Llanelli Scarlets have announced that scrum-half Dwayne Peel will join Sale Sharks at the end of the season.

 Wales international Peel, 26, came through the ranks at Llanelli and has been with the Scarlets regional side since its inception in 2003.

The news comes less than a week after the Welsh Rugby Union said that players who play their club rugby outside Wales may harm their international selection.

 Peel is understood not to have yet signed a contract with the English Premiership club, despite the Scarlets announcing the deal has been done.

The scrum-half was not present at the Scarlets’ media conference on Tuesday, but the statement issued by the Scarlets quoted Peel as saying his move to the north-west of England was “not about money”.

“The deal to stay at Llanelli was similar to that offered by Sale – it’s about the fact that, not having lived outside Wales, I’d like to experience life in another country for a short period,” he said in the statement.
Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher said Peel will leave Stradey Park with the club’s best wishes, and that the search to find a replacement has already begun.

“Dwayne has served us admirably through one of the club’s most thrilling decades,” said Gallacher.

“He has been a cornerstone in helping us to develop a formidable European record in that time and in keeping us highly competitive in domestic tournaments.

“We’re always pleased to see home-grown talent become international stars – and Dwayne has served Wales and the Lions with great skill and dedication.

“His departure leaves a void at Stradey Park but means that the tremendous emerging talent in Phil Davies’s squad will be given a greater chance to shine.

“We will also be looking to strengthen the squad.”

Llanelli Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies added: “We wish Dwayne well at Sale – he has served our region extraordinarily well and is hugely popular with fans and team-mates.

“He has been outstanding for us in the Magners League and Heineken Cup and will be a credit to his new club.

“Having never been based outside Wales, this will be an exciting adventure for him.

“I believe he would like to return to Wales and we’d be delighted to talk to him in the future about him coming home to the Llanelli Scarlets.”

Peel, who has been struggling with a shoulder injury, was named in Wales’ 28-man squad for this season’s Six Nations championship on Monday.

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