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The WRU is to ramp up its Welsh Exiles programme in an effort to track and capture talented players who qualify for Wales, either through birth, parents or grandparents.

So just who is out there to keep track of?

Well, there’s plenty of options as it transpires. In fact, you’d be amazed at the young Welshmen playing in England who at present are more or less unknown to fans this side of the Severn Bridge.

There’s four members of the World Cup winning England Under-20s squad for a start, guys who are not tied to the Red Rose because the Under-20s are not England’s second string, guys who could, given a bit of persuading, play for Wales.

But it’s not just that quartet worth monitoring... there’s a lengthy list of relative unknowns with their best years ahead of them plying their trade over the border.

Here’s 18 names for the Welsh management to consider as the Exiles monitoring process steps up a gear...

George Nott (Sale Sharks)

The 20-year-old back or lock forward shone as England lifted the Under-20 World Cup for the third time in four years.

Llandudno-born Nott, who qualifies for England through his parents, attended Rydal Penrhos Primary School in Colwyn Bay and was spotted by Sale Sharks playing for Chester, making his debut in a European Champions Cup clash with Munster.

He was man of the match in the 39-17 semi-final win over South Africa at the World Cup and started all five matches, scoring his maiden try in the opening game with Italy.

Nott, an accomplished footballer, does volunteer work coaching Connahs Quay Tigers Specials, a disabled football team.

Huw Taylor (Worcester)

Another to have shone at the Under-20 World Cup, being in the run-on England side in all five games and touching down in the semi-final with the Baby Boks.

The Worcester Warriors flanker also scored in the final against Ireland. The 20-year-old has also represented England at under-17 and 18 level.

He lists his two favourite players as Wales and Ospreys inspiration Alun Wyn Jones, “for his passion, leadership and work-rate”, and New Zealand captain Kieran Read. for “athleticism, leadership and line-out skills”.

Harry Randell (Gloucester)

A former Wales Under-16 captain and Welsh speaker, he appeared for the Scarlets at under-16 and under-18 level and was a pupil at Llandovery College having previously attended Tycroes Primary and Amman Valley Comprehensive School.

Randell was named official player of the match when Wales Under-16s beat England 25-6 in April 2013 and starred for Llandovery College against England’s top rugby-playing schools.

But the Slough-born player switched allegiance to England and joined Gloucester Academy. He starred for England Under-18 when they pipped Wales at Aberavon a few months ago.

Although only 18, he was promoted to the Under-20 squad and appeared in all five of their matches at the Junior World Cup, producing an inspirional performance off the bench in the final.

Randell may be small in stature but he has a swift service, makes darting runs, is a clever kicker and reads the game well.

He lists playing for the Lions and becoming the world’s best scrum-half among his rugby ambitions.

Johnny Williams (London Irish)

(Image: Getty Images)

The dangerous centre, who is just 19, qualifies for Wales, Scotland and England, and formed a potent midfield for the Red Rose alongside Joseph Marchant and Harry Mallinder at the Under-20 World Cup.

Williams represented Wales at under-16 level and was a rare bright spot for London Irish last season as they finished bottom of the Aviva Premiership and were relegated, scoring four tries in 17 appearances.

He scored against Scotland and South Africa at the World Cup and, although he can also play full-back or wing, wants to concentrate on centre.

Mat Protheroe (Gloucester)

(Image: PA Wire)

Played for England Under-20s in this year’s Six Nations but was barred from playing at the World Cup because he didn’t meet the qualification rules.

A product of Waunarlwydd Rugby Club, near Swansea, and Gowerton Comprehensive School but failed to win selection for the Ospreys academy after taking part in trials.

Just two days later Hartpury College, which feed into Gloucester Rugby Club, were on the telephone offering the exciting outside-half attacker a rugby scholarship.

“I was planning to go to sixth-form college in Wales but decided to go to Hartpury instead,” he said.

Protheroe made his England Under-18 debut last year and was at No.10 during this year’s Under-20 Six Nations.

Dan Thomas (Gloucester)

The blond flanker has 17 Wales Under-20 caps, having skippered them, and came off the bench in the 2013 World Cup final defeat to England in France.

Carmarthen-born, he seemed set for a bright future with 76 appearances for Llanelli RFC and 11 for the Scarlets.

But he was surprisingly released and was quickly picked up by Gloucester – former Scarlets coach Nigel Davies was then at the helm of the Cherry and Whites – and has scored four tries in 11 outings.

Nicky Thomas (Gloucester)

A powerful scrummager, the tight-head prop had shone in the Under-20 World Cup for Wales but failed to kick on with the Ospreys.

Concerns over his fitness and weight resulted in him being marginalised and he joined Gloucester last season, having previously studied at Hartpury College.

Thomas had made his Ospreys debut aged 17, coincidentally against the Cherry and Whites, and made good progress in his first season at Kingsholm with nine appearances.

Sam Lewis (Worcester)

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Controversially joined Worcester Warriors from the Ospreys in March last year after previously doing a U-turn over a move to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Had been pushing Justin Tipuric to be first-choice openside flanker at the Liberty Stadium, having made 65 appearances.

He quickly established himself at Worcester, playing an important role in the Greene King IPA Championship play-offs where he bagged a hat-trick of tries against London Scottish to put his side into the final and enroute to glory over Bristol.

Much was expected of him last season but a shoulder injury put him out of their first match back in the Aviva Premiership, against Northampton Saints, and kept him out of the rest of the campaign.

Owen Williams (Leicester)

(Image: Getty Images)

Born in Neath, he played his early rugby with Ystradgynlais as well as with the Ospreys at Under-16 and Under-18 level, and was part of the Wales Under-20s squad that finished third in the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships in South Africa.

After moving to the Scarlets in 2010, he made 30 appearances for Llanelli RFC, including the 2012 Premiership Final against Pontypridd, and made his senior Scarlets debut in February 2011.

Williams clocked up 14 games for the Scarlets and a man-of-the-match performance against Leicester, scoring 21 points in an Anglo-Welsh LV Cup tie, prompted Tigers to move for him.

And he’s been a huge hit for the English big guns, scoring 460 points in 64 appearances and nailing down the No.10 jersey ahead of England internationals Toby Flood and Freddie Burns despite long spells out recovering from a damaged knee and a broken jaw.

Jack Roberts (Leicester)

A close pal of Lions, Wales and Northampton Saints wing star George North, the north Walian was an age-grade representative with Wales.

The centre, who was born in Bangor, played for the Scarlets at under-18 level and for Llandovery in the Welsh Premiership before moving to England with Rotherham.

And his form for the Yorkshire club in the English Championship saw him snapped up by Leicester, making four appearance at the back-end of last season.

Sion Bennett (Northampton)

The back-row forward joined Northampton from the Scarlets in May last year, having made his debut for the Welsh region in 2013.

Bennett was capped eight times by Wales Under-20s, palying in the 2013 World Cup final and has appeared for his country a number of times on the World Sevens circuit.

Just 22, he played for the Scarlets in Europe’s Champions Cup and the Pro12 before moving east.

Jordan Williams (Bristol)

One of the most gifted players in Welsh rugby but an enigma who failed to win favour at the Scarlets and has signed for Bristol for the coming season in an attempt to rejuvenate his career.

Now 22, Wales took him to South Africa two years ago. He had starred at the 2013 Under-20 World Cup with his devastating counter-attacking from full-back.

New Zealand great Sean Fitzpatrick had branded him the “new Christian Cullen” in homage to the devastating All Blacks runner but Williams has yet to consistently prove himself at senior level, particularly in defence and fielding the high ball.

Callum Sheedy (Bristol)

The Cardiff-born outside-half, who is eligible for Wales, Ireland and England, is aiming to establish himself as first choice with newly-promoted Bristol in the Aviva Premiership this season.

He qualifies for Wales through birth, for Ireland through his father and for England on residency.

All three remain options, as he withdrew from the Wales Under-20 squad last year, thus avoiding being tied to the land of his birth.

“It’s not a case of this country or that country. My focus is purely on playing rugby,” said the Wales Under-16 international, who was a member of the Cardiff Blues Academy.

Having stepped into the breach to play a pivotal role for Bristol during the club’s Championship play-off triumph, he is looking to make the No 10 jersey his own.

To do that, he will have to see off the challenge from the likes of Gavin Henson and newly signed Samoa international Tusi Pisi.

Rhodri Williams (Bristol)

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

Starred for Wales during their charge to the final of the Under-20 World Cup in 2013 and was capped at senior level against Tonga the following November.

The scrum-half, whose father Alan was a razor-sharp No.9 for Swansea, made 81 appearances for the Scarlets.

But stiff competition from Wales’ World Cup scrum-half Gareth Davies and Aled Davies has been a factor in him signing for Bristol for next season, where he will come under the tutelage of former Lions and Wales star Dwayne Peel.

Rory Bartle (London Scottish)

Joined Callum Sheedy in withdrawing from last year’s Wales Under-20 squad so he wouldn’t be tied to a country.

The 19-year-old lock or back-row forward featured in Cardiff Blues and Gloucester’s academy set-ups but chose to join London Scottish because he wanted to play regular rugby at senior level.

He featured in 23 of their 26 matches last season and is rated as a player with huge potential.

Jack Randell (Henley Hawks)

The full-back, wing or centre is a brother of Harry Randell and ripped by English rugby for National League side Henley Hawks.

Born in Wrexham, he was a member of the Scarlets Academy and has represented Wales at under-16 and 18 levels.

Thomas Young (Wasps)

Came to the fore as an openside last season with Wasps, touching down nine times in 24 impressive outings in the Aviva Premiership.

Young, the son of coach and former Wales captain Dai Young, was a Wales Under-20 international and made 19 appearances for Cardiff Blues and three for Gloucester.

The 24-year-old’s form for Wasps alerted on the ball England coach Eddie Jones but any attempt to capture him was scuppered because Young junior had played against France for Wales Under-20s back in 2011.

As, like Wales, the French Under-20s team is in effect the next side down from the senior set-up, so that appearance tied Young to Wales for the rest of his career.

Gareth Evans (Gloucester)

The 24-year-old No.8 has already clocked up 59 appearances for Gloucester, mostly at No.8, and has been looked at by Wales coach Warren Gatland.

Although the quick, powerful and agile Evans was born across the border at Swindon, his father is Welsh.

He lifted the European Challenge Cup with the Cherry and Whites last year but sat out a substantial part of last season after suffering from concussion

Evans returned toweards the end of it and much is expected of him this coming season despite stiff competition at Gloucester from the likes of Wales international Ross Moriarty and England cap Ben Morgan.