Should Wales stop selecting players who leave?

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Gatland's law has become a bit of a joke. He stated that he would always favour home based players over their abroad based competitors - but realistically this has done nothing to stop Wales' best players from leaving (the only ones who would be wanted anyway)

With the list of player leaving increasing and more importantly, the demand for Welsh players hyper-inflating regional wage bills and damaging the game in Wales at both regional and international levels.

So, should Gatland now say that any player who moves abroad after next season will not be considered to play for Wales. The players we want playing for Wales are the ones who are dedicated and desperate to play for Wales, and shouldn't we be using that to try to keep them playing for Welsh regions.

Something needs to change, and although this means we may still lose a few star players making them unavailable abroad, this will be off set by improving standards at regional levels, allowing young players to learn from the best (Martyn and Sam, Adam and Mitchell etc) and it will mean that the players who stay true to their ambitions to play for Wales will be available for all training sessions and all international matches.

If there are any rules on selection of players outside Wales they will not apply to Phillips, Jenkins, Roberts, Lydiate, Faletau (when he leaves), Preistland (unlikely nobody wants him), Warburton (if he leaves) and Charteris. The same for A Jones only because he is the only top TH in the Welsh set up.

There are no rules and Gatlands Law as people keep banging on about doesn't really exist either.

Gatland stated that if players leave then it will make selection difficult and for them to be considered they must be playing 1st team rugby regularly.

bedfordwelsh wrote:There are no rules and Gatlands Law as people keep banging on about doesn't really exist either.

Gatland stated that if players leave then it will make selection difficult and for them to be considered they must be playing 1st team rugby regularly.

Does first team rugby at the dragons count though?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:There are no rules and Gatlands Law as people keep banging on about doesn't really exist either.

Gatland stated that if players leave then it will make selection difficult and for them to be considered they must be playing 1st team rugby regularly.

Does first team rugby at the dragons count though?

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Re: Should Wales stop selecting players who leave?

I dont know is the answer.

But in all honesty, Can Wales afford not to pick players that leave?

Do they have enough home grown players with the skill, and experence to beable to come in to the internatioanl team/set up?

If the answer is yeas. then dont pick the players that leave.

But do they realy have the players that stay in Wales. to play for Wales?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:There are no rules and Gatlands Law as people keep banging on about doesn't really exist either.

Gatland stated that if players leave then it will make selection difficult and for them to be considered they must be playing 1st team rugby regularly.

Does first team rugby at the dragons count though?

Wales should not select players who leave. If a Welsh player wants to make more money in France he'll have to take into account the fact that he won't be allowed play international rugby and won't get any money from that.

It would cause short term pain for the Welsh team probably. But in the long run it would make Welsh rugby stronger by keeping the best players in Wales.

I don't think Ireland should select foreign based players either. If it happens that a young player has to leave to get first team games somewhere else and then becomes international class while abroad, then he should have to come home before being selected for his country.