Wales have been dealt another major blow ahead of their Rugby World Cup preparations, as hooker Ken Owens drops out from the wider training squad.
The former Wales captain looks unlikely to play any part in the upcoming Rugby World Cup, and has stepped aside from the squad due to a re-occurring back injury. The 36-year-old’s future with Wales is now in doubt, with Head Coach Warren Gatland disappointed to let another experienced veteran depart the squad.
“Ken has a niggle in his back which he needs some time out to sort,” he said to BBC Sport.
“He’s not going to be available for the World Cup squad. He might need an operation and, if he recovers from that and gets himself right on the pitch, he may be available if we pick up injuries during the World Cup.”
Ken Owens joins the likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Cory Hill in voluntarily dropping out of the wider training squad. Rhys Carre was also let go, after reportedly underperforming to Gatland’s expectations. Additionally, Scarlets back-rower Josh Macleod and Cardiff prop Will Davies-King have today been released due to injury.
Ospreys hooker Sam Parry, is the latest edition to the training squad, coming in to replace the veteran Owens. The Scarlets hooker captained Wales throughout the 2023 Six Nations, in what was a turbulent competition. The off-field WRU Contract saga coupled with Wales’ underwhelming on-field performances, saw Gatland’s peter-out for a fifth placed finish.
“Ken is gutted but he’s an incredibly positive person,” Gatland continued.
“He actually considers himself lucky for getting an extra 18 months that he didn’t think he would get after the last back injury.”
Owens has made 91 test match caps for Wales, and has not yet confirmed his future with the international side.
Gatland added: “Josh (Macleod) got the injury on club duty. We were hoping to be able to manage it but specialist assessment showed that wasn’t possible.”
“Will (Davies-King) picked up the foot injury in training with us which we were managing but then he got re-injured so has been released.”
Wales commence their training camp in Switzerland on the 3rd of July, however back-rower Taulupe Faletau will also be absent for the opening week. Faletau has picked up a calf injury, which rules him out of the team’s inaugural training week.