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Stephen Myler signs for the Ospreys
By Online Editors
The considerable career of Stephen Myler has another bit to run yet after the soon-to-be 36-year-old out-half recently released by London Irish was snapped up by the Ospreys on a one-year deal to provide cover for a region still waiting for Gareth Anscombe to regain his fitness.
Anscombe still has to play a match for the Swansea-based club, his injury in a World Cup warm-up match with Wales away to England last August keeping him sidelined long-term since his high-profile switch from Cardiff Blues.
His absence was a contributory factor in the Ospreys' dire season which resulted in the sacking of Allen Clarke and the recent arrival of Toby Booth, the former London Irish boss who had been active at Bath and Harlequins in recent times.
To bolster the squad ahead of next month's restart of the suspended Guinness PRO14 campaign, Booth has now turned to Myler, the long-serving dual-code player who was man of the match in both finals when Northampton completed a historic Premiership and European Challenge Cup double in 2014.
He left Saints in 2018 due to the arrival of Dan Biggar from the Ospreys, going on to help London Irish gain Championship promotion and enjoy a reasonably successful return to the Gallagher Premiership in the 2019/20 season which will also resume next month.
Speaking to the Ospreys website about his move to Wales not long after his Irish departure, Myler said: “As soon as I spoke to Toby, someone I know from the Premiership and who is highly respected and regarded, the chance to be involved with the Ospreys was too good a chance to miss.
“I was fortunate to play for so long at Northampton, a place that loves rugby and wants to see its team doing well. The Ospreys have the same kind of feeling and tradition around them.
“I’ve always had the feeling of a very proud club which is passionate about rugby, wants to do well and achieve things and I want to be part of that.”
Ospreys boss Booth added: “We have identified positions where we need some strength-in-depth and real quality and experience to bolster the squad. We felt Stephen would add some real value on the field but also do the same off the field and in the squad environment."
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Latest Comments
The difference between Fassi and Le Roux?
Almost 100 tests. Fassi is growing from test to test and is already world class. It’s going to be difficult for Damian Willemse to usurp Fassi at 15 and may find himself destined as the utility back on the bomb squad.
South Africans love hating on their fullback. A proud tradition since Percy Montgomery (before he won us a World Cup). So I don’t pay much mind to the noise that follows anyone who puts on the 15 jersey for SA.
15 is a high risk, low reward position. You don’t dare drop a high ball, certainly don’t shank a kick into the stands. In fact if you’re not kicking 60m torpedoes into the opposition corners - stay at home.
And miss tackles? After everyone else on the team has let a break through - best you not miss!
Only Andre Joubert strikes me as a fullback that has been better than Willie. Yet Willie has been widely panned on a regular basis. Irritating.
Fassi is great. And I’m sure he’s learning a lot from Willie.
Go to commentsNo, Penney's win rate as a Super Rugby coach BEFORE he was given a 2 year contract here, was 23%. He came in with a very poor success rate at SR level.
This loser vibe was borne out over the SR season where we won only 4 games while losing 10. Finishing 9th in a 12 team competition & missing a QF spot was next level DOWN.
There's zero evidence that suggests we will win 10 games (70%) as you predict. I understand there may be new assistant coaches coming on board. At this stage, we can only hope for the best.
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