In the future the location of a player outside Wales will be an important factor in whether he is selected for the national team under the proposal they want to introduce.
The policy aims to build a secure and powerful pathway into the Welsh team which will ensure our most talented players are properly developed through the four regions and in training under the national coach.
WRU Audio: Listen to Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland explain his thinking
WRU Audio: Listen to WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis explaining the policy
The proposal will be discussed with senior representatives of all four regions at the Professional Rugby Board meeting tomorrow (Friday Jan 11) and put before the full board of the Welsh Rugby Union for approval on January the 24th.
Once the plan is approved the location of any Welsh qualified player who in the future contracts to play for a team outside Wales will be taken into account in future decisions as to selection for Wales.
If that location is inconsistent with the need for players to be available for regular or continuous training, or the need to safeguard playing development and care, it will count against the players’ selection.
The plan has been championed by the new Head Coach and the Group Chief Executive just days before the announcement of Warren Gatland’s first Wales squad next Monday.
It is being seen as a powerful statement of intent by the Welsh Rugby Union in its bid to grow even stronger bonds with the four regions and beyond them the heart of the game in Wales.
Under the plan the location of any international player currently contracted to a team outside Wales will not be a relevant factor.
Warren Gatland said: “This is essential to create the best possible environment for players to work and develop through to the national team.
“It will enable us to develop a new national squad training regime that is required to return the team to international competitiveness and to remain in close and constant contact with the individuals to ensure they are fully on board with the structures and systems in place to get the best out of them as Welsh internationals.
“That is vital because this is all about building Welsh international rugby for the long term and I am determined to focus on that.
“The strategy will be under constant review because we will want to remain alert to any issues which affect our selection plans.”
The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said:”Our ultimate aim is to ensure rugby remains and thrives as our national sport and to achieve that in the current environment tough decisions have to be made. I will argue the case for this policy with determination and vigour.
“Here in Wales we boast some of the best player development and welfare structures in world rugby and the key reasons for approving this tough stance are that the players to be selected for the national squad should be the players that the national coach knows will be available for an enhanced training programme and will be well cared for and developed as players by the regions.
“We have invested in our players, we believe in our players and we care about our players. Going forward we aim to invest even more in our players.
“I am focused and passionate in my desire to lead Welsh rugby forward to a successful future – long term sustainability through partnership is my aim.
“If adopted this new policy will enable our players to train together in the way that is so necessary and to be developed and cared for through the four regions that have the structures and systems in place to ensure that they are best placed to play at the top level.
“In turn, the four regions will benefit, helping them to develop their fan base, play great rugby and build on the success they are already achieving by bringing new talent into the game who will be future international stars.
“This announcement is part of a much wider strategy to drive the game forward in Wales.
“We now have a Head Coach to select and train the team, an Elite Performance Director to ensure all the players achieve their full potential and a Head of Rugby Development to get all the potential stars of the future playing the game.
If the full board of the WRU approves the policy at their meeting on January the 24th it will be adopted immediately.
