Rhys Webb says Wales' selection policy change is 'heartbreaking'
Friday 20 October 2017 10:34, UK
Rhys Webb reveals that he was left in the dark about the selection policy change that means he will not be able to play for Wales next season.
The scrum-half reproached the Welsh Rugby Union for not informing him of new rules regarding Test selection before he agreed to join French side RC Toulon next season.
The 28-year-old secured a lucrative move to the Top 14 side only then to discover that under a new senior player selection policy - revealed this week - Welsh players plying their trade abroad must have been capped 60 times to still be eligible for selection.
Under the old rules Webb would have qualified for one of head coach Warren Gatland's four choices of players playing outside the principality.
"I don't know how long it's going to take me to get over it," Webb told BBC Wales.
"It's a joke. I'm disappointed. Representing your country means so much to me and being told I won't be able to play for them is heartbreaking."
Webb was willing to make the switch to Toulon and gamble he would be in the sort of form to earn himself one of the two wildcard picks due to be introduced for the 2019/20 season.
"I made my mind up on the basis that the policy was the wildcard system. No-one had mentioned it was going to change," he said.
"I signed for Toulon on the basis if I was playing well I could still be considered. It was still such a tough decision. I felt I had to speak to the Ospreys face to face. It was heartbreaking to tell them.
"No-one had told me (about the policy change). Not even the Ospreys had mentioned in when I went to see them."
Webb is adamant that despite his devastation at seeing his immediate Test career brought to a halt he will honour his deal at Toulon having signed a three-year contract.
"I won't be doing that. My future lies in Toulon," he said.
Webb suggested that if he had known about the changes being brought in he would have sacrificed the financial benefits for his national ambitions.
"I just know playing for Wales is why you play the game," said the 28-year-old.
"Being picked for Wales is still a dream now. To know that won't be happening again is hurtful, it's genuinely just upsetting."
