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Nick Tompkins has spent virtually all of his career in the Gallagher Prem
Wales centre Nick Tompkins is encouraging more of his international team-mates to head across the border to England.
Given the uncertainty in Welsh rugby at the minute, a number of players are likely to look elsewhere for contracts next season. Earlier this week, Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake were unveiled by Gloucester – with both having chosen to head to Kingsholm given the lack of clarity over the Ospreys‘ future.
The pair are unlikely to be the last to leave, with the likes of Aaron Wainwright, Dan Edwards, Gareth Thomas and Kieran Hardy all linked with moves away from Welsh clubs.
Tompkins, who has spent the majority of his career in the Gallagher Prem with Saracens, believes more Welsh players should join Morgan and Lake’s lead given the ongoing uncertainty.
“When the future’s unknown, you don’t know what’s going on, you don’t know what club is going to be there or what’s going to happen, it’s always tough for lads,” said Tompkins, who had a loan spell with the Dragons in 2020.
“They’re thinking about their families, they’re thinking about their livelihoods so it is tough.
“I had a few conversations with guys who were thinking maybe about where they were going to be and talking about clubs and stuff. I gave my opinion about the Prem and how good it is.
“I’ve been a massive advocate for the Prem and how good it is as a league and how good it would be for any of them to come over because I know how good they are.
“It’s no dig at the regions or anything like that. But the likes of Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake are world class and I think for them it’s just going to elevate their game even more.
“People are going to see how good they really are – especially in a really good set-up like Gloucester. I think it can only be a good thing.
“I do understand that it’s tough for some of the regions and the Welsh fans to see their players going – I do get that – but I think from a positive side, they need to see how good some of the players have been (in England).
“Nicky Smith, Tomos Williams, Tommy Reffell…these lads have flourished in the Prem and they’ve taken their games to the next level, so I think it’s going to be the same for Jac and Dewi.
“For them it gives them a different platform to play on, and it shows other fans how good these lads are, not just in an international setting. I think it will really show them off as players.”
Saracens had been linked with Wales captain Morgan, only for the Lions back-row to choose Gloucester.
However on Tuesday, Gloucester announced that club captain Tomos Williams would be leaving Kingsholm – with Saracens rumoured to be the likely destination.
“You hear all this speculation – everyone coming and going and whatnot – but that’s above my pay grade,” added Tompkins. “I’d love it to happen. When I chat to all of them in camp, I try to recruit all of them!”
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