Peel blow for Wales

Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel has been ruled out the remainder of the RBS 6 Nations Championship due to a torn hamstring, the Welsh Rugby Union have announced.

Peel will be replaced in the starting XV to face Italy in Rome on Saturday by Ospreys’ Mike Phillips, with London Irish scrum-half Warren Fury providing cover on the bench.

Peel, who has only started one Test during the reign of Wales head coach Warren Gatland, suffered the injury playing for his club Sale Sharks against Guinness Premiership opponents Newcastle two days ago.

He is expected to be sidelined for a month, which will rule him out of Wales’ Six Nations finale against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday week.

Fury, who joined the squad for training yesterday, won two caps as a replacement during Wales’ South Africa tour last summer.