The former Blues and Chiefs player Gareth Anscombe has been omitted from Wales' 31-man Rugby World Cup squad.
Former Auckland and Chiefs back Gareth Anscombe. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand-born first-five made his Wales debut in the first warm-up match against Ireland but suffered an ankle injury in training last week.
Matthew Morgan takes Anscombe's place as one of three fly-halves alongside Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland.
Prop Samson Lee has been included despite not playing since March after rupturing an Achilles tendon in Wales' 23-16 Six Nations win over Ireland.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said the tight-head could be fit to play in the Pool A opener against Uruguay in Cardiff on September 20th but said they could not "afford to carry more injuries" by risking taking Anscombe.
"There were some tough decisions," Gatland said. "It's hard but you have to accept that's the nature of sport."
Wales are in Pool A with hosts England, Australia, Fiji and Uruguay and lock Alun Wyn Jones could miss their opening match against the Uruguayans in Cardiff on Sept. 20 because of a knee ligament injury.
"Alun Wyn should only be out for a couple of weeks but you never know with medial stuff," Gatland said.
Wales squad:
Forwards: Tomas Francis, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis, Gethin Jenkins, Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Ken Owens, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Dominic Day, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Toby Faletau, James King, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (captain).
Backs: Gareth Davies, Rhys Webb, Lloyd Williams, Dan Biggar, Matthew Morgan, Rhys Priestland, Cory Allen, Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams
