At the end of a disastrous year for the senior Wales men's team, the only positivity floating around Welsh rugby is the hope that the next generation of player can breathe some life into the game.

Those within the upper echelons of Welsh rugby are quietly confident the current crop of Wales U18s players are of a higher quality than has been produced for quite some time. But many of them are based in England and are very highly regarded the other side of the Severn Bridge.

Over the next couple of seasons there will almost certainly be a plethora of young Welsh players graduating into the first teams of English clubs. Rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas runs the rule over a host of Welsh players who have the potential to become household names in the Gallagher Premiership.

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Deian Gwynne

The 18-year-old was originally a part of the Scarlets academy before opting to leave west Wales for Hartpury and the Gloucester academy. Gwynne hails from Ceredigion and played his junior rugby for Aberystwyth, while he has also represented Wales U18s.

The backrower is a powerful ball carrier who has been consistently getting over the gainline at age-grade level. Gwynne recently made his senior debut for Gloucester in the Premiership Rugby Cup and impressed director of rugby George Skivington.

"We know we've got a couple of 18-year-olds in Deian (Gwynne) and Caio (James), who are really exciting," Skivington said. Gwynne is clearly highly rated at Kingsholm and it would be a surprise if he did not make his Gallagher Premiership debut over the next couple of seasons.

Caio James

James is an abrasive backrower who hails from Newcastle Emlyn. Initially James looked destined for a career in professional football and was a member of the Swansea City academy but instead chose rugby.

At 5ft 9in and 14st 6lbs, James is admittedly on the small side as far as backrowers go but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in skill and dynamism. James' point of difference is his work at the breakdown and his ability to win penalties and turnover ball.

Like his fellow west Walian Gwynne, James made his Gloucester debut in the Premiership Rugby Cup this season and looks set for a big future with the Cherry & Whites, while a Wales U18s call-up is likely this season.

Luke Evans

The former Llanharan RFC second-row initially represented Wales at U18s level before swapping allegiance to England after joining the Exeter Chiefs academy. Evans has the size and the power to succeed as a professional with his work in the lineout and his carrying big plus points.

Even though Evans has represented England, Wales should be keeping tabs on him and fostering a relationship so that he represents the land of his birth at senior Test level should he prove himself good enough. Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter has a strong reputation of nurturing players, so Evans is in good hands.

There is a significant lack of size throughout Welsh rugby and Wales can't afford to lose someone of Evans' physical and athletic ability.

Sam Scott

The Wales U20s tighthead is very highly rated by the senior Wales coaches who believe he has a bright future in the game. Scott is currently a member of the Bristol Bears academy, having previously been involved with Wasps before the famous English club went bust.

The 19-year-old is a very powerful and technically strong scrummager who gets through a fair share of work around the field, especially defensively. Tighthead prop is not an area of strength in Wales so Warren Gatland will be keen to fast track his development.

Expect to see Scott break into the Bristol matchday 23 over the next couple of seasons.

Louie Hennessey

The talented Wales U20s centre has long been tipped as an international star of the future. Hennessey was outstanding for Wales U20s out in South Africa this summer and was among the very best players in the entire competition.

The 20-year-old has the size and the power to make it as an international, but his point of difference is his offloading game which is very similar to All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams. Hennessey, who is capable of playing 12 or 13, can easily get his side over the gainline but he also has the pace and the skillset to open up defences in other ways.

The youngster has impressed in Bath's Premiership Cup team of late and after signing a new long-term deal with the West Country giants it is a matter of when, not if, he becomes a regular starter.