WRU boss Nigel Walker has defended the decision to ban young Joe Hawkins from playing for Wales at the World Cup and explained the reasons why the controversial call was made.
The gifted 20-year-old, one of the brightest talents in the Welsh game and Warren Gatland's first-choice No.12 in the Six Nations, finds himself an international outcast after moving from the Ospreys to English powerhouses Exeter Chiefs.
Hawkins says he was "significantly underpaid" at the Ospreys, but finds himself in the Wales wilderness because he falls well short of the WRU's 25-cap rule. That is the number required for anyone not playing for one of the four regions to be eligible for Wales.
READ MORE: Joe Hawkins publicly speaks out on Wales ban and says he was 'significantly underpaid' at Ospreys
Walker was grilled about the matter at the end of a Welsh Affairs committee debate in Parliament about sports broadcasting. Committee chair Stephen Crabb, a Pembrokeshire MP, argued what the WRU had done with Hawkins 'a tremendous young man who is a product of the Welsh pathway system can't be right?' For the latest rugby news, sign up to our newsletter here
The WRU acting chief executive responded: "There's a balance to be struck. The rule, which used to be 60 caps, is there for a good reason.
"When the regions, the academies, select players to be part of that academy, they could be 13, 14, 15 and they spend six, seven, eight years investing in a player, they want to see some return on that investment.
"We know we can't compete financially with France, with England in certain circumstances. So it's put in place to ensure that they get some return on their investment.
Walker continued: "At 60 caps people felt the figure was too high, it's at 25. You can get 25 caps in two and a half seasons.
"So it you made the national team at 21, you could be free to go and earn as much money as you want outside of Wales at 23 or 24. We feel that system is fair.
"The important thing is people understand what the rules are and that they are administered fairly. I'm not going to talk about Joe, it would be inappropriate for me to talk about Joe, but that's why the 25 cap rule is in place.
"We've talked about Welsh regions perhaps not being as competitive as we'd like and there are things we can do. If we let players go through the system and to leave at 19 or 20 without something in place, the professional game in Wales would be devastated."
Hawkins says he is grateful to the Ospreys for bringing him through but feels a move to Exeter is the best thing for his development, despite being 'truly gutted' at not being able to play for Wales at the World Cup.
"The turbulent period in Welsh rugby, where there were no contracts on offer in Wales, put out of contract players under pressure. Witnessing the number of players in Wales currently out of a job has reinforced my decision," said Hawkins of his move.
"Further, while I have spent the last few years playing professional rugby, and international rugby, I have been held to an 'academy contract' - being significantly underpaid. Signing for the Chiefs will enable me to grow as an individual, on and off the field."
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