Wales centre Jonathan Spratt has rejoined Ospreys from London Irish on a two-year deal.
Centre back with home region after single season at London Irish
Wales centre Jonathan Spratt has rejoined the Ospreys from London Irish on a two-year contract.
Spratt, a twice capped international, returns to his home region following 12 months in the Aviva Premiership with the Exiles.
He went on loan to Taranaki in 2008 where he gained rave reviews for his performances in the Air New Zealand Cup, and 12 months later he gained his senior Wales caps on the tour to North America, playing against Canada and USA.
After moving to London Irish last summer on an initial one-year deal, such was the impression Spratt made at the Madejski in his 11 appearances that in March he penned a two-year extension.
However, following the departure of head coach Toby Booth and a number of his support team from Irish to Bath, Spratt has been allowed to head back to Ospreys ahead of the new season.
Excited
"I'm very excited to be back here. It's where I'm from, I was brought up playing in Ospreylia, so clearly when the opportunity arose to come back I jumped at the chance," said Spratt.
"Having spent a year at London Irish and gained some great experience, the changes there meant I had to consider my options and while I could have stayed, the prospect of rejoining the Ospreys and being part of what's a young and ambitious group is an exciting one. There is nothing like playing for your home region in front of a big crowd at your home stadium.
"Working with Steve Tandy, Gruff Rees and Jonathan Humphreys is another big draw for me. Having played alongside Steve at Neath and the Ospreys, I know what he's about, what his work ethic is, his passion for rugby in general and for the Ospreys in particular, and I'm really looking forward to the new season.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to have the experience of playing in the Aviva Premiership and the Heineken Cup at London Irish last season and I'm a better player for those experiences than I was 12 months ago.
"All any rugby player wants is to be able to cement a regular team place and that's something I'm going to be striving towards over the next two years, to hopefully find myself in the Ospreys first fifteen. Competition is tough here but it's up to me to prove myself."
