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.

Gavin Henson has today been named in the Wales squad for their Test matches against Australia on May 26 and June 2.

IN THE fall-out from Munster’s Heineken Cup defeat to Llanelli Scarlets, it was felt coach Declan Kidney would begin the process of rebuilding for next season by fielding emerging talent from the provincial academy in the remaining Magners Celtic League games.

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.

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.

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.

NEWPORT Gwent Dragons have made nine changes from the team that defeated Connacht in last Friday night’s Celtic League clash for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup Pool One match against Sale Sharks.

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.

PETER CROUCH was called up for England’s World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland as Sven-Goran Eriksson looked for a temporary stand-in for Wayne Rooney but Emile Heskey and Andrew Johnson missed out.

Leicester prop Graham Rowntree has been drafted into the British and Irish Lions’ midweek side to face Auckland on Tuesday.

British and Irish Lions boss Clive Woodward has gone for size and power – but still no Jonny Wilkinson – in Saturday’s unofficial “fourth Test” against the New Zealand Maori.

THE sight of a giant second row with a mop of ginger hair marauding all over the lineout and stealing opposition ball is something the British & Irish Lions are counting on as a major weapon in their armoury during this tour.

Brian O'Driscoll has been confirmed as captain of the Lions squad to tour New Zealand this summer, with 11 Irish players included but no place for England's Jonny Wilkinson.

THE names don’t yet roll off the tongue like the legendary team of 1978, but that could happen yet.

Andrew Baldock

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named an unchanged side for his team’s RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam bid against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday.

WALES coach Mike Ruddock last night urged his team to “be bold” in their crunch RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against unbeaten title rivals France on Saturday.

LIONS boss Clive Woodward yesterday spent the day with the Scottish squad as they continue preparing for Saturday's RBS 6 Nations meeting with Ireland at Murrayfield.

Gavin Henson will continue as Wales’ back-up goalkicker in the RBS 6 Nations Championship – despite his Millennium Stadium heroics against England last weekend.

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

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has named one uncapped player – Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp – in his squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

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.

THE DRAGONS shot to the top of the Celtic League table after a tremendous comeback when all seemed lost.

Ulster 22 Gwent Dragons 0

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

Gwent Dragons 24 Ulster 15

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

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