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Injured Peel and Henson left out of Wales squad

29/04/2008

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has announced his 24-man practice squad ahead of this summer's tour of South Africa.

As expected, the squad does not include star centre Gavin Henson who requires surgery on an ankle injury he sustained against Saracens.

And scrum-half Dwayne Peel has also been omitted from the seven-day training camp in Wexford, Ireland, next week because of a shoulder problem.

Contrary to reports, Gatland has refused to rule out either player from the South Africa tour.

However, given the estimated recovery time for the injuries, there is a significant chance neither of the Grand Slam-winning players will make it back in time to travel with the squad.

Fellow injury victims Mark Jones (groin), Deiniol Jones (shoulder), Mike Phillips (knee) and Robin Sowden-Taylor (shoulder) will all miss the training camp, while Lee Byrne and Sonny Parker are expected to have fitness assessments this week.

The only new faces in the squad following the successful 2008 Six Nations campaign are uncapped London Irish scrum-half Warren Fury, Newport-Gwent Dragons scrum-half Andy Williams and Llanelli Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart.

"We have been given the opportunity to go on a pre-tour training camp thanks largely to the support of the coaches and management at each of the four regions in Wales," said Gatland, who has allowed for the Dragons duo of Rhys Thomas and Andy Williams to be recalled by their club if European qualification is at stake after this weekend's games.

"This is not something that we will be able to do every year, because I would like to see our regions in contention for end-of-season honours.

"But, with no European competition left at the end of a tough season and with Leinster runaway leaders of the Magners League, we have been able to negotiate a position which will hopefully be of benefit to everyone.

"The regions have allowed us to take the players away for an intensive period of training in advance of our tour to South Africa and I would like to personally express my gratitude for their cooperation."

Gatland's men face the World Cup-winning Springboks in a two-Test tour in June.

The first match is in Bloemfontein on Saturday June 7th with the second Test a week later in Pretoria.

Full 24-man Wales training squad:

Backs:
Morgan Stoddart, Lee Byrne, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury.

Forwards:
Ryan Jones, Alix Popham, Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett.