Key Welsh Rugby Players to Watch This Season
Image Credit: Ben Salter
The standard of Welsh rugby these past couple of months has been underwhelming, from a disappointing Six Nations campaign resulting in a wooden spoon to the Welsh clubs in the URC performing below par this season. Despite the bad run of form, Welsh rugby still has a lot of talent to offer, and this article aims to highlight three players to keep your eyes on this coming season.
Gareth Anscombe
If you are familiar with the Welsh national side, then you have seen this man put in performance after performance at both fly-half and fullback for the team. The New Zealand-born back graced our eyes when debuting for Wales in 2015 against Ireland and has grown his status to one of the most reliable players in Warren Gatland’s squad since then. One major flaw the seasoned vet has been flagged with is his injury crisis, as despite having such quality, the 33-year-old has only accumulated 36 caps for the side, making his World Cup debut only in 2023. These injuries have even been detrimental to a move Anscombe was looking forward to when it originally sent his skill set to Japan. However, all is not lost as the fly-half seems to be heading over to Gloucester with a chance to show his experience in the Premiership. Anscombe won’t be alone, though, having another Welsh international by his side, scrum-half Tomos Williams. Fans may want to keep their eyes peeled this upcoming season because if these two can build up a great rapport at Gloucester, then Welsh fans are in for a treat if their one-two punch can be transferred to the national stage.
Callum Sheedy
Wales' achilles' heel has been their lack of depth in the number ten role, a position previously filled by such icons as Dan Biggar, Stephen Jones, and James Hook. Now, Anscombe may be what some Welsh fans are looking for, but there is promise in Bristol with Callum Sheedy looking to come into the prime years of his career. Most fans and media may remember Sheedy from his time under Wayne Pivac in his coaching years with the Welsh squad. He was unfairly criticized and blamed for the loss to Italy in 2022. Sheedy has grown from this event and has thrived at Bristol Bears year after year, being a focal point in their backline. He will be heading to Cardiff Rugby this coming season and it does not look like he is settling as a number two option, despite the tremendous season from Tinus de Beer, who garnered praise from players and supporters at the end of this season. There’s nothing Welsh fans want more than to see Sheedy flourish and finally fill the missing number ten jersey.
Kieran Hardy
A position that holds a lot of talent in Wales now is the number nine role. When the squad is at full strength, there is the possibility of three potential options. But for this next season, Kieran Hardy looks to change that narrative and make himself the first player on the team sheet, and there’s no better start than making the move to the Ospreys. Many fans and media would describe Hardy as a player with a lot of talent but seems to be stuck as what could be called a role player; this can be seen even further during his time at the Scarlets, where he had to play second fiddle to Gareth Davies. Hardy looks to step out of this shadow and express his talent with the Ospreys as the starting nine he knows, and we know, he can be. This season, the Ospreys have looked the best side out of the Welsh regions with positive results in the URC and Europe. Therefore, adding Hardy to an already established backline shows the club is looking to progress. With the side going through many exciting changes these next couple of months, be prepared to see a raring team with an eager new scrum-half to show Welsh fans what they’ve been missing out on this whole time.
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