You are in > manchester.com  > News > Cockbain out of Wales World Cup squad

Rugby Union

Cockbain out of Wales World Cup squad

14/06/2007

Wales have omitted Brent Cockbain from their 41-man World Cup preliminary training squad.
.
The second-row lock, who played in the Wales side which won the Grand Slam in 2005, loses his place to Gloucester lock Will James.

Cockbain, 32, was forced to sit out much of last season with a major hamstring injury and did not play in Wales' recent 2-0 series drubbing on their tour of Australia.

Now James and Cardiff Blues winger Thomas Jones find their way into the squad ahead of Cockbain as its only two uncapped players.

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins admitted competition for places was intense and predicted it would remain so ahead of selection for the final 30-man squad.

"These are the kinds of selection dilemmas you need as a coach and we are in exactly the position we set out to achieve at the start of it all - with strength in depth and excellent competition for places," he said.

"There are players in this squad who have forced themselves into contention after stepping up to the task presented to them in Australia and there are a couple of people who still need the opportunity to show us what they have to offer."

Jenkins justified the decision to drop Cockbain by emphasising on the qualities his replacement, James, has to offer.

"Will is someone we have been keeping an eye on and we felt the time was right for us to have a closer look at him," he said.

Wales play warm-up matches against England on August 4th at Twickenham before taking on Argentina and France in Cardiff on August 18th and August 25th.

© Adfero Ltd