An era has ended at the Ospreys with the news that Lloyd Ashley is to leave the region after more than a decade.
The 6ft 5in, 17st 13lb second row may not have won honours on the international front with Wales or the British and Irish Lions, and this particular news item may not make it onto Huw Edwards’ desk for the Ten O’Clock News this evening, but to pretty much all at the south-west Wales region Ashley has been an hugely important figure.
Along the way he has piled up 153 Ospreys caps.
"Anyone new to the Ospreys and wanting to understand the region should make the acquaintance of Lloyd Ashley," this writer was once told. "He’s a great bloke who’s popular with everyone and known as a top team man."
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Ospreys head coach Toby Booth echoed that sentiment, saying: "Lloydy is one of the game’s good guys. He is a rugby man through and through and his selfless team-man approach means he is respected by all.
"To achieve the milestone of 150 games for the Ospreys in a position that is arguably the most competitive in the squad is something to be hugely proud of, and I have really enjoyed working with him. His contribution to the team and his support to his teammates has been unrelenting. We wish him all the best in his next chapter and thank him for playing his part in the Ospreys journey."
The 31-year-old will depart at the end of the campaign. While the Ospreys currently have a surfeit of lock options — with Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Beard, Rhys Davies, Jack Regan and Will Griffiths among them, plus the emerging Huw Sutton — Ashley’s on-field contribution has been notable since made his debut in 2011.
Since then, he has more than earned his spurs, offering himself as an anchor at the heart of the pack during testing times when internationals have been away. He came through the region's player pathway programme, having played for Bridgend College, the Ospreys academy and for Wales at age-grade level. Off the field, the big man has a company Living Well With Lloyd Ashley concerned with well-being and encouraging discussions about mental health.
And Ashley lives his message. "He’s always been there for everyone," his ex-teammate Scott Otten told WalesOnline earlier this year. "He’s the first person to shake your hand in the morning, the first person to offer you a coffee, the first person to ask you how the family is. It goes a long way. He’s one of those guys where you know that if you pick up the phone, he’s going to answer it."
Read more here on why Ashley is seen as one of Welsh rugby's most popular players.
Ashley said: "It’s an end of an era and it is time to say goodbye to the Ospreys after more than a decade. I came here and played for the U16s and I have loved it and met so many brilliant people. There are mixed emotions but I look back with a smile on my face and reflect on how much I have loved the journey. There have been plenty of ups and downs but all of those experiences have been part of being at the Ospreys.
"Being one of the players who have played 150 games for the Ospreys is something I am proud of but I would have been landed just to have played 10 games for my home region. I do appreciate how fortunate I have been to play for this team and the memories of being sat in a changing room, with blood everywhere and with guys who have emptied the tank, and those are the moments and memories you want to bottle.
"I have to thank my wife and family for their support, their support has been hugely important to me. To the Ospreys supporters, I have to say thank you for the loyalty they have shown me, when sometimes I felt I didn’t deserve it, but the support throughout has been really appreciated."
A top innings, then, from a player who has spent his entire professional life representing his home region, and something to be proud of, indeed.
