The Welsh qualified exiles who should be on the WRU radar

A COUPLE of weeks ago the Welsh Rugby Union took the difficult decision to cut its Exiles programme.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

The WRU have replaced it with a system it feels is better placed to persuade the best Welsh-qualified players in England and beyond to represent Wales at senior international level.

Whether this new system will be successful or not remains to be seen but the old exiles programme did play a big part in unearthing Welsh qualified players outside of Wales, from Will Rowlands to Nick Tompkins, among others.

Prior to the disbandment of the programme the Exiles had a number of players they were trying to persuade to go down the Welsh route or were at least investigating believed Welsh links.

Here are a handful of Welsh-qualified players who should still be on the WRU's radar.

Riley Higgins

The 22-year-old New Zealander plays for Super Rugby Pacific outfit the Hurricanes while he has also figured for the Wellington Lions in the Bunnings NPC.

Higgins can play 12 and 13 while he has also accrued minutes out on the wing but has only played four times this season in Super Rugby after breaking his leg.

He is highly thought of in New Zealand rugby circles and made his Super Rugby debut before playing any NPC rugby, while he has also represented New Zealand U20s and an All Blacks XV.

Higgins is an explosive centre who regularly breaks the line while he also possesses an excellent offloading game.

He is believed to qualify for Wales through his grandmother and is another high quality player who should be monitored.

Tahlor Cahill

The 21-year-old has enjoyed plenty of game time for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific this season making nine appearances and was a replacement in last Saturday's 32-12 victory over the Queensland Reds.