Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb will not be legible to play for Wales next season under a new rule brought in by the Welsh Rugby Union.
The WRU has changed its senior international selection policy (SPSP) for players based outside Wales.
Heading forward, any player taking up a new contract not with a Welsh region must have won 60 caps to be eligible to play for Wales.
Webb has signed to play for Toulon next season and has won just 28 Wales caps. Players who are already playing outside Wales will be exempt.
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However, this exemption will not extend to new contracts that have already been agreed by players for the 2017-18 season.
Webb’s Ospreys half-back partner Dan Biggar will join Northampton next season. He currently has 56 caps and unless injury intervenes is likely to pass the 60-cap mark this season before heading for England.
And out-of-contract Gloucester back rower Ross Moriarty, who has just 17 caps, will also be unable to play for Wales next season if he signs a new deal keeping him outside of the country.
Looking at other current exiles, Jamie Roberts has 93 caps, George North 76, Luke Charteris 74 and Taulupe Faletau 66, so are already over the threshold.
Wales’ previous SPSP, also known as ‘Gatland’s Law’, allowed head coach Warren Gatland to pick only four players at clubs outside Wales to play for the national side.