GLOUCESTER’S Ross Moriarty will face a major decision about his rugby future next year.

The big Cherry and Whites back row is expected to become the first player to test the new Welsh Rugby Union eligibility rules announced on Monday.

Stars playing rugby anywhere other than with the Welsh regions or clubs and without sixty caps to their name will be barred from selection if they sign a new deal when their old one, in Moriarty's case, expires.

Moriarty has 17 international caps to his name, was on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand last summer and is out of contract at the Kingsholm club where he has played since 2012 when a student at Hartpury College, next summer.

Now, unless he leaves Gloucester to return to his homeland – with the Scarlets region touted as the favourites to sign him – the 23-year-old will not be allowed to represent his country again.

And new Gloucester fly-half Owen Williams, who only signed for Gloucester from Leicester Tigers at the end of last season, will face the same dilemma when his contract, the length of which has not been disclosed by the club, runs out.

Gloucester's Player of the Year last season, hooker Richard Hibbard (38 caps) would also be ineligible to continue his Test career if he signed again at Kingsholm when his contract runs out although the 33-year-old has been in the international wilderness for a few years now.

The new rules replace the so-called Gatland’s Law, named after current national coach Warren Gatland, which would have seen many current internationals, plying their trade in England and France, unable to be selected.

Now those who are playing away from the Principality and have over sixty caps, such as Jamie Roberts at Harlequins, will be eligible for selection but, while Moriarty, who has been injured since the Lions tour, is fine to play – if fit - in the upcoming Autumn Test Series in November and next year’s Six Nations Championship, if he signs up again for Gloucester, that will be the end of his Test career.

A Gloucester spokesman said: “We don’t comment on individual contracts so aren’t in a position to comment on Ross’ situation or the WRU announcement.”

Kingsholm chief executive Stephen Vaughan was also unavailable to talk on the subject despite attempts to speak to him by the Gazette.

Moriarty will also not play for Gloucester as they hope to bounce back from a 27-21 European Challenge Cup first round defeat against Pau in France last week by beating another French side, Agen, at Kingsholm on Thursday night.