Not a single Welsh regional player has made it into the United Rugby Championship Dream Team for the 2021-22 season. That comes on the back of no side from Wales figuring in the eight-strong play-offs, with all four of our regions finishing in the bottom half of the table.
There were some individuals who made a strong case for inclusion, notably the Scarlets’ Tongan duo Sam Lousi and Sione Kalamafoni, along with Ospreys openside Jac Morgan. But, in the end, they all missed out in a selection determined by a media vote.
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The Dream Team is dominated by the South African sides that joined the expanded competition at the beginning of the season. They provide 10 of the XV, with the Stormers leading the way with five representatives, including the tournament’s top try scorer Leolin Zas.
There are three players from the Bulls, who have joined the Stormers in making the play-off semi-finals, and two from the Sharks, including Springboks star prop Ox Nche. The rest of the team is drawn from the Irish provinces, although one of those five is actually South African in the sizeable shape of Munster second row Jean Kleyn.
Players had to have made a minimum of nine league appearances to be considered, with the media panel given a shortlist of 10 players per position, provided by URC StatMaster. The player with the most votes in each position earned a place in the team.
This announcement follows other individual awards, which have included Ospreys fly-half Gareth Anscombe picking up the Golden Boot for his place-kicking accuracy and his regional team-mate Jac Morgan being named Turnover King in recognition of his tremendous work over the ball.
URC Dream Team
15. Warrick Gelant (Stormers)
14. Seabelo Senatla (Stormers)
13. James Hume (Ulster)
12. Damian Willemse (Stormers)
11. Leolin Zas (Stormers)
10. Ross Byrne (Leinster)
9. Craig Casey (Munster)
1. Ox Nche (Sharks)
2. Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)
3. Thomas du Toit (Sharks)
4. Jean Kleyn (Munster)
5. Ruan Nortje (Bulls)
6. Marcell Coetzee (Bulls)
7. Nick Timoney (Ulster)
8. Evan Roos (Stormers)
