WARREN Gatland's warning to Wales rugby players to stay in Wales if they want to play for their country is an idea forged in his home country of New Zealand.

It is also an idea which will have as many detractors as it does supporters.

There are those who argue that Wales players need the club rugby experience they can get in England or France to improve their game and hence the performance of the Welsh national team.

And the players most likely to benefit from those opportunities may well resent the proposed restriction on their personal careers.

But the counter argument is that our players should stay in Wales to strengthen the club game here in order to give the national team the strength in depth that it needs.

In turn, our clubs would not have to rely on bringing in foreign players to provide the quality they need.

Whatever your view, given that Wales is pinning such hopes on Warren Gatland to bring success to Wales rugby once again, then we should give him his head and accept this policy shift as the first step on that road.