Gatland: The door’s still open for Webb

WARREN Gatland is refusing to rule out the possibility of Rhys Webb featuring for Wales once again, writes Mark Orders.

The Toulon-based No. 9 faces missing the World Cup and potentially the premature end of his Test career, having fallen foul of the rule that insists exiled Welsh players must have at least 60 caps in the bank to continue playing for their country.

But Gatland hasn’t given up hope that if Wales were desperate to take Webb to Japan next year – possibly because of injuries – an exception might be made and the former Ospreys could feature.

“I feel so sorry for Rhys Webb,” said Gatland.

“I would love the opportunity to be able to pick him. “The rules say that I can’t. “But if there are a couple of injuries I would like to think – if we had lost two of our three 9s that we have at the moment, which are probably the frontrunners – then maybe some common sense would prevail.

“Unfortunately he is injured again.

“But there is no doubt that when he is fit and playing well he is world class. Could it make a difference to us, having someone available like that? Possibly.

“The pleasing thing is that we meet once a month as the Rugby Management Board, which is the four head coaches of the regions. I think they understand: if you talk to them they know what the situation is. I don’t think that anyone wants to see a team hampered by the inability to be able to pick the best player. We have regulations which have been agreed by the union and the regions, not so much the coaches – they would be more flexible.

“I am not making a point of that. We’ll see what happens over the next six months. If Rhys is playing well, his form is good enough, seeing what happens with the other 9s – is there a possibility?

“At the moment it is a firm no, but you can never say never. If we turned up in nine months and it was important to us to take Rhys Webb – would people consider an exception?

“I would like to think there might be some common sense with this.”