Gatland Warns Welsh Based Premier Rugby Players

Warren Gatland has fired a warning shot at the Welsh players based in England.  Stating that if Premier Rugby doesn’t allow them to be made available on May 30 for a possibles v probables match, they’ll run the risk of not being selected for the July tour.

“It makes it difficult to select them if they’re not involved,” Gatland said. “Going forward, we might have to review the policy of potentially selecting England-based players if they’re not going to be available. It’s something we’ll look closely at, particularly at the end of the season when we’re preparing for tours.”

Could the impossible happen? A Welsh team without George North?

There is a good possibility that North will be involved in the Aviva final, the day after the proposed probables v probables match, which would rule him out of participation altogether.

The problem is, no one really believes Gatland’s threats.

The WRU announced the match earlier this month, which prompted many Aviva clubs to fall back on the IRU regulation which only requires players to be released for certain periods.

“We’ve been in contact with Premier Rugby to say we’re going to name the players in the squad,” Gatland said. “We’re just hoping that common sense prevails and those players that are finished for the season are released.

“I can understand Premier Rugby protecting their competition, but I don’t understand when players are finished for the season why they wouldn’t be available. I hope there’s some goodwill in the game.”