Another blow for Wales as skipper Rees is ruled out of the World Cup

Wales’ World Cup preparations have been dealt a fresh blow with the news that captain Matthew Rees will miss the tournament due to a neck injury. The Scarlets hooker has been undergoing intensive treatment over the past few weeks and, just a day after it emerged that an arm injury will ensure Gavin Henson misses the start of the World Cup, it was confirmed that Rees is now set to undergo surgery on his problem.

Wales coach Warren Gatland had admitted that Rees was in “severe pain” in the aftermath of Saturday’s 19-9 win over England at the Millennium Stadium and he has been officially replaced in Wales’ training squad by Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard.

“The safety and longevity of Matthew’s career is paramount, we are all very disappointed that Matthew will not be with us at the World Cup but his health is at the fore of our decision,” said Wales team doctor Prav Mathema.

“Matthew will not be available for selection after losing his race for fitness from a persistent neck injury. Following a series of injections and intensive treatment and rehabilitation the decision has been made to omit him from the squad to allow him to undergo surgery.”

The decision for Rees to undergo surgery has been taking in the interests of the hooker’s long-term health, according to assistant coach Shaun Edwards.

He said: “From a rugby point of view it is incredibly disappointing to lose your captain, but there are more important things in life than rugby, and he is in such pain it has to come second to his life.

“Matthew normally has a bit of banter and a joke but he is not like himself because he is in such pain. You have to take the doctor’s opinion and get it done because you can’t live your life like that.

“We are gutted he is not leading us at the Rugby World Cup but it will be good to see him back leading a normal life without pain. He can’t sleep and he is in constant agony.”

The loss of skipper Rees is the latest injury blow to hit Gatland ahead of the tournament. Full-back Morgan Stoddart will miss out after he broke his leg in the 23-19 defeat to England at Twickenham nine days ago, while Henson is facing an absence of six to eight weeks due to a dislocated bone in his wrist picked up during the return fixture in Cardiff on Saturday.

Edwards was impressed by what he saw of former Ospreys, Saracens and Toulon player Henson during the half-hour he managed at the weekend.

When asked if he thought Henson could still have a part to play in New Zealand, he said: “I hope so because I thought he was doing great, and to say I am gutted for him would be the understatement of the century.

“I thought he and Jamie [Roberts] were looking awesome together, especially in defence.”

Wales also have injury concerns over several other key players, with prop Gethin Jenkins, No 8 Ryan Jones and fly-half Stephen Jones all carrying calf injuries, while fly-half Rhys Priestland has an injured thigh.

The quartet are set to be assessed to determine whether they will be in the reckoning for this Saturday’s final World Cup warm-up contest against Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.

But there is good news on the availability of Adam Jones [toe], Leigh Halfpenny [ankle] and Lee Byrne [knee]. The trio are all set to feature against the Pumas, with the presence of Ospreys front-rower Jones a particular boost following the scrum difficulties Wales encountered against England, and the set-piece test they will face in their World Cup opener against South Africa in Wellington.

One man who will not be selected this weekend is flanker Sam Warburton, who will be rested, with veteran Martyn Williams likely to be handed the chance to push for inclusion when Gatland reveals his final 30-man World Cup party next Monday.

Cardiff Blues back-rower Warburton excelled when leading the side against England at the weekend and is now the favourite to be handed the captaincy for the World Cup.