On Tuesday loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins became the latest to join the exodus of Welsh players, exchanging South Wales for French pastures by reportedly signing a deal with Toulon.
He will join former Ospreys trio Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne who already play in France as well as wing Aled Brew, lock Luke Charteris and hooker Huw Bennett who are all set to leave this year.
Rarely in his four years at the helm of Wales has Gatland been at a loss over how his players should be treated but when it comes to finance, the New Zealander admits he is stumped.
"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,” said Gatland.
"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.
"It is difficult for the regions and difficult for the players when they are being offered significantly more money overseas.
Jenkins, who has 84 Welsh caps to his name, confessed that economic factors are behind his departure from Cardiff.
“I was only being offered say 60per cent of the money I was already on so and that had a big impact on me leaving,” he told the Western Mail.
“In the end, they said they couldn't pay me while I was fulfilling international commitments, and so I felt I had no choice.
“I had to think about my future, just like any player or anyone in any walk of life would do.
“I won't leave with any bitterness and I will give the Blues everything between now and the end of this season, just the same as I have always done.
“But after that, it will be time for me to have a fresh start and a new challenge.”