Wales wing Alex Cuthbert is set to quit Cardiff Blues at the end of the season.
Cuthbert – who will follow head coach Danny Wilson and assistant Matt Sherratt through the Arms Park exit door – is expected to join his home town club Gloucester.
The 27-year-old joined the Blues in 2011 and his impressive form quickly earned him a place in the Wales squad that won the Grand Slam the following year.
He became an integral part of the Wales side that retained the Six Nations championship title in 2013 and toured with the Lions to Australia.
But injuries and loss of form have restricted his international appearances in the past couple of seasons and his selection against Georgia three weeks ago – his 47th Wales cap – was only his third for his country in the past 12 months.
At the same time, Cuthbert became the target for repeated personal abuse on social media, treatment that was at its most vicious following his performance in the Six Nations defeat to England last season.
Wilson has been a firm supporter of Cuthbert’s abilities and the English-born player chose to reject the offer of a dual contract with the WRU 18 months ago in order to sign solely for the Blues.
But with Wilson leaving his post at the end of the season – and with Sherratt to replace Gruff Rees as back coach at the Ospreys – Cuthbert has also decided to move on.
Cuthbert scored seven tries in 19 starts for the Blues last season, but this campaign has been tougher with just one try for the Blues in eight matches.
With over a dozen other players out of contract with the Blues at the end of this season, Cuthbert is unlikely to be the only one on the move.
Back row forward Josh Turnbull recently agreed a new deal, but the futures of a host of others are still in doubt.
