After a mammoth weekend of sport, I have decided to avoid an article about the World cup. Wales have progressed into the knockout stages of the tournament, with that we move into the closing stages of the Warren Gatland era. Gatland has a maximum of three games left in charge of Wales and could see his tenure end if France overcome Wales on Sunday. I have decided to pick my forgotten XV of players capped by Warren Gatland since 2008.

15- Dan Evans- The Ospreys Full back has been one of the most consistent performers in regional Rugby since he started his career with the Scarlets in 2006, Evans has since played for the Dragons before moving on to the Ospreys in 2014. The Amman valley school product made his Wales debut on the summer tour to North America in 2009, and featured in the two tests on tour, but has not featured since. The emergence of Liam Williams at the Scarlets saw Evans lose his place in the team, Halfpenny and Williams have dominated the international picture over the last 8 years. Hallam Amos has also been selected in the majority of squads over the last four seasons with his versatility seeing him picked ahead of Evans. Evans is still a key player for the Ospreys and seems to have a few more years ahead of him at 30 years old.

14- Will Harries- Educated at the illustrious Millfield School in Somerset, Harries started his professional career with Northampton. He featured on the sevens circuit for Wales before he moved back across the bridge to join the Dragons. Harries made three appearances for Wales, his debut came against New Zealand in the summer of 2010, his second came in an autumn series game against Australia. The Cardiff born flyer won his final cap against the Barbarians in 2012. Harries was eventually released from the Dragons in 2014, he then signed for the ambitious Ealing Trailfinders in the English Championship, where he was still a classy operator. Harries signed for National League 1 side Chinnor for the start of the 2019/2020 season.

13- Cory Allen- He burst onto the scene with a sensational performance against Fiji in the final of the Hong Kong 7’s in 2013. Allen made his full debut in November 2013 against Argentina. Allen then experienced some set backs with injury, before he impressed Gatland enough to win a place in the World Cup squad in 2015. He scored a hat trick in the first Wales game of the tournament against Uruguay, unfortunately Allen’s campaign ended there due to a Hamstring injury. Since then Cory has moved from the Blues to the Ospreys mainly due to a lack of playing time behind Ray Lee-Lo and Willis Halholo. Allen has featured mainly on the Wing for the Ospreys, especially since Scott Williams made the trip over the Loughour bridge from the Scarlets. Allen last featured for Wales against Tonga in Auckland in 2027,where his most memorable moment was him being on the receiving end of a huge hit from David Halaifounua.

12- Ashley Beck- He made his debut for the Ospreys at the age of 17, when he was still a student at Neath College. He had a stellar reputation in schoolboy Rugby and this progressed into his early career with Aberavon. Beck has suffered a glut of injuries which has seen him struggle for fitness to truly do himself justice. He made his Wales debut against Australia in Brisbane in 2012,and featured off the bench in all three of the summer tests. Beck won 7 Caps in the next 18 months. His last appearance for Wales saw him score his only International Try against Tonga in Cardiff. Beck has not been named in a Wales squad since fitness concerns saw him rule himself out of the Six nations in 2014. More injuries have scuppered Beck’s chances of featuring under Gatland, Beck opted to leave the Ospreys in 2018. He headed to Worcester alongside fellow ex-Osprey Sam Lewis. Beck suffered a broken leg in the early part of 2018 and is just returning to first team Rugby.

11- Luke Morgan- An impressive performer on the international 7’s circuit, Morgan signed for the Ospreys and was fast tracked into the Autumn series squad in 2018. Morgan was picked to start the series opener against Scotland in Cardiff. Morgan did not get a chance to shine in the Welsh victory and did not feature again in the autumn. He was then overlooked for the Grand Slam campaign,and was again absent from Gatland’s plans for the World cup training squad. Morgan has the chance to get his head down and impress for the Ospreys again this year.

10- Rhys Priestland- I think Priestland has opted to leave the international scene rather than him being overlooked. The Bro Myrrdin school product made his debut in the 2011 Six nations as a replacement. Priestlands ball playing talents shone through in that summer’s world cup warm ups. Priestland had the Welsh backline purring in 2011, his best performance came against Ireland in the quarter finals as his timing with Jamie Roberts allowed Wales to penetrate opposition back lines almost at will. Priestland missed the Semi final, which combined with Adam Jones injury and Sam Warburton’s red card, saw Wales fall agonisingly close to reaching their first world cup final. Priestland played well in the 2012 Six Nations where Wales won a grand slam, but his form did seem to suffer when the full time kicking duties were given to Leigh Halfpenny. Priestland’s then struggled for Wales,despite Gatland attempting to play him into form. It seemed that Priestland was uncomfortable in the International spotlight. He eventually lost his starting place to Dan Biggar, Priestland is still an accomplished player, but confidence seems to be his big issue. He has not featured for Wales since 2017 against the All Blacks. Priestland has been playing for Bath in the English premiership since 2015, he has lined up with ex Wales colleague Roberts over the last few seasons and now battles with Freddie Burns for the 10 jersey. Priestland won 50 caps in total for Wales, I hope he is remembered for his early caps rather than the latter part of his career. His influence on the World cup in 2011 seems to be overlooked.

9- Warren Fury- Swansea born and initially educated at Bishopston Comprehensive school. Fury was capped a year early at Under 16’s level and captained Swansea Schools to their last Dewar Shield Victory, alongside team mate Alun Wyn Jones in 2001. Fury then attended Colston’s school in Bristol and featured in their Daily Mail cup winning team, before he signed for the Wasps academy. Fury won two caps off the bench in South Africa in 2008, he did not win another cap for Wales. Fury then featured for London Irish, Leeds Carnegie and Newcastle Falcons.

‘ One of the toughest kids i have ever coached physically and mentally’

Shaun Edwards describing Warren Fury from his time coaching him at Wasps and with Wales.

8-  Seb Davies- Davies has plenty of time to be named in Welsh Squads in the future, but he seems to have fallen off Warren Gatland’s radar spectacularly over the last 18 months. I feel that Davies has been a victim of Aaron Wainwright and Adam Beard emerging onto the International scene. At 23 years old the ex Glantaf school pupil is still young in Rugby terms. He also may be a victim of his versatility where he can cover the entire back 5 of the pack, but his versatility would have seen him be a valuable commodity in a World cup year, his last came at Number 8 against Tonga in November 2018.

7- Sam Cross-  An action packed performance for the Ospreys against European Powerhouse Saracens saw Cross named in Warren Gatland’s squad for the 2017 Autumn internationals. Cross won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and he was a star for the Wales 7’s team in his early career. Cross won two caps on consecutive weekends in November 2017, he won his first cap as a replacement against Australia and secured his first starting jersey a week later against Georgia. Since then Brynmawr boy Cross has hardly been spotted in an Ospreys jersey, let alone a Wales jersey. But with Wales having players like Thomas Young and Ollie Griffths struggling to win Caps, Cross seems a long way off adding to his two caps.

6- James King- Another versatile player who put in some decent performances for Wales, without setting the world on fire. King made his Wales Debut in Japan in 2013 and won 11 caps before his last appearance against Italy in February 2017. King was one of the Ospreys players to be awarded a dual contract. Injuries have curtailed his international career, he is still with the Ospreys and is now one of the more experienced squad members at the Liberty stadium.

5- Olly Kohn- Bristol born but qualified for Wales through a Rhumney Valley born Grandfather. Kohn had featured for Harlequins for 7 seasons and had two stints with Bristol with a season at Plymouth Albion sandwiched in. Kohn was coming to the end of his career and injury forced his retirement a matter of months after he came off the bench against Ireland in the six nations. Kohn did not feature for Wales again. Kohn along with his Brothers, run the Jolly Hog Sausage Company which features at Kohn’s old stomping ground the Stoop in West London. They also own the Pigsty restaurant in Bristol, where some friends and I  had a very enjoyable meal last year which included some free Beers, which had been pre ordered for Harlequins but not wanted after they had popped in for a post match meal after a loss to Bristol. Kohn engaged in good conversation with us at the time and deserves the success his restaurant is getting.

4- Andrew Coombes- Now I feel bad for picking Coombes here. Injury ended his career early, Coombes had been a stalwart of Newport RFC in the Premiership and played with heart and passion instilled at Nelson RFC for the Dragons. Coombes made his International debut in the 2013 Six Nations against Ireland, he won 10 caps before his last appearance in 2014 against England. Coombes was treated terribly by the Dragons after he sustained a career ending Knee injury in 2015. This injury left Coombes unable to play with his daughter and in constant pain, Coombes spoke publicly at his anger at the situation and noted that he was not told his treatment was no longer being covered by the Dragons. Coombes now features on the BBC for Welsh premiership games and is a good pundit for Welsh Rugby.

3- Rhodri Jones- A North Walian Prop, who followed George North to Llandovery College and in to the Scarlets set up. Jones started his career at Loose head, but Gatland saw a future at Tight head for Jones. He moved to the Ospreys in 2016, due to Samson Lee emerging as the Scarlets first choice tight head. Jones made his Wales debut against the Barbarians in 2011 and has won 17 caps to date. His last cap came off the bench in Washington D.C in 2018 against South Africa. Jones reported that his transition to tight head was ending in 2018. This was not a successful position change for Jones, with Nicky Smith and Rob Evans featuring at Loose head as well as Wyn Jones and the emerging Rhys Carre I can’t see an international return at loose head. A return at tight head also seems unlikely with Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis and Samson Lee being the top three.

2- Lloyd Burns- Burns travelled to New Zealand with Wales in 2011 for the world cup. He worked as a Bricklayer while playing for Cross Keys, before breaking into the Dragons set up in the 2010-2011 season. Burns was an abrasive player who made his debut against the Barbarians in 2011, his seventh and final cap came in the 3^rd/ 4^th place play off game against Australia. Burns career was cut short when he suffered a neck injury which caused damage to his Aorta in 2012. Burns would surely have won more caps for Wales, as he seemed to be a player in Warren Gatland’s mould of what a Hooker should be.

1- Ryan Bevington-  Another player to make his debut against the Barbarians in 2011, Bevington started his career at the Ospreys where he had progressed through their academy from Porthcawl RFC.  Bevington featured in Wales 2011 World cup, he won the last of his 13 caps off the bench against Italy in 2014. Bevington joined Bristol RFC in 2016 where he featured in the side that won promotion back to the English Premiership from the Championship. He signed for the Dragons in 2018, Bevington still has time to win more caps, but like many others in this team he has fallen off Warren Gatland’s radar. He can now focus on playing under Dean Ryan in Newport.