**Two Dragons Front-rowers Target Wales Returns as Wallabies Scrap Overseas Player Rule**
On Wednesday, 6 August 2025, the rugby world woke to a flurry of intriguing headlines, with Wales’ international selection debates back in the spotlight and Australia making waves by abolishing a divisive player eligibility law.
As the new rugby season looms, the Dragons have unveiled two key signings in their pack — Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis. Both props arrive back in Welsh rugby from English Premiership outfit Harlequins, bolstering Rodney Parade’s forward options and adding considerable Test experience to the set-up. Notably, their moves are underpinned by an unhidden ambition: to reclaim their places in the national squad under the regime of newly appointed Wales head coach, Steve Tandy.
Neither Jones nor Lewis featured under Wales’ previous head coaches, Warren Gatland and Matt Sherratt, with their international careers placed on a temporary hiatus. Both, however, have now openly expressed their determination to don the famous red shirt once again, marking their ambitions with a renewed clarity.
Dillon Lewis, who last toured with Wales in Australia in 2024 but saw limited game time, spoke candidly about the challenges of falling out of favour. “There was natural frustration around Wales selection,” he shared with the BBC, reflecting on his gradual exclusion after a period as a regular squad member prior to his spell in England. Lewis stressed that top-level international rugby remains the pinnacle for every player. He also emphasised commitment to his Dragons duties, stating that strong performances at club level are the crucial first step in earning a return to the Test arena.
Wyn Jones, at 33, echoed these aspirations. “If they were to ask and I was playing well enough, then definitely,” he commented, pointing out that as long as he remains on the pitch, his drive to represent Wales endures. Jones signalled that he would only consider retirement once that ambition fades — which, for now, is far from the case.
Both players voiced their approval of Steve Tandy’s appointment. Jones, who briefly worked with Tandy during the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa, praised the new head coach for his communication skills and holistic approach to player management. “He is a great man for the job,” Jones stated, highlighting Tandy’s rare combination of technical acumen and interpersonal warmth that allows him to balance the demands of coaching with real empathy for his squad.
Shifting the spotlight south, Rugby Australia (RA) chief executive Phil Waugh addressed the contentious issue of the British & Irish Lions’ future tours. Following a fiercely competitive Test series just concluded in Australia, Waugh said he was confident the Lions would return to the country in 12 years’ time. Dispelling speculation about alternative hosts, he pointed to the fiercely contested recent series as fresh evidence of Australia’s value to Lions tours. Waugh added, “Australia is a really important home for the Lions tour every 12 years,” emphasising the event’s cultural and sporting significance.
In a significant policy update, Rugby Australia has axed the so-called ‘Giteau Law’. Up until now, this rule limited the number of overseas-based players eligible for international selection — a system originally adopted to support the domestic game but widely debated for its restrictive impact on team choices. Peter Horne, RA’s director of high performance, confirmed the shift: “The Giteau Law’s kind of redundant,” he remarked, stating that Wallabies coaches — notably Joe Schmidt — are now free to select the best players, wherever they ply their trade.
Despite this greater flexibility, RA officials underlined that home-based players would retain an edge if deemed equally deserving, as part of an ongoing commitment to Australian Super Rugby franchises. The revised approach matches that of South Africa, who scrapped a similar policy in 2018 to great effect, eventually winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup and enjoying broad access to overseas talent.
The relaxation of the law opens doors for a number of prominent Australians set to play abroad next season, such as Will Skelton at La Rochelle and Taniela Tupou, Tom Hooper, and Langi Gleeson, all of whom will feature in northern hemisphere rugby.
The ongoing debates in both Wales and Australia highlight the complex balancing act between nurturing domestic rugby and maximising international potential. With notable Welsh props striving for a Test recall and the Wallabies embracing a more global approach to selection, the shape of world rugby is set to evolve yet again in the upcoming season, promising plenty of intrigue for fans and players alike.