Wales cut high-profile trio
James Hook
©Press Association
High-profile trio James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard have been cut from Wales' World Cup training squad.
The Welsh Rugby Union announced that eight players will return to their respective regions and clubs, with former British and Irish Lions fly-half Hook, scrum-half Phillips and hooker Hibbard – who hold a combined 209 caps between them - being joined by Jack Dixon, Rhys Patchell, Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton and Dan Baker.
A total of 38 players will return to the WRU National Centre of Excellence on Monday to continue World Cup preparations with only 31 places in the Wales’ squad up for grabs.
Hook and Phillips delivered ineffective displays in Wales' opening World Cup warm-up game against Ireland last Saturday and were replaced early in the second-half of the 35-21 defeat at the Millennium Stadium.
Hibbard's exit, though, has come as something as a surprise. The Gloucester hooker made the British and Irish Lions Test squad for the tour of Australia two years ago but now misses out, with fellow hookers Scott Baldwin, Ken Owens and Kristian Dacey retained.
”It has been a difficult task reducing the squad down and deciding who will meet up with us again on Monday," Wales head coach Warren Gatland said.
"All the players involved over the past eight weeks have put a huge amount of effort in. The intensity and dedication from the players out in Switzerland and Qatar has been really impressive.
"That makes our job a lot harder, but as we continue to move into our rugby-focused phase of training, it's important we reduce the squad number down.
"There will be disappointment from the players, but it's important to stress that the door is not closed.
"We name our final Rugby World Cup squad on August 31, and a lot can happen between now and then.
Hibbard’s Gloucester teammate Hook has been largely on the fringes of the Welsh squad since the last World Cup in New Zealand four years ago, but his versatility as a fly-half, centre and full-back led many to believe he would feature in the final selection picture.
Phillips, meanwhile, now finds himself behind Rhys Webb, Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams in the scrum-half pecking order, and at the age of 32 with 94 Wales caps, it might be that he has made his final appearance in a Welsh shirt.
All five players who made their international debuts last Saturday against Ireland - wing Eli Walker, centre Tyler Morgan, lock Dominic Day and flanker Ross Moriarty - remain in the training squad.
