Wales expect captain Gareth Thomas to be fit for the World Cup quarter-finals after a scan indicated his rib cartilage injury is not as bad as first feared.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins has recalled experienced trio Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Colin Charvis for Saturday’s pivotal World Cup clash with Australia in Cardiff.

Shane Williams has returned to the Wales side after recovering from elbow surgery and will start on the wing against France in Sunday’s final pre-World Cup Test.

Gareth Thomas will captain Wales at the World Cup next month.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins has dropped Brent Cockbain from his World Cup plans - and given a surprise call-up to uncapped Gloucester lock Will James.

Ireland internationals Geordan Murphy and Shane Jennings will start for Leicester Tigers against Llanelli Scarlets in the Heineken Cup semi-final at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.

WASPS forward James Haskell will make his England debut in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

JAMES HASKELL has received a ringing endorsement from one of England’s leading coaches as he prepares to make his Test match debut.

ENGLAND coach Brian Ashton has ignored struggling Wales’ miserable RBS 6 Nations season and predicted possibly his team’s “toughest game of the tournament” on Saturday.

FRANCE prop Sylvain Marconnet has been ruled out of the rest of the RBS 6 Nations Championship after suffering a serious injury while on a skiing holiday.

Kevin Morgan has been recalled to the Wales side to face Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash after making a swift recovery from a fractured jaw.

GARETH JENKINS reacted to Wales’ 21-9 defeat to Scotland by making seven changes for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France, including four in a revamped pack.

MARK JONES has recovered from ankle ligament damage and is named on the wing for Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins believes axed centre Gavin Henson is struggling to cope with the pressures of his celebrity status.

Gareth Thomas has been named in the Wales side to play Ireland this weekend, pending the outcome of today’s disciplinary hearing.

Stephen Jones has been handed the Wales captaincy through to next year’s World Cup in France.

Wales have dropped flanker Colin Charvis for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against title favourites France in Cardiff.

Gavin Henson has been given the opportunity to redeem himself from the bench in Wales’ RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Italy on Saturday.

Mark Jones will make a remarkable return to international rugby against England on Saturday more than two years after last pulling on a Wales jersey.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock today named two uncapped players in a 29-man squad to prepare for autumn Test matches against South Africa, New Zealand, Romania and Japan in November.

Wales coach Steve Hansen tonight named six uncapped players in a 47-man preliminary training squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Wales coach Steve Hansen wants his team to keep control of their own destiny by defeating World Cup opponents Tonga in Canberra on Sunday.

Wales have named two uncapped players in their side to take on Ireland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week.

Wales coach Steve Hansen beat the IRB 48-hour deadline by minutes as he named his team to take on world champions Australia in Sydney on Saturday night.

Cardiff flanker Martyn Williams will captain Wales in their Lloyds TSB tour game against the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Tonight's Celtic League teams

Scott Gibbs will not tour Japan with Wales this summer following his shock omission from the Lions squad.

Swansea fly-half Gavin Henson will make his debut for Wales A against Ireland A on Friday night.

Axed Six Nations lock Chris Wyatt will line up for Wales A against their Scottish counterparts in Edinburgh on Friday night.