FORMER Sixways star Alex Grove admits Worcester Warriors cannot hold Josh Adams back if he needs to move to Wales to remain in the international fold.

Adams won his third cap for his country on Saturday when he helped them to a 23-10 victory over Argentina.

His call-up came off the back of a stunning season with Warriors as he finished the campaign as the Aviva Premiership’s joint-top try scorer.

But Grove said the club were in “danger” of losing the 23-year-old next summer if the Welsh Rugby Union did not change their selection policy.

Under the 60-cap rule brought in by the WRU in October Adams would need to join a Welsh region when his current deal runs out at the end of the 2018-19 season to stay in head coach Warren Gatland’s plans.

“It is a difficult position because he has been playing outstandingly well for Worcester,” Grove said.

“He has obviously got an opportunity with Wales because of his form for Worcester.

“But you would not want to turn down his chance of being a regular international so it looks like Worcester are in danger of losing a very good player through no fault of their own or Josh’s.

“He has rewarded the club in his performances as joint top try-scorer last season.

“But you cannot hold a player back who is ambitious and ultimately wants to play at the highest level and he’s got the ability to do that.

“It’s a shame that these Welsh Rugby Union laws are getting in the way of the club and the player.

“I don’t see why they can’t have an arrangement where Josh can be playing week in week out here.

“It is not like Worcester is too far from Wales so they can keep tabs on him.”

Adams was initially dropped from Gatland’s squad as Wales’ fixture against South Africa fell outside World Rugby’s Test window, meaning Warriors, one of the 12 Premiership that agreed to the ruling, could not release him.

Speaking in the Independent, Adams who returned to the touring party in place of the injured Steff Evans said his enforced withdrawal had made him consider his future.

“I’m under contract for another year and I really enjoy Worcester. They’ve given me an opportunity,” Adams said.

“But what’s happened in the last few weeks does definitely make you think and all those things are going to come into consideration come the end of next year." 

During Grove’s 10-year spell at Warriors, the recently retired centre spent six months out on loan at Edinburgh in the 2010-11 campaign to improve his chances with Scotland.

But the 30-year-old said it was a “different” situation for Swansea-born Adams as the Scot signed a contract extension before moving north of the boarder.

“Josh has got a chance of playing quite regularly for Wales and their rules seem to be clear cut,” Grove added.

“It would be a shame if Worcester lost a player of his calibre as it is not often that sort of quality comes along.”