WARREN Gatland has admitted he does not know how to halt the exodus of talent after Gethin Jenkins confirmed he was to become the latest Wales international to ply his trade in France.

It is understood 31-year-old Jenkins, who confirmed he is to leave the Blues, has agreed a two-year contract with Toulon, joining a star-studded squad containing the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and Bakkies Botha.

Wales colleagues, former Ospreys Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne, currently play in France — at Bayonne, Perpignan and Clermont Auvergne respectively — while World Cup lock Luke Charteris has been strongly linked with cross-Channel moves.

"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," Wales boss 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."

Jenkins has won 84 caps and played in five Tests for the British and Irish Lions.

Scrum-half Phillips, meanwhile, believes his move to France has so far provided him with everything he wanted.

"It has been good for me," he said.

"We've had a lot of changes in coaches at Bayonne since I have been there, but it has been exciting.

"It is what I wanted and what I needed, and I have loved every minute of it. It has freshened me up.

"It was a chance to experience new things, try new things and experience France, which I have always wanted to do.

"It is a beautiful part of the world. I live in Biarritz, which is stunning, and the people have welcomed me really well."

Meanwhile, Alun Wyn Jones is ready to do a job for Wales despite his chronic lack of rugby since the World Cup.

Lions lock Jones has made just one post-World Cup start for the Ospreys — against Italian side Aironi last Friday night — because of a toe injury suffered during training in November, and subsequent surgery.

But Gatland has no issues with handing the 26-year-old his 60th cap.

It means Jones will make a Six Nations return to Twickenham two years after his yellow card for tripping hooker Dylan Hartley saw England score 17 points to underpin a comfortable win when he was off the pitch.

"I am delighted to start," Jones said. "It will be a step up from regional rugby to international rugby fitness-wise, but I am happy. I will probably be blowing a bit, but you always are in a Test match.

"It has been frustrating watching from the sidelines — I am the most impatient patient you will get.

"I just wanted to get fit as quickly as possible, and I am lucky enough to be back in the frame with Wales.

"My job is to emulate what the boys have done in the Six Nations so far, and to add something.

"One specialist told me I could be out for between four and six months, and another said three to four months. I ended up coming back one week ahead of schedule.

"I think it was a case of the power of the mind — your body goes where your mind takes it."

Gatland added: "Alun Wyn is fit, he is experienced and he had a really good World Cup. For us, having someone of that experience to come back also gives us some size and physicality.

"I don't have any concerns over his experience and his ability, and that is why we have thrown him in there.

"He hasn't turned up in the last few weeks out of shape. He would have worked harder than most players.

"He is diligent in the way he prepares, on and off the field, so even though he has had a lack of game-time I know he will be in good shape physically and mentally."