Edwards has sympathy for the clubs involved in the Barbarians row

Bristol and Sale blocked Mark Regan and Andrew Sheridan from facing South Africa with the Baa-Baas on Saturday.

Regan is to defy Bristol but Sheridan has pulled out and former Barbarians star Edwards is backing the clubs.

"Clubs in the professional age have a lot more responsibility to sponsors and supporters, so it is understandable if they hold players back," he said.

Gareth Edwards' try v New Zealand 1973

"I can sympathise with the clubs and the regions who don't want to release their players."

Edwards played in arguably the most famous Barbarians game of all time, the 1973 victory over New Zealand.

And he scored what has also been argued as the greatest try of all time in that same game.

It is the only time that the All Blacks have fallen to the invitational side and Edwards remembers what a huge privilege it was to be asked to play for the Barbarians.

I can sympathise with the clubs and the regions who don't want to release their players Gareth Edwards

"It caused tremendous excitement and was a huge honour and next to winning your first international cap it was a real privilege," he said.

"Really it was also a big confidence booster and showed that you were capable of making the next step into international rugby.

"Selection was always very sought after, especially for the tours."

Questions have been asked as to whether the Barbarians can continue in the professional era in light of the current argument between the clubs, the players and the invitational side.

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England hooker Regan has defied Bristol over his involvement in the fixture against world champions South Africa, despite his club claiming that he is in breach of contract.

But Edwards believes that the Barbarian still has a place in modern rugby.

"The players who have made themselves available just shows how much people want to play in the black and white jersey and that is testament to the history of the Barbarians," he said.

"I can sympathise with the clubs and the regions who don't want to release their players but there has always been pressure from clubs, but today with players held back by contract, it is more so.

"The prestige has eroded slightly because it was the ethos of amateur rugby and now that has changed. It had an amateur approach and indeed they played a brand of rugby that was very attractive as a result.

"A lot of people have said it has no place in the professional era, but the players who have made themselves available this weekend just goes to show how strong it is.

"Nobody likes to pull players out of a game but rugby today is all about self-interest and in future matches they have to consult with the clubs so this doesn't happen again."

* Gareth Edwards was talking on BBC Radio Wales show - Scrum V on the Radio.