FORMER Ospreys and Scarlets number eight Morgan Allen has left Bedwas for English Championship side Ealing on a full-time deal.

The 27-year-old has been snapped up by the Trailfinders after making an impressive start to life at Bridge Field.

Allen was a high-profile recruit for Bedwas following his release by the Scarlets and made an immediate impact with his strong running.

He played in four games for the early Principality Premiership East pace-setters, scoring a try on debut at Pontypridd and crossing against Ebbw Vale on Saturday.

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Allen played for the Dragons in their pre-season friendly against Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens and the Argus understands tentative talks were held about a deal with the region but the two parties were some distance apart on salary.

Instead the back rower from Cwmbran, son of former Wales, Newbridge and Newport lock Andy, will now ply his trade with Ealing, who sit second in the Championship behind big-spending Bristol.

He joins a sizeable Gwent contingent in Ealing featuring former Dragons Will Harries, Lewis Robling and Arthur Ellis and ex-Cross Keys utility back James Cordy-Redden while former Ebbw Vale boss Alex Codling is head coach at Vallis Way.

“When I signed Morgan we wrote into his contract that if a professional team came in that we would release him,” said Bedwas director of rugby Mark Lewis.

“It’s a blow for us but we would never stand in the way of a player if they get an opportunity of a pro contract in a short career.

“We knew that Morgan was going before the Ebbw Vale game and he put in a man of the match performance, so it was good to see him finish in style.”

Allen became a Wales Under-20s international thanks to his exploits with Pontypool in the Principality Premiership but, with his route at the Dragons blocked by international age-grade teammate Taulupe Faletau, was forced to head west.

He signed a professional deal with the Ospreys in 2010 and made 53 appearances at the Liberty Stadium before moving to the Scarlets.

His time in Llanelli was hindered by injury misfortune and he made 25 appearances over two seasons for the Guinness PRO12 champions.

While Allen has left Gwent for a fresh challenge, Cardiff RFC back row forward James Sheekey has arrived after penning a one-year deal with the Dragons.

The 23-year-old, who made six appearances for the Blues after coming through the ranks at the Arms Park, is set to feature in the British & Irish Cup clash at London Scottish on Saturday.

Sheekey has been signed because of a glut of back row injuries and has been backed to make an impact by his former Blue and Blacks boss.

“He a young man who has had injuries along the way that have held him back but he definitely has the potential to play at a higher level,” said Steve Law, who left Bedwas for the capital this summer.

“He is an abrasive player and in the short time that I worked with him I could see that a chance would come somewhere along the line at one of the Welsh regions because of his ability.

“James is also a very grounded young man who is honest and not full of himself. He knows what it takes and will give everything that he has got.

“It’s a great loss to me but a great chance for him and I hope that he takes it.”