Ken Owens secures Wales cover call

Scarlets hooker Ken Owens has been called into Wales' preliminary World Cup squad as cover for Richard Hibbard.

Ospreys hooker Hibbard will be out for between 10 to 12 weeks after undergoing shoulder surgery and is expected to miss Wales' three World Cup warm-ups.

It means that Owens, 24, could get the chance to impress Wales coach Warren Gatland in their August internationals against England (twice) and Argentina.

Prop Gethin Jenkins is back in full training after toe surgery in January.

The Cardiff Blues loose-head, who has not played since 7 January, was joined by Exeter-bound tight-head prop Craig Mitchell in training as Wales began their conditioning programme ahead of September's Rugby World Cup.

Mitchell has been out since dislocating his shoulder in Wales' Six Nations win over Ireland in March so the return of Mitchell and Jenkins coupled with Owens' call-up has bolstered Gatland's Wales front row options.

Wales' record try-scorer Shane Williams and fellow wing Leigh Halfpenny are also expected to be back at full fitness when the Welsh squad fly out to Poland on 2 July for their first summer training camp.

Ospreys star Williams, who has scored 53 tries in 79 Wales internationals, has been out with a knee injury since March while Halfpenny continues his rehabilitation after a foot operation.

"Shane will be three more weeks before he is fully integrated into the training programme," said Prav Mathema, Welsh Rugby Union national medical performance manager.

"Which means he should be up to speed by the time we go on that first camp in Poland.

"Leigh is doing well after a successful operation on his foot, he is six weeks down the line now and able to start lifting weights again and also hopes to be at Spala.

"Both Gethin and Craig are back in full training and Richard has been given a return to play time of 10 to 12 weeks, which makes it possible for him to be back to fitness by the end of August."

Wales begin their World Cup campaign in New Zealand against defending champions South Africa on 11 September.

But Gatland's men face England at Twickenham on 6 August, host England in Cardiff on 13 August and welcome Argentina to the Millennium Stadium on 20 August as part of Wales' World Cup preparation.

The Wales coach's final World Cup squad selection will be announced on 22 August with the squad due to fly out to New Zealand on 31 August.

wales606 wrote:Munkain - Burns is in there?

bedfordwelsh wrote:BUT we all know Bennett will go and play probably as second choice.