The Ospreys are hopeful of retaining Wales centre Joe Hawkins despite speculation linking him to Exeter Chiefs.
Reports from France have suggested the English aces have taken advantage of the contract chaos in Wales to secure the services of the highly rated 20-year-old.
But Wales Online has been told the three-cap Hawkins has signed for no-one as he heads towards the end of his current deal in Swansea.
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And the Ospreys are keen to retain a player who has come through their academy system and is valued hugely by the region.
That said, there is uncertainty over every out-of-contract player in Wales as the professional team are still unclear on their budgets for next term. A number of Ospreys players have been linked with clubs outside Wales in recent weeks.
But it’s not believed any player has at this point signalled his intention to leave. In Hawkins’ case, he is seen as a player who could prove a shining light in the Ospreys’ midfield for years, maybe even captain the team at some point.
Moving to England would risk leaving him ineligible for Wales even under a modified cap rule on exiled players, because he is well short of the 25-Test threshold or thereabouts that has been mooted as the new way forward.
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