Wales coach Warren Gatland is embroiled in a row with the four Welsh regions over the release of players for the autumn internationals.

Gatland wanted a 13-day release ahead of the opening Test against South Africa on 8 November.

But he has been told they will not be released until after the final round of EDF matches, five days before the Test.

"The players are going to be hampered with having only five days' preparation," Gatland told Scrum V.

"Having made a formal request to the regions to release the players a week before the first game against South Africa, they've come back and said 'no' and I'm pretty disappointed about it."

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Gatland says he believes that the regions - the Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets - have no issue with him personally or his management.

Instead, the New Zealander revealed it is a growing tension between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union that is seeing the players used as "pawns".

"I think there's issues going forward with the participation agreement between the regions and the WRU," Gatland said.

"We are really trying hard to form relationships with the coaches and the regions.

"And I've really asked them to try and separate the players and the national team and national management from the issues that the regions have with the Union.

"Unfortunately, players are being used as pawns in some of the problems and the arguments that they have with negotiating with the Union."

Wales start their autumn internationals by hosting South Africa on 8 November, then play Canada on 14 November, New Zealand on the 22nd and Australia on 29 November.