Details have emerged of just how often Wales’ top stars will be allowed to play for their regions this season.
There are agreements in place over all the members of Wayne Pivac’s squad, with appearances dictated by how often players are likely to feature for the national side.
The issue has come to light in the wake of some criticism levelled at Cardiff boss Dai Young for not involving new signing Taulupe Faletau against Glasgow last weekend.
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Lions No 8 Faletau had been outstanding in the season-opening URC victory over Munster on his first appearance for the Arms Park club following his move from Bath. But the 31-year-old didn’t feature at all then in last Friday’s meeting with Glasgow at Scotstoun, where Cardiff lost 52-24.
Reacting to negative comments over that non-selection, director of rugby Young said: “It’s annoying when you get that type of criticism.
“The reality of it is these Wales players can only play a certain number of games. Somebody like Taulupe can only play 17 matches for us a season and only five on the bounce.
“So you have got to pick and choose the games. You have only got to look at the fixture list to see if you want Taulupe to be available for the derbies, at some point he’s going to have to be rested.
“We want our best players to play in the derbies, so you’ve got to make decisions there, which is tough because when you are striving for confidence and results you want to play your best team as much as possible.
“But we also realise it’s probably not the right thing for the internationals to go into the autumn Test period on the back of eight or nine games.
Cardiff have around 10 or 11 players in Pivac’s elite home-based group of 38.
“There are different agreements for different players. Not everybody is on the same rest period,” said Young.
“Players who are considered Wales regulars, they are obviously going to play less for us. Some guys that are on the fringes we have got a little bit more leeway with. The players that are probably going to make the Wales 23 will have tighter guidelines than those on the fringes.”
He added: “I don’t think they want any player to play more than 26 games a season, including international and club fixtures.
“Some of the more senior guys that have got a lot of miles on the clock and are probably going to play a lot for Wales will have less games for us to make sure they are available for Wales.
“Every agreement is different. As you can imagine, somebody like Faletau would have tighter restraints on game numbers than someone like Jim Botham, because if Taulupe is fit he is probably going to play for Wales.”
Having taken a break last weekend, Faletau will be back in the mix for Cardiff’s URC clash with the Lions from Johannesburg at the Arms Park on Friday night.
But fellow Wales star Josh Adams is out with a groin injury, while another back three man Matthew Morgan is also sidelined by a knee issue. With Liam Williams and young Jacob Beetham facing lengthy lay-offs, that all creates something of an issue at full-back, where wing Adams was being considered for a run out at Pivac’s request. The versatile Rhys Priestland could now wear No 15 against the Lions, with teenager Cameron Winnett another option.
Loosehead prop is a further problem position with both Rhys Carre and Corey Domachowski being significant injury doubts, so 20-year-old Rhys Barratt could be drafted in to back up Brad Thyer.
Centre Mason Grady (dead leg) and back row duo Jim Botham (shoulder) and Thomas Young (neck) have also been undergoing treatment, but it’s hoped they will be available for Friday night.
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