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Callum Sheedy has had his say on speculation that he will be called up by Wayne Pivac's Wales
Wayne Pivac’s Wales are having issues with their out-halves in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations, but the situation won’t lead to a call-up this week for Callum Sheedy, the Welsh-qualified player who has been setting the Gallagher Premiership alight with Bristol.
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Sheedy, who is eligible to represent Wales, England and Ireland, was to the fore in Bristol’s latest league win, the comeback victory at Northampton on Sunday that lifted the Bears into fourth spot on the table.
However, rather than his rich seam of form catapulting him into the international reckoning ahead of Wales’ round three fixture at home to France next Saturday, Sheedy will instead be busy preparing for Bristol’s next game at home next Sunday versus Worcester at Ashton Gate.
Wales’ Dan Biggar is recovering from his third concussion this season following the defeat to Ireland and Jarrod Evans is currently the only other out-half in their squad.
Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Patchell are sidelined while and Owen Williams was ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury following a problem sustained pre-game in Dublin where he was supposed to provide bench back-up.
(Continue reading below…)
Wales could be about to abandon its 60-cap rule
Despite playing in the English Premiership, 24-year-old Sheedy has been linked with a call-up as his uncapped status means he would get around the 60-cap rule applying to Welsh players plying their club trade elsewhere.
However, asked by BT Sport following Bristol’s success at Franklin’s Gardens if he had spoken to Pivac, Sheedy said: “No I haven’t. We’ve had two weeks to prepare for this game.
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"Great character from the boys to score 20 unanswered points." ?
Man of the Match Callum Sheedy and Henry Purdy join @Sarraelgan to reflect on Bristol Bears' turnaround against Northampton Saints… pic.twitter.com/NyWtmiFLfp
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) February 16, 2020
“Lots of things get said in the press and in the papers and on social media and stuff. I try to ignore that and just do my best for the team. The biggest thing today was to get the win so I’m really happy with the four points.”
It was last April when Sheedy discussed with RugbyPass his eligibility for three countries. “My mum’s Welsh, my dad’s Irish (from Kildare) and I moved to England five years ago so there is a twist to it,” he explained.
“It’s a tough one but yeah, obviously my main focus is playing consistently well for Bristol and trying to play as much as I can and as well as I can and whatever happens internationally happens (happens). It’s an odd one, isn’t it?”
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Good insight to the half-back battle with Ian Madigan and also Pat Lam's unifying qualities https://t.co/RWZ2itPvKK
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) April 26, 2019
Within a few weeks, Sheedy was called up by Jim Mallinder to feature for an England XV in their exhibition match with the Barbarians. It was a non-cap fixture, so his appearance meant he wasn’t captured forever by England.
Sheedy played for Wales under-16s and switched to Ireland at under-19s level for a FIRA championship in Portugal in 2014. He then turned down an opportunity to line out for Wales in the 2015 under-20s Six Nations. If he had played at under-20s, he would have become Welsh qualified only.
WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes at Bristol Bears as they look to shake things up in the Premiership
Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
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