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Picking an Exiled Wales XV

Rhys Webb will trade Toulon for Ospreys at the end of this season (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

The WRU’s national team eligibility rule around non-Welsh based players has brought a number of high profile players back into the regional rugby fold. However, there are still multiple Welsh players still plying their trade elsewhere. 

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Here, RugbyPass picks its Welsh Exiled XV, a team featuring 14 players based in England and one in France.

15 – LIAM WILLIAMS (Saracens)

Started in his preferred position during the 2019 Six Nations and played such an outstanding role in the Grand Slam that he may well retain the 15 jersey going forward. He moved to Saracens to live with his girlfriend and win more trophies, which he has certainly done, adding to the English champions’ already-lethal aerial game. Despite only having 56 caps, he remains eligible for Wales because he signed his contract before the 60-cap was introduced.

14 – ALEX CUTHBERT (Exeter Chiefs)

He moved from Cardiff Blues to Exeter to rediscover his form after a difficult few years in the goldfish bowl of Welsh rugby, deliberately removing himself from selection as he only had 47 Test caps. He has not rediscovered the form that made him such a threat in 2013’s Six Nations title-title-winning season, but he is enjoying his rugby again and is well-liked in England’s south-west.

13 – ASHLEY BECK (Worcester Warriors)

For a long time, Beck was touted as the future of the Welsh midfield due to his creativity and pace. However, a series of injuries meant he never got more than seven caps despite making his debut in 2012, and his move to Worcester from Ospreys means he won’t get any more unless he returns to Wales. Injuries, though, continue to hamper him.

12 – OWEN WILLIAMS (Gloucester)

Another player who was often considered a bright prospect for a more creative Welsh midfield. Williams’ issue was more inconsistency than injuries. He looked to be Jamie Roberts’ long-term replacement at 12 in 2017 before Hadleigh Parkes made his debut and never looked back. Williams has only three caps and seems unlikely to add more any time soon.

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11 – JONAH HOLMES (Leicester Tigers)

Stockport-born Holmes was a surprise call-up during the 2018 autumn internationals but was retained for the Six Nations and RWC training squads. He is uncertain to make the World Cup considering Wales’ back three depth, but he has serious pace and has shown himself able to defend. He usually plays at full-back for his club but has featured on the wing as well. Holmes remains eligible for Wales selection while his current Leicester contract lasts.

10 – DAN BIGGAR (Northampton Saints)

There are a number of Welsh fly-halves abroad but Dan Biggar, hero of the last World Cup, is surely the foremost. Like Cuthbert, he exited Wales to get out of the limelight of living there and give himself a chance of domestic trophies elsewhere. His playing style has become noticeably more attacking under Saints coach Chris Boyd and he played a significant part in the English club’s recent revival where they reached the Premiership play-offs. With 70 caps, he remains eligible for Wales wherever he plays.

9 – RHYS WEBB (Toulon)

The only player on this list based in France, Webb is the highest profile casualty of the 60-cap eligibility rule and by far the most controversial. Like Liam Williams, he claimed he had signed for Toulon before the rule was in place. He hasn’t shown his full ability in a struggling Toulon side and now seems resigned to missing the World Cup even though many Wales fans are hoping Warren Gatland might still find a loophole for the 31-cap player.

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1 – RHYS CARRE (Saracens)

Another example of the loopholes in the Welsh-eligibility rule, Carre traded the mentorship of Gethin Jenkins at Cardiff Blues for Mako Vunipola and the higher likelihood of success with Saracens. The talented youngster has been selected in Wales’ RWC training squad and may well get playing time in the warm-ups as he is also English-qualified and Wales will want to keep him. He will remain Welsh-eligible throughout his Saracens contract as he was uncapped when he signed for the Londoners. 

2 – SCOTT BALDWIN (Harlequins)

He rotated with Ken Owens at the last World Cup and was on a national dual contract before falling out of favour and switching to London. Infamously known for his lion-taming attempt in South Africa, the 34-cap hooker has a solid all-round game and works hard.

3 – TOMAS FRANCIS (Exeter Chiefs)

Eligible through his grandmother, Francis has never played club rugby in Wales. Various Welsh attempts to regulate eligibility have always seen him slip through the net, most recently when Exeter activated an extension clause in his contract rather than offering him a new one, demonstrating another loophole in the rule. Francis leads a growing Welsh contingent in the south-west of England, but he may have to play in Wales eventually if he wants to maintain his international career.

4 – TOM PRICE (Exeter Chiefs)

The return of Bradley Davies and the retirement of Luke Charteris mean there aren’t many Welsh second rows playing outside the country. Price played in England’s 2013 Junior World Championship team but he is Welsh-qualified through his grandfather. He joined Exeter after three years at Scarlets and is uncapped. 

5 – CHRIST TSHIUNZA (Exeter Chiefs)

Another player who is primarily known because his move exposed a loophole in the eligibility rule. Tshiunza is only 18 but extremely highly rated. He starred for Wales’ Under-20s, his combination of athleticism and physicality exciting coaches and observers. He turned down an academy contract with Cardiff Blues to move to Exeter for personal reasons. He remains eligible for Wales because he is uncapped but he is also English- and French-qualified through his parents.

6 – SAM LEWIS (Worcester Warriors)

Born and bred in Swansea, Lewis has been playing his rugby in England for four seasons. Although his lack of caps means he could still play for Wales, he is also eligible for England through his mother. He tends to play on the openside but the plethora of poachers that Wales have means many of their sevens also play on the blindside. England are developing their own depth at openside but they are still some way behind Wales on that front, so Lewis may find Eddie Jones more likely to come calling than Wales.

7 – THOMAS YOUNG (Wasps)

He is indicative of Wales’ rich options at openside. One of the best sevens in the English Premiership for years he has struggled to break into the Welsh side. His current absence from the RWC training squad is injury-related but Gatland has hinted a number of times that Young’s lack of availability while playing in England has hindered his international opportunities.

8 – TAULUPE FALETAU (Bath)

His departure from Dragons to Bath in 2016 arguably prompted a review of the eligibility system as a national dual contract was not enough to keep him. Faletau has struggled with injuries over the past year but – when fit – he is one of the best players in the world in his position as he proved on two British and Irish Lions tours. His 72-caps means eligibility is not an issue for him and he is a key member of the Welsh leadership team.

WATCH: Part one of the two-part RugbyPassdocumentary on the many adventures that Welsh fans can expect to experience in Japan at this year’s World Cup

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Jon 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 3 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 8 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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