Gatland Defends Wales Player Absences for Summer Tests
In a move aimed at player welfare, Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) head coach Warren Gatland has defended the decision to leave four key Wales players at home for the upcoming summer matches against Australia and South Africa.
Hooker Ryan Elias, lock Will Rowlands, wing Josh Adams, and flanker Alex Mann will not be involved in the international fixtures, which come at the end of a grueling 11-month season for most Welsh players.
Gatland acknowledged the heavy workload faced by regional squads, stating, > “It has been a long slog of a season for most Welsh players given the workload resulting from reduced regional squads.”
He further explained that for some, “it has been two seasons rolled into one after last summer was spent suffering Gatland’s arduous World Cup preparation.”
The decision to rest these key players was made in consultation with the individuals, as Gatland emphasized, > “I said, ‘you’ve got to make what you feel is the best decision for you, not what’s best for Wales or your club’.”
The head coach recognized the importance of allowing players to take a physical and mental break to “recharge themselves” during the off-season.
Wales will conclude their extensive 18-match season with a clash against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on July 19, following the tests against South Africa and two matches in Australia.
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