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WARREN GATLAND has warned his exiled stars they face being left out of Wales’ Six Nations campaign if they cannot get released for all Welsh training sessions and matches.

Gatland admitted he was disappointed the likes of James Hook and Mike Phillips had not had a release clause written into their contracts after making big-money moves to France this summer.

Hook, Phillips, Lee Byrne and Craig Mitchell are among Wales’ World Cup stars missing for the December 3 clash with Australia as the match falls outside the IRB window for international fixtures.

Unlike the Welsh regions, English and French clubs do not have to release their players for such fixtures or for the current 13-day preparation period before matches.

The exiled players are likely to be released just seven days before the first Six Nations match against Ireland on February 5, and Gatland yesterday delivered a blunt message to those individuals.

“We knew the English players wouldn’t be available for this game. The French guys not being available is a disappointment,” Gatland said

“I’ve said before that we have been pretty consistent with that situation. If those players in France, along with English players, can’t get full release for the Six Nations they will not be selected in the squad.

“I’m disappointed to hear a couple of them had verbal agreements but nothing written in their contracts, which I sat down with them and told them to do.

Watch Warren Gatland's press conference

“We’re disappointed but that gives a great opportunity to some of those youngsters coming through.

“There is a warning out there that if you are going to leave Wales make sure you have in your contract full release for all Welsh games and squad sessions because if you don’t, you won’t get selected.”

Gatland admitted the issue was a big concern going forward but he did concede certain players had little choice but to play outside Wales after receiving no offers from Welsh regions.

“I think we have to be careful because we are not going to put ourselves in a corner in certain positions and there have been one or two who have left Wales because they haven’t been wanted by the other regions.

That is something we have to be mindful of,” he added.

Gatland also has a series of injury headaches to contend with prior to the re-match with Australia, who beat Wales 21-18 when the sides met in the third-place play-off at the World Cup.

Eight of Gatland’s original 28-man squad joined the camp carrying problems, including George North (groin), Rhys Priestland (shoulder), Luke Charteris (wrist), Jamie Roberts (knee) and Dan Lydiate (ankle).

Gatland remains hopeful that his World Cup stars will recover in time, but one man who will not be available is Ospreys prop Adam Jones who has been replaced in the squad by uncapped 20-year-old Scarlets’ forward Rhodri Jones.

The notable omission from the squad was 104-cap fly-half Stephen Jones, who missed out with Ospreys number 10 Dan Biggar earning a recall.

But Gatland insists the decision does not mean the end of Jones’ 13-year Test career, pointing out that the 33-year-old Scarlets’ playmaker has not announced his retirement, unlike wing Shane Williams who steps down after the Wallabies’ fixture.

“Stephen has not been selected but there are a couple of others (from the World Cup squad) not selected,” he said.

“He hasn’t retired, we know exactly what he offers us and this is a chance to give someone else an opportunity in the squad.”

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