Welsh slammers look in from outside when big show resumes

The European Champions’ Cup emerges from hibernation next week offering a ray of sunshine for those Irish players hung out to dry after the deluge and days of cascading criticism.

The last eight has been a Welsh-free zone since its completion in mid-January and if that was no surprise then, it most certainly is now. That the Champions’ Cup goes ahead without a solitary team from the home of Europe’s newly crowned Grand Slammers makes the grandiose title sound a bit of a misnomer.

There will be quarter-finals in Edinburgh, Dublin, north London and Paris. The Welsh will be on the outside looking in, their Superdome closed for business as a result of their four regional teams having made the usual heavy weather of the pool competition.