Exodus worries Gatland

The 31-year-old will leave Cardiff Blues in the summer to join Toulon - with team-mates Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne already plying their trade in the Top 14.

Jenkins will be also joined in crossing the Channel by Dragons duo Luke Charteris and Aled Brew.

"My stance has always been ideally we would love them to stay here, and we will do everything we can to try to keep them here, but players have a very short career in terms of playing at this level."
Warren Gatland Quotes of the week

And although a number of his leading lights are opting to leave Wales behind, Gatland claims there is little he can do to halt the trend.

Difficult

"It is difficult to compete with the money the players are being offered overseas, given the financial pressures our regions are under at the moment," Gatland said.

"It is difficult for the regions and difficult for the players when they are being offered significantly more money overseas.

"I don't know what the answer is.

"My stance has always been ideally we would love them to stay here, and we will do everything we can to try to keep them here, but players have a very short career in terms of playing at this level."