Wales lose Tshiunza to 25-cap rule after flanker seals Sale move from Exeter

Christ Tshiunza will be ineligible for Wales selection next season after the flanker’s move from Exeter to Sale Sharks triggers the Welsh Rugby Union’s 25-cap overseas ruling. Wales head coach Steve Tandy confirmed the 24-year-old has been “deemed unavailable” and admitted the situation is “a shame”.

Tshiunza ends a five-year stint at Exeter this summer, having begun his Test career there as an uncapped player before the ruling applied to him. Cardiff and Ospreys both expressed interest in retaining him in Wales, but the flanker opted for a move to Manchester instead. With only 15 caps to his name, he falls well short of the 25-cap threshold the WRU requires of players based outside Wales.

“We have been keeping an eye on him but there’s been a process and he’s been deemed unavailable for us through the 25-cap law,” Tandy said. “That’s a shame. I’m not involved in all the procedures. There’ll be more detail to come out around it, I’m sure.”

Tandy, who was not in post when the policy was introduced, declined to pass judgement on the rule itself. “I don’t think it is fair for me to voice what I think about it,” he said, adding that Wales want “as many Welsh players available as possible” while respecting the process designed to protect domestically based players.

The issue surfaces as Wales prepare for a summer schedule that includes a Barbarians fixture at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, followed by Nations Championship Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa. Tandy has made eight changes from the side that beat Italy in March to end a three-year Six Nations winless run, with Cardiff lock Teddy Williams and British and Irish Lions flanker Jac Morgan both returning from long-term injuries.

Cardiff hooker Liam Belcher has been ruled out of the entire summer programme with a neck injury, adding to the selection headaches. Wales will also face retiring wing George North and Dragons hooker Elliot Dee when they line up against the Barbarians.

“We are treating it as a Test match and the training week has been no different in the mindset and intensity,” Tandy said. “We haven’t played together since the Italy game so how quickly can we find that cohesion — and hopefully we’ve adapted a few things in our game. If you are slightly off you are going to get punished both sides of the ball.”