It is always a big talking point: just how often do Wales players turn out for the regions?
Front-line home-based internationals can be away from their pro teams for large chunks of the season, being retained in camp throughout the autumn and Six Nations periods.
Now, in theory, they were supposed to be available for a greater percentage of the league campaign this time around, with no United Rugby Championship fixtures scheduled on Test weekends. But Covid scuppered that plan to an extent, with postponed matches having to be re-arranged for dates which clashed with international fixtures. In addition, star players are often not released to the regions for games on fallow weekends in the Six Nations and miss matches the week before a Test campaign begins through being in camp.
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We have also seen injuries playing a big part. Justin Tipuric missed the entire season, with another long-time Wales regular Ken Owens being restricted to just two games for the Scarlets, while Ospreys duo George North and Dan Lydiate have only just returned from long lay-offs. Then you’ve got the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi and Ross Moriarty, whose outings have been heavily limited by fitness issues.
So what do the stats tell us when we look at all the regional players who were on Wales duty this season? Well, international squad calls and injuries can conspire to throw up some startling figures. If you take the case of Lions loosehead Wyn Jones, he started five Tests in a Welsh jersey, but made just three starts for the Scarlets, amid back, hip and knee trouble, while his team-mate Liam Williams made the same number of starts, six, for both club and country.
You can also see those players who had a really busy campaign. Back-five forward Seb Davies made 16 appearances for Cardiff, while also featuring in all but one of Wales’ matches. Similarly, centre Owen Watkin had 16 outings for the Ospreys while being an ever-present for Wayne Pivac in the Six Nations. The likes of Taine Basham, Ellis Jenkins, Tomas Francis and Rhys Carre have also been busy on the regional beat in addition to their international duties.
In terms of most appearances from Wales internationals, that list is topped by Ellis Jenkins for Cardiff (18 appearances), Taine Basham for Dragons (16), Owen Watkin for Ospreys (16) and Kieran Hardy for Scarlets (13). In terms of fewest outings, Josh Adams occupies that list for Cardiff (seven), Ross Moriarty for Dragons (five), Alun Wyn Jones for Ospreys (six) and Liam Williams and Wyn Jones for the Scarlets (both on six each).
Here, then, are the figures in full in terms of regional appearances in both the URC and Europe for the season just gone by for Wales players:
Cardiff
Ellis Jenkins - 18 (11 starts + 7 as a replacement)
Rhys Carre - 17 (13+4)
Owen Lane - 16
Seb Davies - 16
Kirby Myhill - 16 (12+4)
James Ratti - 14 (12+2)
Rhys Priestland - 14 (10+4)
Dillon Lewis - 14 (5+9)
Tomos Williams - 12 (8+4)
Ben Thomas - 11 (6+5)
Willis Halaholo - 10 (9+1)
Josh Navidi - 8
Josh Adams - 7
Dragons
Taine Basham - 16 (11+5)
Ben Carter - 14 (12+2)
Elliot Dee - 13 (10+3)
Aaron Wainwright - 12
Aaron Wainwright - 12
Will Rowlands - 11
Leon Brown - 10 (5+5)
Ross Moriarty - 5
Ospreys
Owen Watkin - 16
Tomas Francis - 14
Jac Morgan - 14
Gareth Anscombe - 14 (11+3)
Sam Parry - 14 (9+5)
Adam Beard - 13 (11+2)
Gareth Thomas - 13 (7+6)
Alex Cuthbert - 9
Dewi Lake - 9 (7+2)
Alun Wyn Jones - 6
Scarlets
Kieran Hardy - 13 (3+10)
Jonathan Davies - 12 (11+1)
Johnny Willliams - 12 (9+3)
Gareth Davies - 11
Ryan Elias - 11 (8+3)
Johnny McNicholl - 10
WillGriff John - 9 (3+6)
Liam Williams - 6
Wyn Jones - 6 (3+3)
