WHY Gerwyn Price hasn’t been snapped up by the Newport Gwent Dragons or any other Welsh region is as much of a mystery to Cross Keys captain Rob Nash as it is to many other pundits.

Nash talks about Keys hooker Price in the same breath as Lloyd Burns, who is the Premiership’s greatest success story, rising from captaining the Pandy Park side to playing for Wales in the World Cup in the space of a few seasons.

Price stole the show during his side’s superb 32-19 Swalec Cup final victory over Pontypridd on Monday with a spectacular 60-metre individual try that will live long in the memory.

The 27-year-old’s heroics at the Millen-nium Stadium showcased the athletic front rower’s talents.

But the Markham boy has been in superb form all season and his signing from Neath for this season was an inspired one.

Openside flanker Nash, named man of the match against Ponty with a stellar performance and is the Premiership’s player of the month, said of Price: “Everyone knows he’s been the best hooker in the Premier-ship for years. He’s come back to Cross Keys and been a great signing for us.

“Everyone’s been taking the mick and said he’s carried us this year. But there’s no joking about it – he has carried us. He’s been fantastic this season – what a player.”

Cardiff Blues had shown interest in signing Price but he is still a free agent.

It’s a situation that baffles Nash: “Gerwyn’s a fantastic player. Why he hasn’t been picked up by a region is beyond me.

“My close friend Lloyd Burns was a fantastic player and it took him four or five years to make it. You’re wasting valuable years of these boys’ careers.

“Why hasn’t somebody snapped Gerwyn up? Every game they’ve televised of us he’s played well in.

“There’s no reason why people haven’t seen him now.”

Nash added: “It’s not just the TV games he’s shone in but it’s week in, week out.

“We’d love to keep him at Cross Keys but he shouldn’t be here.”

Nash believes Price is as good as fellow Keys player Steffan Jones, the outside half having made the jump from Premiership to regional player with the Dragons.

“Steffan shines, he’s got time on the ball and charisma and Gerwyn is exactly the same.

“A hooker who can score a 60m try in the Swalec Cup final against Pontypridd is no coincidence.”