Tonight’s rugby news as Gatland admits Wales jersey not enough and Scarlets coach leaves

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, May 2.

Gatland: Wales jersey no longer enough

Warren Gatland says Welsh rugby must improve if it wants to keep its best players, admitting the pull of the Wales jersey is no longer enough.

The Wales coach was speaking after being forced to omit Joe Hawkins from his World Cup training squad. The centre is moving to Exeter Chiefs this summer and is well short of the 25 caps required to continue his international career while playing outside of Wales.

Gatland says he respects Hawkins’ decision, and suggested the player felt “undervalued by the contract offer he received from the Ospreys”. You can read the full story here.

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Asked if the situation is proof the famous red jersey is no longer a big enough carrot in the current financial climate, Gatland said: “Yeah absolutely, I’ve made that point and we’re not a reflection of where Welsh rugby has been at for a number of years.

“We’ve got to hopefully put things right and there is an opportunity now. The regions have got to deal with the Union and put plans in place in terms of moving forward.

“There are a number of issues in terms of age group stuff, that development and working the academies is important.

“These issues have been here before and we were probably blocking up the dam in terms of them not coming to the fore because of success we had.

“The onus is on all of us, as a national team and regions to be more successful, so we retain our players and they want to be part of teams here.”

Scarlets coach leaves

Former Wasps head coach Lee Blackett is leaving the Scarlets and will join Bath this summer as assistant to