Advertisement

The exciting Welsh rugby talents in England being targeted for a return to Wales

-Credit:Getty Images
-Credit:Getty Images


Recently, senior figures from the Welsh Rugby Union have been vocal about their plans to bolster Wales' four professional clubs – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets. At the heart of these proposals is a strategy to bring some of Welsh rugby's brightest young prospects back home from English clubs.

The focus isn’t just on high-profile internationals like Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Tommy Reffell, but also on emerging talents from the development pathways who may not yet be household names.

For years, Wales' professional clubs have struggled to hold onto their top talent, with many young players opting for scholarships at English fee-paying schools. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas takes a look at some of the young talent the Welsh clubs are hoping to bring back to Wales.

READ MORE: Gethin Jenkins says Warren Gatland's successor must be 'in the country putting hours in'

READ MORE: Less will have to be more for Wales again as Matt Sherratt faces new challenges

Kane James

Exeter Chiefs backrower James is someone Wales would like to have in their system but the 19-year-old also qualifies for England and New Zealand but is originally from Haverfordwest. James has opted to represent England U20s, playing a key role in winning the U20 Six Nations last season and the World Rugby U20 Championship.

But he is not yet lost to Wales and the WRU are very keen to see James represent the land of his birth at senior international level. James is an explosive carrier with x-factor while his offloading and physicality is a real point of difference.

Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby

Wales missed out on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Kepu Tuipulotu and Tom Lockett to England but will be desperate to reverse that trend with James.

Sam Scott

The 19-year-old is very highly regarded by those within the upper echelons of Welsh rugby and was seriously considered for a place on last summer's senior tour of Australia. In the end the Wales coaches came to the conclusion the U20s World Championship would be better for his development.

The Llantwit Fardre RFC product is currently a member of the Bristol Bears academy and big things are expected of Scott who was outstanding in Wales U20s' hard-fought 20-12 victory over Ireland U20s at Rodney Parade last Friday night.

Quality tighthead props are in short supply in Wales but Scott ticks a lot of boxes. He is a technically strong scrummager who gets through a huge amount of work around the park.

Scott is a dynamic carrier who is also a jackal threat at the breakdown. The WRU are keen to see Scott ply his trade at one of Wales' four professional clubs.

In truth all four should be interested given the scarcity of destructive scrummaging tightheads in Wales.

Ioan Emanuel

The powerful loosehead is the brother of Cardiff and Wales U20s centre Steffan Emanuel who recently made the move back across the Severn Bridge from Bath. Unlike his brother Emanuel has opted to stay at Bath for now but will surely be on Cardiff's radar, while the Dragons could also do with him.

Emanuel is a strong scrummager and an explosive carrier capable of making significant post-contact metres. He is also strong at the breakdown and has good distribution skills.

It would be a surprise if he did not go on to represent Wales at senior level in the future.

Louie Trevett

Wales have struggled for destructive scrummaging props over the past decade but there are quite a few within the pathway who have the potential to fix this problem in the future. Louie Trevett is one of those.

The 19-year-old represented England at U18s level but has switched his allegiance over to the country of his birth. Trevett has scrummaged very well so far in the U20s Six Nations while he has also got through a lot of work in defence and is highly thought of at his club Bristol Bears.

All four of Wales' professional clubs would likely be keen to take a look at Trevett when his contract at Bristol comes up for renewal.

Jonny Green

The 20-year-old graduated from the Wales U20s programme last season and is currently plying his trade for English giants Harlequins. Green, who originally hails from Haywards Heath in West Sussex, qualifies for Wales courtesy of his mother's side of the family who all hail from west Wales.

Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free

Green has been playing regularly for London Scottish in the English Championship and is on the radar of at least a couple of Welsh clubs. Big physical second-rows who can combine athleticism with explosive power are in short supply in Wales, but Green is somebody who has the raw materials to make it at senior international level in the future.

Luke Evans

The 18-year-old second-row is a player the pathway coaches are getting very excited about. Initially Evans represented England U18s but has decided to swap back to Wales U20s and came off the bench in the dramatic victory over Ireland at Rodney Parade last Friday night.

Evans qualifies for both England and Wales and while representing Wales U20s does not tie him to the country of his birth it is still a big win for the WRU. At 6ft 8in Evans has the size to make a real impact and is the exact profile of second-row which is in short supply in Wales.

Evans is an excellent lineout forward and a powerful carrier, while his work rate and physicality in defence is also a positive aspect of his game. He is currently contracted to Exeter Chiefs but all four of Wales' professional clubs will surely be interested in acquiring his services in the long-run.

Kenzie Jenkins

The 19-year-old has impressed for Wales U20s over the three opening rounds of the Six Nations. Jenkins is an athletic lock who is excellent at the lineout while he is also a strong carrier who excels both in the tight and the wide channels.

He is currently a member of the Bristol Bears academy but is attracting interest from the Welsh clubs. There is a real emphasis in Wales of developing more physical and athletic forwards who can carry.

Jenkins is one who fits the bill.

Harry Beddall

The 20-year-old is the current Wales U20s captain and was magnificent in the victory over Ireland U20s last Friday where he put in a phenomenal 34 tackles. Beddall is originally from Cardiff but is a member of the Leicester Tigers academy.

The all-action openside is cut from the same cloth as his Tigers team-mate Reffell in that he is an out-and-out seven who is extremely effective at winning turnovers at the breakdown. Openside flanker is a position of strength in Welsh rugby but Beddall is attracting interest from back home in Wales.

Aidan Boshoff

The 19-year-old wing is very highly rated by the Wales U20s management. Boshoff was brought up in South Africa but is from Abergavenny.

He is a part of the Bristol Bears academy and has already figured for the senior side in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Boshoff has a huge work rate and is very physical for a wing.

Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here

He has bags of pace while he is also strong defensively and under the high ball.

Osian Roberts

The Wales U20s centre has been quietly effective over the opening three rounds of the U20s Six Nations. Roberts hails from Cardiff originally but is now a member of the Sale Sharks academy.

The 19-year-old reads the game well both in attack and defence while his distribution is also effective. Roberts will also be a player who will interest Wales' four professional clubs.