Giant Lock Will Rowlands To Exit Welsh Rugby
Giant Lock Will Rowlands To Exit Welsh Rugby
Giant lock Will Rowlands appears to be turning his back on his test career in order to pursue a career in France with Racing 92.
Giant lock Will Rowlands appears to be turning his back on his test career in order to pursue a career in France with Racing 92.
Alex Bywater writes in the Daily Mail that a lack of clarity around what Dragons RFC would be offering the 6-foot-8, 123-kg former Wasps was a key in his decision to move.
His exit, of course, puts pay to his test career, where he has earned 21 caps. The question now is whether or not he remains in Wayne Pivac's plans for the Rugby World Cup, if, of course, Pivac isn't sacked in the meantime.
The 31-year-old presumably is at his earning possibilities, and the likelihood he faces stiff competition in the second row post-2023, with the likes of Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins coming through the ranks.
The powerful lock originally joined the then Dean Ryan-coached Dragons on what was described as a long-term contract from the start of the 2021-2022 season. Ryan has since left the Dragons, though the club has yet to clarify the arrangement both parties came to.
Will Rowlands’ participation at the Rugby World Cup is in serious doubt.
— Steffan Thomas (@Steffan_Thomas1) December 2, 2022
His move to Racing 92 will bring an end to his Wales career. The four Welsh sides would have to vote in favour of bending the 60 cap law for him to represent Wales at the RWC.https://t.co/EeccNTbyBW
Rowlands joined the Newport-based side from the now-defunct English Premiership Wasps, where he has made just under a century of appearances over seven seasons.
Rowlands attended Rugby School and studied business, administration and management at Warwick University, before going on to Pembroke College Oxford, where he gained a BA degree in Economics and Management.
During his time at Oxford University, he played in the varsity matches of 2012 and 2013 against Cambridge University and also was a part-time member of the Wasps Academy.
He made his debut for the English Premiership club in an Anglo-Welsh Cup match against Leicester in 2012, earning a first-team contract in 2014.
Rowlands spent much of the 2015-2016 season on loan at Jersey in the Championship, before returning to the Wasps to making his English Premiership debut away at Saracens.