Wales
Harlequins move won't affect Roberts' Wales career
ESPN Staff
May 7, 2015
Jamie Roberts
Jamie Roberts© Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Jamie Roberts' touted move to Harlequins will not affect his international career, says Wales coach Warren Gatland.

Roberts is expected to move from Racing Metro to the Aviva Premiership after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, having reportedly rejected a return to his former club Cardiff Blues.

If true, that would see Roberts breach the so-called "Gatland's Law", which favours Wales-based players for Test selection over those who choose to play elsewhere.

But Gatland told the BBC: "There's not a hard and fast rule as there is with England.

"There are exceptions where players who have been playing outside of Wales and there are one or two wildcards we could pick.

"They do play outside of Wales but they could be selected, but I think the long-term goal is to have a policy where, ideally, we pick players who are playing in Wales."

Roberts, 28, left Cardiff Blues in 2013 to sign a three-year contract, so must first secure a release from Racing before he can complete a move to England.

© ESPN Staff

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