Rhys Patchell: Wales fly-half signs one-year deal with Highlanders
- Published
Rhys Patchell played for a World XV in the Kilik Cup match against the Barbarians in May
Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell has signed a one-year deal with New Zealand Super Rugby side Highlanders.
Patchell was released by Scarlets this summer and had been linked with a move to Dragons after the departures of JJ Hanrahan and Sam Davies.
But the 30-year-old said: "These types of opportunities don't come very often."
Patchell was involved in the 2023 Six Nations, but was omitted from Wales' World Cup training squad.
"Very rarely do we see anyone from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere. Normally it's the other way around," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
"So on the balance of everything this chance probably wasn't going to be there in a year's, in two years' time if I was to sign another contract in the northern hemisphere.
"So I bit the bullet and decided to try my hand at Super Rugby."
Patchell declined to comment on the reports that had linked him with a summer move to Dragons, saying: "I wouldn't want to put any regional hierarchy in a difficult position by saying that.
"Would it have been nice to finish in Wales? The idea of doing that was lovely, of course.
"But equally rugby's a vehicle which allows me, specifically, to be able to travel the world and to see a different part of it and to try my hand in a different competition.
"So it's no secret that Welsh rugby has had a difficult 12 months, but equally even if Welsh rugby would have had a wonderful 12 months, if this opportunity would have come across I probably would have taken it regardless."
The former Cardiff player confirmed he could have joined English Premiership club Bath last season, at the time when Wales' then-60 cap rule would have ruled him out of international contention.
Since then Wales' cap limit has dropped to 25 caps, allowing more players to play outside Wales and continue their Test careers.
Patchell has since been omitted from Wales coach Warren Gatland's World Cup training squad and says that gave him the chance to consider the option of going to New Zealand.
"I was weighing up heavily whether or not to go to Bath 12 months ago, just after Christmas 2022, so it's probably something that every player in Wales weighs up at one point or another in their career," he said.
"At the time I was well short of 60 caps as the rule was then, so it is a part of it, but equally everybody likes to have a cwtsh, don't they? Everybody wants to be wanted.
"But this probably opens up the opportunity for me to do something else which is wonderful, and maybe I wouldn't have been brave enough to have taken the opportunity had it come around if I was currently in Switzerland being flogged and running my guts out and sucking in the big ones."
He added: "Having watched Super Rugby from afar, I'm excited for the 2024 season to begin. I look forward to getting started and contributing as much as I can both on and off the field."
Highlanders head coach, Clarke Dermody, said it was "fantastic news" Patchell had signed.
"I like his attacking mindset and skillset, which should align well with the way we want to play the game," Dermody said.
"He defends well, has a sound kicking game and his ability to cover full-back will be a real asset to us during the season."