The giant Dragons lock has agreed to sign for mega rich French side Racing 92 for next season.
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Will Rowlands has agreed to sign for French giants Racing 92 and may now be ineligible to play for Wales at the Rugby World Cup.
The move, first reported by WalesOnline earlier this week, is a hammer blow to Welsh rugby and presents whoever is in charge of the national team with a big problem going forward.
Rowlands will complete the move at the end of the season and will not be allowed to play for the national team under the 60-cap rule when he leaves Wales. The giant lock has 23 caps.
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WalesOnline understands his chances of being eligible to play at the Rugby World Cup, which begins in September, are currently in the balance. Rowlands is expected to be classed as a Racing player by then and is likely to need special dispensation from the Professional Rugby Board to get around the rule. That will require all four regions to agree to it.
Dragons RFC have been unable to offer Rowlands an improved deal that reflects his stunning rise to prominence over the past year due to the current freeze on contracts in Welsh rugby. That has been put in place while the Welsh Rugby Union and regions try to thrash out a new funding deal.
Rowlands is thought to have initially turned down a deal that was tabled a long time ago as he did not feel the pay banding he was given was fair. No counter-offer has been received since and nothing was able to be done in recent weeks due to the recruitment freeze as Racing and Bath competed for his signature.
Welsh regional coaches have voiced their deep concerns over the current situation, revealing dozens of players are coming out of contract soon and now find themselves in limbo with the regions unsure of their budgets for next season.
It means Rowlands may not be the last player to look elsewhere, even if it means giving up international careers. Rowlands is Wales' reigning Player of the Year after an outstanding 2022 that saw him establish himself as one of the first names on Wayne Pivac's team-sheet.
Pivac's reign may be over in a matter of days but whoever is in charge at next year's World Cup will be desperate to have Rowlands as part of their plans.
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