Injured Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins to be included in Wales RWC squad
The injury struck pair from Wales, Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees, have been guaranteed by selectors that they will be part of the Welsh squad for the up coming Rugby World Cup 2011, even if they do not participate in warm-up matches. The pair is currently
out of action from rugby due to injuries and has not played any match with their national side for quite a while. Wales’ forwards coach, Robin McBryde, told reporters on August 10 that the pair will be included in their national squad despite missing warm-ups.
Matthew Rees, who was the skipper of the Welsh side last season, has been suffering from a neck injury. The severity of the injury may not allow him to participate in the remaining two warm-up games for Wales. However, the selectors have expressed their
confidence in his unparalleled qualities.
The 30-year-old hooker has been around his national side since 2004 and has played 46 international games for his country. Rees received Rhondda Sport Personality of the year award in 2010 for his tremendous contributions to his national side.
The other player to win the blind confidence of Welsh selectors, Gethin Jenkins, has not been seen along with the national side for the last eight months due to a calf injury. The prop’s past performance for Wales proved sufficient to include him in RWC
squad for the team management. Jenkins has earned 74 test caps for his team and established him as a prominent player of Welsh side.
Talking about the pair’s position in Welsh side, Robin McBryde said that, “We would take Gethin and Matthew if they had not played any rugby. There are certain players who warrant a certain amount of special attention, and those two individuals fall into
that category, looking at how important they have been to us in the past. There are no major concerns about Gethin Jenkins. We would have liked to have seen him play last weekend, but he was not quite right.”
Wales’ side is left with to warm-up matches before RWC 2011, one against England on August 13 and the other against Argentina on August 20.
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