There have been calls for the Welsh Rugby Union to pour more resources into its Exiles programme, especially in the wake of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s decision to represent England.
It is no secret Wales has a small player pool and should be scouring the globe for Welsh-qualified players. The recent narrative has centred around backing youth and developing players with the long-term goal of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
With this in mind it would be a surprise if Warren Gatland hasn’t been looking beyond Wales’ borders for players. WalesOnline take a look at five Welsh-qualified players worth keeping a close eye on.
Bradman Best
This is a left-field choice and to call it a long shot would be an understatement but other tier one nations have previously turned to rugby league. 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 22-year-old plies his trade for the Newcastle Knights and is a 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.
There have been many big-name players from the 13-man code who have made the switch to union with varying degrees of success. Former All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams and England Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson are two of the best-known success stories, while the likes of Sam Burgess and Benji Marshall couldn’t quite make a dent.
It would probably take a huge offer to prise Best away from the NRL, but given the shallow playing pool in Wales they could do worse than make an approach.
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Cameron Hanekom
The 21-year-old backrower has been in tremendous form for the Bulls this season and will only get better over the coming seasons should he stay relatively injury-free. Born and raised in South African Hanekom qualifies for Wales courtesy of his grandmother.
Unfortunately for Wales Hanekom was recently named in the Springboks alignment camp and it seems his primary goal is to represent the country of his birth. It’s a real shame for Wales because Hanekom offers something different and is a destructive ball-carrying No 8 which is something that is in short supply in the land of his grandmother.
But South Africa have an embarrassment of riches in the backrow and even if he does get capped in the near future he could potentially switch his allegiance to Wales further down the line.
Josh Hathaway
It would be a surprise if Gloucester speedster Hathaway wasn’t in contention for Wales’ summer tour of Australia given his form in the English Premiership. The 20-year-old hails from Aberystwyth and represented Wales U20s before changing his allegiance to England U20s.
Hathaway, who can play wing and full-back, has scored seven tries in 16 appearances for Gloucester this season and has bags of pace. He is also strong under the high ball and while his defence remains a work in progress he is a player with genuine X-factor who can beat defenders.
Wales have been scarred by Feyi-Waboso’s decision to represent England over the country of his birth and won’t want Hathaway to go down the same path.
Regan Grace
Grace was a revelation for St Helens in the 13-man code, winning three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup with the Saints.
The man from Port Talbot was one of the deadliest finishers in the rugby league world with his devastating pace and outrageous footwork not too dissimilar to Wales union great Shane Williams in his pomp. But after signing for French giants Racing 92 Grace ruptured his Achilles and was unable to make a single appearance for the Parisians.
Bath have taken a punt on the wing, and while there are question marks over his fitness, what is not in doubt is his natural talent. This summer’s tour of Australia has probably come too early for Grace, who also qualifies for England, but if he can get a run of games under his belt it would be a surprise if Wales didn’t at least take a look at him.
Blair Murray
The 22-year-old Canterbury speedster, who can play in the back-three as well as outside-half, has been on the Welsh Rugby Union’s exile programme for quite some time. Murray, who is a New Zealand Schools international, has electric footwork and pace to burn but he is on the small side at 5ft 8ins and 75kg.
He qualifies for Wales courtesy of his mother and while it is unclear how high his ceiling is he’d be worth a punt for one of the Welsh regions provided the price is right.
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