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Page last updated at 12:38 GMT, Wednesday, 26 May 2010 13:38 UK

Wales suffer Gethin Jenkins calf injury blow

Gethin Jenkins goes down injured against Toulon on Sunday
Gethin Jenkins goes down injured against Toulon on Sunday

Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins will miss Wales' Tests against South Africa and New Zealand next month after being ruled out for up to six weeks.

Jenkins departed his side's 28-21 Amlin Challenge Cup final win over Toulon on Sunday at half-time with a calf injury.

He was ruled out after being assessed by the Wales medical team on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, Gethin has a long-standing injury which seems to be recurring quite a lot," said Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards.

"Any team losing Gethin is going to be a negative thing. You are losing a British and Irish Lions front-row player - we all know Gethin's capabilities.

"But I am a big believer in that when one door shuts for one person, it opens for someone else.

"We do have other loose-heads who will be jumping out of their skin to get that number one shirt on and to run out and represent their country in a Test match."

James Hook, Luke Charteris, Dwayne Peel and Martyn Williams are already out of the 5 June clash with South Africa and the two All Black Tests that follow.

Centre Hook will undergo surgery on his troublesome shoulder injury after the Ospreys' Magners League Grand Final against Leinster on Saturday.

Lock Charteris has a neck problem while it has been decided that scrum-half Peel and flanker Williams need rest.

Coach Warren Gatland named a strong 27-man squad for the summer matches.

Wales host world champions South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on 5 June, before embarking on the two-game tour of New Zealand, the Tests on 19 June and 26 June.

We have some depth in these positions

Warren Gatland

"We have some depth in these positions with the likes of Jamie Roberts, Andrew Bishop and Jonathan Davies playing well at the moment at centre," said Gatland.

"We are ok in the second row as well, and Sam Warburton has been pushing Martyn really hard for a back-row spot at the Blues as well as at international level.

"South Africa in Cardiff, and then two Tests in New Zealand, means we have a tough summer ahead of us.

"But this is exactly the position we need to be in and it will be perfect preparation for the World Cup."

Hook has been carrying the shoulder problem all year and has been awaiting the operation that is expected to keep him out for between three and five months.

606: DEBATE
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The 24-year-old, who has 42 Wales caps at centre, fly-half and full-back, has played in the Ospreys' remaining Magners League campaign and coach Sean Holley says that the injury is not affecting his game.

But ex-Wales captain Jonathan Davies says he needs an operation now and Hook admits the problem "restricts" him.

"I'm feeling all right, the shoulder injury is not ideal but there are a couple of games left and hopefully I'll get through them," Hook told BBC Sport Wales earlier this month.

"It has restricted me, I've been having pain-killing injections trying to manage it... it's not ideal but it's something you just get on with."

Injury ruled out Duncan Jones, Richard Hibbard, Dafydd Jones, Dan Lydiate, Gareth Cooper, Tom Shanklin and Mark Jones, while Melbourne Rebels-bound Gareth Delve was not be considered.

The inclusion of Andy Powell was a talking point, following his dismissal from the Six Nations squad after his drink-driving golf buggy disgrace.


Wales squad for June Tests:

Blues: Bradley Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Deiniol Jones, Andy Powell, Richie Rees, Jamie Roberts, Sam Warburton, John Yapp.

Ospreys: Huw Bennett, Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Lee Byrne, Paul James, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips, Tom Prydie, Jonathan Thomas, Shane Williams.

Scarlets: Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Tavis Knoyle, Rob McCusker, Ken Owens, Matthew Rees.

Standby list (to train with the squad in the UK and cover injuries for the New Zealand tour):

Blues: Chris Czekaj, Rhys Thomas.

Ospreys: Ian Gough, Craig Mitchell.

Scarlets: Martin Roberts.

Dragons: Will Harries, Gavin Thomas, Jason Tovey.

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see also
Cardiff Blues 28-21 Toulon
23 May 10 |  Welsh
Boks replace James with De Jongh
03 Jun 10 |  Welsh
Hore injury blow for New Zealand
15 May 10 |  Welsh
Wales excited by new-boy Knoyle
17 May 10 |  Welsh
Powell back for Wales' June Tests
16 May 10 |  Welsh
Gatland considers 50-strong list
30 Apr 10 |  Welsh
Wales' rugby fixtures
26 Jun 07 |  Welsh
Wales rugby results archive
15 Oct 03 |  Welsh
Mighty Boks: South African rugby
01 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union
All Blacks magic: New Zealand rugby
21 Oct 08 |  Rugby Union
Country profile: New Zealand
28 Nov 11 |  Country profiles
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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