Scarlets wish Turnbull well with new move

Scarlets back row Josh Turnbull will leave Parc y Scarlets at the end of his contract this season to take up a fresh opportunity with the Cardiff Blues in the summer.

The 25-year old flanker, who has five international caps and has made a total of 119 appearances for his region since joining in 2007.

Turnbull has represented Wales at U18, U19 and U20 levels and participated in two IRB Under-19 World Championships.

The Haverfordwest-born flanker was named in the Wales senior squad for the first time for the 2011 Six Nations and made his debut as a replacement in the 24-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield. He was also selected for the 2012 tour to Australia.

Turnbull, who joins former Scarlets coach Phil Davies at the Arms Park next season said he was grateful to everyone at the Scarlets for the support and opportunities he has been given over the past seven years.

Turnbull said: “This is a very amicable move, which Simon Easterby has supported me in; I just feel after seven years, the time is right for me to take forward a new challenge in my career. I’ve enjoyed all my time in the Scarlets Region, it’s where I’ve developed as a rugby professional and I have been lucky to have worked with some of the best players and coaches in the game during my time in West Wales.

“To have been part of a team with really influential players like Simon Easterby, David Lyons, Stephen Jones and Dafydd Jones over the years has given me so much motivation; you pick up a lot from being around experienced and focused guys like that.

“I owe a huge thanks to everyone at Scarlets and I will leave with many happy memories with my best season in 2011 at Parc y Scarlets which earned me my first international cap.

“I was proud to be one of a group of players who were part of the Scarlets’ Academy and have now gone on to gain honours on the international stage. The success of the development pathway in our region, which has produced so many internationals in recent years is there for all to see.

“I want to finish on a high with Scarlets now and climb the RaboDirect PRO12 before I make the summer move East to Cardiff Blues.”

Scarlets Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “Josh works hard and is a very committed and ambitious professional, he puts everything on the line for his team and has shown his versatility as a player for us in recent seasons by playing across the back row as we’ve needed him to as a team.

“Josh has been keen to concentrate on playing at six and with the competition we have here in that position, we have not been able to commit him to that position fully so we understand his reasons for moving.

“He has been an important part of the Scarlets squad during his time with us and we all thank him for his contribution and everything he has achieved with us as a Scarlet. We respect his decision to challenge himself differently in a fresh environment and wish him well with the Blues next season.”