Warren Gatland says he was not responsible for the new Wales selection policy
Wednesday 25 October 2017 06:05, UK
Warren Gatland believes he has been subjected to "unfair" criticism over the Rhys Webb saga that is currently dominating Welsh rugby.
Wales head coach Gatland has named the Ospreys scrum-half in a 36-man squad for this season's autumn Tests that begin against Australia on 11 November.
But Webb will be ineligible to represent Wales when he joins French heavyweights Toulon next term - a move which potentially also rules him out of 2019 World Cup contention.
A change to the Welsh Rugby Union's senior player selection policy, which was announced last week, prevents players who sign new deals that take effect from next term onwards and will ply their trade outside Wales from representing their country unless they have won 60 caps or more.
Webb is considerably under that mark and Gatland was asked on Tuesday if the 28-year-old was a scapegoat in the affair.
"I can't comment on that," said Gatland.
"You need to talk to the power-brokers involved, and you need to talk to [chief executive] Mark Davies at Pro Rugby Wales and the regions.
"There was a lot of criticism of myself over this, and I felt that was unfair.
"The policy we have is better [than the previous wild-card-based one] but I feel for Rhys in that he is not going to be available for the World Cup. We had a good chat about that when we met up last Saturday.
Regarding the new system. Gatland added: "I was consulted on it, I wasn't involved in the process.
"I got pushed out there from a media perspective on the Monday, and it was almost like it was my policy.
"We haven't heard one word from the regions at the moment about their involvement in that, and I would like to hear from them.
"This policy has been agreed by the two parties (regions and WRU) and I was involved in discussions four years ago when the Rugby Services Agreement came about.
"At the time, the regions were pushing for the rule [that] no player outside of Wales should be selected. I didn't think that was right.
"It's not ideal with Rhys Webb, and I feel for him, but the policy we have now is better than the past."
