Taulupe Faletau has already played his last game for the Newport Gwent Dragons as the region look to a future built around Wales U20s star Harri Keddie.
Faletau will not feature for the Dragons in their final Guinness Pro12 match of the season away to Zebre on Saturday.
It means the Wales and Lions No.8 performed an unannounced final bow in the Dragons’ defeat to the Scarlets last weekend, before his move to Bath this summer.
Faletau was this week voted Player of the Year by the Welsh Rugby Writers after a season in which he was his country’s most influential player by some distance.
Yet the Welsh Rugby Union failed to agree a dual contract with the 25-year-old, withdrawing their initial offer after Faletau refused to be bounced into meeting a deadline imposed by the Union.
With Faletau on his way over the border, the Dragons have given him the weekend off ahead of the Wales tour to New Zealand and will turn instead to Keddie, 19, the standout performer for the age group Wales side that lifted the Grand Slam.
Dragons head coach Kingsley Jones said: “You don’t throw somebody in the swimming pool unless you know they can swim.
“We’ve got to teach Harrison the way and it’s a big step up in level but he needs as much experience as possible and we look forward to introducing him against Zebre.
“He’s tough and is a winner, but now it’s about learning to play at this pace and tempo. The physicality he has at age-grade is excellent, it will be a big step up on Saturday but he just keeps on coming and doesn’t stop.
“A couple of people have asked whether Harrison will take over from Toby (Faletau next season). It’s unfair to put that pressure on him but we are sure he will come through.
“If he’s as good as Toby at the age of 23 then that will be great but we must be realistic; he is a really promising player with the potential to go all the way. Let’s not expect him to step into regional rugby and suddenly set the world alight.”
The Dragons head to Italy fuelled by the desire to end a nine-game losing streak in the league and avoid a Pro12 whitewash away from Rodney Parade.
Keddie is set to be joined in the squad by back row forward James Thomas with the 25-year-old making his first regional appearance since October after suffering a back injury.
Meanwhile, wing Ashton Hewitt, one of the region’s stars of the season, faces three to four months out following shoulder surgery and is targeting a pre-season return.
