France - the Fifth Region

All the talk of Welsh players going to France has upset the regional fans. However, despite Gatlands law and despite the availability issues I think we should treat France as the fifth region.

Logic.

With four regions in Wales the opportunity for players in specialist positions is limited. Only four scrum halves can be getting regular enough rugby. If two of them are not Wales qualified, the Welsh team has a choice of two regular starters. If however a quality Welsh scrum half were to move to play in France another Welsh scrum half has the chance to step up earlier in his career than would otherwise be the case.

Our record in Paris is such that familiarisation with French internationals in the context of their domestic game can not be a bad thing.

What is better, paying a lot more to international players at their peak to keep them here, but lose young talent to English clubs

OR

Let the French sugar daddies build up those players' pension pots and get more youngsters playing regional rugby.

Finally, I think it's an issue of confidence. The Scarlets ate not some visionaries who have developed players for the sake of the National team, they were almost bust and if they were going to pay for an academy, tgey may as well use it. The players that came through were widely lauded at the WC. A few years ago tgey would be playing in the Premiership whilst an ageing All Black one cap wonder was taking their place.

If necessity is the mother of invention, you have to use the resulting invention. In this case hone grown talent.

The fans will moan, but if coaches complain they should be told in no uncertain terms that they are paid to work out how to win matches with the teams that they have.

Like Sale used to be?

They wouldn't pick them from Sale would they. You can't tell me that he won't pick three of his best front five if the go to play in France, Gatlands law would be bent then, guaranteed.

So long as the places vacated are filled by the next model in the Welsh pipeline, then it makes absolute sense.

Ospreys allowed Phillips and Byrne to leave without much (any) fight, but it has meant younger welsh guys now get experience, while if anything Ospreys look stronger this season.

Agreed. Rhys Webb has come from bit part player behind Phillips to an impressive young general for the team. They have a Samoan scrum half, but Webb seems to have kept his starting berth. The odd SH player to cause a bit of healthy competition and bring a fresh attitude isn't bad I suppose, but as with everything, there's a balance.

LondonTiger wrote:So long as the places vacated are filled by the next model in the Welsh pipeline, then it makes absolute sense.

Ospreys allowed Phillips and Byrne to leave without much (any) fight, but it has meant younger welsh guys now get experience, while if anything Ospreys look stronger this season.

Phillips was replaced by a Samoan. Not sure how that helps the National cause....?

Glas a du wrote:All the talk of Welsh players going to France has upset the regional fans.

It hasn't upset me. It needs to be talked about constantly in the press until our disgraceful union do something about it.