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Welsh rugby bosses have secured an extra £2m from sponsors to spend on centrally contracting more of Warren Gatland’s Six Nations stars, we can reveal.

A portion of that cash has already been set aside for Wales and Lions skipper Sam Warburton, who became the first player to sign a ground-breaking deal with the governing body.

But the WRU plan to use the rest of the windfall to fund further central contracts in their bid to halt the player drain to France and England.

Three of the players who could be handed deals are out-of-contract trio Adam Jones, Rhys Priestland and Scott Williams, who each must put the uncertainty surrounding their futures to one side as they prepare for line up against Italy in tomorrow’s Six Nations opener.

The WRU could also look to use the money to try to bring back some of the leading stars who have already gone abroad.

The extra funds have been secured via sponsors who are keen to be involved in attempts to ensure the best players ply their trade in Wales.

The new money being made available is extra to the £6.6m of WRU funding to the regions which is already on the table as part of the Rugby Services Agreement currently under discussion.

Blues flanker Warburton is adamant more players will follow his lead and sign up with the WRU, stressing the advantages he sees in such an arrangement.

“For me, it is a win-win situation,” said Warburton. “I can train with the Blues and play for them. In that respect everything will be as it is.”

However, the regions have expressed their bemusement at the WRU signing up Warburton, declaring they have an agreement not to play centrally contracted players.

Video: Rhys Priestland reveals stress of contract worry

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Gatland’s No2 Rob Howley said there was surprise in the Welsh camp at the timing of the regions’ statement so close to the Millennium Stadium Six Nations opener, as Gatland’s men seek to get their title defence off to a flier.

And the WRU responded with a statement of their own, insisting they will only step in with central contracts if individual regions can’t strike deals with their leading players.

“The WRU encourages the four regions to contract as many key players as they can,” read the statement.

“If any region cannot agree terms with a key international player, the WRU will be prepared to negotiate a national contract with the individual in order to keep them in Wales as the WRU did with Sam Warburton.

“A nationally contracted player will be offered back to their region of origin free of charge which means the money they would have been paying that individual could then be spent on other players to bolster their squad.

“The clear intention is to ensure the four regions have the opportunity of gathering the strongest squads possible to compete on domestic and European stages.

“To support this strategy, the WRU has encouraged the Scarlets and the Ospreys to conclude negotiations with Scott Williams, Rhys Priestland and Adam Jones respectively.”

Gallery: The Welsh players who have already left