Halfpenny and Patchell to leave Scarlets

Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Patchell have been team-mates for both Wales and Scarlets

Wales backs Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Patchell will leave Scarlets at the end of the season.

British and Irish Lion Halfpenny, 34, whose previous clubs include Cardiff and Toulon, joined Scarlets in 2017.

Halfpenny and Patchell are the highest profile of 15 players leaving Parc y Scarlets at the end of the season, with Wales forward Aaron Shingler also departing.

The club had already announced that Sione Kalamafoni, who is heading to French side RC Vannes, Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh), Dane Blacker (Dragons) and Tomas Lezana would join new clubs.

Shingler has confirmed he is retiring due to injury while Alex Jeffries has also been forced to quit rugby due to fitness issues.

Lewis Rawlins, Tom Price, Phil Price, Taylor Davies, Daf Hughes, Corey Baldwin, WillGriff John and Iestyn Rees will also be leaving Scarlets.

However the loss of Halfpenny and Patchell is a major blow to the region and a sign of the financial cutbacks hitting Welsh regional rugby.

The salary cap for 2023-24 will be £5.2m for each of the four teams - Scarlets, Cardiff, Dragons and Ospreys - and will be reduced to £4.5m the following season.

• Wales forward Shingler to end 15-year career
• The Welsh players who are on the move

Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "It is always tough to make this announcement, all the players have given so much to the jersey during their time here.

"Players like Shings, Leigh and Patch have played massive parts in Scarlets successes in the league and in Europe over the years.

"Lewis Rawlins is a club centurion, while Phil Price, Tom Price, Dane and Sione have played more than a half-century of matches.

"I am sure all will have fond memories of this place and all will want to help us finish this season by being part of a squad that wins a European trophy."

Patchell, 29, began his career at Cardiff and the fly-half or full-back joined Scarlets in 2016.