Warren Gatland may now aim for the next Welsh player in England
Warren Gatland will likely go elsewhere than Wales for a few of Six Nations stars. Who then might be Wales’ next Will Rowlands or Nick Tompkins? Warren Gatland will be busy assembling a team. Rugby fans worldwide are called to book Six Nations 2024 tickets from our online platform ticketing. co. Rugby fans can book Wales Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
He believes can not only compete shortly but also lead Wales to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027, with the Six Nations tournament starting in just nine weeks.
The New Zealander has already made it very clear that, as a few veteran players near the end of their careers. He will give youth a chance over the next several years. As Gatland has constantly pointed out. Wales’ talent pool is smaller than that of most other Tier One countries, therefore he might need to come up with unconventional ideas.
Warren Gatland may rely mostly on the Exiles program run by the Welsh Rugby Union to bolster Wales’ talent pool. When he chose English-based Welsh-qualified players like Will Rowlands and Nick Tompkins for the 2020 Wales national team, former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac caused some controversy. Meanwhile, Gatland unexpectedly included former England professional Henry Thomas in his World Cup roster.
It remains to be seen if there will be any similar surprises this time around, but Warren Gatland may be closely monitoring rugby writer Steffan Thomas, who has the inside track on Welsh-qualified players who are based outside of Wales.
Archie Griffin
The Sydney-born prop actor, 18, moved to Singapore when he was twelve years old, after leaving Australia. After moving to the UK with his parents, he studied at Wiltshire’s Marlborough College until Bath noticed him at a Legends rugby camp staffed by players like Austin Healey and Martin Johnson.
The tighthead prop has made multiple appearances for the Wales U18s after going through their Exiles program. His physical attributes, including strength, destructive power, and hard-hitting tackles in the loose, along with his technical skill and body form to pack down in the scrum, enabled Bath U18s to finish one of their greatest seasons ever last season.
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When he advances to a professional academy player next term, the player who has been noticed by Bath since he was 13 can’t wait to pick up tips from a few seasoned Wales and Lions players. With a deficiency of strength behind Tomas Francis, who is now playing for PRO D2 team Provence Rugby, tighthead props are not a particularly strong position in Wales.
Other options for Warren Gatland
Along with Kieran Assiratti, Harri O’Connor, and Lloyd Fairbrother, Gatland will also have options in the form of Montpellier’s Henry Thomas and new Harlequins acquisition Dillon Lewis. Archie Griffin, the tighthead from Bath, is one name that hasn’t come up much in conversations. The 22-year-old has Welsh qualifications and he has even played age-grade for Wales.
After going through the ranks and initially enrolling in the Bath academy at the age of 13, Griffin has now made his way into the matchday squad. Griffin has looked extremely strong at the scrum and has made some amazing appearances for Bath off the bench. Griffin, who is 6 feet 3 inches and weighs about twenty stone, needs to be properly examined. Because Gatland does not have many good scrummer tight ends at his disposal.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Although he is also eligible to play for England, the Exeter Chiefs wing is allegedly on Gatland’s radar and a strong candidate to join Wales’ Six Nations team. Rob Baxter, the director of rugby at Exeter, has had to rely on youth as a number of prominent players have moved on to pursue opportunities elsewhere, leaving the team in a state of transition.
One of the Chiefs’ players who has truly stood out in the early going of the Gallagher Premiership season is Feyi-Waboso. The 20-year-old flank, who is also capable of playing center. He is quickly making a name for himself as one of the English game’s most lethal finishers.
Feyi-Waboso first juggled his rugby commitments with his academic studies at Bristol’s Clifton College before signing his first senior deal with Cardiff back in December 2021. But after being turned down for a spot at Cardiff University. He moved to Aston University, where he eventually connected with the senior Wasps program.
He was taken up by Exeter following Wasps’ collapse, and he’s currently having a significant influence at Sandy Park. Wales have plenty of quality at the wing position, having at their disposal players like Josh Adams, Rio Dyer, and Louis Rees-Zammit.
However, Gatland might have to switch Adams, Rees-Zammit, or Dyer to the number 15 jersey. Since Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny are no longer available. Feyi-Waboso appears to have all the necessary skills to succeed in Test rugby. The fact that he is eligible for England means that his inclusion in Gatland’s team in February wouldn’t come as a surprise.
Cameron Hanekom
With a man-of-the-match performance in his debut for the senior team against the Scarlets last month. The Blue Bulls No. 8 has had a significant impact on the United Rugby Championship’s opening stages. It would be surprising if South Africa didn’t make an effort to hang on to Hanekom. A 21-year-old who served South Africa at the age-grade level despite having Welsh qualifications.
Wales would be quite surprised if the Bulls man wasn’t being closely watched. Big, athletic, and explosive ball carrier loose forwards are hard to come by in Welsh rugby. Without a doubt, Gatland will be looking for a long-term replacement as Taulupe Faletau enters the last phase of his career. With limited senior-level experience, Hanekom is a little rough around the edges.
But his quick ball-carrying and raw physicality are huge assets that could help him reach great heights. The Springboks have incredible depth in the back row. So even though Hanekom might prefer to play for South Africa, joining Wales would speed up his path to the international game. While it is unlikely, stranger things have happened, he is definitely a better option for Wales’ summer tour to Australia.
Iwan Stephens
The 21-year-old winger is the child of senior Wales outside-half Colin Stephens. He is most known for having booted Llanelli to a 1992 victory over Australia at Stradey Park. Stephens was also a former England U20 international. Even though Stephens has age-grade experience representing England, his father clearly qualifies him for Wales.
Stephens is one of the most potent offensive players in the Gallagher Premiership and a regular starter for Newcastle. The elusive wing is a lethal one with a lightning pace and devious technique that can conjure something out of nothing.
Stephens still needs to improve his positional and aerial play, though, since he is far from perfect. On the other hand, if he hasn’t already. He is an exciting talent with a very high ceiling who might soon catch Wales’ attention.
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