Saturday's game proves that the WRU Exiles program is a roaring success
For many outside observers, the sight of Gareth Anscombe putting Jonathan Davies through a gap to crown victory over Scotland on Saturday evening is proof that the Welsh Rugby Union’s Exiles programme is in rude health.
Auckland-born Anscombe delivered an assured performance at the Principality Stadium on Saturday night to stake his claim for the Wales No. 10 shirt on a full-time basis.
Next weekend it could be Jonah Holmes, born in Stockport, who benefits from his ability to find space at the gain line, while Tom Francis, who also hails from the north of England, will return to contention in the front row.
Six of Wales’ starting XV against Scotland were born outside of the country, and Exiles programmes are becoming increasingly important as World Rugby’s eligibility rules increase from three to five years in 2020.
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However, according to the WRU’s National Exiles Officer, Gareth Davies, unearthing potential Test players is not the focus of the union’s endeavours in that area.
Although it is a bonus to watch Anscombe and others run out for Wales, Davies says his mandate is to provide a pathway for all Welsh-qualified players aged between 12 and 20, regardless of ability.
“It’s not about elite players,” he told RugbyPass. “It’s not about identifying the next Sam Warburton, or identifying the next Dan Biggar.
“It’s about providing a pathway for every Welsh qualified player who’s based outside Wales.
“That pathway could end up (with them) playing for a club second XV in Wales, it could end up being a professionally regionally contracted player – but there’s a pathway for every single player.”
Indeed, when Francis was first called up by Wales coach Warren Gatland almost four years ago, the tighthead prop told Davies that he had not engaged with the Exiles as a youngster because he didn’t think he was good enough.
Francis needn’t have worried, the future international would have been welcomed in with open arms. “Whenever we have events they’re never trials,” Davies said. “No one is ever released from the Exiles programme.”
The WRU Exiles programme was founded in 1980, primarily for adults who had left the country, however in the last 15 years its focus has shifted to younger players, aged between 12 and 20.
At present there are around 1,500 players – from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the United States – registered with the programme which Davies oversees from his office at the union’s base in Hensol, near Cardiff.
For youngsters based in the UK, the Exiles run one-day camps twice a year in Nottingham, London and Somerset designed to give as many as possible access to expert coaching.
“What was important was they get the same quality of coaching, the same quality of engagement, the same experience that they would do if they were in Llanelli or Swansea or Newport or Cardiff,” Davies said.
Engagement is a key tenet for the Exiles, and Davies is keen for the players who pass through the programme to develop an allegiance with Welsh rugby that in turn may help to swell playing numbers in the country, at all levels.
Davies said: “They’re all Welsh qualified, they’re all looking to explore opportunities within the Welsh Rugby Union and our challenge is making sure we engage with every single one of them.”
Of course, there is also a pathway to age-grade and regional rugby with the best talent invited to camps in Wales. This weekend an Under-18 Exiles side has competed in the ‘Super Six’ tournament in Pontypridd against teams from the four regions and RGC.
Consisting of short-form games with adapted rules designed to hone tactical and technical skills required in the professional game, the tournament is part of a series of events that will help Wales U18 coach Chris Horsman pick his squad for this season.
Last year 19 Exiles were included in the U18 training squad, with eight going on to win caps.
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Davies helped many of those players find places in regional academies, while the Exiles also have good links with independent schools and universities in Wales.
It is also part of his remit to keep tabs on Welsh-qualified players who live outside of Wales, whether that be a Holmes or Francis who were born abroad, or someone like Josh Adams, who was involved in the regional system but moved away to seek opportunity.
“There are dozens and dozens in the Premiership and the Championship in England, for example, who are Welsh qualified,” Davies said.
“We are monitoring all these players for different reasons and if an opportunity arises and we can get them into a regional squad, or if the player is looking for a new challenge and wants to come into a Welsh region it would then be a matter for the region head coaches, region directors of rugby as to whether there’s a place for them.”
An example from further afield is Joe Jenkins, born on Australia’s Gold Coast but qualified for Wales via his grandmother. Davies was notified of his eligibility via a third party, and following a successful trial with the Ospreys he made the move north and has gone on to represent Wales at sevens.
Jenkins was also able to transfer his final year of studies at the University of Queensland to Swansea University thanks to the Exiles’ help.
“Joe was nominated to us about two or three years ago as somebody who was Welsh qualified and had the potential to do well in Wales. So, we spent a few months in dialogue with Joe and his director of rugby at his university in Australia,” Davies explained.
“We decided that Joe had the potential to do well in our system. So, Joe came over for a trial period and was a good fit for the Ospreys for various reasons, and he excelled there, did really, really well and (was) identified as somebody with sevens potential and came into our sevens circuit.
“Within a year he was on the World (Rugby Sevens) Series.”
Davies, though, is keen to stress that success stories such as Jenkins are dividends of a system that is designed to offer a pathway into Welsh rugby – at whatever level – for all.
He says the most important part of his role is engagement, and tempering expectation. “They feel Welsh and they’re looking to explore opportunities in Wales,” he said. “For some that won’t be playing to a high standard in Wales.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments