Davies – ‘Halfpenny coup will hurt Blues’

Wales centre Jonathan Davies believes Scarlets' impending capture of Leigh Halfpenny will be a major blow to rivals Cardiff Blues.

Halfpenny, who is out of contract, is reportedly set to agree a three-year-deal with the PRO12 champions partly funded by the Welsh Rugby Union after spending four seasons with Toulon.

The 28-year-old played for Cardiff Blues before moving across the Channel and many thought that's where he would return.

But it appears the British and Irish Lions full-back is seen by the Scarlets as the ideal replacement for the departing Liam Williams, who is moving to Saracens in the Premiership.

And his soon-to-be Scarlets teammate and British and Irish Lions player of the series Davies believes the Blues will be ruing the fact that Halfpenny has escaped their clutches and opted for a rival team.

"I'm not sure how the Blues are feeling, because they were the ones that I thought were going to sign him with the WRU," Davies told BBC Sport.

"So I'm sure they're not very happy with the whole situation.

"I'm not sure what happened there but it seems the Scarlets have sneaked it under their noses.

"Scarlets by winning the PRO12 would have been a bigger incentive maybe to go there.

"He's a Gorseinon boy so he'll be moving closer to home, so you can see the attraction there.

"It's a great move for Scarlets and it's great for Welsh rugby, because you want to see your best players playing at home."