Anscombe dampens joy by threatening... WELSH EXODUS
‘I’d love to keep playing for Wales, but I’ve got a decision to make’
GRAND SLAM hero Gareth Anscombe has, by his own admission, a lovehate relationship with Welsh fans so perhaps has less to lose than most in the popularity stakes when he throws ultimatums about regarding the state of the game in Wales.
As such the New Zealand-born fly-half was quick to dampen the Six Nations joy by firing a warning to Welsh rugby: sort out the regional chaos or risk an exodus of the Grand Slam heroes to English clubs.
The issue threatened to derail Wales’s Championship clean sweep, as talk of mergers, limiting pay bands and uncertainty over contracts wrought havoc behind the scenes.
And the Cardiff Blues man, who has sparked Premiership interest as his deal runs out in the summer, said Wales’s winners have considered jumping ship if they are not paid properly. At present if players with fewer than 60 caps leave Wales they cannot play for the national side, but Anscombe, with 26, warned of a flight to England or France if the regions do not pay up for ‘world-class’ players.
‘It has made all the boys think about that,’ said Anscombe, who won man of the match in the final game against Ireland having kicked 20 points.
‘We all want to play for Wales — there is no doubt about that — but players need to be treated well and we deserve to be.
‘ We’ve only got a 10- year window to look after ourselves. You don’t want to look back with any regrets. At times when they try and pigeonhole you into something it’s a bit frustrating.
‘Hopefully we can put this mess behind us and focus on this (the Grand Slam) which we should all be really excited about.
‘We’re a world- class team and we deserve to be where we are. We’re not far off beating anyone, we’re No 2 in the world now, so hopefully that gets reciprocated. We’ve given the union something to be proud about and hopefully the union and the regions come together and sort out the best deals for the players because that’s important.
‘We are doing a hell of a lot for the team and the country so we should be looked after. As players we deserve to get the best deals possible.I’d love to keep playing for Wales but I’ve got a decision to make.’
Anscombe played for New Zealand Under 20s before converting to Wales in 2015, qualifying thanks to his Welsh mother who named him after the legendary Sir Gareth Edwards.
Since arriving in Wales he has been the subject of abuse from Twitter trolls over who should wear the No 10 shirt. And fuel was added to the fire following a picture being taken of him in an England shirt. After beating the Red Rose in this year’s Six Nations, Anscombe’s fiancée posted a picture of the couple.
Anscombe, 27, had swapped shirts with opposite number Owen Farrell and was wearing the England jersey in the picture, bringing savage criticism from some keyboard warriors. But the playmaker hopes his recent performances silence them.
And while the fly-half’s next move is still unknown, yesterday four Grand Slam heroes sorted their futures. Ken Owens, Jonathan Davies and Rob Evans all signed fresh deals with the Scarlets, and Cardiff Blues revealed Worcester wing Josh Adams will join next season.
A positive step for Wales, but Anscombe knows regardless of the deal he signs in the summer he will likely always have to contend with some negative backlash from the Welsh public.
‘I will probably never be the darling boy of Welsh rugby and that’s fine by me,’ he added.
‘As long as people see I try my best, hopefully that will improve in the years to come.
‘ The boys know how fickle Welsh rugby is. I have a good couple of mates who have gone through it and left. This is the life we live now.
‘ My family has always been tremendous, my fiancée is always there to help me. I am sure I am going to have days where people will criticise again.
‘I am not the first and won’t be the last. It is the way that social media works these days, particularly on Twitter. People have opinions that are negative.
‘I have said all along it’s more important to me what the team think than what they think.
‘I am a bit older and have got better at not sweating over those things. It’s been difficult. I won’t be able to change everyone. I will keep my head down and let my rugby do the talking.’
When he was presented with the man-of-the-match trophy after Wales’s 25- 7 win to seal the Slam, the ground roared their approval. And now Anscombe wants to repay those who have backed him. ‘I have had a lovehate relationship with the supporters for some reason,’ he said.
‘But that (reception) was nice. There is a consensus in the rugby public that they don’t rate us. That suits us down to the ground.
‘We believe we can go to Japan and ruffle a few feathers.’