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Willis given Gatland`s blessing

Thursday 24th July 2008

Tom Willis: Has Warren Gatland's blessing

Warren Gatland urged the Welsh regions to look local and only fish abroad for players as a last resort earlier this year, but new Dragons hooker Tom Willis has arrived in Newport having talked first to Gatland to make sure he had his former mentor's blessing.

28-year-old hooker Willis is one of four signings from abroad the Dragons have made for the coming season, along with Japan fly-half James Arlidge, and New Zealanders Grant Webb and Hoani MacDonald.

Gatland urged the Welsh regions to develop home-grown talent shortly before the Six Nations, saying that there should eventually be a reduction in the number of non-Welsh qualified players in the squads.

"Warren told me what he thinks about the issue of non-Welsh-qualified players," said Willis to the BBC as he paraded the Dragons' new kit on Wednesday.

Willis played under Gatland at Waikato when the Mooloo Men won the Air New Zealand Cup in 2006, and said he had canvassed both Gatland's opinion of Wales, and that of Ospreys flanker Marty Holah.

"I don't think he has any problems with experienced, quality professionals who are prepared to improve the quality of the team and players around (Welsh youngsters)."

"I know the issue of how many non-Welsh-qualified players playing in Wales is topical and I think it's fair to say out of the four regions we are the one with the least players brought in.

"These guys that get brought in are full-time professionals and are not here to make up the numbers.

"They are here to help improve the team, perform well themselves and ultimately help win games.

"I know the Dragons have a great group of young players coming through, but they're pretty fresh and pretty green and don't quite have that level of experience of top-quality rugby.

"So I suppose I'm one of the players, with a bit of experience, they've picked to help lead the way.

"Warren told me despite the Dragons' performances of late they were a team with a bit of potential and some really exciting young players."