Match

 

 Afan Fm Viewpoint in association with Neath Rugby.

Picked Off

Would a 5th Welsh region stop the English sides picking off the best of young Welsh talent that's under the regions' noses?

Afan FM's Hash Piperdy weighs up the argument.

Firstly, a warm welcome to Pontypool fans who have made the trip to the Gnoll. Good luck for this season in the Premiership.
Onto the champions and Gareth Williams has signed for Harlequins whilst Ross Davies has been recruited by Sale. The Guiness Premiership are getting wise to the depth of talent that exists in it's semi-pro Welsh sibling, and at the leagues' champions appear to be in their sights.
The strange thing is that Williams nor Davies made any appearances in Ospreys colours. Yet they've gone and you have to feel that they're not there to make up the numbers in the squad and both will be looking to challenge for a place in the first XV - could it be that the region is not seeing the obvious potential that lies at the Gnoll?

The scouting networks at these teams are immense - is there such a thing as an unknown quantity anymore? I attended an early-season Neath FC friendly where I was sitting next to a scout from Championship club Reading! I'm sure that the Saracens recent friendly was not just looked at by the away club as a pure pre-season exercise, and the future revamping of the Anglo-Welsh Cup could be seen as another move for the English clubs to test-drive the pick of the litter before the Ospreys do.

However, the ultimate goal, beyond club and regional rugby is to pull on the Red Shirt of Wales and moving across the bridge flies in the face of coach Gatland's "Play in Wales, play for Wales" strategy. Why are these talented rookies leaving when if they persevere, they could receive national honours and recognition? The answer may lie in the depth available to the Ospreys. Look at scrum-half Williams. To wear the Ospreys number nine, he would have to unseat Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb and new import Jamie Nutbrown. Whether he's gone from frying pan to fire at the Harlequins where Danny Care and Andy Gomersall await remains to be seen, so why go?

So, what's the solution? The idea of a 5th developmental region has been mooted. Serving North Wales, the WRU and Gatland feel that the side could be used in a Connacht type role. Would the Ospreys' fringe players like Williams and Davies have been fair game to play in Wrexham and get Magners' League experience? I would say so. The performance of the Dragons proves that a 5th elite region is not viable whilst Connacht's track record makes the idea of a development region attractive.

Whatever your club and regional leanings, everyone bonds together under the national banner and that means any action that strengthens Wales must be considered. A 5th region allows young players to gain Celtic rugby experience and allow the regions to assess players as live, in the same competition. The cherry-picking of talent by the English clubs has to stop if Warren Gatland's hopes of less foreigners is to be achieved, and with strong Welsh competition, the national side will flourish.

Hash presents Red Card on 107.9 AfanFM on Saturday afternoons from 2. Head to afanfm.co.uk for more details. To email him, sport@afanfm.co.uk and for interviews and features, check youtube.com/afanfmsport.