Hansen fears Welsh exodus

Wales coach Steve Hansen tonight voiced grave concerns about a potential exodus of top players to England next season.

Welsh rugby is currently in the middle of an endless dispute about the way forward for its professional game.

Although regional teams have been given the seal of approval by Wales’ member clubs, there is still no breakthrough on either the number of sides or how they will be structured.

Swansea last week announced their intention to go into temporary administration, a situation which is likely to mean several of their leading names departing to ply their trade elsewhere.

“It is a major worry for Welsh rugby,” said Hansen tonight, as he left with his squad for a three-day training camp in west Wales.

“Some of these clubs have got to realise their players are on the shopping list. For instance, a lot of people are very keen on Stephen Jones and Martyn Madden at Llanelli.

“The players have had enough. They want to be better and they want to get a better environment – they want the same environment as the Brian O’Driscolls of this world.

“The players feel as if they have been let down by the union and the clubs. If the union and the clubs cannot come together then the players will go somewhere else, and all our quality players will be playing in England.

“A lot of players in this team are frustrated at not having the environment to make them better players, and I can’t disagree with that too much.”

Against that backdrop, Hansen must prepare his squad for the daunting challenge of trying to halt an Ireland team currently chasing the RBS 6 Nations Championship title and a possible Grand Slam.

Ireland arrive next Saturday in Cardiff – where they have not lost for 20 years – knowing that a fourth successive tournament victory would leave them one win away from a clean sweep.

Wales have yet to break their points duck following successive defeats against Italy, England and Scotland.

The injury list which has followed Hansen throughout the championship still means he is without the likes of hooker Robin McBryde, centre Sonny Parker and the latest casualty in full-back Kevin Morgan who suffered a serious knee problem during the Scotland clash eight days ago.

There is better news, though, about hooker Jonathan Humphreys who was recalled as captain against England but then suffered a shoulder injury and missed the Scotland game.

“Jonathan is making good progress, and we will know by Wednesday whether he is available or not,” Hansen added.

Humphreys missed his club Bath’s Zurich Premiership fixture against Northampton yesterday, but the player himself tonight said he was “100 percent confident” of recovering in time.

If Humphreys does not make it then Hansen is ready to spring a major surprise among his replacements for the Ireland Test.

Huw Bennett, a 19-year-old hooker on Swansea’s books, is set to provide cover for Pontypridd’s experienced Mefin Davies.

Although Bennett is a total novice in international rugby terms – and Hansen would prefer not to use him at this stage of his career – he has no doubt about the youngster’s ability.

“He has got a bit of the x-factor about him. He is going to be a very good player in the future – and he has been working with us now for most of the time over the last 12 months,” added the coach.

Hansen is set to announce his team on Wednesday – with Rhys Williams likely to move from wing to full-back as Morgan’s replacement, and there could also be a return to the back row for Colin Charvis.

Charvis lost the Wales captaincy after their dismal defeat against Italy last month and was on the bench against both England and Scotland.