Wales hope for full English
WALES will havefingers crossed over the involvement of their English-based contingent this weekend ahead of the big Six Nations kick-off.
The Premiership’s return means stand-off Dan Biggar will play for Northampton at Gloucester today and prop Tomas Francis will pack down for Exeter at Worcester, with second-row Will Rowlands starting for Wasps against Harlequins tomorrow. Providing they come through unscathed, the trio will join up with Wales ahead of their first game against Ireland tomorrow week.
Scotland also have key men starting for the Chiefs at Sixways in captain Stuart Hogg and second-row Jonny Gray as well as back-row Gary Graham, who will be in action for Newcastle at London Irish tomorrow. Both nations had hoped the Premiership clubs might allow players to remain with their international teams – as they do with England – because of the Covid-19 situation.
“Dan, under regulation nine, is available to play for us against Gloucester at the weekend,” said Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd.
“Our games against Exeter and Harlequins are fallow weeks for the Six Nations so he’ll be available for those games also.”