How many of the 1st XV will have a contract come 2015 RWC

I know this has been done over and over, ie player exodus, but with JD announcing his departure, and Ian Evans close to signing for Toulon (if ESPN can be believed), what does the first choice Welsh line up look like… assuming all fit of course.
 
Now I know there will be debate on whether this is the 1st choice side or not, but with so many Lions there, I don't think it would differ greatly if everyone was fit...
 
1 Gethin Jenkins (Blues – signed 2 year contract 2013 [exp 2015])
2 Hibbard (Ospreys – signed 5 year deal in 2010 [exp 2015])
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys – signed 2 years 2012 [exp 2014])
4 Alun Wynn Jones (Ospreys – again out of contract this season)
5 Ian Evans (Ospreys – but not for long with Toulon knocking the door and out of contract this season)
6 Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)
7 Sam Warburton (Blues - Out of contract at the end of season)
8 Toby Faletau (Dragons – signed extension till 2016)
9 Mike Phillips (St Mary Street McDonalds first XV – but not under contract)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys – signed extension until 2016) OR Preistland (but his Scarlets contract exp 2014)
11 North (Northampton)
12 Jamie Roberts (Racing)
13 JD (Scarlets but Clermont next season)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Blues, signed extension till 2015)
15 Halfpenny (Blues, but out of contract end of season)
 
So come the 2015 RWC, unless something is done sharpish, Wales will only have 2 of their 1st XV in contract and playing in Wales. Surely this is an unacceptable state to go into a World Cup…
The above is not giving much stability to the game in Wales is it… The WRU needs to act quick, I don’t think any other “top” side fields so many players who play outside their nation.

The SARU just signed long term contracts until RWC with 10 Springboks.

Willem Alberts (loose forward), Jean de Villiers (centre), Bismarck du Plessis (hooker), Jannie du Plessis (prop), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Tendai Mtawarira (prop), Frans Steyn (utility back), Adriaan Strauss (hooker) and Duane Vermeulen (No 8).

If they were guarenteed regular 1st team action then that would help as well, but with lydiate struggling to cement his run on shirt and Gethin warming pine at toulon last year, its a big risk going abroad, especially if your going to Toulon where however good you are there will be at least two other international quality players fighting for your shirt, with popularity winning over form when it comes to selection.

A Domiciles v Exiles match next season could be an interesting warm up to the AIs

sirtidychris wrote:If they were guarenteed regular 1st team action then that would help as well, but with lydiate struggling to cement his run on shirt and Gethin warming pine at toulon last year, its a big risk going abroad, especially if your going to Toulon where however good you are there will be at least two other international quality players fighting for your shirt, with popularity winning over form when it comes to selection.  

Aha!  A bright spark observer of the current trend.  Big Professional clubs aren't stupid.  There is method in their madness of paying big money for players who might spend most of their time on a bench (or as training field fodder for the real stars).
No1 - you get players that have proven ability (JD2 an example)
No2 - you divest another team of their players of proven abilty.

In a European context, big money sides buying players is as much to do with denying the opposition those very same players as it is about seeking to advance in competitions by using them.

I think Toulon alone are starving most of europe of star players, they genuinely could put out 2 almost 3 teams at once that would challenge. The crazy thing is A) players are still willing to sign even though they know how stacked the roster is and B) part of the reason they sign is a nice big phat pay cheque...how on earth are Toulon within the salary cap...even the french salary cap ?

Why is it unacceptable from a Welsh point of view if they are playing in Wales or not?

As long as they have got their contracts sorted and are getting regular game time for whatever club they are at then that's all that matters.

I would argue, that losing most of your stars abroad devalues the welsh clubs, less people are likely to come watch teams without the big names (i rarely watch my club live in the LV cup), they are also less likely to do well. At the moment Welsh football is thriving with more fans and youngsters moving towards football, welsh club rugby needs it's 1/2 pennys, norths, John davies, Mike Phillips, Ian Evans, Hooks to maintain the status of the game. The general sofa supporting welsh public who cheer on a successfull Wales team at international level will be more likley to grab the kids and turn up at the regional games for the first time IF the same names are wearing club shirts and the kids get an autograph or see them close up. Also when the stars are in the same country the physios can check on them all the time, the coachs can watch them easily and give them pointers on what they need to do to improve, combinations can form as well with important understanding at club level being so helpful on the international stage. Finally i would argue there is something intrinsically wrong with a system that can make these amazing rugby players but after all this finicial and time investment they are unable to keep them at their home clubs or countrys, its like the exodus of irish from home because of the knackered economy, the country educates these bright young stars then they leave and help economies all round the world because the tiger's been shot.

Tidy,

You're right it will affect the Regions but it won't or shouldn't affect the National side if all of them get their contracts sorted properly.

After all the WRU don't give a feck about the Regions anyway.

VietGwentRevisited wrote:A Domiciles v Exiles match next season could be an interesting warm up to the AIs

1. Gethin Jenkins / Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard / (? isn't there a former scarlet hooker playing in England?)
3. Adam Jones / Craig Mitchell
4. Andrew Coombes / Bradley Davies or Ian Evans
5. AWJ / Luke Charteris
6. Sam Warburton (? Ryan Jones) / Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric / ??? (?Sam Warburton)
8. Toby Faletau / Gareth Delve
9. Rhodri Jones / ?Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland / James Hook
11. Eli Walker / George North
12. Scott Williams / Jamie Roberts
13. Cory Allen / Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert / Aled Brew
15. Leigh Halfpenny (? Liam Williams) / Lee Byrne (?Leigh Halfpenny)


The exiles have the backs, and a pretty decent front 5. The home team have a lot of depth in the backrow though, and the best of the front rows.

wales606 wrote:

VietGwentRevisited wrote:A Domiciles v Exiles match next season could be an interesting warm up to the AIs

1. Gethin Jenkins / Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard / (? isn't there a former scarlet hooker playing in England?)
3. Adam Jones / Craig Mitchell
4. Andrew Coombes / Bradley Davies or Ian Evans
5. AWJ / Luke Charteris
6. Sam Warburton (? Ryan Jones) / Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric / ??? (?Sam Warburton)
8. Toby Faletau / Gareth Delve
9. Rhodri Jones / ?Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland / James Hook
11. Eli Walker / George North
12. Scott Williams / Jamie Roberts
13. Cory Allen / Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert / Aled Brew
15. Leigh Halfpenny (? Liam Williams) / Lee Byrne (?Leigh Halfpenny)


The exiles have the backs, and a pretty decent front 5. The home team have a lot of depth in the backrow though, and the best of the front rows.

Twice the chance to injure your players (especially when playing against your rival for the shirt!).

While these games would be interesting to watch I can't imagine they would ever happen these days.

Do NZ still do the probables v possibles match? I've always liked that concept.

No9 wrote:
9 Mike Phillips (St Mary Street McDonalds first XV – but not under contract)

Genius .

wales606 wrote:

VietGwentRevisited wrote:A Domiciles v Exiles match next season could be an interesting warm up to the AIs

1. Gethin Jenkins / Paul James
2. Richard Hibbard / (? isn't there a former scarlet hooker playing in England?)
3. Adam Jones / Craig Mitchell
4. Andrew Coombes / Bradley Davies or Ian Evans
5. AWJ / Luke Charteris
6. Sam Warburton (? Ryan Jones) / Dan Lydiate
7. Justin Tipuric / ??? (?Sam Warburton)
8. Toby Faletau / Gareth Delve
9. Rhodri Jones / ?Mike Phillips
10. Rhys Preistland / James Hook
11. Eli Walker / George North
12. Scott Williams / Jamie Roberts
13. Cory Allen / Jonathan Davies
14. Alex Cuthbert / Aled Brew
15. Leigh Halfpenny (? Liam Williams) / Lee Byrne (?Leigh Halfpenny)


The exiles have the backs, and a pretty decent front 5. The home team have a lot of depth in the backrow though, and the best of the front rows.

Love to see that!