Two-time Six Nations winner Cory Hill looks poised to return to the Welsh setup this summer.
The Secom Ruggets lock, who has 32 caps for Wales, last represented his country against France in the 2021 Six Nations and pulled out of their preliminary training squad for the Rugby World Cup last year.
Maesycoed-born Hill joined Japan Rugby’s League One outfit Yokohama Canon Eagles in 2021 and spent two seasons with the club before moving north to Secom Ruggets in the Top East League.
The former Cardiff and Dragons second-rower initially became ineligible for his country when he moved to Japan as he fell short of the 60-cap requirement for players based outside Wales but that figure was lowered to 25 in 2023.
Saitama-based Ruggets’ criteria-based application for a place in League One’s fully professional and newly-expanded third division next season was accepted in January alongside Yakult Levins and LeRIRO Fukuoka.
RugbyJP.com can exclusively reveal that the Welsh Rugby Union has contacted Secom Ruggets about Hill’s status and availability as Warren Gatland’s side prepare to tour Australia in July.
Wales, who lost all five games in the 2024 Six Nations, face back-to-back World Cup winners South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday 22 June before two Tests against the Wallabies on Saturday 6 and Saturday 13 July before concluding their tour against Super Rugby Pacific side Queensland Reds on Friday 19 July.
The regional Top East League, which falls below the fully professional three-tier League One system which is managed by Japan Rugby, runs from September to January meaning that Hill hasn’t played since a 20-7 win on 21 January over Yakult Levins.
Secom Ruggets, who competed in the Top League (the precursor to League One) from 2005-2007, are owned by Japanese security company Secom whose headquarters are in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Hill’s compatriots Liam Williams and Jake Ball are playing in Japan for former champions Kubota Spears and Wayne Pivac's NEC Green Rockets respectively.
Former Ospreys centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler is at Toyota Shuttles while Wales-qualified Michael Collins will feature for Toshiba Brave Lupus in the League One final on Sunday.
Uncapped Kyoto-born flanker Richard Goh Jones, who plays for Shizuoka Blue Revs, is Wales-qualified as he has a Welsh father.
Pictures courtesy of Secom Ruggets
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