Nations Championship: Wales turn to English-based players for Japan match

Head coach Steve Tandy says he does not consider which clubs his players play for when he selects his Wales side.

Tandy has named 12 players from English clubs in his squad for the Nations Championship match against Japan in Cardiff, with nine in the starting XV, including six forwards.

It is understood to be a record number of players based outside of Wales in a 23-man squad.

"I just see the boys playing the best at the minute and also you put in what fits to how we want to play," said Tandy.

"Ultimately it doesn't matter where they play, it'll be the best players.

"It's never about where they play, it's more about who are playing the best rugby."

Wales opt for centre power pair against Japan

The Prem talents hunting Wales breakthroughs

Gloucester trio Dewi Lake, Jac Morgan and Max Llewellyn, join Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol), Tomos Williams (Saracens), Nicky Smith (Sale), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter) and Aaron Wainwright (Leicester), along with three more Prem players on the bench in Tomas Francis (Sale), Rhys Carre (Saracens) and Louis Hennessey (Bath).

It represents a significant shift since a rule - which stopped players with fewer than 60 caps being eligible if they played outside Wales - was changed in February 2023 to set the bar at just 25 caps.

Only six England-based players were in a 33-man Wales squad at the 2023 World Cup.

Tandy believes the number of non Wales-based players is an indication other leagues want Welsh talent, and that they are performing at the highest level when they go to new clubs.

"They're also experiencing different environments and receiving different stimulus.

"They're coming back with different experiences, things they've learned and plenty of motivation to represent Wales."

Tandy accepts there are logistical challenges to preparation time, with England-based players returning to their clubs for certain periods when players at Welsh regions are available to work with him.

"We have to make the best of the situation," said Tandy.

"I'd love to have more players based in Wales, that would be fantastic but that's not the situation at the moment.

"You have to keep an open mind. We can either complain about having 20 players playing overseas, or we can recognise the benefits."

The Wales coach accepts that brings a mix of positives, and some things he may potentially lose.

"We might not have as much contact with those players or be able to bring them into alignment camps as regularly," he added.

"However, some are playing in front of full stadiums every week and experiencing different styles of competition and coaching."

Tandy left Wales in 2018 for coaching experiences in Australia and Scotland before returning as national head coach in 2025.

"That's part of the benefit, you go somewhere else and discover new things," he said.

"From my own personal experience of going outside Wales, I learned a great deal.

"When I moved from Wales to Australia, I also had to learn different things away from the field.

"You learn more about yourself, how to look after yourself and how to prepare properly."

Lake and Morgan joined Gloucester from Ospreys, while Wainwright has linked up with Leicester.

"I think there's definitely a change in them," said Tandy.

"There's something new, like it drags your attention, as you're on a little bit more of an edge or there's tension or excitement.

"So going to new environments generally do raise that anyway because you want to go into environments and perform.

"Seeing different things and then being around some English internationals will have been great."

Tandy highlighted the experience of Wainwright, who since his move from Dragons in the summer has helped Leicester to the top of the English Prem.

"Probably playing in Leicester with sellout crowds and the challenge of working with people like Ollie Chessum, who has been on British and Irish Lions tours, the standard goes up again.

"It gives them confidence, they realise how good some of the Welsh players are.

"That's not typically Welsh either, it's probably seeing what you could be as well."

Morgan aims to show new attacking threat for Wales

Wales players in Prem doing nation proud - Smith

Tandy says despite players making their living across the border he is able to stay in contact.

"That includes travelling to see them and having phone conversations," he explained.

"Gloucester and Bath are also relatively close to Cardiff, so we can maintain those relationships throughout the year, not just during international campaigns.

"I also speak regularly with their head coaches to understand how they're progressing, where they're performing well and which areas they need to develop."

He says it is about showing players that the national set-up cares about them, their development and environment.

"We discuss their rugby, what they're learning and whether they need additional support.

"Once they return to the national environment, we can challenge them more effectively because we understand where they are."