Wales head coach Steve Tandy is looking beyond the immediate demands of international rugby, inviting a succession of promising youngsters into the national set-up to familiarise them with the environment and begin integrating them into the senior programme.
Newport wing Noah Morgan, Cardiff second-row Sonny McCabe, Ospreys lock Ben Roberts and Scarlets full-back Iori Badham were among those brought into camp during its opening week. Cardiff's Lloyd Lucas and Ospreys youngster Cody-Ray David have also been involved in training over the past week.
Leggatt-Jones emerges as a standout prospect
While those names are for the future rather than immediate contenders for international honours, 18-year-old Scarlets fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones is a different proposition. He has been training with Wales and, remarkably for someone still in the infancy of his professional career, is already being discussed in some quarters as a potential dark horse for next year's Rugby World Cup squad.
The Carmarthen teenager started the Scarlets' defeats by the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa last month, delivering performances that attracted considerable praise from the South African press. Leggatt-Jones possesses an impressive range of skills for his age, combining composure on the ball with outstanding vision and an accomplished kicking game, both from the tee and in open play.
He is already a vocal presence, unafraid to direct those around him and impose himself on proceedings. Both the Scarlets and Wales will need to manage his development carefully, as the outside-half position carries particular scrutiny in Welsh rugby.
Scrum-half depth remains a weakness
Harri Wilde (Cardiff), Ben Coomer (Cardiff) and Madoc Evans (Scarlets) are three other young outside-halves with high ceilings. But the one position where Wales desperately need to find quality is at scrum-half.
Across the professional game and development pathways, Wales can point to a number of technically proficient scrum-halves, but what is less evident is a cohort capable of replicating Tomos Williams' attacking game. Reuben Morgan-Williams has been a model of consistency for the Ospreys and has earned the opportunity to test himself at international level.
Dragons scrum-half Che Hope, a current member of the senior squad, is the number nine with the highest potential. He has a sharp pass and a sound kicking game, but it is his attacking threat that sets him apart, with the pace and instinct to produce game-changing moments.
Behind Morgan-Williams, the regional game still has plenty of depth, with Scarlets pair Dane Blacker and Archie Hughes, while Ellis Bevan also remains in the picture. Further down the pathway, there is considerable excitement around Cardiff's Sion Davies, Gloucester's Luca Woodyatt, Bristol Bears' Cai Gealy and Scarlets youngster Alfie Luger.
No side has ever enjoyed sustained success at Test level without world-class half-backs, an area where Wales must do more to develop and produce players capable of competing with the very best.
