Project Reset: Wales players have considered moves away - Gareth Anscombe

Gareth AnscombeImage source, Huw Evans Agency
Image caption,

Gareth Anscombe has won 26 caps for Wales after making his debut in 2015

Wales players are considering moving to non-Welsh clubs amidst regional rugby uncertainty, Gareth Anscombe has said.

Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam, in which Anscombe was pivotal, was accompanied by talk of domestic changes with on-off mergers and contract uncertainty.

Moving away from Wales would see any player with less than 60 caps sacrifice their place in the international team.

However the Cardiff Blues fly-half, who has 26 caps, said: "I think it has made all the boys think about it [leaving]."

Anscombe, who scored 20 points from fly-half and then full-back against Ireland to steer Wales to the Grand Slam, added: "Players have been let down a bit when you look at results we have provided them."

The 27-year-old, whose national dual contract expires at the end of this season, is thought to be a target for English Premiership clubs Bath and Harlequins.

And with domestic rugby looking into changes dubbed Project Reset for the 2020-21 season, he has not ruled out following in the footsteps of the now ineligible Rhys Webb and moving to a club outside of Wales.

"We've only got a 10-year window to really look after ourselves, and I guess the important thing is you don't want to look back with any regrets.

"We all want to play for Wales - there is no doubt about that - but players need to be treated well, and we deserve to be.

"We are a world-class team and we deserve to be where we are. We're not far off beating anyone, we are number two in the world now, so hopefully that gets reciprocated both ways."

Blues want Anscombe to stay

Image source, Huw Evans picture agency
Image caption,

Gareth Anscombe has made 72 appearances for the Cardiff Blues in all competitions

In the week Blues welcome Scarlets in a Pro14 derby, Anscombe hopes to get his future sorted.

"Hopefully from my perspective we can get things sorted sooner rather than later but I have got some things I need to weigh up as well."

Blues head coach John Mulvihill says the region "most definitely" wants to retain the services of Anscombe.

"It has been tough for Gareth and the other boys. We have left their focus to be solely on the Six Nations and it would be unfair to sit in front of him during the Six Nations," Mulvihill said.

"We have had discussions this week and will be ongoing next week and the finer things have been worked out.

"We have always been quite positive about it but it's a big decision for him to make and he has to take his time and get it done."

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