RUGBY figures from across the area are joining the Denbighshire Free Press campaign for Eifion Roberts to be included in Wales’ squad for the 2010 Six Nations Championship.
Various coaches, players and committee members have joined forces to insist that the Sale Sharks prop has to figure in northern hemisphere rugby’s most prestigious competition, which next year gets underway in February.
Wales have three home games in the 2010 Six Nations campaign, versus Scotland (February 13), France (February 27) and Italy (March 20), coupled with trips to England (February 6) and Ireland (March 13).
Comments supporting Roberts’ Six Nations addition come in the light of Wales’ heavy 33-12 home loss to Australia on Saturday, when the Welsh scrummage was decidedly second best.
Kenton Morgan, manager of North Wales’ regional team Gogledd Cymru, said: “Only time will tell, but I think we will see him in the squad.”
Russell Penrhyn Jones was, along with Paul Threlfall, the Ruthin coach when Roberts moved from Cae Ddol to the Sale Sharks and he is fully supportive of the Free Press campaign.
“After last week’s performance, I would say yes (Eifion should be in the squad).”
He added: “I will back the campaign and I think it will be fantastic.
“I honestly think if Eifion was playing for the Cardiff Blues, he would be in the Welsh squad.
“There’s no doubt he is good enough to play for Wales. I can’t remember any scrums going back with him in it.
“He’s playing against (Phil) Vickery and people like that ... and you can’t do anything unless your scrum is functioning.
“For North Wales rugby it’s huge - it’s inspirational.”
Former Dinbych coach Tegid Phillips was Roberts’ coach when the prop played three matches for the all-conquering Denbighshire / Flintshire Bulls between 2001 and 2003 and he said: “My belief is that Eifion should have been in the squad. I am sure everybody wants to see him get that second cap, deservedly.
“Eifion has particular talents in rugby. He has undoubted talents as far as scrummaging is concerned.
“I think in some ways it was quite heartening on Saturday - the scrum was king.
“One of the reasons for Australia’s dominance was at scrum time and hopefully we will have learned a harsh lesson, that we need something nearing parity to be successful.”
Iwan ‘Ffrith’ Roberts is a former Bulls and North Wales colleague of Roberts and he too thinks that the Shark can do a job for his country.
“They have got somebody who can scrummage and a prop forward who can cross the gain line while carrying the ball,” he said.
SIGN OUR COUPON ON THIS WEEK'S FREE PRESS, JOINING THE CALL FOR EIFION TO BE INCLUDED IN WALES' SIX NATIONS SQUAD