Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will feature in the England senior team for the first time this week as part of a Six Nations set-up camp and will not play for Wales in the 2024 Championship.
Wing Feyi-Waboso, still just 21, has impressed for Exeter Chiefs in his first full season of Gallagher Premiership rugby.
He was born in Cardiff but also qualifies for England through family heritage.
Mailsport understands that despite being firmly on Warren Gatland's radar, the Wales manager and the Welsh Rugby Union have been informed that the player will not be available for selection for a number of complicated professional and personal reasons of the Six Nations.
England head coach Steve Borthwick watched Feyi-Waboso impress and score in Exeter's festive win over Bristol and in a thrilling defeat to Northampton Saints on Saturday and has spoken directly to the player on several occasions. He reacted quickly to the news.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will be part of the England selection for the first time
England head coach Steve Borthwick watched as Feyi-Waboso impressed and scored in Exeter's festive win over Bristol
Feyi-Waboso will be part of one of four regional meetings of England players over the next two weeks.
The informal meetings are for those on Borthwick's radar for final Six Nations selection. Although there is no training involved, Feyi-Waboso's presence shows that he is at least strongly considered for the actual tournament with Borthwick as a fan.
Borthwick admitted this week that he was keeping an eye on the player.
Feyi-Waboso started his career in the city where he was born but has always maintained strong links with the English rugby system after studying at Clifton College in Bristol.
He signed his first professional contract with Cardiff in 2020 but was forced to leave the Wales region when he was not accepted into the city's university to study medicine despite achieving the required grades. Although Feyi-Waboso shows great rugby promise, he has a long-term goal of becoming a doctor.
That career goal is just as important to him as his sporting progress.
Feyi-Waboso moved to Aston University last year, leaving Cardiff to sign for Wasps. But the demise of the Coventry club forced him to make another move.
Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter moved immediately to sign the player, despite interest in him from France. Feyi-Waboso moved to Devon and opted to redo the first year of his medical degree at the University of Exeter, initially living in a hotel on the Chiefs' Sandy Park ground.
The 21-year-old was born in Cardiff but also qualifies for England through family heritage
He signed his first professional contract with Cardiff in 2020 but was forced to leave the Wales region when he was not accepted into the city's university.
Mail Sport understands that a major stumbling block for Feyi-Waboso in playing for Wales is the Welsh Rugby Union's 25-cap ruling, meaning that if Feyi-Waboso were selected in Gatland's Six Nations squad – regardless of whether he played or not – this would mean he would have to rejoin a Welsh region when his current contract with Exeter expires.
That's something the player doesn't want to do because it would mean leaving Exeter University for a few years to pursue a long-term medical degree.
After being released from his contract at Cardiff and subsequently having to leave Aston University following the demise of Wasps, the player is believed to be very happy at Exeter.
He prioritizes long-term stability at the Chiefs, both on and off the field.
Winning a senior cap for Wales would also impact Feyi-Waboso's current contractual status with Exeter as an English qualified player. Feyi-Waboso played for Wales at age level.
But Borthwick has made sure to keep an eye on the player, especially after his talent has been evident in the Premier League this season.
Feyi-Waboso is part of a young Exeter side that has impressed this season. He has scored tries in recent matches against Newcastle, Bristol and Northampton.
His defense in the second of those games – with Borthwick in the Ashton Gate Stand – also stood out. Feyi-Waboso is still young and mature, as Baxter has admitted.
Feyi-Waboso scored tries in the recent games against Newcastle, Bristol and Northampton
“All he has to do is play rugby and gain experience and the world is his oyster,” Baxter said.
“His rugby career will be whatever he wants it to be. The opportunities will be there for him if he works hard on his game.
'The reality is that he will have to remain relatively injury-free for a period of time. He should get a decent amount of playing time. He will have to balance his studies with his rugby program along the way so he doesn't burn out, so there is still a long way to go.
'We've had him with us for about a year now, so he's not a complete novice, but in Premier League terms he is. The great thing about him is that he wants to get better.
'He doesn't look like a man who suffers a lot from nerves and pressure. He is relatively relaxed and when it all comes together he will only grow and become a very, very good player.
'He has great pace, strength and balance. He half-missed a tackle in practice and started doing a backroll and as he rolled over, he handspringed off the floor and landed on his feet.
“You look at it and say, 'How did you just do that?' He doesn't even know how he did it. He's just a very gifted athlete in many ways.”
Even though he will be part of an English environment for the first time next week, there is no guarantee that Feyi-Waboso will be part of Borthwick's final Six Nations squad.
Even though he will be part of an English environment for the first time next week, there is no guarantee that Feyi-Waboso will be part of Borthwick's final Six Nations squad.
England have four regional meetings over the next two weeks before Borthwick announces its tournament party on January 17.
The former lock has lost wings Jonny May and Henry Arundell from his side who finished third in last year's World Cup squad due to retirement and exclusion respectively.
That could create an opening for Feyi-Waboso, although the return to fitness of Anthony Watson and the form of Joe Cokanasiga and Tommy Freeman provide strong competition.
