Gatland : Welsh players want to come home

Wales coach Warren Gatland says that some of his Welsh stars who left to earn big money by playing in France want to return home.

Gatland said on the Wales Rugby Union site that a number of players have indicated that they are keen to return home and start playing in Wales again.

The Wales coach’s comments after French paper L’Equipe said that Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Dan Lydiate were all looking to return home after playing for Racing Metro.

However Wales and Lions scrumhalf Mike Phillips has responded by saying that he is happy in France and does not want to come home.

“Not sure why my name was mentioned today, I’m very happy at @RacingMetro92, and the coaches are very happy with me also,” said Phillips on his Twitter account.

Gatland said that the WRU have not been trying to lure the players home and that the players have said that they want their time in France to come to an end.

“We haven’t instigated contact with the players,” Gatland said in a Question and Answer session on the WRU website.

“But we are aware that one or two of them are keen to return to Wales sooner rather than later.”