"Judgment Day" at the Millennium Stadium but the malaise in Welsh rugby ...

There is a further £2 million available from outside sponsors, but that is for

the provision of central contracts, with Wales

captain Sam Warburton the only player to have signed such a deal so far.

Adam Jones looks set to be the next to sign, but his saga continues, with

debate over the length of his contract (he wants to go beyond next year’s

Rugby World Cup), as well as his preferred region (probably the Dragons

rather than his current Ospreys), rumbling on.

Telegraph Sport also understand that the Blues’ Gethin Jenkins and Alex

Cuthbert are likely to sign central contracts, taking some financial

pressure away from the region, who could announce New Zealander Mark Hammett

as their new head coach/director of rugby this week. The former All Black

hooker has already confirmed that he is leaving his position as Hurricanes

head coach.

But too many players have already left. So when Wales begin their RBS Six

Nations next year against England on Friday, Feb 6, there is the possibility

that most of their back line will be playing outside Wales.

Indeed Cuthbert may be the only one playing inside Wales.

Think of Mike Phillips and Jamie Roberts at Racing Metro, Jonathan Davies at

Clermont Auvergne and Leigh Halfpenny at Toulon. All of those could have to

play club rugby in France the weekend before the England match, just as

Phillips, Roberts and Dan Lydiate did for Racing before this season’s opener

against Italy.

George North will be at Northampton, of course, and what about the fly-half?

Could that be Leicester’s Owen Williams by then? He was on the Tigers’s

bench on Friday night, but he has been keeping Toby Flood out of the side on

a regular basis. The Wales management have been watching, but I understand

that the chances of Williams making the tour party to South Africa this

summer are slim.

Wales intend taking only two flyhalves for their two-Test tour, which also

includes a midweek match against Eastern Province Kings before the first

Test.

Should Leicester reach the Aviva Premiership final on May 31, Williams, 22,

who has not been in a Wales squad previously, will be unable to train with

Wales fully until after then.

It could count against him, and he may have to wait until next autumn for his

chance.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/24828377

"Judgment Day" at the Millennium Stadium but the malaise in Welsh rugby ...