WRU to ask regions to let players train with Wales

Before the Six Nations next year, the Welsh Rugby Union will request that the four professional regions release players for additional training with Wales.

More than a month after the WRU announced it wanted to cut one of the teams by 2027, Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets, and Ospreys are being asked to do so, the request comes.

Wales have lost three of their four autumn international matches, including a record-breaking 73-0 home loss to South Africa on the final weekend, and haven’t won a Six Nations game since 2023.

The Wales squad will meet up with the Wales squad on January 26th, when Steve Tandy’s side kicks off their 2026 Six Nations campaign at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on February 7.

In the upcoming two months, Cardiff, Dragons, Scarlets, and Ospreys will all host United Rugby Championship and European matches.

Richard Collier-Keywood, chair of the WRU, claims he has spoken with head coach Tandy and the union’s director of rugby and head of elite performance Dave Reddin about having extra time set aside for Six Nations preparations.

“We will be asking the regional clubs to actually let the players in between now and then so Dave and his team can have them.”

He continued, “That’s really not helpful.” So there are some very basic and practical things that we can work with the regional clubs to change the Wales national team’s performance, in your opinion.

Wales is unable to request the release of players from French or English clubs.

Since Tandy became the region’s head coach in July, Collier-Keywood thinks the relationship between the Wales men’s squad and the region has improved.

Since Steve’s appointment with those clubs, “I have noticed a noticeable change,” Collier-Keywood said.

He is actually speaking to them. There is a lot more dialogue to be had at the clubs, who have all welcomed him through their doors.

Collier-Keywood believes Tandy has made a positive impression in his first campaign since taking over Wales, despite his heavy defeats against Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, and Japan.

After South Africa lost to South Africa, [Wales captain] Dewi Lake addressed his final five weeks in camp in the president’s lounge, according to Collier-Keywood.

Collier-Keywood acknowledged that the mood had changed, moving away from the relative cheer of South Africa’s 52-26 defeat.

One of our issues with the dressing room is that the players were really upbeat following the New Zealand game, Collier-Keywood said.

You approach the women in the dressing room and talk to and encourage them.

It was obviously a different story to face South Africa.

Wales have only won two of their past 23 games against Japan, losing 21 of those victories overall.