BBC Radio Wales were this morning set to break the news that Welsh flanker Colin Charvis was not eligible to play for Wales when he made his Test debut in 1996.

At the time, Charvis' qualification was based on the premise that his mother hailed from Wales, but BBC Radio Wales have learnt that she was in fact born in West Bromwich. However, Charvis now qualifies to play for Wales under the three-year residency ruling.

The revelation is particularly embarrassing for Wales coming just 24 hours before Charvis is set to play against Ireland at Lansdowne Road, and following on the heels of the flawed eligibility of two other "Welsh" New Zealanders, Shane Howarth and Brett Sinkinson, both of whom are currently out of contention as a result.

The news also comes in the midst of the International Rugby Board's two-day annual meeting in Dublin at which the IRB are considering sanctions against Wales. IRB chairman Vernon Pugh was chairman of the Welsh RFU in 1996.