Get the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Wales decided to decline an offer from the Barbarians to put together a hastily arranged pre-tour match at the Millennium Stadium this summer because of doubts about player availability.

Reports have indicated the Welsh Rugby Union "snubbed" the opportunity of a run-out against the Baa-Baas before embarking on their two-Test assignment to South Africa in June when approached by the invitational side.

But with the Ospreys still involved in the fight for a spot in the RaboDirect play-offs, and Racing Metro likely to be involved in the French Top 14 equivalent, Wales took the decision not to commit to a game which would have had to have been inked into the diary at least a couple of months in advance.

Had the clash gone ahead, Wales could have been without Racing trio Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts and Dan Lydiate as well as an Ospreys contingent nearing double figures.

Gallery: The greatest Easter entertainment ever...when the Barbarians toured South Wales

However, Warren Gatland's plan to hold a Probables v Possibles trial match remains on the table, the difference being that it would not involve the same cast-iron advance commitment, and could be staged at shorter notice.

"We were approached by the Barbarians, but we decided for rugby reasons not to go ahead with it," said a WRU spokesman.

The Baa-Baas meet an England XV at Twickenham on June 1 and were available to face Wales in the week after that game.

Wales play the first of their two Tests against the Springboks on June 14, meaning unless there is a trial encounter many of their squad may not have played for over a month.

Warren Gatland has already highlighted the potential dangers of a lack of match-readiness.

"We are going to do ourselves a disservice if we go to South Africa cold," he said.