Wales hooker Rees to miss two games

WALES have lost another player to injury ahead of Sunday’s RBS Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin with hooker and former captain Matthew Rees suffering a calf strain during training.

Rees is set to be sidelined for two weeks, which would also mean him missing the Millennium Stadium appointment with Scotland on Sunday week. And Wales continue to play a waiting game with their other injured players. Rees, 31, had been in a battle for the Wales No 2 shirt with Huw Bennett, although World Cup hooker Bennett was already expected to start in Dublin and win his 50th cap.

Coach Warren Gatland has already lost prop Gethin Jenkins, World Cup squad hooker Lloyd Burns and locks Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones due to injuries as his side prepare for a rematch of their World Cup quarter-final against Ireland, this time at the Aviva Stadium. And Rees’ injury is the latest blow for Gatland, with fitness doubts remaining over centre Jamie Roberts (knee), stand-off Rhys Priestland (knee) and flanker Dan Lydiate (ankle). Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins said: “They are progressing, but how quickly we are not too sure. We will give them as much time as possible. We are hopeful of all the injured players recovering but it is a matter of time.

“They were in and out of yesterday’s training session and did not do an awful lot. They are doing bits and bobs and are having rehab with the physios to get themselves fit as soon as possible. It is always a blow if you lose some of your best players, but we are quite lucky in what we have got.”

It is thought uncapped 21-year-old Ospreys centre Ashley Beck has a strong chance of replacing Roberts, with James Hook the probable alternative to Priestland and Ryan Jones expected to feature in the back row if Lydiate is sidelined.

Gatland will announce his team for the Aviva Stadium encounter at midday tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Shane Williams has been hailed as “a Welsh rugby great” following reports that he will retire completely from the sport later this year.

Williams exited the Test arena in December, winning his 87th and final cap against Australia in Cardiff as he brought down the curtain on an international career that saw him score a Wales record 58 tries. The 34-year-old wing is contracted to Ospreys until 2013, but BBC Wales reported that Williams intends retiring at the end of this season. Neither Williams nor the Ospreys have so far made any comment.

“He has been amazing for Wales, Ospreys and the Lions,” Jenkins said. “He is a huge player, a Welsh rugby great, and he will be sorely missed. It is difficult – and I have done it myself – when you come to the end of your international career. That is what you have played for all your life, and Shane is no different to me. He feels the time is right, and only he knows.”