Monday 16 October 2017 20:37, UK
The Welsh Rugby Union has changed its international player selection policy and scrapped the so-called Gatland's Law.
And the new rules may render Toulon-bound scrum-half Rhys Webb ineligible.
WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips announced on Monday that Wales will now follow an Australian-style caps rule as criteria for selecting individuals at Test level who do not play domestic rugby in their own country.
From Monday, if a player has won 60 caps or more, then his international prospects will not be affected if he plays his club rugby abroad.
But Webb has only been capped 28 times and is set to play for Toulon from next season, meaning he will be ineligible if that move goes ahead.
Fly-half Dan Biggar is to join Northampton next season but already has 56 caps and is likely to hit the 60-cap mark this season, barring injury.
Winger George North, number eight Taulupe Faletau and centre Jamie Roberts, who play for English clubs, all meet the 60-cap criteria - and contracts outside Wales which have already begun will be exempt in any case.
The changes replace the so-called Gatland's Law, which meant players based outside Wales required one of four wild card picks to represent their country, and failed to prevent several players moving to different leagues.
WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips said: "Whatever contract that a player is in today, that contract is protected.
"When that contract expires and If the player has less than 60 caps, they would not be eligible for selection. If they have 60 or more caps and they are outside Wales, they would be.
"The existing policy worked to an extent, but it has not worked well enough. It was quite complicated. We want to make it simpler.
"We have tried to step back and say: 'let's try to simplify this', make it understandable for players, for supporters and try and give each of the five entities (four regions and Wales) access to the players they need."
Wales head coach Warren Gatland added: "For me as a national coach, if I was being perfectly selfish, would I have a policy? No, I wouldn't.
"It is not about me or the national team, it is about what is the best thing for Welsh rugby.
"The best thing for Welsh rugby and for the union to support the regions is to try and keep the best players in Wales for as long as we possibly can. We know we are under pressure from market forces.
"This new policy is pretty much black and white."
