Wales’ exiles programme had identified some intriguing new names before being disbanded recently
A couple of weeks ago the Welsh Rugby Union took the difficult decision to cut its Exiles programme.
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. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
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 styill 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.
Cahill is an athletic forward, who can play at lock and the backrow, is an excellent lineout forward who is also a powerful carrier capable of making significant post contact metres.
The Crusaders lock qualifies for Wales through a grandparent and was on the Exiles’ radar.
He has also represented New Zealand U20s and is highly rated by All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, meaning Wales are up against it.
But Cahill is already a high quality player who looks destined to play Test rugby so should be targeted as a potential option by Warren Gatland’s long-term successor.
Josh Penney
The 21-year-old outside-half was a member of the Waikato Chiefs academy but has been playing for Counties Manukau in the Bunnings NPC.
It is thought he qualifies for Wales through his Welsh mother and is another player who was included in the Exiles’ database.
Wales have some real talent coming through the system at outside-half with the likes of Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Math Jones, Harri Wilde, Harri Ford and Lloyd Lucas while both senior number tens Sam Costelow and Dan Edwards are very young.
But Wales needs to build as much depth as it can and the same can be said for its four professional clubs – Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets.
Kaleb Kriek
The 21-year-old South African tighthead packs a serious punch at 6ft 4in and 140kg.
Kriek is Welsh qualified through his mother and is part of the Blue Bulls academy. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
It will come as no surprise to readers that Kriek had a reputation at age grade level of being a destructive scrummager while those who have seen him play also compliment his ball carrying.
Tighthead prop is not exactly an area of strength in Welsh rugby, with Wales having struggled to replace the experienced Tomas Francis.
Just because a prop is 140kg doesn’t automatically mean he will cut it as a professional but given the dearth of high quality scrummaging tightheads in Wales somebody like Kriek is worth looking at.
Robert Carmichael
The 22-year-old second-row was born in Hong Kong to a Scottish father and a Welsh mother but moved back to the UK in 2019.
Carmichael was a member of the Leicester Tigers academy and represented England U20s before making the move north to join Edinburgh in 2024.
At 6ft 11in and 125kg Carmichael packs a physical punch and is an outstanding lineout forward who has played for the Emerging Scotland side.
But he remains Welsh qualified and one of Wales’ professional clubs could do far worse than signing Carmichael if he was willing.
Beau Farrance
The 24-year-old English-born tighthead has been a regular starter for Agen in the French PRO D2 but is believed to be Welsh qualified.
Farrance is a powerful scrummager in a league which puts a huge emphasis on the set-piece.
He started his rugby journey at Old Elthamians RFC before moving to France.
Farrance is now in the Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation (JIFF) category, which is very important for players wishing to get a professional contract in France.
To become JIFF qualified, players must spend five years playing age grade rugby at any French club or spend three season’s with a French professional club’s academy by the age of 23.
He’s certainly a player the Welsh clubs should be monitoring.
Kienan Higgins
The 25-year-old is the older brother of Riley Higgins and also plays centre.
Higgins senior plays his rugby for Hawke’s Bay Magpies in the Bunnings NPC and is a solid performer at that level who looks capable of playing professional rugby in Europe if given the chance. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
Robbie Deans and Mikey Jones
Robbie Deans is a 20-year-old loosehead who is part of the Glasgow Warriors academy and has represented Scotland U20s.
He is thought to have Welsh qualifications on his mother’s side.
Mikey Jones is also a prop but plays for Edinburgh and also qualifies for Wales.
