Saracens DoR Mark McCall says he will be surprised if Nick Tompkins was available to him in the coming weeks after tipping him for a Wales recall.
Tompkins, who turned 28 on Thursday, was a shock omission from Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad as he had been one of the better performers under Wayne Pivac.
Wales' attack has struggled in the opening two games of this year's Championship, mustering just 17 points from the defeats to Ireland and Scotland. And McCall believes the Wales midfield would benefit from having him involved.
He said: “Nick has been really good for us for two seasons now, he's been one of our better players. We're grateful to have him but in lots of ways I wish we didn't have him because I think he's an international. Let's see if he is playing against England – Ithink we'd all be surprised if he wasn't.”
Tompkins is currently exempt from the controversial WRU rule that states players with fewer than 60 caps must be playing in Wales to be eligible for selection because he was uncapped when he signed his current long-term deal with Saracens.
As things stand, once this contract ends, Sidcup-born Tompkins would have to join a Welsh region to continue to be considered for selection. Given the current impasse around contract negotiations in Wales, moving to one of the regions is hardly an attractive option, and Tompkins, who had a season at the Dragons when Saracens were in the Championship, would like to see the rule scrapped.
“I find it really frustrating as it's more to do with politics than logistics,” Tompkins said. “I'd like to see the 60-cap rule not there. Yes, we might miss a week here and there, or a game outside the international window, and that is tough, but I just think because of the politics it hampers the player and the team.
“I'm a massive advocate of players having autonomy and being able to play in either league [URC or Premiership]. You can't argue with how good the product of the Premiership is.
“I'm at a club where I feel happy and playing my best rugby, and hopefully it translates to Wales. Something needs to change.”
