Rhys Priestland: Bath's Wales fly-half in talks with Cardiff Blues

Rhys Priestland last played for Wales in November 2017 against New Zealand

Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland is in talks and expected to join Cardiff Blues from Bath for 2021-22.

The 33-year-old left Scarlets for The Rec in 2015.

Priestland made his Wales debut in February 2011 against Scotland and won the last of his 50 caps in 2017.

He currently falls below the 60-cap rule which stops those playing outside Wales being selected for Test rugby, but he would become eligible for Wayne Pivac's side when he joins the Blues.

Priestland, who turns 34 on 9 January, could be involved immediately for Wales in the 2021 Six Nations before he links up with Cardiff Blues next season.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb was eligible to play for Wales in last year's tournament after announcing he would return to Ospreys from Toulon for the start of the 2020-21 season.

The Welsh Rugby Union stated then Webb would be eligible for immediate selection after he was given a "six-month dispensation".

After last playing for Wales against New Zealand in November 2017, Priestland could also be eligible immediately for selection for Pivac, who is understood to be interested in picking the former Scarlets fly-half.

Northampton's Dan Biggar and Bristol's Callum Sheedy were the outside-halves used by Pivac during the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup, while Rhys Patchell remains sidelined through injury.

Priestland indicated in January 2019 that he would leave Bath, but in April 2020 he re-signed for the English Premiership club.

Bath director of rugby Stuart Hooper appeared non-committal as to whether Priestland would remain for another season.

"The good thing about Rhys, me and him have a very open dialogue the whole time. We are talking about next next year and what that looks like, but we're not at a stage where we can talk about the details." Hooper told BBC Radio Bristol.

"When these guys get to the end of a contract, there are a lot of big decisions to be made and they need to be made in private.

"Rhys has always been someone I admire as a player, consistency is key, there were areas of his game at the weekend he was disappointed with (in the defeat at Leicester) and rightly so.

"But along with (scrum-half) Ben Spencer, he's been leading the charge about getting back and playing again on Friday (against Wasps)."