At least three players named in Wales' Rugby World Cup training squad will arrive with their club futures up in the air.
Warren Gatland initially selected a 54-man extended training squad which was to be cut ahead of fitness camps in Switzerland and Turkey, respectively. However, the Wales retirements of Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones and Rhys Webb plus the release of Rhys Carre mean the squad size is now 50.
As of next season, a period of austerity is being ushered into Welsh rugby with regional playing budgets getting lowered to £5.2million and the wages of players being driven down in a bid to make the game more sustainable.
This has led to Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets being unable to offer acceptable contracts to many players.
On Wednesday, Rhys Webb became the latest player to announce his international career is over as he agreed a deal with an unnamed club abroad. Webb's future had been shrouded in uncertainty but he has now made his decision. Others, though, remain unattached heading into next season.
Leigh Halfpenny is one of the more high-profile players who is yet to find a club, and it is unclear whether he will continue playing after the World Cup. As revealed by WalesOnline last week, the Dragons have held talks with the Wales veteran about coming on board as a kicking coach, but there will be more than a few clubs who will hope the former Scarlets man decides to extend his playing career a little longer.
Following his exit from the Ospreys, Gareth Anscombe is also without a club but is unlikely to be short of offers. The 32-year-old outside-half has previously been linked to French clubs Pau and Racing 92 while a number of Japanese clubs are reportedly interested in landing the talented playmaker.
In an interview last month, he said Welsh rugby was "a mess", players had been let down and the four professional sides will struggle to be competitive next season. However, he spoke about Wales being his family's home now, suggesting remaining in Wales may be an option.
"Wales is home for us now," he said. "We have had an amazing time and had my two children born in Wales, and my wife and I are comfortable living in Cardiff. We have been lucky and made a lot of great friends through the game. I have always wanted to test myself in other areas and competitions but it is late in the season and I am coming back from injury, so there are challenges. I am looking forward to staying injury-free and hope the next steps will unfold in the next couple of weeks. Do I stay in Wales? I don't know. I probably have in the back of my head where I would like to go but have to be open to anything."
Elsewhere, the future of former Dragons and Cardiff second-row Cory Hill is up in the air after he announced his departure from Japanese side Yokohama Canon Eagles.
Hill, who has been recalled to the Wales squad after a two-year exile, was attracting interest from French outfits Castres Olympique and Bordeaux but he has yet to announce his next destination.
Gatland will undoubtedly be keen for every player's future to get rubberstamped in the coming weeks to ensure their full focus is on Wales' World Cup preparations.
READ NEXT:
