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Welsh rugby’s forgotten man Jordan Williams could be the player to provide the solution to the Scarlets’ fly-half conundrum.

Having come tantalisingly close to making his Test debut on the summer tour of South Africa, the versatile 21-year-old has hardly figured for the Scarlets this season.

There is no doubting the natural ability of a young man who lit up Wales’ march to the final of the 2013 Junior World Championship and shone for his region out wide last term.

However, there have been concerns over his defence, which has seen him largely consigned to the sidelines since he endured a torrid time against Leinster in September.

Since that damaging day in Dublin, he hasn’t started a single game in either the Pro12 or Europe.

But with Rhys Priestland having confirmed he is leaving for Bath, there will now be an opportunity for the gifted Williams to stake his claim for the Scarlets No 10 jersey.

While he has appeared mainly at wing and full-back over the last couple of years, he has plenty of experience at fly-half at junior and club level.

Now he is set to get a shot in that position and a chance to display his mercurial magic as the Scarlets survey their options for next season.

With a bid to bring Owen Williams back home as Priestland’s replacement having been thwarted with him staying at Leicester, the west Wales region have been linked with the likes of Rhys Patchell, Sam Davies and Gavin Henson.

(Image: PA Wire)

But Patchell and Davies are under contract at the Blues and Ospreys respectively and unlikely to be released, while there seems little prospect of a bid for Henson who is being linked with a switch from Bath to Bristol at the end of this season.

So the Scarlets will be looking within as a starting point. They already have Wales tourist Steve Shingler in their ranks and the side-stepping Williams is another man who could come into the fly-half equation.

“Jordan has got an immense amount of talent, we know that,” said head coach Wayne Pivac.

“He is a player who has undoubted ability with ball in hand. We have asked him to go away and work on the other parts of his game. That’s when he doesn’t have the ball, his work-rate off the ball, communication in the back three and defence.

“He is working very hard on that and the last couple of weeks he has shown some good form, hence we haven’t hesitated when the opportunity has arisen to put him back into the 23 and he’s back there again this week against Glasgow.”

Reflecting on the task of filling the fly-half vacancy created by Priestland’s impending departure, Pivac said: “We always look within first, no matter what the position is.

“We have got a very good development system and some good young players coming through.

“We have got the likes of Jordan who is a former 10 and will get a bit of game time there at LV Cup level over the next month or so. It’s something I am going to talk to him about.

“He’s played there as a young player coming through and with his attacking attributes - looking at mismatches and that sort of thing - he’d be an exciting prospect from that position.

“But no matter where you are on the field, you’ve got to do your defensive work and that’s the big area he is working on at the moment and I think he is making in-roads in that area.

“So we will look at that option and of course we have got Steve Shingler there as well.”

Pivac admitted he would be sad to see Priestland leave the Scarlets for Bath at the end of this season after a 10-year stay with the region.

“It’s a feeling of disappointment, but we are very supportive of Rhys,” he said.

“We are sad to see him go, but understand it’s decision he hasn’t taken lightly.

“He’s had a great career at the club. Obviously I am pleased to have had a season with him this year and to work with him. He’s not only a very good player, but a great guy as well and it’s been a pleasure to work with him.

“Rhys has taken a long time and thought things through. We have put a contract in front of him and he has got his personal reasons for leaving.

“We support him. He has had a very good number of years at the club and done very well.”

With Priestland moving on, Pivac confirmed he had been interested in bringing Owen Williams back to the Scarlets, the team he left in 2013 to join Leicester.

“Obviously Rhys was the number one target and then you look at your plan A, B, C and D,” he said.

Gallery: Potential fly-half options for the Scarlets

“Owen was a player of interest definitely, but he re-signed for Leicester a few weeks ago I believe. We have known about that for some time.”

Asked whether Patchell, Davies or Henson were on his radar, Pivac replied: “Certainly not players that are contracted to other teams.

“You talk to agents to find out what 10s are out there are available and then we’ve got to look at the ability of those players against the players we have got here.

“To bring somebody in for outside, we have to believe they are significantly better or offer more than the players here.

“I am excited at the prospect of a Jordan Williams playing 10 and that’s something that we will look at.

“We have also got Steve Shingler and will work with him.

“We will assess all the playing options that we have in the position and at the same time talk to agents and look at what is outside of our region and outside of the country as well, as we have done in other positions.

“We are looking across the board at all options.”