Wales A have not played a single match since their disbandment in 2002.

The Welsh Rugby Union officially re-established the team in 2016, but they are yet to take to the field and there are no signs of that changing any time soon. But there are a number of people in the upper echelons of Welsh football who believe a Welsh team would be hugely beneficial in bridging the gap between regional and international play.

Of course, whether it will be practical or not is another question, and a revival of the Six Nations is absolutely impossible as it will inevitably deprive not only Welsh teams, but also other professional clubs in various countries, of too many. players There is also the question of money and whether the WRU can invest in the A side.

But if they returned and took part in summer competitions such as the now-defunct Churchill Cup, or went on an end-of-season tour of developing countries such as Portugal or Tonga, how strong would Wales A really be? rugby correspondent Stefan Tomás pick your Wales A team if they play an important match in the near future.

15. Cameron Winnett

The 20-year-old took to professional rugby like a duck to water and has made an impressive start to the season at Cardiff. Winnett was a star at U20 level and moved up to the United Rugby Championship quite comfortably.

The Cardiff full-back is an intelligent football player, with good positional sense, strong in the air and in defense and with a dangerous counterattack. Whether he has the bit more he needs to progress to Test rugby remains to be seen, but playing in a meaningful international team competition could help Winnett close the gap.

14. Immanuel Feiyi-Waboso

The 20-year-old Exeter Chiefs international, who can also play as a centre-back, is developing a reputation as one of the most prolific finishers in English football and also has great pace. Fayi-Waboso is reportedly on Warren Gatland’s radar for the next Six Nations and is clearly a player with a high ceiling.

But Wales are not lacking in depth overall, with the likes of Rio Dyer, Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams in the mix. Team rugby could ease Fahey-Waboso’s transition to the international circuit while also keeping him tied to Wales, keeping him out of the clutches of Steve Borthwick’s England.

13. Joe Roberts

The Scarlets center impressed the Wales board during the Rugby World Cup training camp in the summer, and in August played well in England’s narrow goal defeat at Twickenham. Roberts is a great prospect with a very high ceiling.

He may not have the explosive power or speed of Mason Grady, but he is undoubtedly a smarter football player. There is a lot of competition for the number 13 shirt in Wales, with the likes of Grady and George North competing for it, so Roberts would probably be a starter for Wales A if they still existed.

12. Owen’s aneurysm

Great things have always been expected of the 23-year-old since he represented Wales at under-20 level, but a series of injuries have hampered his progress. The Dragons midfielder is a very talented footballer, with a lot of peripheral vision and an agile passing game, but he is not the explosive center that Gatland usually prefers.

A senior Welsh rugby coach once told this writer that Owen has all the skills to become an international player, but there are doubts as to whether he has the extra step and fitness to achieve it. This is why some advocate the return of the A team, which would be designed to provide answers to these types of questions.

11. Ryan Conbeer

The Scarlets winger is in the same group as Owen, he is a top regional player, but does he have a little more to become an international player? Konbeer is a lethal and very explosive finisher and although he may not have Rees-Zammit’s top pace, the Pembrokeshire man is quite quick.

However, there are question marks surrounding his defense and his high ball ability at the highest level. The 24-year-old would be ideal for the Wales A team.

10. Owen Williams

Many readers will inevitably wonder why this writer chose an injury-prone 31-year-old over promising talents like Will Reed and Dan Edwards. The reason is that certain positions require experience and maturity; Otherwise, everything else falls apart.

Pitching a group of children against the powerful English Saxons or the Irish Hounds is not development. They need cool, calm heads around them and that’s what Williams would bring with a great batting game.

9. Ellis Bevan

The 23-year-old’s performances have been forgotten this season, but he has been very good for a Cardiff team that has not played badly. Bevan has good shots and accurate passes, as well as being a threat with the ball in his hands.

He also offers physical presence and although his game control needs some improvements, his game is improving significantly. Bevan has a high ceiling and the Wales squad could help accelerate his development.

8. Morgan Morris

If this writer had been Wales manager instead of Warren Gatland, then the Ospreys’ dynamic number 8 would have won his first Six Nations match. Unfortunately, I am not responsible for Morris and given that he was not even included in Gatland’s expanded World Cup training squad, the odds are not in his favor for the Six Nations. Read my weekly column in our rugby newsletter.

Morris has been a totem for the Ospreys for several seasons now, but there is clearly something about him that doesn’t convince national selectors. The kit is ideal for a player like Morris and will help national coaches decide whether the 25-year-old is an international player or not, without the risk of a vital Six Nations match finding out.

7.James Botham

The 25-year-old has already won nine caps for Wales under Wayne Pivac in the 2021-21 season but is yet to play. A few injuries didn’t help his cause, but he excelled at Cardiff for almost two years.

Historically, Botham possesses most of the characteristics that Gatland admires, namely: he is very physical, has a tremendous work rate, goes to the limit, is athletic and wins the ball in the tackle. The problem with Botham is that there is a lot of depth at openside, but the A’s will keep the Cardiff player in the game.

6. Cameron Hanecom

The good thing about the A team is that it will tie dual-rated players to Wales for at least the next three years. The Blue Bulls number 8, who can also play at full-back, has made a huge impact in the early rounds of the United Rugby Championship after making his senior debut against the Scarlets last month with one man on the field. result.

Hanekom has represented South Africa at youth level but is eligible for Wales, although it would be a surprise if South Africa did not try to retain the 21-year-old.

Welsh rugby lacks a big, athletic and dynamic ball carrier to lead the free forwards, so it would be a huge surprise if Wales didn’t keep an eye on the Bulls man.

5. Rhys Davis

The 25-year-old has been consistently good for the Ospreys since returning from Bath a few seasons ago. Davies is an extremely physical player with a very nasty edge and an excellent striker.

He has been in and out of the Wales squad in recent seasons and has won three caps. He’s on the list today but not first, so if Wales A played tomorrow he would probably start.

4.James Fender

The 22-year-old has finally broken into the Ospreys’ first team and has put in a series of impressive performances this season. The Fender is very physical and a powerful carrier that crosses the gain line more often.

He is also strong in the lineup, while also doing a lot of unseen dirty work and being relentless on defense.

3.Tom Botha

A rigid support is not an area to move. Bothy may be 33, but he is a Wales qualifier and is by far the strongest scrummager in Welsh rugby.

Selecting Botha would not only give Wales A the opportunity to dominate set pieces, but also create the platform for other players on the flanks to shine.

2. Sam Parry

The 31-year-old has been a consistent performer for the Ospreys since signing from the Dragons nine years ago. Parry brings a real physical advantage and his line shots are quite accurate.

The Ospreys hooker has been in and out of Wales, so it stands to reason he has a good chance of starting for Wales A if they revive.

1. Kemsley Mathias

The 24-year-old certainly has the size and physique to make a mark in international football in the future, but for now he is still a work in progress. Mathias made his Wales debut as a late substitute against England at Twickenham in August and was excellent for the Scarlets last season.

The Scarlets prop is a carrier of explosives and has worked hard defensively, but his scrum needs some work. Wales would be an ideal setting for its development.

Substitutions

16. Bradley Roberts

It performed well at a regional level, but there are doubts about its size at an international level.

17. Rhys Carré

He has all the qualities to become a top international player but was left out of Gatland’s expanded World Cup training squad after failing to meet fitness targets.

18. Archie Griffin

The 22-year-old has made impressive appearances as a substitute for Bath this season and is a player with a bright future.

19. Seb Davis

Cardiff Castle currently finds itself in the international wilderness after winning 17 caps for Wales, but it still has plenty to offer.

20. Thane Plumtree

The Scarlets man is a very talented player with a lot of future and can defend five scrum positions.

21. Ruben Morgan-Williams

Morgan-Williams has been excellent for the Ospreys this season, but it remains to be seen whether he can make it to international level.

22. Dan Edwards

He may have only played once at senior level for the Ospreys to date, but the Welsh under-20 star is expected to make big strides.

23. Ivan Stevens

The 22-year-old is in fine form with Newcastle Falcons in the Gallagher Premier League and is the son of former Llanelli and Wales ace Colin Stevens.