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When Wales’ Six Nations squad was named yesterday, one of the first things you noticed was asterisks against three of the players.

There they were alongside the names of George North, Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Faletau.

Then, if you scrolled down to the bottom of the squad, you got the following explanation: * Denotes Senior Player Selection Policy wildcard selection.

Ah yes, of course, Gatland’s Law.

Northampton wing North, Harlequins centre Roberts and Bath No 8 Faletau are the three men in the squad captured by the law and thereby the players taking up the three available wildcard slots.

But, as ever with Gatland’s Law, it’s a situation which has left a lot of people puzzled and perplexed.

There are actually nine exiles in the squad, yet only three of them classed as wildcards.

So what’s all that about?

Why is Faletau captured, but not his Bath team-mate Luke Charteris? And why are new English-based squad members Thomas Young and Owen Williams not affected while North and Roberts are?

How does having nine exiles in the squad tally with the objectives of Gatland’s Law and why is it one rule for one player and one rule for another?

Well, here’s the player-by-player explanation of what’s going on.

THE WILDCARDS

Jamie Roberts

If a player turns down an offer from within Wales to sign for a club outside of the country, he is captured by Gatland’s Law and can only be selected for the national team as a wildcard.

That’s the scenario with Roberts who rejected the chance to rejoin Cardiff Blues and put pen to paper on a deal with Harlequins after leaving Racing 92.

Taulupe Faletau

After Faletau’s proposed transfer to Bath was blocked by the WRU in October 2015, it was hoped he would sign a dual contract and stay with the Dragons.

But he decided not to take up the Union’s offer and headed to The Rec at the end of last season. So, he takes up one of the three wildcard spots Rob Howley is allowed to fill.

George North

When the former Scarlets winger signed a contract extension with Northampton in November 2015, he was under the impression he wouldn’t be captured by Gatland’s Law on the basis there no Welsh offer on the table. But the WRU took a different view.

THE NON-WILDCARDS

Owen Williams

When the utility back signed a contract extension with Leicester in January 2015, he turned down a return to the Scarlets in the process.

But he wasn’t captured by Gatland’s Law as he re-signed for the Tigers just before it kicked into gear.

And he won’t be captured from next season either despite recently opting to stay in England by signing a big money deal with Gloucester. That’s because there was no counter offer on the table from Wales.

(Image: Getty Images)

Thomas Young

There are a couple of reasons why Young isn’t captured. For one thing, he has never been part of a senior Wales squad before and the clue is in the title - it’s the Senior Player Selection Policy.

So when he resigned for Wasps last October, the flanker wasn’t a senior Wales player and moreover there was no alternative bid from a Welsh region.

(Image: Getty Images)

Leigh Halfpenny

Both Cardiff Blues and the Scarlets made attempts to bring the Lions full-back home to Wales during the latter months of 2015, but he opted to stay with European champions Toulon. He isn’t captured currently as the third year option was in his original contract.

But if he signs a new deal to stay in France next season he will be captured and will be only be able to play for Wales as one of the four wildcards that will be allowed from the autumn.

Luke Charteris

Shortly after his move from Racing 92 to Bath was revealed in November 2015, Charteris declared he wouldn’t have to be a wildcard as there was no offer on the table from Wales when he signed.

The Union agreed, as he had already committed to Bath prior to an approach from Cardiff Blues.

Ross Moriarty

The back row forward is not captured as his Gloucester deal pre-dates the Law coming into effect. It runs until 2018. There is bound to be a concerted effort to lure him to Wales when that deal expires, with a move to the Scarlets having been heavily speculated about.

Tomas Francis

The Exeter prop had a clause in his contract which allowed the Devon club to extend it if certain terms were met and they took up that option last July by adding two years, taking him through to 2019.

As it was part of his existing deal, rather than a new one, he isn’t captured.