Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Williams set for move to Japan

Wayne Pivac is set to face a double blow as Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Williams are set to end their Wales career following a move to Japan.

Both the players were part of the Six Nations squad earlier this year and their potential departure will see Pivac losing both of his main inside centre options.

Parkes made his Wales debut in 2017 and has gone on to play 29 Tests including seven appearances in the World Cup in Japan last year. Born in New Zealand, Parkes had represented Auckland, Blues and Kings before joining Scarlets ahead of the 2014/15 season.

The 32-year-old qualified to play for Wales on residency grounds in 2017 and is now set to join Panasonic Wild Knights where he will join the likes of Sam Whitelock and David Pocock.

Meanwhile, Williams had played three Tests for Wales with all of it coming in 2017 and is currently part of Gloucester after representing Scarlets and Leicester Tigers in the past. He was recalled in the Six Nations squad this year but a hamstring injury during a training session leading into the Ireland game restricted his participation.

According to the Welsh Rugby Union selection rules, players with less than 60 caps plying their trade overseas will not be eligible to represent the national side though there are exceptions like Saracens' Nick Tompkins, who qualified to play for Wales through his Wrexham-born grandmother.