Welsh wing Harri Doel is attracting interest from a number of English clubs after being left without a job amid the meltdown situation at Worcester Warriors.
The scenario all feared at Sixways duly came to pass this week when the company holding the contracts of Worcester players and some staff, WRFC Players Ltd, was liquidated, meaning the deals of those affected were terminated.
It leaves all concerned looking for new jobs.
Doel hasn’t nailed anything down as yet, but WalesOnline understands a couple of Gallagher Premiership clubs are showing interest along with at least two teams in the English Championship.
The 22-year-old, part the the Wales U20 class of 2020 which contained the likes of Jac Morgan, Ben Carter, Sam Costelow and Ioan Lloyd, says he is open minded as to where he will end up.
“I have hugely enjoyed my time at Worcester and want to keep playing professional rugby,” he said.
“My agent is doing his best to find me a good deal.
“There have been interested clubs but there’s nothing confirmed yet, so I’m just going to have to hope the interest turns into something stronger.
“I’ve stayed in training over the past week to keep myself fit for any offers that come in.
“Hopefully, something will happen over the next couple of weeks.”
Doel became a Worcester player after impressing while on loan from the Scarlets academy. His switch to Sixways quickly saw the Warriors offer him a permanent deal, after which there were headlines wondering if Worcester had snapped up the next Josh Adams, with the Wales and Lions wing having taken a similar route from west Wales to the English cathedral city at the outset of his senior career. You can read more about Doel's route to pro rugby here.
Ex-Llandovery RFC player Doel ican play at wing or full-back, is fast and has a step — plus a spirit of adventure.
Rewind to last March and he scored a try against Exeter Chiefs that was as memorable as most solo efforts in English rugby and beyond in 2021-22, seeing him field the ball some 75 metres out before advancing and stepping off his left foot to beat two defenders. There followed a swerve to the right and then a kick ahead for a touchdown that won the Welsh lad the Premiership Rugby Try of the Month award.
There have been plenty of other highlights during his stint with Worcester.
Sadly, there won't be any more in its current guise.
“It was a great club to play for,” he said.
“The players all got on with each other and the fans gave us great support.
“When the news came through this week, I was gutted.
“Go back to when I joined them and one of the things that was said to me was that the club was in a good position, with assets and land and stuff. You never thought you’d outlive the club as we knew it at that time.
“Even recently, you hoped someone would come in and turn the situation around.
“But it wasn’t to be.
“It’s devastating for us all.
“I’d recently made my first property purchase up here. I’ve made a lot of friends and there’s a lot going on in the city.
“I just didn’t think it would end so quickly.
“Hopefully, something else will come up for me now. I’m only young, and feel I can do a job for someone if given the chance.”
Here's hoping that happens.
Doel has a lot of promise, and promise deserves a proper outlet.
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