Wales centre Joe Hawkins says he is “gutted” that he will miss out on the Rugby World Cup after prioritising his “development and financial security” by agreeing to join Exeter Chiefs.
The 20-year-old centre has released a statement on his social media accounts after he was deemed ineligible for Wales following his decision to sign with Exeter.
He is set to join the Premiership side from Ospreys at the end of the season, and his five caps falls short of the 25 required by the Welsh Rugby Union for players playing outside Wales.
‘He was a big part of our future’
After announcing his 54-man preliminary World Cup training, Warren Gatland commented on the situation and said that Hawkins was part of his future plans at Wales before he was deemed ineligible.
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“We told him he was a big part of our future and definitely in the 23, either in the midfield or at 10,” Gatland said, “We are disappointed that he’s made that decision. He feels at the moment that going to play club rugby in England will be good for his development.
“He felt that he was potentially undervalued a little bit. He’s been offered a pretty significant deal, and he’s made that decision to move on.”
The highly rated centre insists that he had little choice as he had no contract offers on the table from Welsh regions and claims he was being underpaid.
Joe Hawkins’ statement
The statement on his social media accounts read: “Gaining my first cap for Wales in the Autumn Internationals was an incredibly proud day for my family and I, and continuing to wear the Welsh jersey in the Six Nations fulfilled a childhood dream of mine.
“Unfortunately, I have been deemed ineligible to play for Wales, and the opportunity to play in the World Cup is no longer a possibility. I wish the boys and staff the best of luck, and I am truly gutted I can’t share this journey with them.
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— Joe Hawkins (@JoeHawkins121) May 3, 2023
“I want to acknowledge that by signing for the Exeter Chiefs, my first professional contract, I have fully prioritised my rugby career. I have done so with my professional development, personal development and financial security in mind.
“The turbulent period in Welsh rugby, where there were no contracts on offer in Wales, put all out-of-contract players under pressure. Witnessing the number of players currently out of a job in Wales has reinforced my decision.
“Further, while I have spent the last three years playing professional rugby, and later, international rugby, I have been held to an ‘academy contract’, being significantly underpaid.”
He added: “As a passionate rugby player, my ultimate goal is to fulfil my potential for both my club and country, despite this being put on hold for now.
“However, I am very grateful and excited to focus on next season with my new club. I am determined to work hard and achieve success with my new team-mates at Sandy Park over the coming years.”
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