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Wales Grand Slam star Gareth Anscombe is to leave Cardiff Blues to join the Ospreys.

After months of speculation over his future, the 27-year-old fly-half has finally decided on where he will be playing his rugby from next season.

He has informed the Blues he will be moving to the Liberty Stadium, after they set a deadline of early this week for him to make up his mind.

Anscombe had also been linked with clubs in England, including Bristol, Bath and Harlequins.

But moving across the bridge would have ruled him out of playing for Wales at the World Cup and beyond.

Now that he is staying in Wales, he will be able to continue adding to his 26 international caps.

He had appealed to the PRB over his pay banding, but that was rejected, and it then just came down to him choosing between the Blues and the Ospreys.

(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Now one of the longest-running recent sagas in Welsh rugby has finally been concluded.

A Cardiff Blues source said: “Having brought Gareth over from New Zealand in 2014 and supported him to secure the Wales No 10 jersey, we are disappointed that he is going to be joining the Ospreys.

“But given the financial constraints we will be operating under next season, the fact it is a World Cup year and that we have an exceptional talent in Jarrod Evans, we are comfortable with the direction we will be moving forward in.

“We will now continue making our plans for next season and finalising our squad.”

(Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

At the Ospreys, Anscombe will be reunited with backs coach Matt Sherratt, who he formed a close working relationship with when Sherratt was at the Blues as part of Danny Wilson's management team.

He is also set to be used exclusively as a No 10, rather than moving back and fore between fly-half and full-back as has been the case at the Arms Park.

Signing him will be a major boost for the Liberty Stadium side after a turbulent period, during which their future was in doubt amid speculation over a merger with the Scarlets.

With Anscombe leaving the Welsh capital, the Blues must now decide whether to bring in a fly-half, such as the Ospreys' out-of-contract pivot Sam Davies.

Alternatively, they could employ utility backs Matthew Morgan and Dan Fish as fly-half cover and use the money saved to strengthen their pack.