Jeff Hasler will not be an Osprey next season and many are wondering why

Formidable Canadian wing Jeff Hassler has revealed that his time at Ospreys is coming to an end after a successful five year stint at the club and many are wondering why.

What’s even more perplexing is – as RugbyPass understands it – that he doesn’t have a new club lined up.

The 26-year-old tweeted the news last night: “What a good five years in been Swansea flying high and scoring tries. Cheers all.”

What a good five years in been Swansea flyin high and scoring tries. Cheers all. ✌🤙 pic.twitter.com/PO4DZC6WB0

— Jeff Hassler (@Jeff_Hassler) April 24, 2018

Hassler scored 24 tries in 72 games for the region, and was renowned for his hard carrying-style and speed.

Many Ospreys fans are asking why are the club are letting the proven try scorer and cult hero go. Toulon bound Wales scrumhalf and soon to be former teammate Rhys Webb was one of them.

“Huge loss,” Webb tweeted, before adding: “Someone give this try-scoring beast a contract. Unbelievable player. Get your chequebooks out.”

https://twitter.com/RhysWebb_9/status/988837785049161730

Former Osprey and now Chiefs secondrow Tyler Ardron chimed in “I suppose all good things must come to an end. You’ve been unreal week in, week out for the Ospreys.”

I suppose all good things must come to an end. You've been unreal week in, week out for the @ospreys @Jeff_Hassler

— Tyler Ardron (@tyardron) April 24, 2018

Ardron, who is having a superb season in Super Rugby alongside All Black Brodie Retallick, is a good example of what a fellow Canadian’s can achieve should they find the right club.

https://twitter.com/OspSociables/status/988839230746001408

Jeff Hassler has left the Ospreys.

And quite amazingly, hasn't got a club to go to.

I can't think of many/ if any teams that wouldn't benefit from Jeff Hassler on their books.

He's a military-grade ball carrier.

— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) April 24, 2018

The club yesterday confirmed that Allen Clarke has been appointed Head Coach on a three-year contract, but it seems Hassler is not part of his plans going forward.

Continue reading below…

The former Ireland hooker, who joined the Ospreys last summer as Forwards Coach, has been in interim control of the senior team since January.

With a Champions Cup play-off coming up in May, Clarke can now begin planning in earnest for next season after being handed the reins on a full-time basis.

As a player, Clarke, a qualified teacher, completed a century of appearances for Northampton Saints before returning to his home province, who he served as both player and coach over a period of 20 years, either side of a five-year spell as Irish Rugby’s High Performance Manager.

Capped eight times by Ireland, he was a key player in Ulster’s 1999 Heineken Cup run, including the 21-6 win over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road in the final, the province’s only European title.

Arguably, Clarke was more influential off the field, having made a successful transition at the start of the century, his first off-field role seeing him establish the Ulster Rugby Academy.

In 2004 he was appointed as Assistant Coach to Mark McCall, helping the province to a first ever Celtic League title, secured ironically on the final day of the 05/06 season thanks to a 19-17 win over the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium

The following season he left Ulster to take up a position as High Performance Manager with the IRFU, overseeing the national age-grade and development programme, feeding into the four Irish provinces and the senior national team.

He returned to his home province in 2012 to oversee an expanded Academy, combining it with the Scrum Coach role, taking the Forwards Coach post at KIngspan Stadium two years later.

Clarke also has experience of coaching on the international scene, taking charge of Ireland ‘A’, U20, and more recently leading Emerging Ireland to success in the 2015 Tbilisi Cup ahead of Georgia, Italy A and Uruguay.

Speaking after accepting the permanent Head Coach role at the Ospreys, Clarke said:

“When I came to the Ospreys, just 10 months ago, I didn’t foresee this situation arising. However, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being Head Coach over the last three months. The support I’ve received from all areas, from the player group, fellow coaches and colleagues behind the scenes and from the Board, together with that of the supporters has been fantastic. As such I feel both humbled and honoured by the appointment.

“There is a strong ambition at the Region which matches my own, that is, to re-establish the Ospreys at the top level, initially in the Guinness PRO14 and then Europe.

“I’m highly motivated by the challenge and look forward to working with the coaching and management team to create an environment that provides individuals with the opportunity to flourish and for us, as a team, to realise our ambitions playing a brand of rugby that enthuses players and supporters alike.”