Wales star Jake Ball to leave Scarlets and turn his back on Test rugby at 29 to return to Australia and join his family Down Under in blow to national team coach Wayne Pivac

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Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has been handed another huge blow after lock Jake Ball turned his back on Test rugby in favour of a family reunion in Australia. 

Ball's wife Christie has been living in Perth for several months and gave birth to the couple's fourth child Max while thousands of miles away from her husband. 

With his family settled in Australia – the country where he grew up – Ball has taken the tough decision to join them down under and end his long stay with Welsh region Scarlets.  

Jake Ball is set to leave Scarlets to return to Australia - where he grew up - to join his family

The Wales lock's family have been living in Perth for several months and are settled there

It also means he will no longer be able to play at international level as he does not have the required 60 caps to play club rugby abroad and also represent Wales under Welsh Rugby Union rules. 

'It has been a difficult decision to make but one I have made for the family,' said Ball, who plans to move to Australia in July after nine years with the Scarlets. 

'My wife was expecting our fourth child and with Covid around and players having to be in bubbles, we made the decision she and the kids should go home to have some family help and support around her. Max was born last month. There have been Zoom calls and things, but I haven't seen him yet and it has been difficult. As the season goes on, it would be pretty tough of me to ask Christie to come back here away from her family again. 

'It has been a fantastic nine seasons I have been here. I love the Scarlets and playing with Wales has been unbelievable and something I will never forget. 

'It has been a massive honour to represent my country, but at the end of the day I made a huge sacrifice in staying behind for a year without my family. 

'I have four kids now and I won't have seen them for close on a year.' 

Ball was born in Ascot, but moved to Australia with his parents when he was 17. He has four young children and qualified to play for Wales through his Welsh-born father. He made his Test debut in 2014.  

Ball will no longer be able to play international games for Wales by moving abroad to Australia 

The 29-year-old currently has 49 caps, but would have had far more had it not been for serious injuries to both shoulders, a ruptured bicep, foot surgery and a nasty concussion. 

Pivac, who had a horror first year in charge with just three wins, now has to decide whether to keep Ball – who the Scarlets say will leave at the end of the season – involved for the 2021 Six Nations. After that, he will no longer be available for selection. 

The Guinness PRO14 season ends in March before the start of a Rainbow Cup competition involving South Africa's four best teams. Ball discussed his move with Pivac in the autumn and leaves with the best wishes of his national and regional coaches. 

Veteran captain Alun Wyn Jones, 35, is Wales' first choice at lock, but Ball has been his preferred partner when fit. Pivac also has Cory Hill, Will Rowlands, Seb Davies and Adam Beard as second row options. 

Ball said: 'I owe a lot to the Scarlets and Welsh rugby. I was at the Western Force before, but it was the Scarlets who gave me my first real shot in senior rugby and it will be nice to finish off on a high and reward the Scarlets for everything they have done for me over the years. 

'I have some very special memories and have got to do some fantastic things. We have won the PRO12, made a European semi-final, there has been a Grand Slam and two World Cups with Wales. I have no regrets with what I have done here. 

'I am just hoping we can have supporters back at Parc y Scarlets before the end of the season. It would be great to have them here so I can say my farewells properly.'  

Wales boss Wayne Pivac now has to decide whether or not to keep Ball involved in Six Nations

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney said: 'As a club we fully respect Jake's decision. Family is a massive part of the Scarlets and Jake has sacrificed a huge amount being away from Christie and his children for so long. 

'He has been a wonderful servant for the Scarlets, an outstanding player, a great bloke around the group and has been a fantastic mentor to the young players who are coming through. 

'You saw by his performance against the Ospreys on Boxing Day what playing for the Scarlets means to him and let's hope we can have some supporters back into Parc y Scarlets by the end of the season to give him the send-off he deserves.'