Welsh Premiership stars in doubt
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The Test future of a number of Wales international playing in the Premiership appears to be in doubt.
Stars such as Jamie Roberts, Taulupe Faletau, George North and Rhys Priestland will all be plying their trade in the Premiership next season and may not be available to Wales for Test matches that fall outside the international window.
Experienced midfielder Roberts has just signed with Harlequins, and Wales coach Warren Gatland recently expressed hope that he would be available for all Test matches, but according to a Premiership spokesman that will not be the case.
"Our policy hasn't changed. We release players under the confines of World Rugby regulation nine," he told the BBC.
This means that Premiership clubs are not obliged to release players outside the international test window, although Wales regularly play matches outside those designated weeks in their year-end Tests.
When Roberts signed with Harlequins, Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea stated that the centre would be available to Wales "whenever he needed to be" although that now seems to be in some doubt.
Reports have also suggested Faletau's proposed move to Bath could be halted amid uncertainty over his full availability for Wales.
Gatland could veto any plan by Newport Gwent Dragons to release him before his contract expires in 2016 under an agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union and the nation's four regions.
The Premiership clubs' stance led to Northampton being fined £60,000 for signing North on the basis he was available for all Wales commitments.
He joined Northampton in April 2013 and played for Wales against Australia the following November.
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