Over the border, but under the radar...? The Welsh-qualified players who could get shock Test call
WARREN Gatland certainly has history for pulling Welshqualified rabbits out of his hat during squad announcements.
The first year of his reign in 2008 saw Warren Fury plucked from London Irish obscurity for a two-Test tour of South Africa.
And the bolts from the blue continued to come thick and fast, with the likes of Lloyd Burns, Adam Warren, Tomas Francis and Olly Kohn adding to the selection bombshells.
In the autumn, it was Leicester Tigers back Jonah Holmes, who left the media open-mouthed at the squad announcement.
So, with Gatland next week poised to name the final Six Nations Championship squad of his 12-year Welsh reign will we see another shock?
If so, here’s the names most likely to emerge...
WILLGRIFF JOHN (SALE SHARKS)
HAS all the attributes to be a smash hit on the Test scene.
The slab of Plymouth rock tips the scales at 20st 7lb and takes the tape measure all the way out to 6ft 3in.
Has been a revelation in the Sale front-row this term with the tighthead prop playing 16 times for the Sharks and earning a reputation for his work at the breakdown, solid scrummaging and hefty horsepower in lineout drives.
Raised in Ferndale, the Wales Under-20 international began his career with Pontypridd and went on to play for Cardiff Blues and then had a spell playing in New Zealand.
Went to Doncaster Knights in 2014 and joined Sale in the summer of 2017. So highly thought of at the Sharks, he’s penned a deal to keep him in Salford until 2021.
Capped by Wales at all age grade levels from under-16 to under-20s.
HARRY RANDALL (BRISTOL BEARS)
THE Welsh No.9 jersey is beginning to look a little more threadbare than it’s been in years gone by.
And Randall would be tailor-made to provide a little more competition at Test level after an outstanding start to his Gallagher Premiership career at Ashton Gate.
Despite a star-studded squad of All Blacks, an Irish international and Pacific Islanders, it’s Amman Valleyraised Randall who is setting pulses racing.
His darting runs, clever kicking and astute reading of the game makes him a player Welsh rugby would love to have back on board.
Randall was born in Slough to English parents, but grew up in Wales from the age of four. He captained Wales U16s while he was at Llandovery College and part of the Scarlets Academy, going on to represent the U18s, before switching allegiance.
Has played scrum-half for England’s U20s, scoring a try against Wales at Colwyn Bay in February, 2017.
He’s in the first year of a 24-month contract with the Bears having joined from west country rivals Gloucester last summer.
And, though having moved away from Wales in recent times, his 10-year plus stay in the Amman Valley, still qualifies him on residency grounds.
JOE MARCHANT (HARLEQUINS)
THE Twickenham Stoop centre is the scorer of some spectacular tries, with his touchdown against Saracens this season, as spellbinding a score you’re ever likely to see.
In the past, the Winchester-born 22-year-old has reportedly been on a five-strong Welsh hit-list of players plying their trade in England.
Though coming from Hampshire, Marchant is reported to have a Welsh family background and would become eligible for Gatland’s team straight away. He’s already been included in Eddie Jones’ Elite Player Squad, but not capped.
The midfielder, who trained with England for their autumn clash with the All Blacks, has a fully paid-up member of his fan club in Jamie Roberts after the Wales and Lions centre partnered him at Quins, before joining Bath in the summer.
SEAN LONSDALE (EXETER CHIEFS)
THE WRU and RGC battled hard to try and keep the rookie lock in this country after helping 1404 make it to the Principality Premiership in 2016, at the age of 18.
But, by then, shrewd Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter had spotted the potential in the Manchester-born second-row, who has Welsh parentage, and took him to Sandy Park.
His development stalled for a time as a loan spell with Cornish Pirates didn’t go swimmingly, but moving on to Plymouth Albion, the Colwyn Bay schoolboy was regularly top of their class.
Working in and around the Chiefs first-team squad on a regular basis has been hugely beneficial for Lonsdale’s development and this season he has showcased what a blossoming talent he can be moving forward.