Following last year’s successful WRU Exiles programme, which has seen players join the WRU international age grade pathway, the training days will take place at Trent College, London Welsh RFC and Bridgwater & Albion RFC at the end of the month (Feb 20, 21 and 22). A team of WRU coaches will run the sessions for WRU Exiles registered players aged between 13 and 18 who live or are in school OUTSIDE Wales. Players must register with the Exiles by February 19 and will then be contacted by email regarding the camps.
Click here to register with the WRU Exiles programme and to receive more information about the camps: www.wru.wales/exiles
There has been a 74% increase in teenagers registered with WRU Exiles in the last two years with a number of Exiles players now featuring for Wales U20 or training with Wales U18.
The WRU Exiles programme, established in 1990, sets out to identify, monitor and develop a network of young, Welsh-qualified boys and girls based outside Wales.
The one day camps, where players benefit from the expertise of some of the best coaching in Wales, and other events provide not only a potential route to be part of the WRU international age grade pathway but a way of keeping Welsh families based outside Wales within the Welsh Rugby family.
There are currently 12 WRU Exiles players training with the Wales U18 wider squad and others in the Wales U20 Six Nations squad, many of whom have taken part in one-day Exiles camps, training days and matches in the past.
“There are now more than 1000 young players in the Exiles programme and rather than invite them all to Wales it makes more sense to arrange events which are more local to them,” said WRU Exiles officer Gareth Davies.
“The Exiles programme has produced a number of players who are featuring in the current Wales U18 and U20 squads and there are two playing in the World Sevens. Others have recently signed regional contracts and this all demonstrates that the Exiles pathway provides excellent opportunities for young and ambitious Welsh qualified boys who are based outside Wales and have aspirations to play regional and national rugby in Wales. The Exiles programme also has very strong links with universities in Wales where players can combine their rugby development with their academic progress whilst remaining in the WRU pathway.”
More than 300 players took part in the training camps last February, with WRU CEO Martyn Phillips keen to grow the initiative. He said, “We want to connect with Welsh families living outside Wales, many of whom are active members of their local rugby club. We are a small nation so our focus is on providing quality within our coaching, our pathway and events like these one-day camps. The youngsters involved have every right to play for Wales if they are good enough and by providing these opportunities, we’re ensuring they have that option.”
The WRU has recently appointed former Wales and Ospreys back row Andy Lloyd to its Exiles department. He will concentrate on recruitment of ‘elite’ senior Exiles who are currently based outside Wales, in the UK and overseas, and will work closely with the four Welsh regions.
WRU National Exiles Officer, Gareth Davies said: “Andy has a huge amount of experience both in developing young players and in dealing with the monitoring and recruitment of senior elite players. He will be a huge asset to the Exiles programme.”
New Exiles players can register here: www.wru.wales/exiles
