**Welsh Rugby Union Uncovers International-Eligible Talent Across the Globe Amid Programme Changes**
The landscape for uncovering Welsh-qualified rugby talent overseas has shifted considerably following the recent dissolution of the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) longstanding Exiles programme. Once credited with unearthing some of Wales’ finest transnational players, the initiative now makes way for a new approach aimed at persuading the best Welsh-qualified players from England and beyond to pledge allegiance to Wales at senior international level.
While only time will judge the effectiveness of this new direction, the closure of the Exiles scheme has not come without regret. The programme was instrumental in the discoveries of prominent players such as Will Rowlands and Nick Tompkins, broadening the pool for Wales’ national side at a time when fresh talent was vital. Now, the WRU faces the challenge of both retaining and identifying further Welsh-qualified players who ply their trade overseas.
Among those emerging as potential assets is **Riley Higgins**, a dynamic 22-year-old centre currently featuring for New Zealand’s Hurricanes in the fiercely competitive Super Rugby Pacific league. Though this season was marred by a leg injury, Higgins has nevertheless made a notable impression with his explosive running and robust line-breaking ability. He also boasts experience with the New Zealand Under-20s and the All Blacks XV, and it is believed he qualifies for Wales courtesy of his grandmother.
A similarly promising figure is **Tahlor Cahill**, aged 21, who has taken on a significant role with the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Known for his athleticism and versatility across both lock and backrow positions, Cahill’s powerful carries and lineout acumen have not gone unnoticed. He, too, has donned New Zealand colours at Under-20 level and is qualified via Welsh ancestry. With head coach Scott Robertson highly rating Cahill, the competition for his international services is likely to be fierce.
The talent search continues in the form of **Josh Penney**, a 21-year-old fly-half who has roots with the Waikato Chiefs academy and now plays for Counties Manukau in New Zealand’s Bunnings NPC. Penney, thought to be eligible through his Welsh mother, has made the list of players of interest. Despite already strong competition among emerging Welsh fly-halves and the youthful nature of Wales’ established number tens, increasing depth at this crucial position remains a priority.
Not all of the attention rests in New Zealand. South Africa presents an intriguing candidate in **Kaleb Kriek**. At 21, Kriek is a formidable tighthead prop—measuring 6ft 4in and 140kg—now developing with the Blue Bulls academy. With a reputation for destructive scrummaging and aggressive carries, Kriek figures as an enticing option for a Wales side eager for front-row reinforcement, especially given the retirements of seasoned veterans like Tomas Francis and a scarcity of dominant scrummagers domestically.
The WRU’s network has also taken note of those based closer to home. **Robert Carmichael**, a 22-year-old lock, was born in Hong Kong with mixed Scottish and Welsh heritage, and after stints in the Leicester Tigers academy and England’s Under-20s, recently moved to Edinburgh Rugby. At a towering 6ft 11in, he is known for his commanding lineout presence and remains eligible for selection by Wales.
France hosts a further prospect in **Beau Farrance**, aged 24, an English-born tighthead prop who has been making waves at Agen in the country’s PRO D2. His journey from Old Elthamians RFC to regular starting status in France, combined with his valuable JIFF qualification, makes him a prop to monitor for both the Welsh national setup and domestic clubs needing reliable scrummaging options.
Meanwhile, familial links are a theme with **Kienan Higgins**, elder brother to Riley, who features for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies. Though predominantly playing at centre in the Bunnings NPC, he is considered by some as being of the calibre suited to European professional rugby, should the opportunity arise.
Two more names worth noting are **Robbie Deans**, Glasgow Warriors academy member who has turned out for Scotland’s Under-20s but is thought to have Welsh ties, and **Mikey Jones**, an Edinburgh prop with Welsh qualifications.
In light of the Exiles programme’s closure, the WRU’s ability to maintain a robust, far-reaching network for eligible players worldwide will be closely monitored. With many of these rising stars at a career crossroads, the battle to secure their international futures could prove decisive for Welsh rugby’s next generation. The national team’s future strength may well depend on just how effective the new structures become at attracting and integrating such diverse talent into the red jersey.