Richard Hibbard has branded the effect of Welsh rugby's political squabbling on players as 'atrocious'.
The Wales hooker is about to embark on a new chapter in his career in the Aviva Premiership with Gloucester, something which has freed him from the uncertainty that is paralysing the elite game this side of the Severn Bridge.
And Hibbard says he has no regrets at all about switching to play his rugby in England, with fellow ex-Ospreys man James Hook having opted to do the same.
"It is difficult to watch, the boys are in an atrocious position but I am lucky that it doesn't effect me," said the former Ospreys No.2.
"It is something that is going on in the background and hopefully it will get sorted soon.
"As for being here in Gloucester, I'm loving it, it was like the first day at school when I got here with everything being new.
"But it is a great squad up here and they have made me feel welcome and wanted straight away.
"With the great character that is in the squad it has been quite easy to settle in."
While Hibbard has been the number one hooker in Wales in recent years and has a Lions series win in Australia under his belt, he is under huge pressure for his Wales place from Scarlets captain Ken Owens.
It's something Hibbard is more than happy to acknowledge, and he accepts that for the time being he is the man 'chasing'.
"There certainly is stiff competition," he added.
Gallery: The Wales Exiles XV
"Ken had a fine season last year and played well on the South Africa tour.
"Effectively the jersey is his now and I have to challenge him for it. That's going to be difficult.
"But it is a good thing. It will help his game because he doesn't want to lose the jersey and it will help mine because I'm chasing."
Hibbard's move means his international availability is bound to be curtailed because of strict rules covering non-England players in the Aviva which prevent release for Test matches outside of official IRB windows.
But the 30-year-old believes his decision to leave the Welsh game was the right one at the right time.
"It was difficult to leave Wales, things were changing there and things were changing at the Ospreys," he explained.
"But I sat down and looked at my time with the region and I’d been there 10 years. If I was ever going to move now was the time.
"I fancied a new challenge and wanted to see if it could help my game and take me to a new level.
"I will just keep performing week in, week out and if they want to select you they will select you, but it's up to you to perform.
"I looked at the semi-finals and final (of the Aviva Premiership) last season and the intensity was crazily high.
"Each week it will be the same.
"This was one of those situations where I just wanted to commit, I didn't want to think about ifs and buts.
"I wanted to put two feet in and go for it."
