Squad for the Autumn internationals

[stud muffin]

http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/37366.php#.WAYFAyTYIsE

WALES 2016 UNDER ARMOUR SERIES SQUAD
Prop
Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues) (12 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (14 Caps)
Rhys Gill (Cardiff Blues) (6 Caps)
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (126 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (28 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (3 Caps)

Hooker
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) (24 Caps)
Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues) (3 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (42 Caps)

Second Row
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (20 Caps)
Luke Charteris (Bath Rugby) (68 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (56 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (102 Caps)
Rory Thornton (Ospreys) (UNCAPPED)

Back Row
Dan Baker (Ospreys) (3 Caps)
Taulupe Faletau* (Bath Rugby) (61 Caps)
James King (Ospreys) (8 Caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (9 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (43 Caps)
Sam Warburton (CAPT) (Cardiff Blues) (67 Caps)

Scrum Half
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (17 Caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (22 Caps)
Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) (27 Caps)

Fly Half
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (8 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (48 Caps)
Sam Davies (Ospreys) (UNCAPPED)

Centre
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (56 Caps)
Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons) (3 Caps)
Jamie Roberts* (Harlequins) (83 Caps)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (38 Caps)

Wing/Full Back
Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons) (10 Caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) (42 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon) (62 Caps)
George North* (Northampton Saints) (62 Caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets) (35 Caps)

[stud muffin]

Falatau is in, though I think He's a great player, if He's not fit why rush him back? I would rather let him recover and get back to full fitness

Taulupe is still in his rehab process and has been working closely with Bath. We hope he will be available in the later part of the campaign, but his experience will be vitally important to have around the squad.

Not surprised to seed Sam Davies in, he's been playing very well for the O's

It is great to give the opportunity to players who are playing well for their clubs with the likes of Nicky Smith, Rhys Gill, Rory Thornton and Sam Davies coming into the squad. In addition it's great to be able to welcome back experienced players such as Dan Lydiate, Alex Cuthbert and Leigh Halfpenny, who have missed out recently with injury and that experience will be important this autumn.

[ALunpg]

No real suprises except maybe Paul James although I can understand having 2 loose heads who are maturing being a bit of exposure. He has been a good servant to Wales over the years .

[Stom]

Can someone explain to me what the wildcards mean? The Guardian article on this suggests North, Roberts and Faletau are the wildcards. What about Moriarty, 1/2p, Charteris, Francis? Do they not count somehow?

Just looking for info from anyone.

[Ross. S]

Wild card means that they would be captured by "Gatlands law" but have been given an exemption. IIRC Gatlands law only applies to players that were offered a contract by a region or WRU and turned it down.

[Ross. S]

A bit more good news too. Looks like Roberts, North and Faletau have release calauses in their club contracts so can play outside the test window.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugb ... y-12042376

Awaites PRL's tantrum/

[Which Tyler]

A bit more good news too. Looks like Roberts, North and Faletau have release calauses in their club contracts so can play outside the test window.

Pretty much inevitable since Northampton got away with it in North's case; it's basically a way of moving some player's wage outside of the salary cap.

[Ross. S]

How does that work?

[ALunpg]

Wild card means that they would be captured by "Gatlands law" but have been given an exemption. IIRC Gatlands law only applies to players that were offered a contract by a region or WRU and turned it down.

This is my understanding ... Halfpenny is exempt because his contract with Toulon was in place before the player restrictions were enforced. The others as indicated above by Ross have not been offered a regional contract as of late. However Halfpenny , Francis and Moriarty will be captured in the "wild card" group if they do not accept regional contracts if offered once their present contracts are completed..

[Which Tyler]

PRL rules say no release outside of IRB9
Cost of hiring player is wage + release outside of IRB9 (or the player will insist on more money; or sign for someone else instead) + any fine for doing so.
Fine is outside of the cap, thus part of the cost of hiring the player is removed from the cap

[Numbers]

How does that work?

Well last time Northampton release him as he has a clause, Northampton then were fined approx £60K by PRL for releasing him.

I would imagine Quins and Bath would receive similar sanctions if they release the players.

[ALunpg]

Northampton may be liable to be fined again as the 60k was for his first contract , the walesonline report seems to say they may have to pay again.

[Numbers]

Disappointed that Rob Evans isn't in the squad, from first choice to not in the top 3 it seems.

[Ross. S]

PRL rules say no release outside of IRB9
Cost of hiring player is wage + release outside of IRB9 (or the player will insist on more money; or sign for someone else instead) + any fine for doing so.
Fine is outside of the cap, thus part of the cost of hiring the player is removed from the cap

Cheers for filling me in

[Son of Mathonwy]

No huge surprises with the selections.
Glad to see Sam Davies has made the cut.
Rory Thornton is perhaps lucky to made the squad ahead of his teammate Lloyd Ashley.
I'm not completely sure why Tyler Morgan is in there (other than that he's been in the squad before). He's been a bit anonymous for me. With my Osprey-coloured shades I'd have picked Ben John ahead of him - he's in great form this season (5 tries already).
Cuthbert a bit lucky to made it. But I hope Amos is ahead of him in the pecking order - he's having a great season so far.
Who will start at 8 I wonder (before Faletau recovers)? I'd pick King.

[cadofyddol]

Disappointed that Rob Evans isn't in the squad, from first choice to not in the top 3 it seems.

He's injured isn't he?

I can't believe he's picked 3 Ospreys locks in the squad. That only leaves two on the books, one of which is just out of nappies.

[Numbers]

Disappointed that Rob Evans isn't in the squad, from first choice to not in the top 3 it seems.

He's injured isn't he?

I can't believe he's picked 3 Ospreys locks in the squad. That only leaves two on the books, one of which is just out of nappies.

He's due back at the end of the month, not sure why they couldn't have picked him as Faletau is in the same boat.

[Sandydragon]

The cupboard is a bit more bare at 8. With Gethin and Nicky Smith playing well, perhaps brining rob Evans back is seen as less of a priority.

[Sandydragon]

Well there's no huge surprises in there. It's mostly the usual players and Sam Davies is the obvious choice considering Priestland is now captured by Gatlands Law. I did wonder if a couple of the other form players in Wales might have forced their way in, such as Sam Parry.

[Which Tyler]

Well there's no huge surprises in there. It's mostly the usual players and Sam Davies is the obvious choice considering Priestland is now captured by Gatlands Law. I did wonder if a couple of the other form players in Wales might have forced their way in, such as Sam Parry.

Well... he could have not-included Faletau (injured) and brought in Priestland; then either swap them, or just have both on exceptional circumstances if/when Taulupe is fit again.

[Sandydragon]

Not sure I see the point. As Priestland admits, he has hardly played and if you were going to pick the top three Welsh fly halves at the moment, it would be the three in the squad. On the other hand, no8 is a real concern due to s lack of depth. If faletau is remotely fit then he is likely to be in the squad, although Kings form is somewhat reassuring.

The real question now I suppose is whether the availability clauses in some players contracts are worth the paper they are written on.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sandydragon]

So according to the Fail, the WRU is confident that North, Roberts and Faletau all have release clauses in their contracts which means they will be available for the Australia game. According to the English clubs, this is far from certain.

Ho hum, why am I not surprised that this is more complicated than it needs to be?

[Which Tyler]

So according to the Fail, the WRU is confident that North, Roberts and Faletau all have release clauses in their contracts which means they will be available for the Australia game. According to the English clubs, this is far from certain.

Ho hum, why am I not surprised that this is more complicated than it needs to be?

Northampton disagree about North - which seems odd given that his previous contract did have release clauses - maybe he / his agent forgot to put them in for the renewal?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37712596

For Roberts and Faletau - who knows?

[ALunpg]

More comments to muddy the already murky waters .

Will Wales' England-based stars play in their Test against Australia? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37713949

I honestly can not see why the WRU legal eagles dont give these guys a clause to insert in their contracts if they wish to be released. It should be agiven that the clubs dont want to annoy the PL if they dont have to . I would hope the new management team would have been on to this already...

It is either that or the AI window is changed ... but having this every year is just not proffesional

[Ross. S]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37754595

George, Jamie and Toby been given the ok to play.

PRL don't seem the generous type IMO so has the WRU spunked up some cash or have PRL been bitch slapped with some release clauses?