WRU Exiles grows from strength to strength!

The WRU Exiles programme continues to grow from strength to strength as the WRU prepares for a further series of one day camps for young Welsh qualified players who are based outside Wales.
WRU National Exiles Officer, Gareth Davies explained: “There are now over a thousand young players in the Exiles programme and rather than invite them all to Wales it makes more sense to arrange events which are more local to them.
“The Exiles programme has produced a number of players who are featuring in the current Wales national u18s and 20s squads and there are two playing in the World Series 7s. Others have recently signed regional contracts and this all demonstrates that the Exiles pathway provides excellent opportunities for young and ambitious Welsh qualified boys who are based outside Wales and have aspirations to play regional and national rugby in Wales.
“The Exiles programme also has very strong links with universities in Wales where players can combine their rugby development with their academic progress whilst remaining in the WRU pathway.”
Meanwhile the WRU has appointed Andy Lloyd to its Exiles department. He will concentrate on recruitment of ‘elite’ senior Exiles who are currently based outside Wales, in the UK and overseas, and will work closely with the four Welsh regions.
Lloyd joins the WRU from the Ospreys where he dealt with player recruitment. He won a full cap against Japan in 2001 and made over 80 appearances for the Ospreys before retiring due to injury in 2011.
WRU National Exiles Officer, Gareth Davies said: “Andy has a huge amount of experience both in developing young players and in dealing with the monitoring and recruitment of senior elite players. He will be a huge asset to the Exiles programme.”
New Exiles players can register with the WRU at www.wru.wales/exiles.