Humphreys faces fitness race for Wales

Wales captain Jonathan Humphreys faces D-day tomorrow in his battle to be fit for the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

The 34-year-old Bath hooker is struggling with a shoulder injury which he suffered during his club’s Zurich Premiership victory over Saracens three days ago.

Although a scan on his left shoulder yesterday revealed no serious damage, there is inflammation around the joint which must raise a question mark over his fitness to face the Scots on Saturday.

“It is still pretty sore,” said Humphreys at the Wales training base today.

“But hopefully by tomorrow I will be able to take part in the team session. I will have more physio and rehab today, and my goal is to take a full part in tomorrow’s session.

“I am very, very hopeful that I will be 100% right tomorrow.”

Humphreys has no regrets about playing for Bath at the weekend, when most of his national squad colleagues took time off.

“I don’t regret playing for Bath on Saturday. Given our league position, the future of the club is on the line.

“Michael Foley (coach) and Jack Rowell (rugby director) have been nothing but supportive since I was called into the Wales squad, and it was my decision to play for Bath,” he added.

“Obviously, I would be very disappointed to miss out on the Scotland game. It is fantastic to play on such a big stage – I would be gutted.”

If Humphreys is ruled out, and he is likely to make his own decision either way tomorrow, then Wales coach Steven Hansen is likely to recall Pontypridd hooker Mefin Davies, or promote promising Bridgend youngster Gareth Williams off the bench.

And in Humphreys’ absence, the captaincy would almost certainly revert back to Colin Charvis, whom Humphreys replaced as skipper for the Millennium Stadium appointment with England 10 days ago.