Their exits, along with that of prop Craig Mitchell to English club Exeter, is set to force Wales’ policy of giving preferential treatment to domestic-based players.

Since the 2011 RBS 6 Nations, Phillips has actually played second fiddle to 22-year-old Rhys Webb in the battle for the No.9 shirt and boss Scott Johnson attempted to downplay the loss of the British & Irish Lions scrum-half.

He said: “After continued requests from Mike over the last 18 months, we've agreed to let Mike go as soon as he can find another club.

“I think it gets to a stage where within an organisation, anyone who doesn't want to be here will move on.

“It's the modern player. Sadly that's the way the sport's going and I'd rather have people here who want to be here.

“What tends to happen is after a while, you're spending so much of your time and energy on so few players and we've got a good young nine [Rhys Webb] coming through who needs our attention as well, so it's pretty simple.”