Wales coach Warren Gatland has expressed concern that the All Black jersey has been devalued by Graham Henry's policy of selecting from a wide group of players and fears for the game in his native country.

Gatland, who recently took over the Wales job with a complaint at the lack of coaching opportunities available in the southern hemisphere's Super 14 championship, said that the mythology associated with the New Zealand national team is under threat.

"I'm hugely concerned about New Zealand rugby," he told the Sunday News. "I'm really worried about it.

"If you're looking forward, you've got to make that All Blacks jersey incredibly elite - you can't give it away.

"You've got to think about who you're selecting as All Blacks and make it really hard to earn that jersey."

There have been a large number of international players forgoing the All Blacks in favour of moves to club teams in the northern hemisphere, including lock Chris Jack and prop Carl Hayman.

Gatland added that a return to the days where only the very best pulled on the black shirt would reverse the exodus and overall decline following yet another failure at a World Cup this year in France.

"[The problems] are reflected in the number of players we're losing," he said.

"[The change] would help keep a number of players here because if you've been an international in the last 18 months you qualify for a visa in the UK.

"That would cut off a number of players having an opportunity to go there."

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport