The Welsh Rugby Union has recently appointed Gareth Davies as the National Exiles Manager and he has implemented an increased talent identification and development programme in order to improve links with quality, Welsh-qualified players based outside Wales and prepare them for international rugby.
There have already been two skills and assessment days at the National Centre of Excellence for selected Welsh Exiles Under 16 and Under 18s, including fitness testing and skills coaching with the three Welsh Rugby Union international skills coaches.
There is a new registration process for all current and Welsh Exiles players which will provide a more efficient system to track the development of players based outside of Wales.
There are also enhanced links to Welsh Universities for those who become part of the Welsh pathway.
Gareth Davies said, “We are always looking for talented rugby players who are Welsh qualified, either by birth; parents or grandparents or, in certain circumstances, residency. This includes ‘elite’ professional and semi-professional players playing first class senior rugby outside of Wales .
“We have run a successful identification and assessment programme for the under 16s age group, and playing this fixture against Llandovery College, one of the most competitive and prestigious rugby schools in Wales, is a significant opportunity for the players and will give us a good benchmark to see if there is a place for some of the players to be part of the Welsh Schools Under 16 programme for this season. Also it will assist us to track their development to continue to be part of the Welsh pathway for future age groups and beyond.
“Monitoring players based outside Wales is really difficult so we are also on the hunt for a network of volunteer Welsh Exiles Liaison Officers in each of the other home unions and beyond to be our eyes and ears on the ground,” added Davies. “They will also assist with player identification, recruitment and development and to raise the profile of the ‘Welsh Exiles’ programme in their area”.
Davies is also working closely with the professional Welsh Regions, identifying Welsh-qualified talent outside of Wales that might be available and of interest to them.
Later this year there will also be a skills and assessment day for Welsh qualified girls in England.
CLICK HERE to register as a player with the WRU Exiles programme
CLICK HERE For the latest information about the Exiles
For anyone based outside Wales who like to be considered as a Welsh Exiles Liaison Officer please contact the WRU National Exiles Manager, Gareth Davies, at welshexiles@wru.wales
