Welsh rugby is bracing itself for one final kick to its reputation when Andy Farrell announces his British & Irish Lions squad to tour Australia this summer on Thursday.
The last time the Lions faced the Wallabies in 2013 there were16 Welsh players involved in the tour party, which consisted of 37 players and seven replacements, and no fewer than 10 started in the decisive third Test in Sydney, with an 11th coming on as a replacement.
The last three Lions tours have all had Welsh captains – Sam Warburton in 2013 and 2017 and Alun Wyn Jones in 2021 – and you have to go back seven tours to 1997 since there was a Welsh representation of less than double figures, including replacements.
After back-to-back Wooden Spoons in the Six Nations, and an unprecedented run of 14 successive internationals defeats, the Welsh dragon is breathing less fire than you see in a winter fuel allowance-deprived pensioner’s grate.
But, as far as three times tourist Shane Williams is concerned, “we are where we are” in Welsh rugby.
He can’t see past Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams pushing for a Test place – if they get on the tour.
“We’re now in the position in Wales where Scotland have been in recent tours. We aren’t a good side at the moment,” said Wales legend Williams.
“Ireland are at the top of the tree, England are revitalised and Scotland have a crop of exciting players.
“We have a handful of good players here in Wales, but Andy Farrell isn’t going to want to take players who aren’t in the habit of winning games.
“There is nothing worse than playing for a side that is struggling to win week in, week out, and you don’t want to risk taking that sort of attitude into a Lions team.
“We’re going to see far fewer Welsh players in this Lions squad than in previous years, but that’s the result of the poor performances of the national side.
“It’s exactly where we are – at the bottom. We need to be looking at what we can do to improve the state of the game in Wales, from the schools all the way up to the national side.”
Of the 31 traditional tours undertaken by the Lions to the three major rugby playing southern hemisphere rugby nations since 1888, only two have been devoid of Welsh players.
They were two tours to South Africa in 1891 and 1896.
The 1891 tour comprised 17 English and four Scottish players, while five years later the balance was 12 English and nine Irish.
Willie Thomas was the sole Welshman on the inaugural tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1888, when no Test matches were played.
So, for the past 107 of the 113 Tests played on tour (not including the 2005 ‘home’ Test against Argentina) by the Lions in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, there has always been a Welshman in the starting XV.
Will that be the case in 2025? Indeed, will there be any Welsh representation in the tour party?
While the likes of current Welsh skipper Morgan, Dewi Lake, Dafydd Jenkins, Nicky Smith, Taulupe Faletau and Tomos Williams have all been mentioned as possible tourists, they face huge competition for a place on the plane.
| Nation | 2021 | 2017 | 2013 | 2009 | 2005 | 2001 | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 15 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 37 |
| Scotland | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| Ireland | 11 | 12 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 26 |
| Wales | 10 | 14 | 25 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 33 |
| Nation | 2021 | 2017 | 2013 | 2009 | 2005 | 2001 | Total | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player Nos | 41 | 47 | 44 | 40 | 51 | 44 | 267 | |
| England | 13 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 23 | 21 | 95 | 36 |
| Scotland | 8 | 5* | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 11 |
| Ireland | 8 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 64 | 24 |
| Wales | 12 | 15* | 16 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 79 | 29 |
* This number includes the ‘Geographical Six’ players called up to train with the Lions – 4 Welsh, who sat on bench but didn’t play, and 2 Scottish who did.
“If you are looking at the form of the Welsh players there aren’t many putting up their hands for selection,” adds former Wales wing Williams.
“The one who has improved game on game, for both club and country is Jac Morgan.
“He can play right across the back row and I’d have him in my 1st Test starting team.
“It’s going to be very difficult for any other Welsh players to creep into the Test line-up, although Tomos Williams is playing very well for Gloucester.
“I can’t get over his form for his club, but there is a huge difference between playing for Gloucester against Bath or Harlequins and facing the Wallabies for the Lions.”
All will be revealed later this week with Farrell having at least one Welshman in his tour party – the Lions chair, Ieuan Evans.
