Rhys Webb to miss out on Wales selection under new rule

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41547139

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb will be ineligible to play for Wales next season under a new rule brought in by the Welsh Rugby Union.

The WRU has changed its senior international selection policy (SPSP) for players based outside Wales.

In future any player taking up a new contract not with a Welsh region must have won 60 caps to be eligible to play for Wales.

Webb has signed to play for Toulon next season and has won just 28 Wales caps.

Players who are already playing outside Wales will be exempt.

However, this exemption will not extend to new contracts that have already been agreed by players for the 2017-18 season.

Webb's Ospreys half-back partner Dan Biggar will join Northampton next season. He currently has 56 caps and unless injury intervenes is likely to pass the 60-cap mark this season before heading for England.

WRU group chief executive Martyn Phillips said: "Whatever the contract the player is in, that's the contract that in effect is protected.

"When that contract expires, if the player has less than 60 caps and they're playing outside of Wales then they wouldn't be eligible for selection.

"If they've got 60 or more caps and they're outside of Wales then they would be.

"The revamped policy will be reviewed periodically but, fundamentally, if you have less than 60 caps and you leave Wales then you won't be selected by your country again until you return.

"In the spirit of absolute fairness we will start anew from Monday 16th October 2017 and give those players who have existing contracts outside of Wales the chance to come back on completion of those contracts, before this new policy effects them."

The new policy is similar to the model in Australia, where players who have won at least 60 Test caps and played domestic rugby for seven years can be selected regardless of any move abroad.

Wales' previous SPSP, also known as 'Gatland's Law', allowed head coach Warren Gatland to pick only four players at clubs outside Wales to play for the national side.

That quota was due to drop to just two wildcard picks for the 2019-20 season.

"The existing policy worked to an extent but it hasn't worked well enough. It was quite complicated so we want to make it a little bit simpler," Phillips added.

"It had so many clauses in it to try and cater for every eventuality."

Gatland welcomed the change, although the New Zealander - whose contract ends in 2019 after the next World Cup - admits he would rather have a free hand on selection.

"For me as a national coach, if I was being totally selfish then no I wouldn't have a policy," Gatland said.

"But it's not about what's best for me and the national team, it's about what's best for Welsh rugby.

"The best thing for Welsh rugby and for the Union to support the regions is how do we try and keep a number of the best players in Wales for as long as we possibly can.

"But we know we're under pressure from market forces."

Players who will benefit from the Test selection change include Northampton wing George North, who has won 69 caps, Bath back-row Taulupe Faletau (66) and Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts (93).

The likes of Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland, who has 48 caps, will also benefit for the moment although to continue to be eligible after his current deal with the English Premeirship side would need to return to a Welsh region if he has not amassed 60 caps.

An uncapped player may also be selected for Wales at any time from any club, but likewise must sign to play in Wales upon the completion of their current contract in order to continue to be selected.

Money, that’s the lad. He looks impressive, for a kid. Very much like Samson was when he started out

mikey_dragon wrote:...and it appears people still misunderstand this. As it stands we wouldn't be without any of those players bar Webb. Roberts and Priestland missing out is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

Wasn't saying they would. It was in response to someone saying they should adopt an English style policy.

LordDowlais wrote:

Welshmushroom wrote:Basically a New Zealand/Ireland model.

Ireland do not have that policy.

Have you ever heard of the "project player" policy they have over there ?

LD as you have been told on many occasions the Project player concept is to assist the Provinces not to fast track players into Irish shirts

Only 4 players brought in in this way have made a contribution of any note
Of those 2 were no more than handy back ups - White and Strauss and not key to Ireland
Stander and Payne have made a valuable contribution but even then they were primarily to fulfil a serious hole in the Provincial sides.
Such players are required because we now limit ourselves to only 3 NIQ players per Province.

I know you, and others, like trotting this out but the reality is Ireland rely on comparatively few NI born players.

CJ Stander will probably be the only NI born player in thr starting XV against South Africa.
Please compare and contrast with the Welsh team in their first autumn international.

People in glass houses and all that