Rhys Webb’s Wales career could be over after a knee injury ruled him out of the whole of the NatWest Six Nations Championship starting next week.
The 29-year-old’s absence is another serious blow for Wales, who will go into the tournament without six of their most important players — all of whom were members of last year’s British & Irish Lions squad.
Sam Warburton is out for the season, while neither Webb nor Jonathan Davies, who was the Lions’ player of the series in New Zealand last summer, will feature in the Six Nations. Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar and Liam Williams are all unavailable for at least the first two rounds of the campaign.
Webb will be unavailable for selection by Wales next season because he is joining Toulon in the summer. He is technically available to participate in the summer tour to Argentina, but Warren Gatland is unlikely to take him given that he cannot be considered for the World Cup next year.
The WRU’s new policy states that only players with 60 or more caps will be eligible for international selection if they move abroad from the start of next season. Webb has 31. The rule was announced by Wales a week after Webb signed his three-year deal with Toulon and the WRU has refused to make an exception for him.
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Tomos Williams, the uncapped Cardiff Blues scrum half, has been called up to the Wales squad. Wales will begin their Six Nations campaign against Scotland in Cardiff a week tomorrow.