Gethin Jenkins' signature is rumoured to be courted by Perpignan © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: Charteris: Overseas lure proved too much

News: Hazell calls on WRU to prevent player exodus

Players/Officials: Gareth Baber | Gethin Jenkins

Tournaments/Tours: RaboDirect PRO12

Teams: Cardiff Blues | Wales

Cardiff Blues coach Gareth Baber has called on the Welsh Rugby Union to help stop the exodus of players to France.

Adam Jones is the latest Welsh international to be linked with a move to France with Gethin Jenkins and Luke Charteris also courting interest. Blues prop Jenkins is rumoured to be a target for Top 14 giants Perpignan with the French side ready to offer the British & Irish Lions prop £500,000 a year to make the switch.

And with Ospreys boss Scott Johnson on Tuesday declaring his wish for Jones to stay at the Liberty Stadium, Baber believes the WRU will need to step in with financial support if they are to prevent the likes of Jenkins and Jones following James Hook and Mike Phillips to France.

"All I can say is we want to keep Gethin Jenkins," Baber told Wales Online. "He is one of the best forwards in the world and he is certainly one of the best defensive players I have ever met. He is a huge asset to the Blues and you can see from his performances in Europe exactly what he brings to us.

"It would be a huge loss if he did move to France, not only for the Blues but the whole of Welsh rugby. We want him here going forward. Simple market forces tell you there is a demand over in France and they are willing to pay the price.

"It has been mooted about some sort of assistance for these sorts of players bearing in mind the limited number of times we have them in a season even though they are our players. It becomes difficult to rationalise what the expense would be in comparison to the money they will be given to go to France.

"We are looking to create some way forward to keep players, not just here but at all the regions. It is important those discussions happen. I don't know exactly what they would be called or how you would do it but obviously some form of assistance from the Union (is needed) to find a means by which we can get them to stay in Wales.

"Us coaches do not want to lose the best players."