French-based players unlikely to play the Aussies

Wales coach Robert Howley has admitted that the potential absence of four of his players currently plying their trade in the French league could be a big blow for the side. However, he insists that they will take a ‘softly, softly’ approach in trying to get them in the squad.

Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, James Hook and Luke Charteris all miss a training camp in Poland this weekend and could even be absent for the Test match against Australia in December as it falls outside of the Test window.

“Those players are unlikely to be involved in the Australia game.” Howley said.

Charteris has said in the past that he agreed a release clause with his current side Perpignan which would allow him to participate in all Wales training and match commitments. But these comments from Howley suggest that this may not be true and the Dragons could have an weakened side when they face the Wallabies.

It seems as though the former British and Irish Lions scrum-half is continuing talks with the French sides though, along with Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland. The teams they need to try and convince are Perpignan [Hook and Charteris], Toulon [Jenkins] and Bayonne [Phillips].

This clash with Australia falls outside of the RFU’s international window, which means that teams from England and France are under no obligation to let their players go on duty for their national sides.

Howley went on to say: “Warren and I went over to France and had five or six days with the various coaching teams in Bayonne, Toulon and Perpignan.

“There are ongoing discussions with those players based in France. At this moment in time, those players are unlikely to be involved in the Australia game.”

It would be a big blow for Wales to be without this quartet, especially against a side of Australia’s quality. On their day, the Welsh are capable of beating anyone, but they need to be at full strength.

Both Howley and Gatland will have to try and convince the French outfits to let their players leave, but if they do not need to – then you can understand why they wouldn’t.

The decision is likely to be made in the next few weeks and the four Welsh players will be hoping they can pull on the famous red jersey on December 1. If they are denied permission, then they could be watching the Test match whilst playing some classic Pub Games.