Gatland’s Law could bite back next term

WALES risk incurring the wrath of fans by axing at least one of their stellar names under the WRU’s Gatland’s Law policy next season.

Star full-back Leigh Halfpenny will present Warren Gatland and the union with the nightmare scenario if, as expected, he puts pen to paper on an eye-popping Toulon deal that is set to make him the highest paid player in British rugby.

The French giants are desperate to keep hold of the prolific points scoring machine and have placed a bank-busting package on the table which could earn Halfpenny close on £800,00 a year.

The money on offer dwarfs the sums the WRU can go to as they desperately seek to bring Halfpenny home, with the Scarlets, Ospreys and Cardiff Blues keen to secure his services.

If Halfpenny does stay in France, he will become captured under Gatland’s Law, as will Liam Williams as he prepares to join Saracens for the 2017-18 campaign.

Gatland will be permitted four wildcard selections next season, enabling him to select stars playing club rugby outside of Wales.

But with Gatland regulars Taulupe Faletau, George North and Jamie Roberts already in England, something major will have to give as the wildcard regulation bites properly for the first time.

On top of that, others such Ross Moriarty, Luke Charteris and Tomas Francis will also come under scrutiny in future seasons.

Fans’ favourite Williams could find himself the fall-guy out of the five big names, despite shining for Wales and becoming the most wanted man in rugby with Saracens and a clutch of other English and French clubs attempting to lure him from the Scarlets.

The Welsh regions, who want the best players in their teams, have been keen to see Gatland’s Law enforced properly.

But Wales not being able to pick one of their truly top talents is bound to raise eyebrows with the tens of thousands of fans who follow the national team.

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