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'Personally I don't know how people can still play for Wales if they play outside of Wales'
By Online Editors
Rhys Webb has nipped in the bud speculation surrounding his future by accepting he is unlikely to play for Wales again until his contract at Toulon ends in 2021.
With the countdown on to the 2019 World Cup in Japan, Webb has been at the centre of rumours that he could try and manufacture a way out of the French club in order to make himself available for Warren Gatland’s finals squad.
However, the scrum-half has admitted to the Scrum V podcast he can’t see himself wearing his national team’s jersey any time soon. "It's pretty simple. I'm contracted with Toulon for another two years so there's nothing more to say," he explained.
"The 60-cap rule came in after I signed for Toulon and that's where I stand at the moment. I'm a Toulon player for the next two years. To be honest it would be easy for me to pack my bags now and walk away just because Toulon haven't had a very good season, but I'm a hungry person.
"I've got a lot of drive in me and I want to get Toulon back to where they belong and hopefully in the next two years I can help do that."
Webb did add that he is still confused by the mechanics regarding the application of the 60-cap rule due to the recent emergence of a number of loopholes
Exeter-based prop Tomos Francis is still eligible to play for Wales despite staying with the Chiefs, the reason being that he activated a clause for an extension in an existing contract.
There is also the situation where Saracens-bound Rhys Carre won’t be affected by the rule because the Cardiff prop has not yet been involved in a senior Wales squad.
"It does confuse me, but I'm not going to say too much,” said Webb. "Personally I don't know how people can still play for Wales if they play outside of Wales.
"I haven't shut the door on playing for Wales, but there's a 60-cap rule in place at the moment. Who knows after my Toulon contract, I can come back to Wales and play and maybe I can play for Wales then, but it's simple at the moment.”
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Latest Comments
Hoping Riley Higgins kicks on. Proctor must be 13 moving forward.
Go to commentsRassie should be "miles ahead" of Razor, he's been involved with the Boks as full-time Director of Rugby since 2017. And the Boks should be ahead of the current ABs, they have kept all of their superstars.
Clearly, we are rebuilding from the floor up. But the one place that the Boks are not "miles ahead" is on the paddock. A brand new, relatively untested coaching team, with a new team still in the making, came close in Sth Africa.
Change takes time. Whatever this magic instant innovation potion is you allude to, it doesn't exist. Just ask Rassie. It's taken the Boks years to develop. I've no doubt Razor will get us there.
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