Yet another Welsh regional player heads for English rugby amid squad cuts

Recently released Dragons prop Harry Fry has become the latest departing regional player to head for the English Championship. The 21-year-old loosehead has signed for Gloucestershire club Hartpury RFC.

While his elder brother Ben has broken through into the back row at the Gwent region, Harry didn’t manage to force his way into the first team after arriving from Gloucester in 2020, playing his rugby instead for Newport and out on loan at Hartpury, who he is now joining on a permanent basis.

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From Radyr in Cardiff, he would have featured for Wales U20s a couple of years ago, but for a shoulder problem. Now, after limited action over the past couple of seasons, he is ready for a fresh start, but on familiar territory, as he studied at Hartpury College, as did flanker Ben.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Dragons. It’s a good club with some great people. It’s just there was no real opportunity for me in the first team squad. My game time was mainly with Newport. I did a four-week loan spell at Hartpury at the end of the season and they then offered me a contract off the back of that. So that’s me sorted for next year,” he said.

On his departure from the Gwent region, he said: “I wouldn’t say I was expecting to be released. I thought I was playing well in my second year, but I think the decision was already made. I think I kind of left it too late. You have just got to take it with a pinch of salt, I guess.”

Fry is one of 50-plus players leaving the four regions, while around 100 players are departing the English Premiership clubs, amid cost-cutting across the board in the pro game.

“It is a difficult time. I think