Gatland spells it out to players

WARREN GATLAND delivered a blunt warning yesterday that any player who pursues a club career outside Wales will be putting his international future at grave risk.

Gatland’s first major act as the new Wales head coach has been to propose a radical new selection policy, designed to keep the best Welsh talent playing in the principality.

The approach is similar to that employed by Gatland’s native New Zealand, who do not consider any overseas-based player for the All Blacks. European employment law is understood to have prohibited Wales from replicating that stance completely but the motivation is essentially same.

Gatland, who has the full support of Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis, wants to ensure current and future internationals remain within Wales’ elite structure.

International Rugby Board regulations mean Gatland has no control over the training, development or medical care of players based outside Wales during non-Test weeks.

Meanwhile Italy coach Nick Mallett has left experienced duo Paul Griffen and Fabio Ongaro out of his 32-man squad in preparation for the RBS Six Nations.

Mallet, who succeeded Pierre Berbizier in charge of the Azzurri in November, has also given Rovigo lock Tommasso Reato his first call up.

Italy will gather for two days in Rome on January 20 in what will be their last training camp before the start of the competition.

Italy open their Six Nations campaign against Ireland in Dublin on February 2.

The Azzurri finished fourth in the tournament last season after winning two of their five games, but endured a disappointing World Cup after being eliminated in the group stages.

Meanwhile, France’s 2007 World Cup captain Raphael Ibanez has announced his retirement from international rugby with immediate effect.

He won 98 caps, making him world rugby’s most-capped hooker, and skippered France on numerous occasions, including to a Five Nations Grand Slam in 1998.

Ibanez said: “At the start of this week I had a phone conversation with Marc Lievremont (new France coach).

“We have a good relationship, stemming from our playing days together with France, so we were able to have a very open and honest discussion of the plans Marc has for the future of the French team.

“Marc’s plans centre around bringing in new young faces to take France forward. I respect that, and fully support his decision and plans.

“I like to think that I still have enough good rugby inside me to have played again for France and reached the 100-cap mark. That would have been nice, and a great achievement for me, but of course the coaches have to think of the bigger picture, so now I will have to rely on my two young sons to collect those remaining two caps for Team Ibanez!”

Ibanez, who will be 35 next month, has played in three World Cups — two as captain — and won four Six Nations winners’ medals. He also helped Wasps win the Heineken Cup last season.

“The immediate future for me is now all about Wasps,” he said.

“My current contract ends at the end of this season, but I am enjoying my rugby and I still feel I have a lot to offer on the pitch, so I am currently in negotiations with Wasps regarding an extension to my contract.”