Rhys Webb has become the latest Wales player to announce his retirement from Test rugby before the World Cup.
Scrum-half Webb, who won 40 caps, follows his Ospreys colleagues Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric in stepping down.
All three were members of Wales’ preliminary World Cup training squad ahead of the tournament in France later this year.
Writing on Instagram, 34-year-old Webb said that “present uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby” and “an opportunity to play abroad” had influenced his decision.
Webb’s announcement comes 100 days before the World Cup kicks off. He was one of four scrum-halves in the training squad alongside Tomos Williams, Kieran Hardy and Gareth Davies.
Webb made his Test debut 11 years ago, but he missed out on the 2015 World Cup through injury and was unavailable for Japan 2019 as Wales’ previous selection policy for players plying their trade abroad meant he could not be considered. Webb played for Toulon at the time.
𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝗯 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝘂𝗴𝗯𝘆 🏉
A legend of the game - thank you for everything you've done in a @WelshRugbyUnion shirt ❤️
𝗗𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗰𝗵 🏴 pic.twitter.com/KENh1GeBeR— Ospreys (@ospreys) May 31, 2023
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But he was recalled by Wales head coach Warren Gatland for this season’s Six Nations and looked to have an integral role to place in France.
“Having the opportunity to play for Wales again recently has been a huge honour, and I am proud to have been named as part of the World Cup training squad,” Webb wrote.
“However, whilst I would have relished the chance to end my career playing for a Welsh region, the present uncertainty and difficulties in Welsh rugby meant there was little opportunity for a contract that offered security for the coming years as I see out my professional career.
“As such, when an opportunity to play abroad arose, during the off-season, enabling me to provide greater career security for myself and my family, I decided to accept the offer.”
