Gatland names Wales training squad

Eurosport - Wed, 30 Apr 10:07:00 2008

Uncapped London Irish scrum-half Warren Fury has been named in Wales coach Warren Gatland's 24-man training squad ahead of their tour of South Africa.

RUGBY 2008 Six Nations Wales Warren Gatland - 0

Fury, along with Dragons' scrum-half Andy Williams and Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart, are the only additions to the squad that secured the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year.

Gatland (pictured) is without a number of senior players for the Tests on June 7 and 14. Mark Jones (groin), Mike Phillips (knee), Robin Sowden-Taylor (shoulder) and Deiniol Jones (shoulder) have already been ruled out.

Gavin Henson (ankle) and Dwayne Peel (shoulder) will definitely miss the training camp in Wexford, Ireland from May 5-12 and are also doubtful for the tour with the World champions.

Gatland, who will name his tour squad on May 14, did not call up Gloucester pair Gareth Cooper or Gavin Delve as they are still involved in their club's Guinness Premiership campaign.

"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.

"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 Celtic League, we have been able to negotiate a position which will hopefully be of benefit to everyone."

The squad will train at Whites of Wexford, which specialises in Cryotherapy, a therapy that enables athletes to recover quickly from intensive training.

"Andy Williams and Morgan Stoddart both have a chance to show the coaches what they have to offer and to book themselves a seat on the plane to South Africa," added Gatland.

"Andy and Warren in particular are in with a good shout with two injuries in their position to Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel being a worry for us.

"This is our core group now, but there may also be one or two other names we add to the tour party injuries permitting and with a couple of players down in England not considered at the moment."

Wales training squad:

Backs - Morgan Stoddart (Llanelli Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Tom James (Cardiff Blues), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Andy Williams (Dragons), Warren Fury (London Irish).

Forwards - Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Huw Bennett (Ospreys).

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport