Patchell looks to Biggar for Inspiration

Rhys Patchell hopes his move west to the Scarlets will reignite his international career as he strives to emulate Dan Biggar.

Current Cardiff Blues outside-half Patchell has fallen below fellow Welsh rival Gareth Anscombe and youngster Jarrod Evans in the pecking order for the number 10 shirt at the Blues.

He hopes his move to Scarlets will help him earn an international recall, and links his personal time in the international wilderness to that of the current Welsh number 10.

Patchell said: “Firstly, the move is for rugby reasons, not financial reasons, I get paid by the Blues until the end of the season, and they deserve my undivided attention. But for Wales, it is what it is and my form isn’t good enough to warrant selection. But it’s everyone’s dream to pull on that red jersey from a young age and I’m no different.”

The twice-capped Patchell signed a contract with the Scarlets at the end of 2015 and won his last international cap in the now infamous defeat on the 2013 tour of Japan.

The 22 year-old was however part of the training group selected for the 2015 World Cup, but failed to gain a place in the final 31-man squad for the tournament. Instead, Patchell has been stuck in international limbo much like Dan Biggar once was.

He said: “Look at Dan Biggar who is playing phenomenally well at the moment and has been by far the best outside-half in Wales for the past 2 to 3 seasons. After 2009 he didn’t really get a look in until 2013 when he cemented himself in the Six Nations and even then he was the only one not to get on the Lions tour from the England game.”

Patchell insists he holds a personal desire in regards to a Wales recall and a prosperous international career, and someone like Dan Biggar can reignite that desire and act as an inspiration. The Blues man knows what is required of him to earn an international call-up, but feels his current form needs to improve if he is to add to his two solitary caps.

Patchell said: “I’ve got a fair idea on what I need to improve on,

“My form hasn’t been good enough, but it’s just a case of knuckling down, working hard and getting better,

“You know what you need to work on, it’s just a case on getting on the pitch and working on those things.”

Despite the impending move and his own personal ambitions, Patchell insists that his focus remains on hometown club Blues until the current season is over.

Patchell said: “There’s a lot of games to be won here (at Cardiff Blues),

“So that’s where the focus is and that’s where it needs to be,

“I don’t think we are a million miles off the playoffs in terms of our performance levels,

But equally if you’re not striving for that success there’s no point turning up to work.”