Edwards: Wales right to leave Rees out

THE decision for Matthew Rees to undergo surgery and miss Wales’ World Cup bid has been taken in the interests of the hooker’s long-term health, according to assistant coach Shaun Edwards.

The Wales captain, 30, was yesterday ruled out of the global showpiece in New Zealand after failing to overcome the persistent neck injury which had kept him out of the back-to-back warm-up games against England.

Head coach Warren Gatland had revealed following Saturday’s 19-9 win over the Red Rose that the Scarlets forward was in “severe pain”, and intensive treatment and pain-killing injections have not been enough to save his World Cup hopes, meaning he will need an operation.