Gatland angry over player release row

Wales coach Warren Gatland last night hit out in the player release row between the Welsh Rugby Union and the regional sides and insisted five days’ preparation for the opening November Test would be “insufficient”.

The regions issued a strongly-worded statement signed by Ospreys duo Roger Blyth and Mike Cuddy, Scarlets chief executive Stuart Gallacher, Newport Gwent Dragons’ Gethin Jenkins and Cardiff Blues’ Bob Norster in which they claimed an agreement over player release was “unlikely” in the short term.