The WRU has agreed to spend £500,000 recruiting five top young South African players and bringing them to Wales. The scheme is the brainchild of Welsh coach Graham Henry and team manager David Pickering. The players chosen will be brought to Wales, placed with top clubs and paid £15,000£18,000 a season.

There would be no need for any family connections as the players in question would give a guarantee to remain in Wales for three seasons so that they could qualify under the residency rule. Two young Natal players have already been identified. The WRU is prepared to spend £500,000 on five players yet has allocated the same amount of money to the schools and youths systems that develop hundreds of players.