Burrows and Matthew Screech will be back after being key figures in an improved campaign.
Out: Aaron Wainwright (Leicester), James Benjamin, Luke Yendle, Ewan Rosser (Pontypool), Niall Armstrong, George Roberts (Scarlets), Mackenzie Martin (Beziers).
Ospreys
In:Ospreys have bolstered their back three with Wales international Tom Rogers from Scarlets – the 27-year-old scored a hat-trick against New Zealand from wing but could also be an option at full-back given the loss of Jack Walsh.
Another backline addition is Dan John, the Cardiff-born 24-year-old returning to Wales after playing all his senior rugby for Exeter Chiefs.
Ospreys have also signed former Australia captain Liam Wright who has made six appearances for the Wallabies, including captaining the side in the first Test win against Wales in Sydney in 2024.
He is joined in Swansea by nine-capped Australia centre Lalakai Foketi. Ospreys signed a fourth Australian after it was announced fly-half Lawson Creighton will arrive in Wales for next season from Super Rugby side Waratahs.
Re-signed: Ospreys have suffered some high-profile exits but have also done some good business in retention.
Fly-half Dan Edwards was on Leicester’s radar but will stay to pull the strings in Swansea, while wing Luke Morgan has also signed a new deal.
Morgan Morse, Harri Deaves, Kieran Hardy, Keelan Giles, Sam Parry, Evardi Boshoff, Tom Botha, Garyn Phillips, Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Ethan Lewis, Huw Sutton and Gwilym Evans will also continue to feature for Mark Jones’ side at a revamped St Helen’s.
Deals have been agreed with the promising Kian Hire, Harri Houston and Harri Williams.
Out:Jac Morgan (Gloucester), Dewi Lake (Gloucester), James Fender (Grenoble), Jack Walsh (Montauban), Phil Cokanasiga (Gloucester), Dan Kasende, Luke Scully, Ryan Conbeer, Tom Florence (Ealing Trailfinders), Will Greatbanks, Max Nagy (Ealing Trailfinders).
Scarlets
In:Scarlets have bolstered their front row by signing Wales loose-head prop Corey Domachowski from rivals Cardiff.
The arrival of Leinster hooker John McKee and George Roberts from Dragons will help fill the void left by Marnus van der Merwe, who leaves for Munster.
The have also recruited two forwards from Super Rugby, in Hurricanes lock Tom Allen and Crusaders back-rower Cullen Grace, while Welsh-qualified lock Harvey Cuckson will arrive from Bath on a permanent deal after impressing during two loan spells in 2025-26.
Twenty-year-old Welsh-qualified full-back Isaac Murray-Macgregor – the cousin of Joe Roberts – joins from the Canterbury and Crusaders pathway in New Zealand.
Wales and Scarlets lock Jake Ball has played his last game of professional rugby after announcing he will retire at the end of the season, but the recruitment of the 6ft 9in Alex Groves from DHL Stormers will help plug that gap.
Nigel Davies returned to Scarlets as interim director of rugby in January and will continue to lead the region after agreeing a two-year contract.
He had already bolstered the management team with Eamon O’Carroll appointed as new defence coach to replace another former Ireland international Jared Payne who has joined Munster.
O’Carroll will join the Llanelli region from rugby league club St Helens at the end of the Super League season having previously held roles at Bradford Bulls, Newcastle Thunder and Catalans Dragons.
Scarlets have named a new lead forwards coach in Aaron Dundon who arrives from Leinster, having previously held roles with Ireland Under-20s, FC Grenoble, Ulster Rugby and La Rochelle.
The New Zealand-born arrival will work alongside Albert Van de Berg and Bradley Davies, with Emyr Phillips becoming the academy lead.
Re-signed: Number eight Fletcher Anderson – arguably the signing of the season – has agreed new terms and Wales flanker Josh Macleod is staying in Llanelli, alongside fellow back rower Dan Davis.
Elsewhere in the pack, Tonga lock Sam Lousi has agreed new terms along with Wales tight-head prop Harri O’Connor.
Former Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies, who will be 36 in August, is set for another season of professional rugby after signing a new one-year deal.
Talented fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, who made his senior debut at the age of 18 last November, has signed a first senior contract through to 2029.
The promising trio of full-back Jac Davies, lock Will Evans and prop Gabe Hawley will also aim to get senior action after agreeing new terms.
Out:Marnus van der Merwe (Munster), Alec Hepburn (Edinburgh), Tom Rogers (Ospreys), Jake Ball (retired), Max Douglas (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Ben Williams, Rhodri Lewis, Dan Gemine, Jarrod Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders).
