Dillon Lewis could be the latest player to leave Wales with Gloucester one of a number of English clubs interested in securing his services.
The 26-year-old forward is out of contract at the end of this season with the current freeze on recruitment and retention at the four regions generally not helping when it comes to keeping players in Wales.
While a six-year funding framework has been verbally agreed between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union, only conditional contracts can be offered until a deal is signed off in the new year. Even when the six-year funding framework completed, it is doubtful all four professional sides will be able to afford to retain all their star players.
READ MORE: Welsh players to be offered conditional contracts while recruitment freeze continues
Lewis has not committed his future to anyone yet but Gloucester, who have already succeeded in signing young Cardiff centre Max Llewellyn, are keen on the 26-year-old as are other clubs in the Gallagher Premiership.
Nothing is certain, and he may opt to remain at the Arms Park, but there is significant interest in his services.
The tighthead prop has won 45 caps and finished the Autumn Nations Series as Wales' first choice number three with his scrummaging having improved significantly over the past year.
What Lewis has to weigh up is whether he is ready to give up his Wales career because a move outside of the four regions would make him ineligible under the 60-cap law.
Inevitably both Cardiff and Wales head coach Warren Gatland will be very keen to retain Lewis' services with quality tightheads thin on the ground this side of the Severn Bridge.
Any player with fewer than 60 caps who signs a contract outside of Wales for next season would also be risking a place in Gatland's Rugby World Cup squad.
In Will Rowlands' case the Professional Rugby Board will have to grant the Racing 92-bound lock special dispensation if he is to represent Wales at the World Cup, and the same would apply to other players on fewer than 60 caps.
When asked about Rowlands' situation WRU chief executive Steve Phillips said: "I think you just need to look at each circumstances as they present themselves. I don't know the full extent of where Will is going or what he's doing and that will have to be reviewed in due course. Without going into specifics we've seen this before with Rhys Webb and so forth. If there needs to be a special case this is something which is discussed at PRB level yes."
Lewis, like many other players in Wales, have tough decisions to make over the coming weeks but one thing which is certain is this financial impasse is having a detrimental effect on all of Welsh rugby.
READ MORE:
