A new World Rugby rule may allow England to recruit Welsh players, raising fears among Welsh rugby officials about losing young talent.
Cardiff: There’s a bit of a stir in Welsh rugby right now. A recent change in World Rugby’s eligibility rules has got everyone talking. The worry is that England might start poaching some of our young talent.
This new rule, which came into play back in August, has made it easier for players to qualify for a national team. Instead of needing to live in a country for five years straight, they now just need to register with a rugby body in that country for 60 months. This means players can still travel during that time.
Take Kepueli Tuipulotu, for example. He’s a promising young hooker from Pontypool, and his family has ties to Welsh rugby. But he’s already signed with Bath and has played for England’s U18s. The Welsh Rugby Union is really hoping to convince him to stick with Wales, but it’s a tough sell.
Before this rule change, Tuipulotu would have had to wait a long time to qualify for England. Now, it seems like that waiting period could be shorter, which is a bit of a blow for Wales.
And it’s not just Tuipulotu. There are other players in a similar boat. Max Nagy, an Ospreys full-back, has been working hard to prove he’s Welsh-qualified. He’s been trying to show he’s financially independent while studying at Swansea University, and it looks like he might finally get there.
Welsh rugby is really feeling the pressure to keep its young stars from heading to English schools. Cardiff has even brought in a new coach to help strengthen their youth programs. It’s a constant battle, but they’re determined to keep their talent at home.