Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter insists Wales centre Joe Hawkins’ World Cup omission is not the club’s fault and they “don’t take any responsibility” for the circumstances.
Hawkins was controversially omitted from Wales’s preliminary World Cup squad over complications of the timing of his move from Ospreys to Premiership side Exeter.
The star only has a handful of caps and is well under the 30-cap rule that allows foreign-based players to represent the country.
It is frustrating for the Wales camp and coaching staff who were informed by the Welsh Professional Rugby Board of Hawkins’s ineligibility earlier this week, which head coach Warren Gatland was “disappointed” about.
Not Exeter’s fault
Baxter underlined that he believes Exeter is in no way at fault for the situation after being open during the signing process.
“We don’t take any responsibility because we approached it completely with open arms, with the anticipation that he would play for Wales,” Baxter said.
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“We felt that we had got everything in place we needed to. We complied with what we were asked to do with the information we had.
“Obviously Wales feel there’s stuff that doesn’t prove certain dates and times that they wanted.
“We haven’t done anything wrong, we certainly haven’t broken any rules.
“I think what will surprise people is how early we looked at Joe. He was playing under-20s rugby and I was watching those games with players we’ve got here.
“We’ve been looking at him for years basically. Whatever has happened has happened, but we’ll get on with it and support Joe in what he wants to do.”
The Hawkins situation is less than ideal and became a major talking point after he was omitted from Gatland’s 54-man preliminary squad.
Surprised at the omission
Baxter admitted he was surprised that Hawkins was left out but refused to criticise the Welsh Rugby Union.
“It certainly isn’t my place to be critical of the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union),” he said. “I’ve got to be very careful without knowing in depth what the situation is in Wales, what the regions’ thoughts are on it.
“There is a lot going on within rugby across the world, a lot going on in the Premiership.
“But if Wales decide they don’t want to take Joe to the World Cup then that’s their decision.”