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Project Reset: Wales players have considered moves away - Gareth Anscombe

Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugbycomments368

Gareth Anscombe
Gareth Anscombe has won 26 caps for Wales after making his debut in 2015

Wales players are considering moving to non-Welsh clubs amidst regional rugby uncertainty, Gareth Anscombe has said.

Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam, in which Anscombe was pivotal, was accompanied by talk of domestic changes with on-off mergers and contract uncertainty.

Moving away from Wales would see any player with less than 60 caps sacrifice their place in the international team.

However the Cardiff Blues fly-half, who has 26 caps, said: "I think it has made all the boys think about it [leaving]."

Anscombe, who scored 20 points from fly-half and then full-back against Ireland to steer Wales to the Grand Slam, added: "Players have been let down a bit when you look at results we have provided them."

The 27-year-old, whose national dual contract expires at the end of this season, is thought to be a target for English Premiership clubs Bath and Harlequins.

And with domestic rugby looking into changes dubbed Project Reset for the 2020-21 season, he has not ruled out following in the footsteps of the now ineligible Rhys Webb and moving to a club outside of Wales.

"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.

"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."

Blues want Anscombe to stay

Gareth Anscombe
Gareth Anscombe has made 72 appearances for the Cardiff Blues in all competitions

In the week Blues welcome Scarlets in a Pro14 derby, Anscombe hopes to get his future sorted.

"Hopefully from my perspective we can get things sorted sooner rather than later but I have got some things I need to weigh up as well."

Blues head coach John Mulvihill says the region "most definitely" wants to retain the services of Anscombe.

"It has been tough for Gareth and the other boys. We have left their focus to be solely on the Six Nations and it would be unfair to sit in front of him during the Six Nations," Mulvihill said.

"We have had discussions this week and will be ongoing next week and the finer things have been worked out.

"We have always been quite positive about it but it's a big decision for him to make and he has to take his time and get it done."

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368 comments

  • Comment posted by bentyger, at 11:04 20 Mar 2019

    Anscombe is a mercenary anyway, he is only playing for Wales because he got a better pay offer then what he was getting in his home country of New Zealand.
    ----
    His mother is Welsh. Facts. Try them instead of opinions.

  • Comment posted by Lynch66, at 10:38 20 Mar 2019

    These things would not be an issue if the WRU started to get fans going to regional rugby games.
    If the stadiums were full like they are in Ireland for every game then there would be plenty of money
    I would like to say as a blues fan I am very happy to see Josh Adams signing on a long term contract. Lets hope we will get some more fans in to pay his wages and not increase already high prices

  • Comment posted by provyd, at 10:53 20 Mar 2019

    @6 It would be more representative to look at Gatland's tenure as a whole. Since he became Wales coach, Wales has won the 6N four times, including three with a GS, a record better than every other 6N team over the same period. So yes, it is remarkable he's achieved that, given how comparatively poor the Welsh regions have been over the same period.

  • Comment posted by Angry Beast, at 11:15 20 Mar 2019

    The problem with the regions is they're manufactured. Munster, Leinster and Ulster were always representative sides. Dragons and Ospreys are not. I am a Pontypool man, and feel no affinity to the Dragons

    As for the players, it's their living. The uncertainty will lead them to look around, it's natural. The cap level needs to be lowered.

  • Comment posted by GKM, at 11:10 20 Mar 2019

    It's difficult to criticise the WRU straight after a Grand Slam but for too long they have concentrated on the national team and attracting the casual fan willing to pay £75 a ticket.

    Regional rugby (and grass roots) need urgent attention and it's crucial that Project Reset gets things right. Things will be even more difficult if World Rugby's Nations Championship takes off.

  • Comment posted by RoundTheHorn, at 10:38 20 Mar 2019

    Players could move abroad !

    Anscombe has moved abroad, he's a kiwi !

    He would never of got close to an All Black cap so fair play he's enjoying test rugby with Wales, I don't blame players for wanting more money but it is what it is, the Welsh game doesn't pay as much as the English or French so if money is his motivator then off he goes.

    Or stay, earn 60 caps, and then go ?

  • Comment posted by chunky, at 11:23 20 Mar 2019

    @21 Think you will find that Saturdays squad had one player you could say is English (Francis), and Two Kiwi's, one of whom has welsh Mother.

    All other players were either born in Wales, Grew up in Wales and/or have two Welsh Parents.

    Compare that with England where the squad is like the UN. Think English qualification criteria is if you speak English.

  • Comment posted by adrian, at 12:28 20 Mar 2019

    There are an awful lot of people in Wales who could do with a decent wage and an awful lot of families depending on them.

    Attendance at regional matches (don’t even mention the leagues below) is the living proof of the myth that the whole of the country lives for rugby.

    If rugby can pay for it the players can have what they want. If it can’t they will have the same choices as the rest of us.

  • Comment posted by Freddie1973, at 11:08 20 Mar 2019

    Look welsh regional rugby is broken with or without the big names. Unless the game gets investment or alleged “rugby fans” get behind the regions then it’s irrelevent. I don’t believe there is fan base for rugby in wales anymore, there are the part time fans who turn up to internationals, I bet they don’t go every Saturday

    I would reduce the threshold to 35 caps, that will allow players to move

  • Comment posted by banaerialpingpong, at 10:38 20 Mar 2019

    It has made all the boys think about leaving - except jd2, Owens and Evans. Oh and josh Adams who’s just signed for blues.
    Is Anscombe using the uncertainty to try and get a better contract for himself. What’s more important a bit of extra cash or potentially wales best ever chance at wc

  • Comment posted by north_londoner, at 10:42 20 Mar 2019

    Wales should let their players play anywhere they can play in a top-class competition, such as for a Premiership club in England. In the old days of amateur rugby, teams like London Welsh were amongst the strongest in the country.

  • Comment posted by D1679267128280, at 14:42 20 Mar 2019

    @137
    Anscombe's mother is Welsh and he was named after Sir Edwards, Moriartiy's father played for Wales, as did his uncle. Having met George's parent several times, good luck explaining that to them! Faletau has lived in Wales since he was about 5.
    10 years, how long do you think these guys can play for. There is no veterans world cup. NZ never take players from the SS islands though!!!!!

  • Comment posted by Chesse, at 13:22 20 Mar 2019

    International Rugby is mostly for fair weather fans with more money than interest in the game. Hence why internationals easily sell out 75K+ stadiums at £80+ a ticket. Club rugby is a different creature, the fashionable mob aren't interested.

  • Comment posted by john newby, at 12:12 20 Mar 2019

    Rugby is a job like any other I would have thought employment law bans any restrictions on where you can work and for who

  • Comment posted by banaerialpingpong, at 11:43 20 Mar 2019

    Great news that wru keeping all 4 sides next year. As a Glasgow warriors fan have enjoyed visits and hospitality at all 4. Would love a 3rd pro side in Scotland so important for player development.!

  • Comment posted by D1679365622563, at 12:40 20 Mar 2019

    @70,What a mindless and pathetic argument,get your facts right,every tier one nation reaps the benefits of players not born there,england has a multitude of ‘non english’as do the Scots,etc etc.south Africa is probably one of the few teams doesn’t fish for overseas talent.while the rules are as they are teams will exploit it.

  • Comment posted by Conor, at 10:39 20 Mar 2019

    Interesting point. It's amazing to think how successful the Wales national side has been with regards to the issues the club game is facing and experiencing. Makes you wonder does this show the impact Gatland has on driving the national team onto a greater sum of it's parts and once he goes will the national team suffer as a consequence of the problems in the club game?

  • Comment posted by PWL, at 15:16 20 Mar 2019

    144.Sid Boggle. Anscombe's mother is Welsh as is or was Bruce Lee( nee Lewis). How much English blood flows through the veins of the Vunipola brothers, Tuilagi, Cokanadiga, Rokodugani, Hughes etc if you want to be pedantic.

  • Comment posted by red death, at 11:22 20 Mar 2019

    You can't switch country after you've already played for someone else in a match that counts for "qualification" so the accusation that GA could switch after 3 years in eg Japan is wrong.

  • Comment posted by Paned o de, at 13:37 20 Mar 2019

    Blues v Scarlets is nigh on a sell out this Friday.

    I can't afford internationals but it's £20 to go Fri night to watch half the Welsh team in action.

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