The overarching strategy of the WRU is to keep as many international players under contract in Wales with our four Regions as possible.
In order to achieve that aim the WRU encourages the four Regions to contract as many key players as they can under direct contracts.
If any Region cannot agree terms with a key international player the WRU will be prepared to negotiate a National Contract with the individual in order to keep them in Wales as the WRU did with Sam Warburton.
A nationally contracted player will be offered back to their Region of origin free of charge which means the money they would have been paying that individual could then be spent on other players to bolster their squad.
The clear intention is to ensure the four Regions have the opportunity of gathering the strongest squads possible to compete on domestic and European stages.
To support this strategy the WRU has encouraged The Scarlets and The Ospreys to conclude negotiations with Scott Williams and Rhys Priestland and Adam Jones respectively.
The WRU remains willing to step in with National Contract offers for those individuals who were nominated by the Regions, late in 2013 as players they regarded as key members of their squads, whose services should be retained in Wales.
If the necessary negotiations are completed and the National Contract formula is secured in a new Rugby Services Agreement, the WRU will be prepared for some key contracts held by the Regions to revert to the governing body if the Regions wish and the players agree.
