While the season has drawn to a close for Wales' four professional sides, Welsh influence remained strong in the Gallagher Premiership. On the final weekend of the regular season, Welsh players were at the forefront of their clubs' ambitions, producing a series of standout performances as the race for the play-offs reached its conclusion. It all gave Wales head coach Steve Tandy food for thought as he leads the national team into Nations Championship action this summer. Here are your winners and losers.
Winners
Bryn Bradley
The 23-year-old put in another eye-catching performance as Harlequins beat league leaders Northampton Saints 38-31 at the Twickenham Stoop. Bradley was very prominent with ball in hand, making eight carries and punching holes in the Northampton defence in the process. The powerful centre also made 11 tackles to help stifle the deadly Northampton attack. Bradley has put his hand up for a place in Wales' matchday 23 to take on Fiji in their Nations Championship opener next month. Wales have a serious player on their hands, and Bradley's form at 12 will surely force Steve Tandy to consider changing his policy of using a play-making inside centre like Joe Hawkins or Ben Thomas to deploying a power runner like Bradley who can punch serious holes.
Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins
Both Wales internationals played a prominent role as Exeter Chiefs ground down Saracens to claim a 32-12 victory which secured their place in the semi-finals. Jenkins and Tshiunza got through a mountain of unseen work to help the Exeter pack come out on top. It will come as no surprise to hear that Jenkins finished near the top of the tackle charts with 15, while Tshiunza finished with a respectable 10. Tshiunza has missed much of this season through injury and has found himself in the international wilderness but the 24-year-old will hope his move to Sale Sharks next season can reinvigorate his career. This performance was a very promising sign he can still deliver on the talent that was identified at such a young age when he was called up to the Wales squad in 2021 while still a teenager playing university rugby.
Max Llewellyn and Freddie Thomas
Wales international Llewellyn was outstanding and played a starring role as Gloucester thrashed Newcastle Red Bulls 54-21 to secure a place in next season's Investec Champions Cup. Llewellyn crossed for a try of his own and twice carved through the Newcastle defence, creating scores for team-mates with incisive bursts. The 27-year-old missed out on Wales' Six Nations squad due to injury but with Louie Hennessey ruled out of this summer's fixtures due to injury, Llewellyn stands a strong chance of forcing his way back into the starting XV as he looks to oust Eddie James or Joe Hawkins. He can play 12 or 13 and, like Bryn Bradley, his power and presence in midfield is something Wales should consider. Wales international Thomas also put in a strong performance at blindside flanker. Thomas got through a mountain of work and was very prominent in the loose while also ensuring Gloucester's lineout ran smoothly.
Johnny McNicholl
The former Scarlets and Wales star turned back the clock with a scintillating hat-trick as the Crusaders swept into the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals with a commanding 52-31 victory over the Blues. McNicholl hit some superb angles to slice open the Blues defence and has been one of the deadliest broken-field runners in Super Rugby Pacific this season. "Form is temporary, class is permanent, and Johnny McNicholl is all class," was Planet Rugby's take on his performance. In reality the 35-year-old is highly unlikely to play for Wales again but he is tearing up Super Rugby.
Losers
Tomas Francis
It was a tough day at the office for the 34-year-old as Provence Rugby lost the French PRO D2 final 18-14 to RC Vannes at the Stade Ernest-Wallon in Toulouse. This was one for the purists and was a war of attrition from start to finish with Vannes edging it by the skin of their teeth. But Provence's Top 14 dream isn't over yet because they face Perpignan in the "Access Match" next weekend with a place in the top tier of French rugby at stake. Francis is moving back to England to join Sale Sharks next season but will want to finish his Provence career with a bang.
Rhys Carré and Nick Tompkins
This 32-12 defeat to Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park resulted in Saracens missing out on the Gallagher Prem play-offs. Tompkins started at 13 and had a solid enough game but Exeter's pack got on top in the second-half, leaving the Wales centre on the back foot for large parts of the game. Carré was a second-half replacement but found it tough going against a Chiefs pack who had the bit between their teeth.
Nicky Smith, Tommy Reffell and Gabriel Hamer-Webb
It was a good effort by Leicester Tigers who slipped to an agonising 24-22 defeat to defending champions Bath at the Rec. Smith, Reffell and Hamer-Webb all played well but they will be disappointed Leicester did not get one over on their rivals. Defeat means Leicester will have to travel to Franklin's Gardens to take on table-toppers Northampton Saints in the semi-finals next weekend.
