Ken Owens joins Wales’ RWC training squad

Posted on Jun 16, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

Wales’ Rugby World Cup preparations began in earnest this week with many of the 45-man training squad meeting up at WRU headquarters on Monday, 13 June, for medical assessment and to kick-start their fitness and conditioning programmes.

Scarlets hooker Ken Owens joined the party as training cover for Osprey Richard Hibbard, who has begun his 10 to 12 week lay-off after a shoulder operation, and the rest of the squad are beginning personalised training regimes – although the rest and rehab period is extended for certain players depending on individual need and circumstance.

Blues prop Gethin Jenkins is back in full training after a successful operation on his toe, as is Exeter-bound Ospreys prop Craig Mitchell, who has recovered from the dislocated shoulder he suffered during the RBS 6 Nations Championship earlier this year.

Ospreys wing Shane Williams is targeting the squad’s first trip to a training camp in Spala, Poland, on 2 July, to be back at full tilt after a knee problem and Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, is also pencilled in to travel to Poland and continues his rehabilitation after a foot operation.

“Shane will be three more weeks before he is fully integrated into the training programme, which means he should be up to speed by the time we go on that first camp in Poland,” said Prav Mathema, Welsh Rugby Union national medical performance manager.

“Leigh is doing well after a successful operation on his foot, he is six weeks down the line now and able to start lifting weights again and also hopes to be at Spala.

“Both Gethin and Craig are back in full training and Richard has been given a return to play time of 10 to 12 weeks, which makes it possible for him to be back to fitness by the end of August.”

The training squad will embark on two separate and bespoke training camps in Spala, Poland, from 2 July to 11 July and from 18 July to 26 July, with players selected for these camps based on their individual training requirements.

Wales face England at Twickenham on Saturday, 6 August (kick-off 2.30pm) in the first of three remaining RWC warm-up matches.  A week later they host Martin Johnson’s team at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 13 August, before taking on Argentina, again at home, on Saturday, 20 August (both kick-offs also 2.30pm).

Gatland’s final squad selection for 2011 RWC will be announced on Monday, 22 August, with the squad due to fly out to New Zealand on Wednesday, 31 August.

Tickets remaining for the summer RWC warm-up fixture against England at the Millennium Stadium are priced from £40 and £30 for adults, £110 family ticket, with a new category introduced this season of £15 for the under 18s enclosure

The final game on home soil before RWC – against the Pumas – is priced at £30 and £20 for adults, £70 for a family of four and £15 for the under 18s enclosure.

Powell removed from Welsh Squad

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 in Rugby News

The Wales national squad management team has confirmed back row forward Andy Powell will be removed from the Welsh 35-man RBS 6 Nations squad with immediate effect, following his arrest by  South Wales Police  on Sunday morning and has since been charged with drink driving and, after discussions with the player himself, it has been decided by management that he should be suspended from the squad for behaviour contrary to the squad’s code of conduct.

“We take matters of player conduct extremely seriously and have been happy with the professionalism and discipline of this squad in general terms,” said Wales team manager Alan Phillips.

“Andy knows he has misbehaved and is apologetic, but he also knows that he must take responsibility for his own actions and accept the repercussions.

“This kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated in a professional, elite sporting environment and we have acted quickly and incisively in order to leave no ambiguity over the dim view we take of this situation.
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