A law nobody wanted to defend or enforce

Rhys Carre is back in the Wales squad but the 25-cap rule seems to be on borrowed time, says rugby writer Ben James

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IN ALL honesty, the 25-cap rule has looked as though it was on borrowed time for quite a while.

Last year, at the WRU AGM, the reaction to the potential scrapping of the rule was met with a warmer reception than getting rid of Warren Gatland. Of course, Gatland wasn’t long for Welsh rugby either - leaving months later after his disastrous second stint in charge.

But the 25-cap rule was something Gatland wasn't keen on. The fact the previous eligibility rule was dubbed ‘Gatland’s Law’ didn’t sit well for a start.

But in Melbourne last summer, while Gatland was still in charge, he made it clear he was never keen on the law.

"There's only one team being punished for that rule and that’s us," Gatland said last year, before joking: “Maybe the players can go on strike again.”

Of course, players and agents aren't fans of the law on the whole with the players having been the driving force to get it reduced from 60 caps to 25 two years ago.

Back then, Gatland also insisted it was the regions who wanted the rule in place.

Speak to those at the regions and they’d tell you the law is there for the benefit of the national team, first and foremost.

It's funny how this much-maligned law somehow became everything and nothing to everyone in the Welsh game. A scapegoat and a rule barely enforced, all in one.

The average fan has pointed to it as one of the main problems with the Welsh game, yet the players seemingly affected by it tend to be available for Wales if the national team's coach really wants it.