New Wales World Cup star Henry Thomas has won his club-versus-country battle after choosing to play for Warren Gatland's side.
The former England prop, who also qualifies for the red jersey, was warned by French aces Montpellier the decision to complete his international transfer to Wales would cost him his club job.
Montpellier, last season's French champions, spelt out the situation because they wanted Thomas to focus on his club rugby. He still has a year left on his contract with the Top 14 side.
It set up the prospect of the highly-rated forward joining one of the four Welsh regions next season and in doing so taking a huge pay cut.
However, Montpellier have done a U-turn and say they will continue to back Thomas.
It frees him up to focus on Wales' World Cup campaign without the extra worry of what happens to his club career.
The Ospreys might have led the Welsh chase to sign Thomas, with their tighthead rock Tomas Francis likely to be leaving himself for French rugby.
That would have led to the major pay reduction after the World Cup for Thomas, given the regions are having their budgets significantly trimmed for next season.
But The Rugby Paper report everything has changed because of the intervention of Montpellier’s multi-billionaire president Mohed Altrad, said to be the richest man in world rugby.
He insists Thomas must remain on the payroll after the Wales newcomer's excellent form towards the end of the French league campaign and is too valuable to let go.
Thomas had originally been signed to cover other front-rowers on World Cup duty, without imagining he would be playing in the tournament himself.
“Henry will be coming back to us after the World Cup. You can never have enough tighthead props of proven quality,’’ Montellier's new forwards coach Richard Cockerill told the publication.
“Henry did well towards the end of last season. We’re going to need him because once the World Cup is over, we play 18 weeks on the bounce, the vast majority of them in the most physical League in the world.’’
Thomas played seven times for England, the last cap nine years ago. He is set to make his Wales debut against the Red Rose, with Gatland's men meeting England in World Cup warm-up matches in Cardff on August 5 and then Twickenham the following week.
Gatland said of Thomas: "He’s been really good. He’s fitted in well. He seems to be enjoying it. I said to him “How are things?” and obviously he was a bit apprehensive to start coming in with meeting players.
"He knew a few of the players and he’s said he’s found the guys brilliant in terms of welcoming him in and making him feel a part of it."
