While many players will today be celebrating their selection in Wales' Six Nations squad there are also those licking their wounds after failing to make the cut.
With the World Cup a mere eight months away missing out on the Six Nations is a hammer blow for anyone with aspirations of representing Wales in France.
We run the rule over those who are unlucky to miss out on Six Nations selection.
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Ross Moriarty
The omission of the 54 times capped Dragons back-rower is perhaps the biggest shock. Moriarty is the sort of player Gatland has historically been drawn to given his uncompromising nature, and his raw physicality.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form for the Dragons, while he can also play blindside and No 8. His regional colleague Aaron Wainwright has been given the nod ahead of him with Gatland a big fan of the former Cardiff City footballer.
This is a baffling one because Moriarty is exactly the sort of no nonsense forward who could stand up and even get the better of the likes of Peter O'Mahony when Wales kick-off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland next month.
Moriarty is out of contract at the end of the season and should he opt to join an English or French club he will not be eligible to represent Wales at the Rugby World Cup under the 60-cap law.
Even if he were selected for the Six Nations he would only reach a maximum of 59 caps, meaning he'd need special dispensation from the Professional Rugby Board to play at the World Cup.
Could this be a reason for his non-selection?
Which uncapped player are you most excited to see? You can vote here too
Nicky Smith
Another head scratcher on the face of it. Smith has been the best loosehead prop in Welsh rugby for the past two seasons.
The Ospreys man is a destructive scrummager taking sides apart at the set-piece on a weekly basis. Against Leinster a fortnight back he destroyed renowned scrummager Michael Ala'alatoa, pushing him backwards at a rate of knots.
This is par for the course for Smith who very rarely comes off second best while he is also a potent threat at the breakdown.
Gatland has instead opted for Rhys Carre, Wyn Jones, and Gareth Thomas. Scarlets man Jones has only played one half of rugby, albeit an impressive half, since October, but he is clearly a man who Gatland sees as having a big part to play in the Six Nations and the World Cup.
Thomas was one of the success stories of the Pivac era while Carre is the sort of explosive physical specimen which Gatland likes in his tight-five forwards.
The likelihood is Smith's size has counted against him with international rugby a game of giants.
Jarrod Evans
Evans has been the best attacking outside-half in Welsh rugby this season while his kicking game has improved no end.
The 26-year-old has got Cardiff's attack firing this season while he consistently challenges the line. Gatland was always going to select Dan Biggar while the versatility of Rhys Patchell combined with the form of Owen Williams has beaten Evans to selection.
In the past Gatland and Pivac have had reservations about Evans' game management in the big games, and Cardiff playing in the Challenge Cup won't have helped his cause.
Owen Williams on the other hand has been outstanding for the Ospreys in some big games, playing a crucial role in their stunning back-to-back Heineken Champions Cup victories over Montpellier.
His superior game management could well have made the difference when in Cardiff.
Dane Blacker
He has been the form scrum-half in Wales this season. The 24-year-old has really fired the Scarlets' attacking game in recent months.
He likes a fast and loose game but the Welsh selectors really need to see him perform in a game which isn't played on his terms. Like Evans there might be question marks surrounding his game management, while it's worth asking the question how he'd perform under pressure in a big Test match at somewhere like Twickenham?
These questions need answering but Gatland has plumped for the experience of Rhys Webb, Tomos Williams, and Kieran Hardy.
Hardy and Webb also have superior kicking games while their style of rugby may be better suited for the Six Nations.
Sam Costelow
Costelow has been viewed as the long-term successor to Dan Biggar but for now he's going to have to bide his time.
Costelow missed some rugby over the festive period after failing a HIA against the Ospreys which may have counted against him. He is a tremendous running outside-half, with a strong kicking game, while his game management is very good for a man so young.
Biggar is one of the first names on the team sheet while Owen Williams has more miles on the clock. Rhys Patchell's greater versatility has won him a place in the squad.
Perhaps his small stature went against him despite the fact he shirks nothing in defence. More likely is Gatland views Costelow as a player for the future rather than the here and now.
Jonathan Davies
Wayne Pivac had sold shares in the 34-year-old but he's been excellent for the Scarlets of late.
Davies was a key player during the first Gatland era, and even though his peak has come and gone he remains a quality centre. His defensive game is second to none while he can still get his side over the gainline from the inside centre position.
But Gatland has raised concerns about the age profile of the squad he has inherited from Pivac while it has been difficult to get the balance right.
Davies has likely paid the price for this with Gatland looking to the future in the shape of Keiran Williams and Mason Grady. Never say never but this could well be the end of Davies' international career.
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