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Wales’ controversial 60-cap rule is to be reviewed after the World Cup, with regional appearances potentially set to be factored into the equation.

But the WRU’s top man insists the selection policy has been a success overall.

Under the rule, which replaced Gatland’s Law in October 2017, players who now move to clubs outside of Wales can only be picked for the national side if they have won 60 caps or if they are uncapped.

It’s a policy which has deeply divided opinion.

Some people support it on the basis that it keeps stars in Wales and results in others returning here, such as Ross Moriarty and Josh Adams.

But some argue Wales should just pick the best players, regardless of where they are based.

The case of Rhys Webb has been a particular cause celebre, with much criticism over the 31-cap scrum-half being ruled ineligible despite having agreed to join Toulon before the new policy was formally unveiled.

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Now the rule is to be looked at afresh, as WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips confirms.

“The commitment was always that we would revisit it after the World Cup,” he said.

“We talked to the players about that, through the WRPA, a couple of months ago.

“We will have gone through a World Cup cycle and we will have had some experience of what’s working and what isn’t.

“So we will sit down with the players and the WRPA and that will go through the new Professional Rugby Board, so that policy will be owned there.

“The sort of thing that was talked about last time was would there be a regional appearance limit, what impact does the Lions have on it etc.

“What we agreed with the players last time was it was quite a big change and we said there are a couple of other things here that are related which are worthy of consideration and lets pick that up at the review and they were comfortable with that.

“We are definitely open to look at everything.”

It’s understood players are keen for regional appearances to be factored into the policy, so if someone has played say 150 regional games, they would remain eligible for Wales if they moved away, even if they haven’t gained 60 caps.

One other issue with the current policy was spotlighted recently by the case of Rhys Carre.

The young prop has opted to join Saracens, turning down a contract renewal with Cardiff Blues, but he remains eligible for Wales as he is uncapped and hadn’t previously been part of the senior squad.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

This meant Warren Gatland was free to select him in the World Cup training squad and the 21-year-old loosehead is set to make his Test debut against Ireland at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

There have been some calls for that loophole to be closed, but Phillips says it is in there for a good reason.

“There hasn’t been much conversation or pressure around the Rhys Carre situation,” he said.

“The logic at the time when we did it was to say if a player has an opportunity to grow and develop and can get into a good environment and potentially play first team rugby, then if they are not in our squad, why would we want to stand in the way of that?

“So let the player progress, but what we wouldn’t want to do is lose our opportunity to select that player.

“So I think the policy as it stands works really well for that.

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“The player goes and develops, if that’s a route that’s available to them, and we can still pick them.

“But once they are in our system, the next time their contract comes up for renewal we would want to make sure they are treated the same as everybody else.

“Maybe it is something that will bubble up at the review and we will be open to working our way through that.

“But it looks like the policy is working overall, doesn’t it, when you have got a Grand Slam under your belt and you have won 15 of your last 16 games.

“There is not much not working there right now.

“But, equally, if there’s an opportunity to make something better you make it better.

“It’s a policy that’s working well for us overall, but there’s a commitment to the players to say we would revisit it with them and they know we plan to do that after the World Cup.”