Rugby Australia feels three is the magic number of overseas-based Wallabies to deliver 2023 World Cup success while still maintaining a strong local presence.
The governing body announced Friday it has tweaked its overseas selection policy for national teams, with Wallabies coach Dave Rennie now only able to call on three offshore players per campaign.
RA made changes to the "Giteau Law" - named so after it paved the way for France-based Matt Giteau to play in the 2015 Rugby World Cup - by winding back the minimum number of Test caps required from 60 to 30 and years' service in Super Rugby from seven to five.
But restricting selection to just three puts overseas-based players and those pondering a move abroad on notice that their chances of playing in the marquee events such as the World Cup and the British and Irish Lions tour are very limited.
Rennie will also be able to select an eligible player who plays overseas but has contractually committed to playing for an Australian-based franchise for the following year. In the last two years, Rennie was given several "exemptions" due to COVID-19.
RA boss Andy Marinos said the amendments, which also apply to the Wallaroos and Sevens teams, would help Australia compete internationally while maintaining the strength of the local league.
He said after reviewing the 2021 season and discussions with Rennie and other national coaches they settled on three.
"We looked at our depth and the players that are currently playing overseas that could come into contention and we're comfortable that's the right number," Marinos said.
"It's really important that we respect the integrity of our domestic competition and ensure there's always going to be the high priority around selecting players from home in the first instance so we don't need to have more than three.
"We're confident that's the right number to take us to the World Cup."
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Marinos said that while there was a "massive gulf" in what the southern hemisphere could offer financially compare to the northern hemisphere, they couldn't open the floodgates.
He feared that allowing Australia's top talent to play overseas it would harm player pathways as well as grass-roots rugby.
"Our message is simple: if you want to put yourself in the shop window for international selection you are still best served playing at home," he said.
"There's a lot of really good talent ... when you look at the players that are actually playing here versus those that are eligible and sitting outside of our shores, it's not like there's 50 or 60 players that we are forgetting about outside of Australia.
"A lot of the talent and a lot of the future of what's going to be taking us to the World Cup is currently contracted in Australia."
Rennie is likely to bring in three stars for the three-Test series against England in July, with Japan-based players Samu Kerevi, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete and Rory Arnold the frontrunners.
