Wales get tip-offs about Welsh-qualified New Zealand stars after talks with South African

Warren Gatland has revealed he held conversations with Cameron Hanekom's representatives over playing for Wales - adding they have also received tip-offs over other Welsh-qualified players.

South African bulldozer Hanekom has been earning rave reviews for his performances in a Bulls shirt this season in the URC, and has been on Gatland's radar for some time.

The 21-year-old qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, which he spoke about last year, but it became quickly apparent the No.8 would be throwing in his lot with the Springboks. Bulls coach Jake White even went so far to say that there was "no way" he would let Hanekom leave for Wales, such was the high regard they hold him in.

Hanekom turned in a man-of-the-match display on the weekend when helping his side reach the URC final on Saturday - meaning he won't make his international bow at Twickenham for the world champions due to a fixture clash.

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Despite talks with his agent in an attempt to lure him to Wales, Gatland says he understood Hanekom's decision, but did add he would have liked to have got his hands on him if the opportunity arose.

"There were some conversations through his agents," he said. "It was understandable given where he has come through their 20s programmes and was highly rated. There was no need to have to commit to anybody else when he was in the pathway and I fully understand that.

"He would have been one of the ones given the chance to get our hands on but that's not something you push too hard on when you have those conversations with somebody.

"He is going to sit tight at the moment, he has come through that programme, been successful and making a name for himself. He was on a pretty long-term contract with the Bulls anyway in terms of seeing where he goes.

"I thought he was good on the weekend."

The Kiwi also spoke about Wales' exiles programme bearing more fruit in recent times, with extra emphasis having been placed on digging out Welsh-qualified players, both in the UK and overseas.

In recent weeks the Scarlets have picked up Blair Murray, a utility back from Canterbury, while Cardiff Rugby have signed Iwan Stephens from Newcastle Falcons. Wales squad members Ellis Bevan and Taine Plumtree

Gatland revealed they had received tip-offs about Welsh-qualified talent in New Zealand.

"The more the merrier," Gatland said. "It's challenging at the moment given that you look at, and next year's going to be even higher, the amount of non-Welsh qualified players we have in our regions.

"Everyone talks about potentially going down to three regions but when I look at the number of players who aren't qualified to be selected for Wales we've only really got three regions in terms of the numbers to select a national team from.

"We are lacking some depth in certain positions and real competition. That's a big challenge for us.

"But there's players in terms of that Exiles programme. There's a number of others out there that potentially the regions may make contact with, or we'll make contact to give us the opportunity to develop or have the chance of selecting more Welsh-qualified players."

When asked who will lead on that, he added: "There's a little bit of both in terms of the Exiles stuff. We try to keep our finger close to the pulse in terms of doing that.

"We've had some players in New Zealand who have been playing Super Rugby with Welsh qualifications who have played for Wales, who have told us about one or two. So, they've passed that information on to us.

"We've kind of then spoken to and let the clubs know these players are potentially Welsh-qualified. It's up to them from there."

"The thing is we probably haven't been the most proactive in terms of that in the past. Scotland are very very proactive," he continued.

"They've got someone within their coaching or analysis set-up who does an outstanding job in terms of the players that they've identified and targeted with Scottish qualifications. There's definitely a balance isn't there.

"You've got to find that balance between developing from within and through your pathways and academies and rewarding that but also not excluding players from outside of Wales who have genuine ancestry and want to represent Wales."