Rugby in Wales is currently going through somewhat of a tumultuous period, as they seem to be losing a representative in the URC, while the national team has gone through a serious decline since the turn of the decade.
There has been a recent trend of players outside of the United Kingdom showing interest in qualifying for Wales through ancestry, with New Zealand-born Blair Murray a notable name to have made the switch in 2024—and has made 16 appearances for his new nation while also playing for the Scarlets.
Another name that has been considering changing his national team to Wales is Tahlor Cahill, who, like Murray, was born in New Zealand and qualifies through ancestry. And if recent reports are to be believed, it seems as if yet another Kiwi star is looking to make a switch.
Scarlets’ Fletcher Anderson would like to play in ‘awesome’ Six Nations
23-year old Fletcher Anderson grew up playing rugby in his hometown, developing his talents in the Crusaders academy while making a name for himself in New Zealand’s provincial championship.
He would only make two appearances after eventually representing the Crusaders in 2024 and 2025, before moving to Scarlets last year—becoming a core component of the Welsh team, having so far played in 11 out of their 14 URC games while showcasing his impressive ability on the ball.
If Christchurch-born Anderson is able to continue his impressive form for Scarlets, he will meet the international residency criteria in 2030, and given that he has signed a three-and-a-half year contract, this is not out of the question.
By the time he is eligible to represent Wales, he will be 27. Speaking on a potential opportunity with the Welsh squad in the future, Anderson said:
“When I re-signed [with the Scarlets, representing Wales was] something that was in the back of my mind… as a rugby player, you want to play at the highest level you can… I didn’t realise how big the Six Nations was over here until I came here.
“It’s awesome. It’s probably the best rugby competition in the world, barring the World Cup. So, if that doesn’t motivate you, I don’t know what does… to think that I’ve signed for three more years… then I am only a year-and-a-half away from qualifying… it’s a long way away, of course, but it’s definitely something that’s in the back of my mind. I want to play international rugby one day.”
