THE Wales rugby camp have received better injury news ahead of tomorrow's Six Nations Championship squad announcement.
Wales captain Gareth Thomas and hooker Rhys Thomas were both added to the growing list of injuries at the weekend amid fears the already hard hit squad could be further decimated.
Gareth Thomas aggravated a knee injury in the Heineken Cup-tie against Wasps and had to leave the field while Rhys Thomas damaged a thumb playing for Cardiff Blues against Perpignan.
But both have been given the all-clear. Wales defence coach Clive Griffiths, watching his former Dragons team at Sale yesterday, said the news about the Wales skipper was encouraging when cartilage trouble had been feared, while the hooker's thumb is not broken which was the initial concern.
Wales are already without Ryan Jones (who has signed a new three-year contract with the Ospreys despite being out for the season), Tom Shanklin, Kevin Morgan, Brent Cockbain and Chris Horsman for the whole Six Nations while Gavin Henson will miss the opening two games through suspension.
Clearly Wales could not afford to lose any more players, especially with the England game at Twickenham first up less that three weeks away on February 4.
Ruddock's squad is unlikely to contain any surprises, though the back row, even without Jones, is suddenly getting congested with Gareth Delve and Alix Popham challenging Michael Owen and Colin Charvis in particular.
Biggest concern is at centre in the absence of Shanklin and Henson and, as predicted in Saturday's Argus, Ruddock is considering involving Mark Taylor even if club commitments with Sale prevent his availability right through the tournament.
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