Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Gatland risks clash with WRU after calls for 'common sense' over Rhys Webb availability

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb

Wales head coach Warren Gatland still hopes he may have Rhys Webb available for next year’s Rugby World Cup.

ADVERTISEMENT

Webb, 29, is ineligible to play for his nation after a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) selection policy change last year.

Any player contracted outside Wales must have at least 60 caps to feature for the national team, and the Toulon scrum-half falls short of that marker with 31.

However, Gatland is maintaining hope he could use Webb at the showpiece tournament in Japan next year.

“I feel very sorry for Rhys,” he told UK media.

“I would love the opportunity to be able to pick him but the rules say I can’t. I would like to think that, if we have injuries at scrum-half, common sense will prevail.”

Gatland said Wales were being heavily impacted by the absence of Webb.

“The pleasing thing is that we meet once a month, the Rugby Management Board, which is the four head coaches [of the regions],” he said.

“I think they understand; if you talk to them they know what the situation is.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I don’t think that anyone wants to see a team hampered by not being able to pick the best player.”

Wales have been drawn with Australia, Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay in Pool D at the Rugby World Cup.

You may also like: RugbyPads – Big Jim visits the King of Bath, Freddie Burns.

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

France v New Zealand | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

England v Wales | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

Lions Share | Episode 3

Zimbabwe vs Kenya | Rugby Africa Cup Semi Final | Full Match Replay

USA vs Spain | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Portugal vs Ireland | Men's International | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING Sending off can't stop England U20 revenge mission over Wales Sending off can't stop England U20 revenge mission against Wales