Rugby

Lee Byrne cleared of ban and free for England v Wales

2010-02-03T08:24:00.000Z

Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne's blood-bin began the 16-man confusion
Wales full-back Lee Byrne has had a two-match ban overturned, leaving him free to face England in the Six Nations opener at Twickenham on Saturday.

The ban had been imposed by European Rugby Cup after his brief appearance as an illegal 16th player in the Ospreys' 17-12 Heineken Cup win over Leicester.

The suspension has been replaced by a fine of 5,000 Euros on the 29-year-old.

Wales coach Warren Gatland had delayed naming his team, Byrne now set to start at 15, James Hook possibly at centre.

Gatland will name his team at 1300 GMT on Wednesday.

An independent ERC appeal committee comprising Scots Rod McKenzie, Lorne Crerar and Bill Dunlop sat in Glasgow on Tuesday and overruled the original suspension that was imposed last week.

Byrne and the Ospreys had both pleaded guilty to the misconduct complaints in Dublin on Friday, the club fined £21,666 (25,000 Euros) while the player was left facing missing out on the start of the Six Nations.

Is this a fair decision?
The committee chaired by Pat Barriscale of Ireland had found that Byrne had re-entered the pitch without the referee's permission and that he knew or ought to have known that he needed that permission.

The British and Irish Lions full-back had gone off in the second-half of the Heineken Cup Pool Three clash suffering from a dislocated and bloodied toe and was replaced by centre Sonny Parker.

But Byrne was sent back on at the Liberty Stadium three minutes later after treatment without any of his team-mates going off.

A Tigers player pointed out the Ospreys' numerical advantage to referee Alan Lewis, who then berated an Ospreys touchline official for not informing the match fourth official that Byrne had returned.

The official also did not award Leicester the penalty they should have had for Ospreys temporarily fielding an extra player.

Fly-half Dan Biggar eventually departed as the Ospreys returned to 15 men to hold on during a torrid finale of constant Leicester pressure.

Leicester claimed Byrne was involved in halting a break by scrum-half Ben Youngs as Tigers looked to claw back their 17-12 deficit.

The triumph ensured the Ospreys' qualification for the Heineken Cup quarter-final, while the defeat knocked Leicester out.

Byrne is one of Wales' key players and was badly missed when injured in the autumn as they slumped to defeats to New Zealand and Australia.

Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive Roger Lewis expressed his delight after hearing that Byrne was free to face England.

"I am delighted that the independent appeal committee have reached this decision which is great news for Lee Byrne and for Wales," said Lewis.

"It has been an extremely difficult time for the player, but we have been determined to give him all the support he needed to achieve this fair resolution of a difficult matter.

"It has not been an easy decision either for the original independent committee hearing the evidence or the appeal panel and I applaud them all on their diligence in this matter.

"I hope this sends out a message to the followers of Welsh rugby that the WRU is an organisation which will always stand by individuals who deserve and need our help.

"We sat down with Lee as soon as the original penalty was announced and started to plan for the appeal.

"There have been a lot of meetings and discussions over the past days but it has all been worthwhile because we are now celebrating an important victory for all concerned.

"I know how hard all the players, coaches and backroom staff in the national squad work for success and they must always be confident that the WRU will stand firm in support of all their efforts.

"We want every player who pulls on a Welsh jersey to know that we are with them all the way.

"Now it's back to business and we can all look forward to a great game of rugby at Twickenham."

Tommy Bowe signs new three-year Ospreys deal

2009-12-29T15:57:00.000Z

Bowe's versatility has been vital to the injury-ravaged Ospreys this season
Ireland and British and Irish Lions star Tommy Bowe has signed a three-year extension to his Ospreys contract.

The deal will keep the 25-year-old outside back at the Swansea-based region through to the end of 2012/13.

Bowe moved to Wales from Ulster in 2008 and there were strong rumours that the Grand Slam star would return to Ireland when his old contract ran out in 2010.

"The Ospreys have been the platform for much of the success I've enjoyed," said Bowe, who played all three Lions Tests.

"I was flattered by the interest from other European clubs, but after taking advice... it all came back to the fact that I am enjoying my rugby and life in general at the Ospreys.

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Have your say on Bowe's decision
"Obviously, a return to Ireland had a strong emotional pull and I take enormous pride in the privilege of wearing the Irish jersey.

"I just feel all the ingredients are here for long-term success... I'm very excited about what we can achieve in that space of time."

Bowe, the all-time leading Magners League try scorer, has made a huge impact at the Ospreys as a centre, wing and, occasionally, as a full-back.

He has scored 18 tries in 34 appearances for the region - including an impressive nine in his last 10 outings - while he has 11 tries from his 25 Ireland caps.

Tommy and the Ospreys have complemented each other fantastically over the last year and a half

Ospreys coach Sean Holley
"Tommy is a vital part of what we are trying to create here from a playing and a cultural point of view, and the fact that he has opted to extend his stay with us is a clear indication that he believes in what we are trying to do," said Ospreys coach Sean Holley.

"When we originally targeted Tommy as a potential signing, we felt that as well as him bringing his obvious strengths to the team, that we could also offer him the opportunity to develop his own game and his career.

"This has certainly rung true, Tommy and the Ospreys have complemented each other fantastically over the last year and a half, and we are very proud of his achievements on the international stage.

"The fact that he is a proven try scorer, can play in a number of positions and exhibits good leadership qualities are an obvious bonus to the team.

"His performances so far this season have shown that there is even more to come from him and we are delighted that we are now able to call on his services for an additional three years.

"He is a genuine world-class talent, who is much sought after and still very young."

Wales head back to drawing board

2009-11-30T13:45:00.000Z

A disconsolate Wales troop off after their 33-12 hammering by Australia

Wales say their disappointing autumn Test campaign and the evolving world scene will see them produce a new game plan ahead of the Six Nations.

"The only good thing is we'll look at ourselves and analyse our game," said forwards coach Robin McBryde after the 12-33 home hammering against Australia.

"There are no hiding places, the game has moved on in kicking, competing in the air, pressure at the tackle area.

"We're not seeing much rugby being played but that's across the board."

The Tri Nations sides have been dominant this autumn, their kicking game having evolved in the summer.

We try to play a bit of rugby by not kicking the ball away as much - but it's not a winning performance is it?

Wales coach Warren Gatland
The strict refereeing at the breakdown imposed by referees at the behest of the International Rugby Board has driven this, the percentages not favouring running rugby as the attacking side is often penalised.

"We gifted Australia the game," said Wales coach Warren Gatland after Saturday's Millennium Stadium defeat.

"Everyone talks about kicking - Australia kicked 40 times and we kicked 22 times.

Rugby Union Blog
The gulf in class between the hemispheres is not as wide as it might appear

Tom Fordyce
"We try to play a bit of rugby by not kicking the ball away as much - but it's not a winning performance is it?"

Defence coach Shaun Edwards called the defeat his worst day with Wales.

"Australia's defence was magnificent," he said. "The tackler was incredibly proactive and it wasn't just the back row but from one to 15. Even the scrum-half was very dynamic over the ball.

"That is the modern game - the aerial battle and the breakdown, two areas we came second."

Wales were caught by surprise by Australia's ambition in the air
McBryde added: "There's a shift with regards to where you win possession, it's not necessarily from the set piece but from kicks and gathering kicks."

Wales opened their November campaign - in which they scored just four tries - with a predictable defeat to the All Blacks.

They then struggled to a win over Samoa, improved in beating Argentina, but crashed badly against the Wallabies.

The series highlighted Wales' dependence on their established, senior stars, with few of the newcomers or younger first-choices laying down cast-iron cases for inclusion.

It's a bit frustrating [as a runner] but international rugby is about winning - and that's it really

James Hook
Injured full-back Lee Byrne's siege-gun boot was badly missed, and his stand-in James Hook - a converted fly-half whose creative skills could be utilised at centre in the Six Nations - acknowledged the changing demands of the modern game.

"Australia kicked an awful lot, there are some great kickers in their team," Hook told BBC Sport Wales.

"[Kicking is a] big part of the game, there's nothing you can do about it at the moment.

"It's a bit frustrating [as a runner] but international rugby is about winning - and that's it really."

We hit a brick wall - and we didn't see it coming. It's back to the drawing board

Martyn Williams
Veteran flanker Martyn Williams admitted to feeling shock at the total superiority displayed by Australia.

"It feels like we've been hit by a truck," said Williams. "We were happy with the way we were going, then we hit a brick wall - and we didn't see it coming.

"It's back to the drawing board, there's a couple of months before the Six Nations and we need to work hard.

"A lot of us have been in this situation before, we've got a lot of influential players to come back and we've added a few new boys who have put their hands up."

Mike Phillips and Matthew Rees could be injury doubts for the Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham on 6 February.

Gatland looks back with Scrum V
Byrne and Adam Jones should be back, though, and Wales will hope to have Ian Evans, Mark Jones, Dafydd Jones, Morgan Stoddart and Gavin Henson back to full fitness to challenge for places.

"[Australia was] disappointing," said coach Warren Gatland in summing up the November Tests.

"We felt that we were making progress, it's disappointing to take a backward step.

"It was absolutely my worst moment in the job, we are a better team than we displayed.

"We've got to go back to the drawing word and work on some stuff, hopefully we'll have players coming back from injury and players here who have learnt a lot in terms of development for the next campaign."

Henson wanted leave to be unpaid

2009-10-28T11:11:00.000Z

Ospreys director Mike Cuddy has revealed Gavin Henson asked to be unpaid during the indefinite injury leave he is currently on.

Cuddy insists Henson will defy his doubters and eventually return to action to produce his best form.

Cuddy said Henson's request to be unpaid was "a sign of his integrity".

The Ospreys joint managing director told BBC Sport Wales: "He's felt, I think, that for the last three years he hasn't given value for money."

Cuddy added: "We didn't think that was the case because we know that all the injuries he had were genuine injuries.

"But that's Gavin for you and I'm sure that we haven't seen the best of Gavin yet.

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Give your thoughts on Henson
"It's [offering to be unpaid] a sign of his integrity."

The Ospreys denied several reports over the summer that Henson was to retire because of repeated Achilles and groin injuries.

The Welsh region admitted the root cause of Henson's problems was a mystery.

But Cuddy insisted: "I'm sure that we haven't seen the best of Gavin yet."

Henson starred in Wales' 2005 and 2008 Grand Slams, but his career in between and since has been blighted by injuries, leading to to poor form and public and media criticism.

Having been omitted from Wales' 2003 and 2007 World Cup squads, Henson also missed the summer's British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa after being injured against Gloucester in March.

Businessman Cuddy said Henson's absence was purely about the combination of injuries affecting him.

And Cuddy would not offer a date by which he expected Henson, whose contract with the region is due to expire at the end of the 2010/11 season, to return.

Cuddy said: "[Henson's absence is] about injury. I keep on saying that he's had a torrid two or three years and because he hasn't been able to do what he does best that would make him an unhappy guy as well.

"One thing, he is an honest boy, and he wants to do his best and he's still only 27.

"He's got five, six, seven good years in front of him and let's hope that the decision to rest it longer will be the right one.

[Henson's] He's taking as much time as he needs to and we are willing for him to do that

Ospreys director Mike Cuddy
"[His spirits] are good. I think it's good because he feels like he's getting better. It's the first time he's given it [the injuries] time.

"Because he's such a good player everybody's rushing him back.

"We all want players back on the park as quickly as possible, especially the better ones and he's been no real exception.

"And he's a very loyal boy and it's just been a catastrophe for the last two or three years where he's come back, he's been injured, he's come back, he's been injured.

"So he's the only person really who knows his body and he's taking as much time as he needs to and we are willing for him to do that."

Cuddy also claimed people in the media had played a part in undermining Henson's morale, saying many of those who had criticised the player now wanted to see him back in action.

Robinson wants winning mentality

2009-09-22T22:10:00.000+01:00

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson wants to inspire the country with the team's performances, but more importantly foster a winning mentality.
Robinson took over from Frank Hadden in June and will preside over his first full international matches during November's Autumn Tests.
"We're there to inspire the nation through our performances," the former England coach told BBC Scotland.
"But some days you've got to win ugly. It's all about beating the opposition."
Robinson took the helm at Scotland after guiding Edinburgh to a club-best runner-up finish in the Magners League last term.
Despite being previously involved with Scotland A - who won the IRB Nations Cup under his stewardship - the forthcoming matches against Fiji, Australia and Argentina will mark his return to top-level internationals since he was sacked as England's head coach in 2006.
Overall we're in a good state
Andy Robinson
And after three months in his new job he is satisfied with the way preparations are going for the series against the Southern Hemisphere sides.
"Our planning's at a good stage," said Robinson.
"It's important for us to develop a winning mindset and that's our focus game by game.
"Over the next couple of weeks guys will be putting their hands up to be included for these games - and some are already in because of the way they've been performing.
"Then we'll finalise our 32-man squad and get the players together so we can get down to tactics when Fiji come around.
"All three sides are above us in the IRB world rankings, and they all have different playing styles.
"So we're going to have to change our tactics for each game, and it'll be about the players being able to handle that."
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Are you excited about Scotland under Robinson?
Robinson and his fellow coaches Gregor Townsend and Graham Steadman have been observing training sessions at Scotland's two professional clubs Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Both teams have made excellent starts to the Magners League campaign.
"I think it's pretty positive at the moment the way the two pro teams are playing," said Robinson.
"Glasgow worked hard in the pre-season and are delivering outstanding results.
"And I thought Edinburgh's performance against Cardiff for the first 30 minutes was the best I've seen from an Edinburgh side.

Robinson is positive about the direction of the Scottish game
"The good news is that the teams are improving and that's also good for individuals."
Scotland only avoided the wooden spoon at this year's Six Nations by virtue of having conceded three points fewer than Italy.
But Robinson hinted that he will not be making wholesale changes to that squad of players.
"Over the last couple of years there've been some disappointing results, but some encouraging performances.
"The key for us is to find consistency in the way we play and start winning.
"That's how team spirit and confidence develops.
"There'll be a number of guys come into the pool that were involved in the Nations Cup.
"But on the whole the guys involved in the Six Nations last year have been playing well and a with renewed vigour.
"Overall we're in a good state."

Harlequins chairman stands down

2009-08-28T18:13:00.001+01:00

Williams left the field with fake blood pouring from his mouth against Leinster
Harlequins chairman Charles Jillings has resigned after accepting ultimate responsibility for the 'Bloodgate' affair that has disgraced the club.
Tom Williams faked injury to allow fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field in a Heineken Cup tie and head coach Dean Richards has since stood down.
"Harlequins acknowledge that we failed to control Dean Richards," said Jillings in a statement.
"As a result of the board's failure to control Dean, the club cheated."
The incident happened in a match against Leinster and led to an initial 12-month ban for winger Williams that has now been reduced to four months.
Richards has been banned from coaching in European competition for three years for his role in the fake blood injury.
His ban is particularly severe because the investigation revealed he had been involved in four similar incidents.

South Africa 31-19 New Zealand

2009-08-02T20:30:00.000+01:00

South Africa (19) 31Try M Steyn Con: M Steyn Pens: M Steyn 8 New Zealand (13) 19Try Ross Con: Donald Pens: Donald 3, McAlister

Steyn surpassed Andrew Mehrtens' previous individual record of 29 points
A superb individual display from Morne Steyn put South Africa on top of the 2009 Tri-Nations following a bruising victory over New Zealand in Durban.
The fly-half set a new individual Tri-Nations record with all 31 points via a try, conversion and eight penalties.
The All Blacks took an early 10-3 lead when lock Isaac Ross finished off a sweeping length-of-the-field move.
But Steyn's 38th-minute try regained the lead the Boks never relinquished as four further penalties secured the win.
It was a monumental display from the Bulls star, who came into the starting XV as a replacement for Ruan Pienaar, who twisted his ankle in the 28-19 win over New Zealand in Bloemfontein last weekend.
A 74th-minute penalty - his ninth successful kick from 10 attempts - saw Steyn surpass former All Black Andrew Mehrtens' previous Tri-Nations record of 29 against Australia in Auckland in 1999.
A convincing victory was the perfect way for captain John Smit to celebrate leading South Africa for a world record 60th time, surpassing Australian legend George Gregan and England's Will Carling.
The World Cup-winning prop received a standing ovation from his home crowd at Kings Park when he was replaced inside the final three minutes.

Isaac Ross finished off a fine sweeping move on 12 minutes
Steyn struck his first penalty inside five minutes when Mils Muliaina - who became the fourth most capped All Black in history alongside Tana Umaga - was penalised for not releasing after collecting a high kick outside his 22m line.
But Stephen Donald levelled the scores a minute later before the All Blacks took the lead with a wonderful, sweeping move which began inside their own half and finished on the wing by Ross.
Powerful bursts from captain Richie McCaw and Muliaina allowed Jerome Kaino to off-load to second row Ross, positioned perfectly on the wing, to slide over from five metres.
Donald added the extras with a superb touchline conversion, although two Steyn penalties reduced the arrears to a single point on 18 minutes.
A cynical high tackle from JP Pietersen denied Cowan a potential try-scoring opportunity following a swift break on 28 minutes, with the winger earning 10 minutes in the sin-bin from Welsh referee Nigel Owens for his misdemeanour.
The resulting penalty saw Donald extend the lead to four points, but once again Steyn reduced the arrears on the half-hour when New Zealand were caught offside at a ruck.
Ross joined Pietersen in the sin-bin for blatant offside at a ruck and the Springboks made their extra forward count two minutes before half time.
Relentless pressure from a South Africa scrum five metres from New Zealand's tryline saw Fourie du Preez's inside pass find Steyn, who skipped inside Cowan to touch down for his first international try.

It is sobering to think a player who had only made his second Test start scored 31 points against New Zealand
Gevil_Devil
The Blue Bull added the extra two points and a Springbok counter-attack in the final seconds of the half forced Ma'a Nonu to handle the ball from an offside position, allowing Steyn to give South Africa a nine-point cushion at the interval.
The fly-half saw a drop-goal attempt come back off the upright on the resumption before South Africa were again reduced to 14 men.
Lock Bakkies Botha ended a move which should have finished with an All Blacks try with an illegal tackle on Cowan from an offisde position, becoming the third player to see yellow.
Donald reduced the deficit to 22-16 after 50 minutes from the resulting penalty, but Steyn restored South Africa's nine-point advantage with three points from a New Zealand indiscretion at the breakdown.
Luke McAlister, on as a replacement for Donald, made an immediate impression with a 50m penalty just after the hour to again bring the All Blacks to within a converted try.
But incessant South Africa pressure, with Heinrich Brussow at the breakdown, allowed the Springboks to dictate the tempo of the match with the tourists looking increasingly ragged.
Steyn maintained his successful kicking record, slotting over his eighth and ninth of the match, the latter seeing him surpass Mehrtens' 10-year record.
The 25-year-old might have landed a perfect 10 but pushed a last-minute penalty wide of the right-hand upright.
South Africa play their final home game of the series against Australia in Cape Town next Saturday before a three-week break ahead of their remaining Tests in Australia (two) and New Zealand (one).
The All Blacks now have a three-week break before facing the Wallabies in Sydney on 22 August. They have not lost more than two Tests in a row since 1998, when John Hart's team lost five in a row (three to Australia, two to South Africa).
Under-pressure coach Graham Henry may contemplate the merits of an early recall for Dan Carter after the lack of control exhibited in Durban.
The celebrated fly-half made a successful return for Canterbury on Saturday following an Achilles injury which has kept him out of action for seven months.
Carter scored 14 points as the defending champions were beaten 22-19 by North Harbour in their opening Air New Zealand Cup match.
South Africa: F Steyn; Pietersen, Fourie, De Villiers, Habana; M Steyn, Du Preez; Mtawarira, B du Plessis, Smit (capt), Botha, Matfield, Brussow, Smith, Spies.
Replacements: Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Bekker, Rossouw, Januarie, Jacobs, Olivier.
New Zealand: Muliaina; Rokocoko, Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu; Donald, Cowan; Woodcock, Hore, Franks, Thorn, Ross, Kaino, McCaw, So'oialo.
Replacements: Mealamu, Afoa, Eaton, Read, Weepu, McAlister, Jane
Attendance: 52, 572

O'Driscoll criticises De Villiers

2009-07-01T10:14:00.000+01:00

O'Driscoll (left) believes De Villiers has brought the game into disrepute
Brian O'Driscoll has added his voice to the criticism of Springboks coach Peter de Villiers over his stance on Schalk Burger's gouging offence.
De Villiers initially denied Burger had done anything wrong in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
The flanker received an eight-week ban, and O'Driscoll said: "To hear the South Africa coach talk about gouging being part of the game was semi-repulsive.
"I just find it appalling. I truly find it a disgrace," added the Lions centre.
Burger was found guilty of "making contact with the face in the eye area" of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald.
TV footage showed Burger's fingers making contact with Fitzgerald's eye inside the first minute of the match in Pretoria.
De Villiers later issued an apology for defending Burger's actions and the South Africans will not be appealing against the player's suspension.
But Ireland star O'Driscoll added: "When you think about a situation where a parent wonders about whether their child should play rugby or soccer, and you hear comments from a national team coach of that sort - and regardless of the apology he may have submitted - it's essentially bringing the game into disrepute.
"We're trying to promote the game, and yet you hear comments like that."
Fitzgerald was able to continue after treatment, but at the time Burger escaped with only a yellow card from French referee Christophe Berdos - a decision taken on the advice of New Zealand touch judge Bryce Lawrence, who spotted the offence.

NT
After the match, De Villiers said he did not believe Burger should have been sent to the sin-bin
But on Monday, he backed down, saying: "It was never my intention to suggest that I condone foul play.
"That is the last thing I would ever do and I apologise for that impression."
De Villiers went on to say that "eye-gouging is something that we as a team will never be part of".
"The same applies to biting, head-butting, spear tackling or any other foul play that doesn't belong in the game," he added.

Wales centre Jamie Roberts had a big game for the Lions

2009-05-30T21:47:00.000+01:00

The Lions launched a late fightback to beat the Royal XV and avoid what would have been their first defeat in the opening tour match since 1971.
Two tries in quick succession, from Wilhelm Koch and Rayno Barnes, helped the hosts take a shock 18-3 lead.
Tommy Bowe's converted try made it 18-10 at the break before a Ronan O'Gara penalty cut the lead to five.
Bees Roux scored for the hosts but late tries from Lee Byrne, Alun Wyn Jones and O'Gara saw the Lions home.
A sparse crowd at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenberg - the Super 14 final was taking place in nearby Pretoria - saw the Lions make a raft of mistakes and struggle to gel in the first hour.
An embarrassing defeat was on the cards - for the first time in a Lions tour opener since losing 15-11 to the Queensland Reds in 1971 - to an equally scratch side made up of players from the third tier of South African rugby.
It was not all bad for the Lions and Jamie Roberts and Lee Byrne both turned in fine performances despite the rocky display from the team as a unit, and in the end the Lions' greater fitness saw them run in three late tries to avoid faces as red as their shirts.
O'Gara kicked a seventh-minute penalty to give the Lions the lead but Naas Olivier soon levelled with a penalty of his own.
The Lions' attempts to get their game going were hampered by centre Keith Earls' inability to hang on to the ball.
The 21-year-old was clearly struggling with nerves and when he dropped a high kick in his own 22 it gave the hosts great field position.

They attacked from a ruck, great hands from Hanno Coetzee put Koch through a gap and the Royal XV captain had the pace and power to just make it to the line.
It soon went from bad to worse for the visitors, as Barnes burst through the middle of a maul to add a second try.
The maul, so rare a sight under the experimental laws (ELVs) that had been in effect for the past year, was making a welcome reappearance as Saturday's game was played under the definitive new laws which prohibit players from dragging down the maul, contrary to the system in use under the trial laws.
Royal XV fly-half Olivier converted the first try and slotted a penalty in between the two tries to give the hosts an unexpected 18-3 lead with less than half an hour on the clock.
As the Lions tried to get back on terms they elected not to kick for goal when awarded penalties and after kicking into the corner once more they finally scored their first try of the tour.
They failed to maul their way over from the line-out but fed the ball into midfield and Bowe popped up to take O'Gara's inside pass and motor over under the posts.
Ireland fly-half O'Gara slotted the conversion and despite a difficult opening 40 minutes, the Lions went in only eight points adrift at the break.
O'Gara trimmed the gap with a penalty two minutes after the restart and with Olivier then missing for the hosts, the Lions approached the last 20 minutes trailing by five points.
By now the tourists had taken charge but despite coming close to scoring several times, with Shane Williams even dropping the ball as he tried to spin over the line, they could not quite breach the hosts' defence.
And the Royal XV made them pay when they mounted a rare attack and Roux's converted score gave them what looked like being a decisive 25-13 lead.
With time running out Byrne showed fine footballing skills to score a superb solo try and give the tourists some hope, and O'Gara's conversion and a subsequent penalty cut the gap to two points with seven minutes to play.
By now the momentum had swung firmly in favour of the Lions and first Wyn Jones and then O'Gara went over for converted tries to ensure the Lions got the tour under way with the result, if not the performance, they wanted.
Royal Highveld XV: Russell Jeacocks (Leopards); Egon Seconds (Griquas), Deon van Rensburg (Leopards), Hanno Coetzee (Griquas), Bjorn Basson (Griquas); Naas Olivier (Griquas), Sarel Pretorius (Griquas); Albertus Buckle (Griquas), Rayno Barnes (Griquas), Bees Roux (Griquas), Rudi Mathee (Leopards), Jacques Lombard (Griquas), Wilhelm Koch (Leopards, capt), Devon Raubenheimer (Griquas), Jonathan Makoena (Griquas).Replacements: Pellow van der Westhuizen (Leopards), Stef Roberts (Griquas), Rynard Landman (Leopards), RW Kember (Leopards), Jacques Coetzee (Pumas), Riaan Viljoen (Griquas), Jovan Bowles (Bulldogs).
Lions: Lee Byrne (Ospreys/Wales), Tommy Bowe (Ospreys/Ireland), Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues/Wales), Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales); Ronan O'Gara (Munster/Ireland), Mike Blair (Edinburgh/Scotland); Andrew Sheridan (Sales Sharks/England), Matthew Rees (Scarlets/Wales), Adam Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Simon Shaw (London Wasps/England), Paul O'Connell (Munster/Ireland - captain), Joe Worsley (London Wasps/England), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues/Wales), David Wallace (Munster/Ireland).Replacements: Lee Mears (Bath/England), Phil Vickery (London Wasps/England), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales), Jamie Heaslip (Leinster/Ireland), Mike Phillips (Ospreys/Wales), Stephen Jones (Scarlets/Wales), Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England).
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa).
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert and Mark Lawrence (both South Africa).

Henson should not tour - Ospreys

2009-04-29T09:27:00.001+01:00

Gavin Henson made his Wales debut against Japan in 2003
Ospreys coach Sean Holley has advised Wales against picking Gavin Henson for their summer tour to north America.
The Wales centre was sidelined for eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat to Gloucester in March.
Henson had a slim hope of being a late call-up for this summer's Lions tour to South Africa if he impressed for Wales.
But Holley said: "The Wales tour might come a bit early as he would not have played for six or eight weeks."
The 27-year-old admitted his season was over after his injury curse struck again in that 17-0 EDF Energy last four defeat at the Ricoh Arena.
But double Grand Slam winner Henson is expected to recover from injury before Wales' two-Test summer tour to play Canada in Toronto on 30 May and United States in Chicago on 6 June.
Lions coach Ian McGeechan, whose side begin their three-Test showdown with the world champions in Durban on 20 June, would have watched Henson's progress in north America with great interest.
Henson pulls up with an ankle injury
And if the Ospreys star - who admits he would be a "liability" on a Lions tour - recovered well from his injury, a call-up to play the Springboks would have been a distinct possibility.
But Henson's club coach Holley said a summer tour "might be a difficult ask" for the 31-times capped international.
"It could be a risk," said Holley.
Henson has suffered an injury-ravaged season and missed the autumn series because of an Achilles problem then missed the start of Wales' Six Nations Grand Slam defence with a calf injury.
Holley has also ruled Henson out of playing any part in the Ospreys' remaining Magners League games.

They face Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on 30 April followed by a home clash with Glasgow and a trip to Heineken Cup champions Munster.
Holley said: "Gavin's injury is obviously a difficult one because it's on his foot and his ankle, but he's making progress.
"He's working hard with the medical team.
"I'm not sure he's going to make it to one of the remaining games, which is disappointing, but I'm sure now we'll look forward to getting him right pre-season."

Ospreys suffer Thomas injury blow

2009-04-01T21:33:00.000+01:00

Jonathan Thomas will be sidelined for at least three months
Jonathan Thomas has been ruled out for the season after suffering a recurrence of his long-standing groin problem.
The 26-year-old Wales back-row misses the Ospreys' Heineken Cup quarter-final and their Magners League run-in.
"I saw a specialist and he said the only way to cure it is to have at least three months' rest, so that rules me out until next season really," he said.
"Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed with that, but the time had come where I've had the problem so long."
The groin problem has wrecked Thomas' season, ruling him out of Wales' autumn Test series and most of their Six Nations campaign.
Thomas returned for the lacklustre 20-15 win in Italy and was an unused replacement on the final weekend when Ireland won in Cardiff to claim their first Grand Slam in 61 years.
The injury has also robbed the line-out leader of any realistic hope of gaining selection for the end-of-season Lions tour to South Africa.
"It's been a shocker of a season for myself in terms of injury," Thomas added.
"So I'm quite realistic that I need to get the rest in if I want to come back next season."

Henson backed for Wales call-up

2009-03-02T14:15:00.000Z

Gavin Henson has not started for Wales in almost a year
Ex-captain Gwyn Jones says he expects Gavin Henson, James Hook, Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones to come into Wales' side to face Italy in Rome on 14 March.
But he told the BBC's Scrum V programme that changes will be less widespread than if Wales had beaten France.
"[Wales coach Warren Gatland] said he was looking to make quite a few changes but he may have to revise that [after the 21-16 loss in Paris]," said Jones.
The ex-flanker says Gatland has a major back-row headache over Jonathan Thomas.
"Thomas [who is just back from injury] is a good player, how [Gatland] figures four into three [with Martyn Williams, Andy Powell and Ryan Jones in Wales' back row]... he can have that headache," Jones told Scrum V.
"I think that [fly-half] Hook may play, Peel at nine, I think [wing] Mark Jones comes in and [centre] Henson will start.
606: DEBATE
Use the passing skills of Henson and Peel to add some variety to our game, bring JT in to freshen up the back row and Rhys Thomas as another ball carrier
JB 1973"He [Gatland] wants to see Henson, but perhaps not with Jamie Roberts - I think that Tom Shanklin was our best player on Friday."
A calf injury kept Henson out of the wins over Scotland and England, but he came off the bench in Paris, his first appearance for Wales in nearly a year.
Wales have never lost against a northern hemisphere side when Henson has started, and he partnered Shanklin to the Grand Slam in 2005 and 2008.
But Jamie Roberts has made a huge impression over the past year, and Gatland has twice tried to pair the Cardiff Blues centre with Henson, only to be denied by injuries to the latter.
"Henson needs game time and I think he must play for the Ospreys [against Leinster] this week," former Wales captain and fly-half Jonathan Davies told Scrum V.
Scrum V analysis: Where did it go wrong for Wales?
"Whether [Gatland] brings Hook and Henson in [against Italy] I'm not sure, but he can't make a lot of changes with a small squad. I'd start with Jamie Roberts again."
Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop and Blues flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor are the only players that the Welsh management have confirmed have been released to the Welsh regions for this weekend's Magners League action.
Peel will go back to Sale and Gareth Cooper - who has been suffering with a knee injury - remains with Gloucester, while there are no new worries over injuries or citations.
Scrum-half Martin Roberts, who has been with the squad on an unofficial basis, has returned to the Scarlets.
Former Wales captain and fly-half Phil Bennett cited a lack of game time for some of Wales' squad as a major concern.
Williams worries over selection
"How much rugby has Hook had over the past few weeks?" Bennett said on Scrum V.
"He only had a few minutes in Murrayfield, he didn't get on against England and he came on in the second half against France.
"A lot of players have not had the game time and that's proving costly for Wales.
"I'll be interested to see the make-up of the side, I can't see him [Gatland] making more than three or four changes."
*Wales are set to name their team to face Italy on Tuesday, 10 March at approximately 1300 GMT
Wales squad:
Forwards (16): Gethin Jenkins, John Yapp, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas, Dafydd Jones, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Robin Sowden-Taylor.
Backs (13): Mike Phillips, Gareth Cooper, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Gavin Henson, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Mark Jones, Lee Byrne.

Spencer looks set to leave Saints

2009-01-30T12:20:00.000Z

Spencer remained at the club despite relegation in 2007
Former All Black fly-half Carlos Spencer is leaving Northampton Saints, BBC Radio Northampton understands.
The 33-year-old is believed to be frustrated with his lack of first-team opportunities at Franklin's Gardens.
Spencer has lost the Saints number 10 shirt to rugby league convert Stephen Myler this season and has only started eight games out of a possible 21.
He has a year left on his contract but an agreement appears to have been made for him to leave.
The New Zealander joined the club in 2005 but was recently reduced to playing for the Saints second team in a friendly against Henley Hawks on 19 January.
He was then left out of the Saints European Challenge Cup tie against Toulon five days later.
The fly-half, who played 35 times for his country scoring 291 points, is probably the Saints's biggest ever signing and remained at the club despite relegation to National One in 2007.
It is thought Spencer will join another Guinness Premiership club despite offers to play his rugby in France.

Phillips targets return for Wales

2008-12-23T11:39:00.000Z

Mike Phillips is aiming to regain his place in the Wales team after recovering from a knee injury.
The Ospreys scrum-half, 26, came on for the last 30 minutes of the region's 30-24 loss to the Dragons on Friday.
He has been out since damaging cruciate knee ligaments in the EDF Energy Cup win over Saracens in March.
"It's a goal of mine to get back into the [Wales] squad and do what I did last year and hopefully repeat the performance I put in," said Phillips.
The former Scarlet played a key role in the Grand Slam campaign and was short-listed as one of the six best players in the Six Nations.

But his joy was short-lived and he admits he has had a tough time on the sidelines, missing Wales' summer tour to South Africa and the recent autumn series.
"One week I was beating France and winning the Grand Slam and the following week was the injury," said Phillips, who has won 33 caps.
"Going from such a high to a low was very hard to take on board and it's been a very slow process.
"It's been a tough road but I'm at the end now and I'm really looking forward to being back playing."
Phillips came through his run-out against the Dragons largely unscathed, despite taking a minor knock.
"Personally for me, I'm delighted to be back on the field," he told BBC Sport Wales.
"It's all about having time on the field and it's going to be a bit of a process and I'm not putting too much pressure on myself.
"I took a bit of contact [on Friday], but the knee felt fine afterwards and I was initially pleased to come through it."

Dallaglio urges England patience

2008-11-26T20:43:00.000Z

Scrum-half Danny Care, 21, is part of an inexperienced England team
Lawrence Dallaglio says the current England team must be given time to develop into champions - just like the 2003 World Cup-winning side were.
Dallaglio led England to a then-record home defeat by South Africa in 1997, but eight members of that team went on to triumph in Sydney six years later.
"People have very short memories," Dallaglio told BBC Sport.
"England will get better and they will win, but people need to recognise that it won't happen overnight."
England have been lambasted following their 42-6 demolition by South Africa last Saturday.
But former England captain Dallaglio sees parallels with 1997, when a young side under the charge of new coach Clive Woodward were beaten 29-11 by the Springboks at Twickenham.
"Some of the team that lost in 1997 went on and won the World Cup in 2003," he said.
"In fact it took me two or three attempts before I eventually beat South Africa and the same with Australia.
"It might take six months, it might take 12 months, it might take longer for this side to succeed.
ENGLAND V S AFRICA, 29/11/97 (2003 World Cup winners in caps)

Matt Perry (aged 20)
John Bentley (31)
Nick Greenstock (24)
WILL GREENWOOD (25)
David Rees (23)
MIKE CATT (26)
MATT DAWSON (25)
JASON LEONARD (29)
Richard Cockerill (26)
Darren Garforth (31)
Garath Archer (22)
DANNY GREWCOCK (25)
RICHARD HILL (24)
NEIL BACK (27)
LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO (25)
"But we have to be patient and stick with the players we've got. There will be some casualties along the way and there will be one or two players who emerge and prove a great success.
"But we have to stick with these players and we'll get there in the end. There's absolutely no doubt about that."
Dallaglio, 36, said he thought South Africa were "the best post World Cup-winning side I've seen for a long time" and "certainly better than England after 2003".
And he backed England manager Martin Johnson, who succeeded him as skipper of the national side in 1999, to get things right.
"I think people expect Martin Johnson to change things overnight," the former England number eight said.
"I have no doubt that England will change and improve - it just won't happen straight away.
"England will get better and they will win, but very few things in life are instantly successful.
"Long-term success doesn't generally happen in the space of two or three matches, particularly when you're playing three of the best teams in the world.
"The schedule we've had this autumn has been pretty brutal, but in the next six months, England will know a lot more as a team.
"For most of these guys, it's the first time they would have played against southern hemisphere teams.
"There were changes for the first game against the Pacific Islanders - there was a new number nine, 10, 11, 12 and 15 and a new coach.
606: DEBATE
Is Dallaglio right? Are there parallels between England in 1997 and now?
"When you make that many changes against the three best teams in the world it's always going to be very difficult. People have to be realistic."
Dallaglio, who is now an associate director at Wasps after retiring from playing at the end of last season, says it "was not a huge surprise" that former team-mate Danny Cipriani has been dropped from the side to face New Zealand.
But he was not expecting another member of the Wasps side, open-side flanker Tom Rees, to be jettisoned.
"If I left Twickenham with anything on Saturday, it was that Tom Rees was one of the few positives for England," he admitted.

Tom Rees was one of the few positives for England last Saturday
Lawrence Dallaglio
"But the coaches maybe want to have a look at Michael Lipman and I suppose if you want to have a look at these players, now is the time to do it.
"Unless several players go out and play outstandingly well on Saturday, all the places in next season's Six Nations are up for grabs."
And Dallaglio backed England skipper Steve Borthwick, who has come in for personal criticism following England's heavy defeats by Australia and South Africa in the last couple of weeks.
"Steve Borthwick is a very intense rugby player who is very passionate about what he does," he said.
"Had Martin Johnson gone for somebody a bit younger and results had gone the same way, what would that have done for that player's confidence?
"Borthwick has been around long enough to be able to take whatever happens to him on the chin and move on. He's an experienced player and I think he's a super rugby player.
"Everybody should get behind the captain and not undermine him or question whether he was the right appointment."

Borthwick to stay England captain

2008-10-27T16:23:00.000Z

Borthwick has been in fine form since his move to Saracens
England manager Martin Johnson has named Saracens lock Steve Borthwick as captain for the autumn internationals.
The 29-year-old retains the role he was given for the ill-fated summer tour of New Zealand, when previous skipper Phil Vickery was unavailable after injury.
With the Wasps prop not certain to start given the form of Matt Stevens, Borthwick was the logical choice.
He first led England in this year's Six Nations match in Italy, but his latest appointment is not for a fixed period.
"Firstly, I’d like to thank Phil Vickery for everything he did for the team while he was captain," Johnson said of his World Cup-winning team-mate.
"Like Phil, Steve is a good leader and always prepares thoroughly for all his matches at club and international level and I’m looking forward to working with him.
"I won’t be giving Steve a specific amount of time in the job. I just want to support him as much as possible and I know he will enjoy all the responsibility and work that comes with being captain of England."
My three games as England captain have been away from home so to lead the team out at Twickenham will be a special moment
Steve BorthwickBorthwick's last act after 10 years at Bath was to lead them to victory in the European Challenge Cup final last season before joining Saracens in the summer.
His credentials for the England job have been frequently endorsed by Sarries director of rugby Eddie Jones, most recently after their EDF Energy Cup win over Northampton on Sunday.
"He has done a marvellous job for us, just with his competitiveness," Jones said. "He is so serious about his rugby."
Borthwick, who has won 39 caps since his debut in 2001, will lead out England for their opening autumn Test against the Pacific Islands a week on Saturday, 8 November.
They then face southern hemisphere heavyweights Australia, South Africa and New Zealand on successive weekends.
"My three games as England captain have been away from home so to lead the team out at Twickenham will be a special moment," he said.
"But my overriding aim is to help England get off to a winning start.

offamercia"I really enjoyed the week we had together in August and it showed what a good squad we have and that will hold us in good stead as we prepare for four very challenging games starting with the very tough Pacific Islanders.
"The squad and the coaching team is excellent and I'm really looking forward to our preparation and the games over the next four weeks."
One of Borthwick's former team-mates, Bath hooker Lee Mears, is one of several fitness concerns in the England squad who gathered at their Bagshot base on Sunday to begin preparations.
Mears sustained a rib injury in Bath's win at Sale on Friday, while Newcastle centre Jamie Noon was carried off in a neck brace in their defeat by Wasps.
If he's doing it in a club game, then you would worry about him in a Test match
Sarries boss Eddie Jones on Dylan HartleyThere could be a further worry for Johnson as he waits to hear whether Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley, likely to contest the starting role with Mears, is cited for a high tackle on Saracens scrum-half Moses Rauluni on Sunday.
Sarries boss Jones was furious that Hartley, who has banned for six months for eye-gouging last season, escaped with only a lecture.
"He took the head of the player away from the ball, and it is a serious misdemeanour," Jones observed.
"He has tended to have a reputation off the ball. We are certainly not happy with it.
"He seems like a good kid - he can play a bit - but you don't want to see players doing those sort of things. If he's doing it in a club game, then you would worry about him in a Test match."
Jones's Northampton counterpart Jim Mallinder said he "didn't think it looked that bad, actually".
"He is aggressive, but he's controlling himself and I think the referee probably made the right decision,' Mallinder added. "It wasn't the best challenge and he got penalised for it."

All Black Hamilton to join Tigers

2008-09-28T20:54:00.000+01:00

Utility back Hamilton has won two New Zealand caps
New Zealand international Scott Hamilton join Leicester on a two-year deal in November.
The 28-year-old, who can play on the wing or at full-back, will be reunited with his former Canterbury and Crusaders team-mate Aaron Mauger.
"It's great to have Aaron over there," said Hamilton, who has won two caps.
"He's captain there now and has a big say in the club, which has enjoyed some success, so I'm looking forward to contributing to their cause."
Hamilton played two Tests for the All Blacks in 2006 against Argentina and South Africa.
PcPete999He has also won three Super rugby titles, the Ranfurly Shield twice and the National Provincial Championship.
Canterbury assistant coach John Haggart said Hamilton would be sorely missed.
"Scott has been such a reliable and consistent performer for Canterbury and the Crusaders over the years that it's inevitable he will leave a huge hole," said Haggart.
Leicester had also been linked with mercurial Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca.

Chuter looking to play more games

2008-08-20T11:48:00.000+01:00

George Chuter still nurtures hopes of adding to his 21 England caps
Leicester Tigers hooker George Chuter wants to play more games this season but knows it will be tough to get in.
"With a new head coach, your immediate target has got to be to impress him," Chuter told BBC Radio Leicester.
"But I'm in the same position I was in last season with three hookers vying for two places".
The 32-year-old also wants to push for a place in the England side after leading the Saxons to victory in the Churchill Cup this summer.
Chuter said: "I've got go try and get as much rugby as I can and, hopefully, if I play well enough when I get the chance the international thing will take care of itself.
"I'm not looking any further ahead than the first league game at Gloucester.
"I want to be part of the new beginning al Leicester".
The Tigers' pre-season continues when they take on the Ospreys this Saturday at Swansea's Liberty Stadium (1500 BST).

Rugby union 'stuck in a ghetto'

2008-07-28T10:28:00.000+01:00

The report said failing to award the 2011 event to Japan was a mistake
The 2015 Rugby World Cup must be awarded to a developing nation so the sport can break away from its "ghetto", according to a report.
England and Wales may make a joint bid for the event, along with South Africa.
"Rugby union is stuck in a ghetto," said consultant Quentin Smith, who is also chairman of Sale Sharks.
"The first question for any decision made by the International Rugby Board (IRB) must be 'How does this push forward globalisation?'"
Japan are also understood to be vying for the 2015 competition, having been pipped by New Zealand for the right to host the 2011 tournament.
"Quite clearly that was a mistake - deciding to go to Japan would have opened up substantial new markets," added the report's co-author William Field, a partner at Spectrum Value Partners, a consultancy group whose work encompasses the sports industry.
The report stated that the sport's world governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), was "unrepresentative and undemocratic" with too much power awarded to the eight foundation unions.
"Over half of the world's 4m registered players are English and 97% of people watching last year's World Cup final came from foundation unions," said Field.
"There is a deep, systemic problem within rugby, The perspective needs to shift to be more international. Globalisation needs to become the number one agenda item within rugby
"The first question in any decision made by the IRB must be 'How does this push forward globalisation?'
"A cultural shift needs to take place. The World Cup is one of the biggest decisions the IRB has to make. It is important rugby makes the right decision next time."
Earlier in July, Australian rugby chief John O'Neill said that smaller countries were being priced out of the opportunity to host the Rugby World Cup.
The IRB wants £100m and £120m respectively from the hosts of the 2015 and 2019 events.
"There are very few countries that could put their hands up for that sort of commitment," said O'Neill.
"I'm not sure these can be sustained over the long haul without reducing the candidates down to France and England."
The IRB will announce the host nations for the 2015 and 2019 World Cups next July.

Maroons target Origin series win

2008-06-30T15:31:00.001+01:00

Greg Inglis destroyed the Blues in game two
Queensland will have to overcome a poor record at Sydney's Olympic Stadium to win a third consecutive State of Origin against New South Wales on Wednesday.
The Maroons, who lost to the Blues in the series opener in Sydney, got back into contention with a 30-0 home win in game two.
They have just one win and a draw from their past 13 games in Sydney.
Queensland are unchanged, while NSW have called up Sydney Roosters pair Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce.
Canberra's Joel Monaghan, the brother of Warrington half-back Michael, also comes in, while winger Steve Turner and prop Steve Simpson have been replaced by Jarryd Hayne and Ben Cross, who played in game one but were dropped for game two.
The Blues are missing Peter Wallace, Greg Bird and Mark Gasnier through injury and are underdogs after being held scoreless by Queensland in Brisbane earlier this month for only the second time in 83 Origin encounters since 1980.
It will be a special match for hooker Danny Buderus, who will lead NSW for a record 15th and final time before he moves to Super League side Leeds next season.
But Queensland, who had Melbourne centre Greg Inglis in devastating form in the second game, believe they can claim victory in Sydney.
"There is quite a bit of talk about the ground and the fact we don't have a great record there," said scrum-half Scott Prince.
"But if you look at it, plenty of players in this team have won a lot of big games there, so it's not that big a deal.
"We have a lot of guys from Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos who have won the last two Grand Finals there, so it isn't like it is a ground we hate coming to."

Peel adds to Wales injury worries

2008-04-29T19:43:00.001+01:00

Dwayne Peel is the latest Wales injury scare ahead of the Grand Slam winners' bid to beat South Africa in June.
The Scarlets' scrum-half has a shoulder injury that rules him out of Warren Gatland's 24-man training squad.
With Gareth Cooper part of Gloucester's Guinness Premiership play-off push and Mike Phillips out, London Irish's Warren Fury, 22, comes in.
Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart and Dragons scrum-half Andy Williams are also fresh faces since the Six Nations.
Gatland said: "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.

"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."
Gatland remains hopeful Peel and ankle-injury victim Gavin Henson will be fit to take on the World Champions.
Henson's regional team-mates Lee Byrne and Sonny Parker will also undergo fitness tests on knee injuries to determine whether or not they should be at the training camp.
Wales will train in Wexford, Ireland for a week from next Monday. If Newport-Gwent Dragons are involved in a Heineken Cup qualification play-off, Williams and Rhys Thomas are likely to be released to their region.
We have been given the opportunity to go on a pre-tour training camp thanks largely to the support of the four regions in Wales
Warren Gatland
Gareth Delve joins Cooper as an absentee due to Gloucester commitments.
Gatland said: "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.
"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 co-operation."
Gatland will take his side to a training base in Wexford that specialises in Cryotherapy, which aids the body's recovery from exercise and allows more training.
"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," added Gatland.
Wales will announce their tour squad on May 14.
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: Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Alix Popham, Ryan Jones.

Mortlock injury worry for Aussies

2007-09-02T10:03:00.001+01:00

Mortlock has won 60 caps for his countryAustralian skipper Stirling Mortlock has been forced to sit out training to give the Wallabies a major injury scare ahead of the World Cup.
The 30-year-old centre suffered what he described a recurrence of a disc problem but is confident of returning to training soon.
"It is definitely a concern because he is such an influential player," said Australian coach John Connolly.
"But the doctor thinks it will settle down as quickly as it came."
The Wallabies open up their World Cup campaign against Japan in Lyon on 8 September.
Meanwhile, Australia's management team say that Adam Ashley-Cooper (groin) and Guy Shepherdson (knee) are on track with their recoveries.
Fly-half Berrick Barnes has been given the all-clear to resume training after recovering from a niggling groin injury that has sidelined him for the past three weeks.

England release six from squad

2007-07-13T21:50:00.000+01:00

Ashton's England team have three warm-up games in August Olly Morgan, Fraser Waters, Magnus Lund, Shane Geraghty, Louis Deacon and Andy Hazell have all been released from England's preliminary World Cup squad.
Coach Brian Ashton has to name his definitive 30-man squad by 14 August, and the release of these six cuts the pool down to 40 players.
"It's been very difficult to let the six players go," said Ashton.
"They've all worked hard and it's been good working with them. I'm considering another cut at the end of next week."
Gloucester full-back Morgan impressed in his two appearances in last season's Six Nations, before a season-ending shoulder injury.
And Sale flanker Lund, who has 10 caps, was also a surprise omission.
The surviving squad members will reconvene in Bath next Tuesday and spend the rest of the week training.
They then have a week free before meeting on Sunday 29 July to prepare for the World Cup warm-up game against Wales at Twickenham on 4 August.
England host France the following weekend, with a return trip to play France in Marseille on 18 August.
"I've taken the decision to reduce the squad now because I've had a good look at everybody in the training camp," added Ashton.
"It's important that we spend more time giving consideration to those who will make the 22 for the first of our warm-up games."
Revised 40-man England preliminary World Cup squad:
Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), O Barkley (Bath), M Catt (London Irish), D Cipriani (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), D Hipkiss (Leicester), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), J Lewsey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), S Perry (Bristol), P Richards (London Irish), J Robinson (Sale Sharks), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).
Forwards: S Borthwick (Bath), G Chuter (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), P Freshwater (Perpignan), J Haskell (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), T Palmer (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), M Regan (Bristol), S Shaw (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Stevens (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), D Ward-Smith (Bristol), J Worsley (Wasps), K Yates (Saracens).

Ashton set to name training squad

2007-06-15T09:44:00.001+01:00

Lawrence Dallaglio, 34, last started a match for England in 2004England head coach Brian Ashton will unveil his 40-man training squad for this year's World Cup on Friday.
He is expected to recall most of the Wasps, Leicester and Bath players who missed the recent South Africa tour.
But fitness concerns remain over centres Mike Catt and Mike Tindall as well as number eight Dan Ward-Smith.
Ashton must also decide whether to recall former captain Lawrence Dallaglio, out of Test rugby since 2006, and the suspended Danny Grewcock.
Interview: Former England captain Martin Johnson
Bath second-rower Grewcock is banned for all three warm-up Tests and the first two pool matches against USA and South Africa.
Dallaglio, 34, last started a Test in 2004 and has struggled to reproduce his best form on a consistent basis.
Martin Johnson, who captained England to success four years ago, has already questioned whether the Wasps back-rower should be recalled.
It's not about next week, next year, the Six Nations, it's about the World Cup
Martin Johnson
"He has to be playing well enough to get in," said Johnson. "He didn't play in the Tests against South Africa, and he didn't play in the Six Nations.
"He played well for Wasps in the Heineken Cup final, but only for 50 minutes.
"Obviously he brings what he brings in terms of experience and leadership and who he is, but it's about getting the right guys on the field."
Johnson admits recalling Dallaglio would only be a temporary measure but says Ashton must pick players who are on top of their game.
"It's about now," said the former Leicester forward.
"It's not about next week, next year, the Six Nations, it's about the World Cup, getting your best team out there and there are balances in there."
606: DEBATE
Would you like to see Dallaglio back in the England shirt?
Dallaglio played his part in subduing favourites Leicester in that Twickenham final before being replaced by James Haskell for the last half-hour.
He has not played Test rugby since the 2006 Six Nations, when he appeared as a replacement, but could get an outing in England's three warm-up Tests in August against Wales and France (two).
In the wake of England's two recent thrashings in South Africa, Ashton said Dallaglio's leadership skills "may well be something we need, come World Cup time".
"If Brian and the coaches think bringing Lawrence into the squad is right then they should do it. He likes to be verbal and vocal and that's great," added Johnson.
"If they think they have some good young back-rowers who are playing better than Lawrence at the moment - and guys like Lewis Moody and Joe Worsley have played a lot of Test matches - then they should go with that."
"I've played with Lawrence and he's a world-class player. He has not started a Test match since 2004, he's 34-years-old.
"But Neil Back was 34 when he played in the last World Cup so age doesn't come into it.
Former England centre Jeremy Guscott believes Dallaglio's best days are behind him.
"There is no doubt he led Wasps to a brilliant victory in the European Cup," Guscott told BBC Sport.
"But I would leave him where's he been and remember him for the brilliant player he has been.
"My own personal view is that I believe Lawrence has had his best days as a rugby player, but if Brian Ashton feels that he needs him then that's Brian's shout."
Ashton will whittle down his squad to 30 on 14 August.

Yates replaces Wood for England

2007-05-25T14:19:00.000+01:00

Yates will win his first cap for 10 yearsSaturday, 26 MayVodacom Park, BloemfonteinKick-off: 1400 BSTLive on BBC Radio Five Live and BBC Sport website
England prop Nick Wood joins wing David Strettle in missing the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.
Gloucester's Wood, who was to make his England debut in Bloemfontein, tore a chest muscle in training and will be replaced by Saracens' Kevin Yates.
Strettle, 23, makes way for Iain Balshaw because of a stomach virus that may also rule out centre Andy Farrell and scrum-half Peter Richards.
Saracens' Dan Scarbrough and Bath prop Matt Stevens have joined the squad.

Wood is expected to play no further part in the two-Test tour and is likely to be joined by Strettle, who was hospitalised with the airborne virus on Wednesday.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was also laid up for 24 hours with the virus but is set to start in Bloemfontein.
The 34-year-old Yates won his last cap against Argentina in 1997 and he breaks John Bentley's England record of nine years and 44 days for the longest wait between caps.
Yates' England career was curtailed when he received a six-month ban for biting the ear of London Scottish flanker Simon Fenn, who required 25 stitches, during a domestic cup game in 1998. Yates has always maintained his innocence.
Scarbrough has flown in from England Saxons duty as cover for Strettle, while South African-born Stevens flew by private jet from Cape Town to provide front-row cover in the wake of Wood's injury.
England doctor Simon Kemp said Strettle had been hospitalised because "his vomiting continued through [Wednesday] and he could not take fluids by mouth".
Strettle, who is reported to have made good progress since being admitted for rehydration and monitoring, has won three caps since breaking into the England side in the 2007 Six Nations.
England head coach Brian Ashton said: "I obviously feel for David as it is his first tour, but Iain is an experienced player and will do a good job for us."
The 27-year-old Balshaw, who was a late call-up to the squad, has won 29 caps since making his debut in 2000.
The injuries and illness are just the latest blow for Ashton, who is already set to field a very under-strength team against the Springboks with about 30 first-choice players missing.
The struggling world champions have not won away from Twickenham for 15 months, while South Africa will go into the match in Bloemfontein on a high after two of their teams fought out the Super 14 final on Saturday.