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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Steffan Thomas

Gatland's shock Six Nations call-up on verge of leaving Welsh rugby for England

Teddy Williams could be the latest player to leave Welsh rugby, with the young Cardiff lock closing in on a move to Exeter Chiefs.

The 22-year-old was an unexpected call-up to Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad but didn't make the field to win his first cap.

At 6ft 6ins and 118kg, Williams packs a physical punch and is seen very much as a Wales star of the future.

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The financial situation in Welsh rugby is dire with players having to take significant pay cuts, while playing budgets at all four regions will eventually fall to £4.5million.

Interim Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Nigel Walker revealed at the start of the month the situation was more acute at Cardiff who have got 23 players in contract, which has taken up a large part of their budget.

This means players will have to take significant pay cuts, leading to many deciding to leave. Jarrod Evans and Dillon Lewis are joining Harlequins while Max Llewellyn has signed for Gloucester.

And while a deal has not yet been completed, Williams could be the next player to commit his future elsewhere, with Exeter Chiefs leading the race for his signature, although there are other English clubs and a Welsh region interested.

While losing senior players is an inevitability given the current financial situation at the regions, Welsh rugby can ill afford to lose its next generation of talent.

Should Williams leave Wales, he would currently remain eligible for international selection because uncapped players are exempt of the ruling.

Even though the contractual freeze at the regions has finally been lifted, Cardiff are still unlikely to be able to compete with the offer Exeter have put on the table for Williams.

If he puts pen to paper on a contract at the Chiefs, he will join a strong Welsh contingent in Devon which includes Wales internationals Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins, while Dan John, Iwan Jenkins and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso are also at the club.

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