Anscombe Issues Wales Warning

Gareth Anscombe says the crisis in regional rugby has lead to many Wales players considering a move to either England or France.

The international game in Wales is on a high after clinching the Grand Slam on Saturday with victory over Ireland, Anscombe playing a pivotal role at fly-half in that success.

However, the entire Six Nations campaign has been played against a back drop of uncertainty in the domestic game with the Wales Rugby Union failing to push through plans to merge Ospreys and Scarlets.

Numerous players are also in the dark as regards their futures at the four regional teams, although Scarlets have tied international trio Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens and Rob Evans to new deals this week.

Players who do take their club careers away from Wales risk becoming ineligible for the international squad due to the WRU’s 60-cap rule, with scrum-half Rhys Webb having fallen foul of that after he joined Toulon.

Anscombe, who is wanted by Premiership duo Harlequins and Bath, would also be ineligible were he to decide to move when his contract at Cardiff Blues expires at the end of the season.

Anscombe has now revealed that several members of the Grand Slam-winning squad are considering leaving Wales due to the high levels of uncertainty in the hope they can safeguard their financial futures elsewhere, believing they have been let down by the regions. “We’ve only got a 10-year window to really look after ourselves, and I guess the important thing is you don’t want to look back with any regrets,” said Anscombe. “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 are a world-class team and we deserve to be where we are.

We’re not far off beating anyone, we are number two in the world now, so hopefully that gets reciprocated both ways. “Players have been let down a bit when you look at results we have provided them.”