The WRU wants to expand its talent pool significantly ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2027
Tahlor Cahill is being targeted by the WRU(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
The Welsh Rugby Union are attempting to persuade Crusaders lock Tahlor Cahill to throw his lot in with Wales.
Before the WRU made the decision to scrap its exiles programme earlier this year, a lot of hard work was done to firm up Cahill’s Welsh qualification. The 22-year-old is eligible for Wales through a grandparent and was very highly rated by All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson when he was in charge of the Crusaders.
WalesOnline understands contact has now been made with Cahill’s representatives as Wales look to strengthen their front five ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. If Cahill does decide to represent Wales then there will be significant interest from the three remaining Welsh teams, while he could also sign for an English club, although the WRU’s preference would be to see him play this side of the Severn Bridge.
Wales recorded just one victory this autumn against Japan and suffered a humiliating 73-0 defeat to South Africa at the Principality Stadium.
There is no doubt whatsoever Wales needs to improve its talent pool and Cahill is a player who is on the radar.
“We are looking,” Wales head coach Steve Tandy told the ScrumV podcast in September when asked about Welsh-qualified players.
“We have got to connect and we have got to keep asking those questions.
“We’ve got to be finding out about who is Welsh-qualified and more importantly – who wants to play for Wales.
“There are so many boys out there and probably boys that people wouldn’t even realise so that is definitely part of what I’ve been doing.
“I think that’s a really important piece because as a nation, we are small.
“There are lots of talented players, not only in Wales but outside of it. So that is a massive thing for us.”
Tahlor Cahil of the Crusaders (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
As part of the new structure the WRU wants to centrally contract every Welsh-qualified player at the remaining three teams and it remains to be seen whether they will soften their stance before a deal is struck.
Cahill has had significant game time for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific, while he has also previously represented New Zealand U20s.
Were he to play for Wales, Cahill would follow in the footsteps of a long line of New Zealand-born players to have done so, such as Hadleigh Parkes, Brett Sinkinson, Shane Howarth, Gareth Anscombe and Blair Murray.