In what will be a huge boost for the Ospreys, hooker Dewi Lake has signed a new deal with the team. The 23-year-old has been impressive in his performances for Ospreys, developing into an important player for the team.
King of the bump-off, Dewi Lake’s explosive ball carrying has got fans off their seats multiple times this season. He has progressed well under the watchful eye of Head Coach, Toby Booth.
Booth has been instrumental in the development of young talent at the club and Lake is further evidence of this.
Whilst at the Ospreys, Lake changed position from back-row to hooker and has never looked back. Since making the switch, he has been tipped to be a future Wales captain by many in the media, including Jonathan “Jiffy” Davies.
Lake is no stranger to a captaincy, with the hooker leading Wales u20s to their famous win against New Zealand at the World Rugby u20s Championship in 2019.
He has already made 39 appearances for the Ospreys since moving into the senior setup and his leadership qualities have already begun to shine through in that time.
Speaking on re-signing with the Ospreys, Dewi Lake said:
“I’m really happy to have signed a new deal. There's something special about playing for a team that represents your home region, and that's exactly what the Ospreys mean to me.
“It's an honour to don the jersey week in and week out, and I feel proud to be part of a legacy that includes some of the best players in Welsh rugby history.
“But it's not just the history that makes me excited to stay with Ospreys Rugby - it's also the future. We have a talented and hungry squad, as well as a staff setup that’s committed to helping us achieve our goals.”
Head Coach Toby Booth said: “Dewi is a fantastic player and we’re thrilled to have him on board with us. He’s a natural leader and has already established himself as a key player at the Ospreys.
“We believe that he’s got a huge amount of potential, and we’re really excited to see him develop over the next few seasons.”
Speaking on Dewi coming through the Ospreys pathway, Booth said:
“We’re committed to developing home-grown talent at the Ospreys and Dewi is a shining example of that. We want to give young players like him the opportunity to grow within our system, and it’s great to see that philosophy coming to fruition.”
Dewi Lake’s re-signing for the Ospreys will be a brilliant boost for the fanbase ahead of the new season. With his physicality and skillset, Lake will be crucial to the Ospreys this season and beyond. His signing is a great example of what can be achieved by investing in home-grown talent and has shown the way for other clubs to follow.
