Martyn Williams misses SA

Martyn Williams: ruled out of June Tests

Warren Gatland's confident proclamation that he would take a full-strength side to South Africa in June is being increasingly undermined by injury.

Mike Phillips, Gavin Henson, Lee Byrne, and Dwayne Peel were joined at the weekend by Martyn Williams, who tore knee ligaments while playing for Cardiff Blues on Friday.

"Martyn (Williams) sprained his knee ... during the Blues match with Connacht and was scanned," said Welsh physio Mark Davies.

"The scan revealed torn ligaments and he is currently in a brace and awaiting further surgical opinion early next week, but the injury rules him out of the summer tour.

"Dwayne (Peel) has a shoulder problem which is unstable and in need of repair, once he undergoes his operation he will be five months-plus in recovery.

"Gavin (Henson) has had a successful operation on his ankle and he will begin his rehabilitation in approximately six weeks time."

Meanwhile, back row forward Alix Popham has withdrawn from the training camp in Ireland next week and has also made himself unavailable for the two-Test tour.

Popham's pending move from Scarlets to French club Brive has been cited as the reason for his withdrawal and Gatland will not be replacing him on the training camp which gathers his squad together for the first time since their Six Nations Grand Slam triumph.

The 33-times capped international had, however, made WRU management personnel aware of talks already taking place regarding a potential transfer before the new selection strategy - which states that the location of any team a player is contracted to will be an important factor in their future prospects for international selection - was put into place and so will not be affected by the strategy.