The Welsh Rugby Union scrapped its exiles programme in May 2025, but Wales head coach Steve Tandy has made clear that the search for new players will leave no stone unturned as he looks to broaden his selection pool.
That has traditionally meant the spotlight falling on Welsh-qualified players in England, or, occasionally, further afield in the Southern Hemisphere. But there is another, less obvious pool of talent the WRU and Tandy could explore; rugby league, where a number of Welsh-qualified players could offer intriguing options for Wales.
Morgan Knowles
The 29-year-old lock has represented both England and Wales at international level in rugby league and would therefore be an intriguing option for the WRU. Knowles currently plies his trade with the Brisbane-based Dolphins in the NRL, having spent 11 seasons with St Helens, where he made 246 appearances.
A relentless worker with a reputation for physicality, particularly in defence, Knowles also carries the ball with considerable power and has the ability to break the line. Those qualities would make him an interesting proposition were he ever tempted by a move into rugby union.
Bradman Best
Best won't be a name familiar with Welsh rugby fans but he is a force to be reckoned with in Australia's NRL, regarded by many experts as the toughest competition in either code of rugby, while he has also represented New South Wales in the State of Origin series.
The Newcastle Knights centre is an Australia international and phenomenally explosive centre who is extremely physical and has an excellent offloading game. Despite hailing from Australia, Best was asked to play rugby league for Wales, qualifying through heritage, but it never materialised.
"Yeah, it was real close," said Best in 2024 about his flirtation with the Wales team. "I agreed and everything was ready to go. But I didn't play my best for the Knights so I owed it to them to have a good pre-season so that's why I didn't get over to pull on the red jersey."
It is difficult to envisage Best leaving the NRL for Wales, and if he were to make the switch to union, the Wallabies would undoubtedly be among those competing for his services given Australia's long-standing appetite for rugby league stars. But he is precisely the kind of player the WRU should be targeting, and, more importantly, engaging with, as it looks to broaden Wales' talent pool.
Harry Hayes
The 24-year-old is the grandson of former Great Britain international Mervyn Hicks, who hails from Cross Keys. At 6ft 3 in and over 16 stone Hayes plays both prop and second-row for the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL.
He is another very explosive ball carrier who has a reputation for making big post-contact metres while he hits very hard in defence. Hayes is already a fan favourite at the Bulldogs and looks like the sort of player who could thrive in rugby union. But the NRL is the premier competition in either code, and his performances will inevitably attract plenty of suitors.
The WRU has more pressing problems to solve, but if it is serious about expanding the pool available to Tandy, players such as Hayes should be firmly on its radar.
Samuel Hughes
The 25-year-old is another powerful prop who has established himself as an important part of the Canterbury Bulldogs pack. Like so many of the NRL's leading forwards, Hughes combines relentless carries with an aggressive edge and the ability to deliver some formidable defensive hits.
He began his career on the wing before being moved into the engine room, where he has developed into a key figure for the Bulldogs. And that is perhaps the wider point: the vast majority of players capable of excelling in the NRL would have the physical attributes and skill set to make a successful transition to high-level rugby union.
Harry Smith
This is a real long shot, but Wigan Warriors half-back Smith does have Welsh heritage. The 26-year-old is, however, an England international in the 13-man code and, were he to switch to rugby union, Steve Borthwick would surely be interested in his services.
Smith possesses one of the finest kicking games in Super League, while his organisational skills and ability to read the game are among his biggest strengths. It may be a fanciful proposition, but if the WRU is serious about exploring every avenue to strengthen Tandy's player pool, there is little harm in asking. After all, if you don't ask, you don't get.
