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Wales could be about to abandon 60-cap rule - reports
Wales boss Wayne Pivac could be forced to abandon the union’s 60-cap selection rules due to the ongoing injury crisis at flyhalf – The Rugby Paper report.
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Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell, Gareth Anscombe and Owen Williams are all currently sans action with various injuries, leaving the Welsh flyhalf larder extremely bare.
The only fit 10 currently in the squad is Cardiff Blues playmaker Jarrod Evans. Evans (23) currently has just five caps to his name.
Under the Senior Player Selection Policy (SPSP) Wayne Pivac can only select Wales squad players exclusively from the pool of home talent available – with an exception made for any player who has been capped 60-times or more.
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WATCH: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac and captain Alun Wyn Jones press conference following their defeat to Ireland in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
In 2017 as the new 60-cap clause came in, the former ‘Wildcard’ system was removed in its entirety, meaning no player with fewer caps will be selected for Wales if they ply their trade outside of the country.
The only exception to the Senior Player Selection Policy (SPSP) is uncapped players. Call ups for uncapped players currently contracted outside of Wales are allowed, provided said players return to Wales at the expiration of the contract in place at the point of call up.
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The @johnbarc86 Column:
"As a player and someone who knows Finn, I take issue with the people labelling him selfish."https://t.co/8HVHinXzt2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 16, 2020
However, as The Rugby Paper report, Pivac may have to bust the system to select Bath flyhalf Rhys Priestland.
Capped 50 times by Wales, Priestland joined Bath ahead of the 2015/16 season from Scarlets, turning his back on the opportunity to play in the red jersey. Out of favour, Priestland bet on a lucrative contract with Bath over his chances of being called back into Gatland’s setup.
With Biggar is currently recovering from his most recent concussion and Evans still very inexperienced, the under-pressure new Welsh boss Pivac may feel he has no choice but to bring Priestland in. Biggar suffered head injuries in successive World Cup games against Australia and Fiji in Japan last autumn but recovered to play in the quarter-final victory over France.
Ben Earl may already have his new club sorted. https://t.co/Yvjpf2X3EQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 16, 2020
“Dan is alright, he’s just doing the normal return to play protocols,” said Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins said last week. “That takes a bit of time but he is pretty good and is recovering pretty well, so hopefully he will be OK for next week.”
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“The World Cup was a concern in terms of the heavy ones that he had, but I don’t think Saturday was as bad as those. But (an HIA) is still something that you’ve got to do and the right decision was made.
“He is a tough old player, as you could see on Saturday because trying to get him off was an issue. But hopefully he will do everything he needs to do and will be back ready for France.”
Wales will have to sweat on Biggar’s fitness for a few days more, but they may have to break their own rules, temporarily at least.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments