Wales are to sign Samson Lee on a national contract as reward for his block-busting entry into the Test arena at the age of 21.
The Scarlets‘ tighthead, all set to spearhead the challenge against Australia in Cardiff this Saturday, is the youngest of five players selected after weeks of deliberation for new deals.
The Rugby Paper understands that the chosen few, as drawn up by head coach Warren Gatland and approved by the players’ regional employers, are as follows:
Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys): Second row, 83 Tests, age 29.
Dan Biggar (Ospreys): Fly- half, 25 Tests, age 25.
Scott Williams (Scarlets): Centre, 24 Tests, age 24.
Taulupe Faletau (Dragons): No.8, 36 Tests, age 23.
Samson Lee (Scarlets): prop, four Tests, age 21.
Four of those five were on the original list of ten drawn up by Gatland in mid-July. Form and fitness have brought about changes and Lee’s charge into the top five comes at the expense of Gethin Jenkins, a surprising choice in the first place, given his age of 34 this month.
Gatland’s first batch of five is in tune with the policy, as articulated by WRU chairman Gareth Davies, of keeping the best young players in Wales as opposed to repatriating the French legion.
That could explain why Dan Lydiate’s name is absent from that list. A free agent since Racing Metro released him with immediate effect, the Lions flanker is still considering his next move.
Under the terms of the joint WRU-Regions peace deal, Lydiate’s former employers, the Dragons, have first option on him. The Ospreys, unbeaten Pro 12 leaders with seven wins out of seven, also want him.
Without a dual contract tying him to Wales, Lydiate is bound to be in demand at certain English clubs.
Wherever he goes, Lydiate will have to be prepared to take a considerable cut in the €400,000 he was paid in Paris. If playing for Wales and being available for all their matches is his over-riding ambition, he will come home.
The Welsh pot for dual contracts, with players employed jointly by the WRU and their clubs on a 60-40 basis, is capped at £3.3m. Lions captain Sam Warburton has been in a stable of one since he signed a WRU contract last January at the height of the cold war between the Union and its four regional teams.
The next batch of those proposed by Gatland for special contractual recognition, are due to include Ospreys scrum half Rhys Webb, Scarlets lock Jake Ball and Gareth Anscombe, the Junior All Black due to join the Blues this month.
PETER JACKSON
