Rhys Priestland will not be looking at his phone every few minutes this week to see whether he has been picked in Wales's Six Nations squad.
The outside-half, who was 36 last week, won his first Wales cap in 2011 when Warren Gatland was head coach. The New Zealander was reappointed last month after Wayne Pivac departed but Priestland, who was recalled in
2021 after a four-year absence, is not preoccupied by thoughts of a reunion.
“It is not something I can control so I have not thought too much about it,” said Priestland, who starts today for Cardiff against Newcastle in the Challenge Cup match at the Arms Park. “I can only concentrate on what is going on here at Cardiff and try and turn things round after two defeats in the Welsh derbies.
“I did enjoy being back in the Welsh set-up. The results in the autumn were very disappointing and if you are part of a squad when coaches lose their jobs, it is tough because you know you had some part to play in that.”
Priestland joined Cardiff in 2021 after stints with the Scarlets and Bath. He is not sure where he will be playing next season, or whether he will be with money tight in the four regions.
“With the way things are in Wales at the moment, I cannot see me carrying on here after this season,” he said. “I would not be against doing one more year somewhere maybe.
“There is a lot to be sorted out in the coming months and when the time comes, I will think about whether I will carry on playing.
“I have done some studying and have a rough idea of what I will do after rugby. I did an economics degree after I left school and an MBA when I was at Bath. I am now studying to qualify as a financial advisor.”
Cardiff are the leading Welsh region in this season's URC, although they are all in the bottom half of the table. They blew the opportunity to make their qualification for the Champions Cup far more likely than not by losing at home to the Ospreys and the Scarlets this month.
They have made a strong start to the Challenge Cup, a tournament they have won twice, with big victories over Brive and Newcastle to make them the leading points scorers in the competition.
“We are looking to get back to where we were a few weeks ago,” said Priestland. “We were very good when we went to Newcastle and put our foundations together, something we failed to do in the two derbies.
“Newcastle had a really good win against Leicester and are a match for anyone when they are at full strength, a big physical side who can make it difficult for you. We will need to put our best foot forward again.”
