On this week’s Sportin Wales podcast Lee Byrne said that Wales should scrap the 25-cap rule, he’s not the only former or current player who holds that view, with Dewi Lake echoing this, also on the Sportin Wales podcast, suggesting changing the cap rule for a time served in regional rugby or appearances rule and cited Josh Turnbull as an example.

Byrne pointed to South Africa and the success they have had since removing their rule, winning two World Cups.

Many people cite, often incorrectly, the players who would be suddenly available should Wales’ cap rule be lifted, especially when the national side is struggling as is presently the case.

But how many ‘extra’ players would be available if the 25-cap rule was removed? It’s safe to say with the vast majority of the Welsh rugby public, there aren’t as many as they think.

Joe Hawkins is the obvious first name to mention. The former Osprey centre was tipped by Warren Gatland as a future number 10 for Wales when he played in last years Six Nations after making his debut in late 2022 under Wayne Pivac.

With five caps to his name he moved to Exeter as the then 60 cap rule was being revised down to 25 and was the major casualty of the rule not being scrapped completely.

Two other players who would be available are fly-halves Rhys Patchell and Jarrod Evans.

Patchell was released by the Scarlets at the end of last season and made the decision to join the Highlanders in New Zealand while three short of 25 caps.

He has been in fine form for the Highlanders this season, but being a part of Wales’ Six Nations squad would be impractical if not impossible with clashing schedules, although there would be the possibility of meeting up with Gatland’s men for their summer tour of Australia.

Evans had eight caps when he left Cardiff for Harlequins in London admitting recently, he wasn’t sure if he was eligible for Wales due to uncertainty within the law.

That clause suggests that if a player isn’t offered a “reasonable offer” by one of the regions they might be available even if they had less than 25 caps.

Safe to say scrapping the 25-cap rule would provide clarity for both players and fans on the subject but would it help the national side?

But for Byrne, who had the chance to play in France, an experience he cherished, it was a brilliant opportunity to play with world class players in a different environment.

At Clermont Auvergne, he played with the likes of Morgan Parra, Wesley Fofana and Sitiveni Sivivatu to name but a few.

Back in the 00’s, was a steady stream of world class players in Welsh rugby such as Jerry Collins and Tommy Bowe at the Ospreys along with the likes of Jonah Lomu, Percy Montgomery and Regan King.

Since then, players of a similar standard are typically opting to play in France or Japan.

While of course this gives more space for Welsh players to play it does mean players aren’t getting to play with, and arguably more importantly train with, overseas world class talent.

Several players such as Richard Hibbard have praised the impact players such as Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia had on their development so could playing with similar world class players have the same effect?

It won’t be for everyone, with several players having struggled for form and gametime since leaving Wales, but with the possibility of no Welsh team being a part of the Champions Cup next season, their best chance of playing at the highest level of club or regional rugby may be outside of Wales.

The reasons to keep the ruling however are comparatively straight forward.

The rule has been in place to keep the best Welsh players in Wales and with the regions currently struggling, perhaps the incentive of the Welsh jersey can urge some players to stay.

Additionally, Gatland has always been frustrated that players based outside of Wales return to their clubs during fallow weeks in the Six Nations and therefore hampers attempts at preparation.

If they played within Wales, the WRU and coaches would have more say over how much time they get with the players as well as occasionally how much gametime each player is exposed to in regional rugby.

The cap rule was reduced from 60 to 25 to offer balance, the question is whether that balance has yet been struck.