Clearly Wales refuse to stand idly by while their national team slips into the second division of International rugby. Safe in the knowledge that a successful side stuffed with southern hemisphere accents is infinitely more acceptable than a down at heel team with accents from the valleys, Wales have taken to a furious recruitment campaign.

Coach Graham Henry has launched the global plan by appearing in an advertisement wrapped in a Welsh flag beside a message exhorting Kiwis, Aussies and South Africans to shake their family trees for a parent or grandparent with the right connections.

Wales are following up the campaign by appointing a full time recruiting officer in England, the country with the biggest rugby playing population in the world.

The ad asks a number of questions. "Are you good enough to play at the world's greatest rugby stadium ? Gifted enough to represent one of the great rugby nations ? Ambitious enough to play in the Five Nations and the World Cup ? Brave enough to commit yourself to a whole new ball game ?

If the answer is yes to each of the above then check your lineage for a parent or grandparent born in Wales. Embrace the dragon !" Eat your heart out Jack Charlton.