It was a hit that probably rattled all 206 bones in John Barclay’s body.

But no doubt he later shook the hand of the man who unleashed it in Saturday’s clash between the Scarlets and Edinburgh in Llanelli.

For Barclay knows Will Boyde well and would have learned to like and admire the young Scarlet who has made a name for himself with his physicality and ability to do dirty jobs well.

Boyde isn’t renowned for making flashy, headline-grabbing interventions. His natural habitat is at the bottom of a ruck or at the heart of a maul.

He is a blue-collar player who grafts selflessly on behalf of the team, the type you would have thought sides would be falling over themselves to have on their books.

Yet it appears the former Wales Under-20s man may soon be lost to Welsh rugby, with the Scarlets set to release him and no other region having made him an offer.

Saracens and Exeter Chiefs, the top two sides in England, are among those over the border who are watching developments with interest.

MARK ORDERS tries to shed light on what’s going on...

HISTORY LESSONS

When the Ospreys won the Celtic League title in 2004-05 it was quietly felt the contribution of the likes of Steve Tandy, Barry Williams, Jason Spice, Andrew Millward, Matthew Jones, Andy Lloyd, Lyndon Bateman and Shaun Connor was every bit as important as the input from the big names ensconced at the region at the time.

Why wouldn’t that be the case?

Squads, as opposed to teams, have always been key to winning titles, but it’s especially the case when a season is structured with blocks of international matches requiring stars to report for Test duty for months at a time.

So it was that the unheralded brigade helped fashion an away win over Leinster during the Six Nations period and a draw in Glasgow. It was Millward who played 24 times for the Ospreys in that season, with Williams figuring in one game more. It was Lloyd and Tandy who put the week-in, week-out grit into that Ospreys side.

That kind of stuff matters.

Indeed, the people who are on hand throughout the year have arguably have become more important to clubs and regions in an era where the demands of the Test game grow continually.

(Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Whatever, the Scarlets will do well to find another Boyde, a player who is versatile enough to play in three positions — at openside, blindside or No. 8 — and rarely lets his performance level dip.

He has skippered the side this season and plays with a commitment and aggression that commands respect.

Always, he is a forceful presence at the breakdown.

Supporters like him because he is a whole-hearted contributor who can be relied on to give his all.

CONTRACT KILLER

Throughout the Project Reset process which reflected so desperately on pretty much everyone involved, dragging on as it did for an eternity with all the uncertainty that involved for players, Boyde had been given no indication he would be deemed surplus to requirements.

But it appears the Scarlets don’t have any room for him next season.

He hasn’t been offered a new contract and nor has anyone else in Wales put a deal his way.

The Ospreys and Cardiff Blues are understood to have shown an interest, but at a time of tight budgets neither has so far been able to find the cash to accommodate Boyde. The Dragons? Their squad may need strengthening in many areas, but back row probably isn’t one of them, so they look out of the equation, too.

So Boyde may reluctantly have to move away in search of rugby.

Saracens and Exeter have been alerted, with both said to be monitoring the situation. Probably, if Boyde went to either he would be a success.

An analysis done at the turn of the year showed the back rower to have had more minutes on the pitch for the Scarlets in the previous couple of seasons than all but four players at the region.

One of his team-mates may have spoken for many when he asked recently: “What’s going on with Boydey?”

It’s a very good question.

WHAT IS THE SCARLETS’ THINKING?

The probability is the West Walians have concluded they can afford to say adios to Boyde given that they have James Davies and Dan Davis in their squad.

Davis is promising, a player who can cause havoc in the wide channels and who is developing all the time at the breakdown. The new kid on the block in Llanelli is being quietly tipped for big things, but at 20 he is still maturing physically and his durability is unproven.

Evidently, the Scarlets are happy with what he and James Davies offer, and with competition in the Wales back row it may be that the latter will also be around for much of the time.

But, as with every contract decision, there is an element of uncertainty.

In an ideal world the Scarlets would probably have wanted to keep Boyde.

But the regional scene right now is far removed from being an ideal world.

THE VERDICT

Three years ago, it was written of Boyde: “The stocky openside flanker from Narberth is reminiscent of Australia great David Pocock in stature and with the physical way in which he plays the game.”

Well, he is still a work in progress on that front. Pocock, after all, is one of the all-time great players, an individual who leaves an indelible mark on every match he plays with his wondrous work at the breakdown.

But Boyde has delivered regularly for the Scarlets, with his strength, courage and low centre of gravity allowing him to lock over the ball and win countless possession steals.

Indeed for the West Walians in the league last term, only Tadhg Beirne achieved more turnovers.

Boyde’s three-in-one ability across the back row enhances his worth.

He just appears to be coming out of contract at the wrong time.

But if he does leave the regional scene, Welsh rugby will be waving goodbye to a good player.