Seventeen Welsh players were in action across the Gallagher Premiership last weekend, with several delivering standout performances, but their growing presence in England is raising questions about Wales' ability to prepare for Test rugby.
Wales stars Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan were outstanding as Gloucester secured a record 45-24 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, while Freddie Thomas also played well. At Welford Road on Sunday, man-of-the-match Tomos Williams and Nick Tompkins played their part as Saracens edged out Leicester Tigers. Aaron Wainwright was outstanding for Leicester despite being on the losing side, while Wales wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb scored a hat-trick.
Benefits of playing in England
From a certain perspective, the sight of so many Welsh players thriving across the Severn Bridge will be encouraging for Wales head coach Steve Tandy. They are testing themselves week after week in a high-quality competition, working under world-class coaches and sharing dressing rooms with players of the highest calibre. That environment can only broaden their experience and sharpen their standards.
For someone such as Wainwright, in particular, Leicester could provide an opportunity to take his game to another level. The quality of the rugby, the intensity of the competition and the demands of the environment should all prove hugely beneficial.
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton gave his view on Welsh players playing in England this weekend. "I think they're seeking success," he told TNT Sports. "They've been part of such underperforming regions for so long. I've been a massive advocate for the Prem, it's brilliant. We watch it from the other side of the bridge and go 'what a great product to be part of' and they want to be part of it. The best players have come over and I think they've added to the value to the league, and it looks like they're enjoying it. Wainwright, Tomos Williams, they've all been superb."
Concerns for Welsh rugby
For Welsh rugby as a whole, however, there is a more troubling side to this picture. Wales' four professional clubs are struggling for results on the field and, whether the future holds four clubs, three or even two, the majority of the country's leading players need to be playing their rugby in Wales.
There is an obvious benefit to having younger players coming through the pathway training and playing alongside the likes of Morgan, Lake, Wainwright and Jenkins. Their presence would provide not only quality on the field but experience, standards and a reference point for the next generation.
Ultimately, the objective has to be for the Welsh clubs to become competitive enough to challenge for the play-offs year after year. Achieving that will require Welsh rugby to find a way of keeping its best players at home. That, however, will not come cheaply. Significant investment will be required if Wales is to build professional sides capable of retaining its leading talent and competing consistently at the top end of the competitions they play in.
Impact on Test preparations
If the bulk of Wales's leading players are based in England or France, preparing a team for Test rugby could become a nightmare for Tandy and those who follow him. Imagine a Wales squad with half its players based across the Severn Bridge or in France. We are pretty much there already. Under the current release arrangements, a significant proportion could be available to the national team for as little as 25 per cent of its training sessions.
Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) operate strict release rules, meaning players are unavailable during fallow weeks or when they are not included in their club's matchday 23. That would leave a Wales head coach trying to build cohesion, develop combinations and prepare a team for Test rugby with some of his most important players absent for much of the preparation.
Ideally, Welsh clubs would be competing in the Gallagher Premiership. That would certainly help. But whatever the future structure looks like, Welsh rugby has to strike the right balance between keeping its best players at home and giving them the opportunity to play at the highest level.
