Nick Tompkins has vented his frustration by saying that Wales should stop using politics to deny England-based players such as him the opportunity to play for the national team if they have fewer than 60 caps.
The Saracens centre — and the likes of Louis Rees-Zammit, Callum Sheedy, Tommy Reffell and Christ Tshiunza — will soon have to halt their Test careers unless they move to one of the four Welsh regional clubs.
Having been uncapped when they signed their contracts with Gallagher Premiership clubs, which permitted them to be picked by their country, they will be ineligible if they agree a new deal outside Wales, unless they have surpassed 60 caps.
The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is set to review the policy and is open to lowering the number of caps required for a player to represent Wales while at a club outside their borders.
The four Welsh sides — Scarlets, Dragons, Cardiff and Ospreys — are still locked in talks with the union about their budgets for next season, which means they are unable to sign players to new deals. That impasse has led to a number of departures, with the lock Will Rowlands leaving Dragons this summer to join Racing 92. Under the 60-cap rule he will be ineligible for the World Cup this year, unless it is changed.
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Tompkins, who has 25 Wales caps, thinks that players such as him should not have to choose between their club and Wales.
“I find it really frustrating as it’s more to do with politics than the logistics of it,” Tompkins, 27, told The Times’ Ruck podcast. “It’s not up to me at all, but I’d like to see the 60-cap rule not there.
“Yes, we might miss a week here and there, or a game outside the international window, and that is tough, but I just think because of the politics it hampers the player and the team.
“I’m a massive advocate of players having autonomy and being able to play in either league [the United Rugby Championship or the Premiership]. You can’t argue with how good the product of the Premiership is.
“I’m at a club where I feel happy and playing my best rugby, and hopefully it translates to Wales. Yet I get hamstrung with it because I’m playing three hours away.
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“Something needs to change. It never seemed to hamper Taulupe Faletau [who played for Bath from 2016 to 2022]. I hope we can have no drama, and common sense prevails.
“I’m not saying, ‘Don’t play in Wales whatsoever,’ but you can’t deny the talent, the skill, the training and coaching that goes on in English clubs. These lads will play in Europe, get those experiences too. Both avenues should be open.
“Boys will be put in difficult situations, and will have to choose whether to play for their country or club. That frustrates me, as you should be able to do both. And in the long term Wales will be better for it.”
Tompkins also spoke about the mood in the Wales camp after the departure of Wayne Pivac and the return of Warren Gatland.
“It’s exciting and very unknown now. The boys I’ve spoken to have said how good Gatland is. It’s exciting to see how he operates — a man who has won Lions tours. It’s going to be fantastic.”
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The former Saracens defence coach Paul Gustard has been sounded out as a possible addition to Gatland’s backroom team as a replacement for Gethin Jenkins, and Tompkins said he would love him to get the job.
“I know him personally and he was fantastic at Saracens, so it would be very good if that was the case,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Six Nations could start next month without Tompkins’s Wales team-mate Rees-Zammit and Johnny Sexton, the Ireland fly half.
Sexton, 37, has had surgery on his cheekbone, having injured himself while playing for Leinster on Sunday against Connacht, and Gloucester’s Rees-Zammit, 21, is in a protective boot after injuring his ankle against Leicester Tigers on Christmas Eve.
Rees-Zammit’s director of rugby, George Skivington, said: “He is walking around at the moment which is good news, but is definitely not going to be back any time soon. I have not got an exact date of return because it’s going to be around that Six Nations period.
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“He has now been scanned. The medics are on top of it, I just know he is not going to be here for the Six Nations and therefore it’s up to Wales to work out whether he is going to play for them.”
