Wales head coach Warren Gatland believes plans to change the rules on player selection will benefit the future of Welsh rugby.
The Wales Rugby Union has revamped its selection process meaning any players based outside Wales will only be eligible to represent their country if they have received at least 60 caps.
The new policy will be implemented with immediate effect but the likes of Ross Moriarty, Owen Williams, Tomas Francis and Liam Williams, who all play in England, will all remain eligible until their current contracts expire.
And Gatland believes the decision to switch their selection system will see the best Welsh players plying their trade for one of the four regional sides.
He said: “It’s about the future of Welsh rugby and for the way for the union to support the region is how do we keep a number of our best players in Wales for as long as we possibly can. The previous policy was pretty complicated and this new policy is much more black and white.
“It’s about a partnership and us working together.”
The policy mirrors Australia’s current 60-cap threshold with South Africa setting the bar at 30 caps but England and New Zealand do not pick anyone outside their own country.
In addition, an uncapped player may be selected for Wales at any time from any club, but must sign to play in Wales upon the completion of their current contract in order to be considered again.
Gatland added: “We think this is a policy that is easier for people to understand and yes we know there is always going to be a bit of pain when you put things in place, there’s going to be a bit of ambiguity.
“One or two players that might get caught up in the crossfire so to speak but we’ve potentially got to work through that, take a hit on that and hopefully that fits purpose in terms of what we’re trying to do.”
