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.

LEINSTER fly-half Felipe Contepomi will captain Argentina in the first test against Ireland in Santa Fe on Saturday.

LEINSTER go to Rodney Parade tonight knowing that their hopes of claiming the Magners League title will be left on the brink if they can’t reverse their disappointing recent form.

ULSTER managed to hang on to a 14-7 interval lead and keep their Magners League hopes very much alive with a curate’s egg performance against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill last night.

LIFIEMI MAFI makes his first start for Munster in tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets in Stradey Park (Setanta Sports, 5.35pm).

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

Gavin Henson named among replacements for Wales’ RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Ireland on Sunday.

Wales head coach Mike Ruddock challenged his squad to “dispel the demons” of last weekend’s 47-13 defeat to England after naming an unchanged starting XV for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Scotland.

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 has made one change to his side for Saturday’s Test against Australia with captain Gareth Thomas reverting to full-back and Matthew Watkins coming into the starting line-up at outside-centre.

BLUE prop John Yapp is the only uncapped player in Wales’ 31-man squad for the forthcoming RBS Six Nations.

The Neath-Ospreys Ryan Jones will make his debut for Wales in their Test match against Tri-Nations champions South Africa at The Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

SPRINGBOK coach Jake White has warned Wales to prepare for a furious early onslaught on Saturday as the South Africans lay down a marker at the start of their grand slam tour.

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.

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO goes into England’s World Cup showdown against Wales tomorrow (10am Irish time) planning to banish once and for all the memory of the biggest mistake of his international career.

Wales coach Steve Hansen has made four changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against England at Suncorp Stadium.

Wales coach Steve Hansen sprung two major selection surprises for Saturday's qualification showdown with Italy in Canberra.

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 captain Martyn Williams has been passed fit to face New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday.

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.

Wales 24 Ireland 25

SWANSEA centre Mark Taylor has a score to settle at Donnybrook this evening (7.35pm).

Matt Williams has named almost a full strength Leinster side for their much anticipated clash with Swansea in the European Cup at Donnybrook tomorrow night.

Tonight's Celtic League teams

SWANSEA coach John Connolly comes to Cork this evening seeking a double over Irish provincial opposition.

Colin Charvis will captain Wales in Saturday's final Six Nations match of the season against Scotland.

Experienced internationals Gareth Thomas and Colin Charvis have been recalled to the Wales squad for next Saturday’s Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship clash against England at Twickenham.

Wales coach Graham Henry has made three enforced changes for Sunday’s Millennium Stadium clash against the world champions Australia.

Iestyn Harris has been switched from fly-half to centre for Wales’ Millennium Stadium appointment with Tonga on Saturday.

Iestyn Harris today moved closer to winning his first Wales rugby union cap when he was named in a 31-man squad for November Test matches against Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

The Lions have made three changes for Saturday’s Test series decider against the Wallabies at Stadium Australia.

The British and Irish Lions side has been hit by two more injuries ahead of Saturday’s game against the Queensland Reds

Teams for Queensland President’s XV v the Lions, in Townsville, tomorrow, kick-off 10.30am (Irish time).

The Lions squad for the summer tour to Australia has been announced.