Wales
Wales draw line under Hibbard saga
ESPN Staff
November 17, 2014
Richard Hibbard angered Wales management by appearing for Gloucester on Friday © Getty Images
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Welsh management have declared the Richard Hibbard saga over and say he is available to face New Zealand this weekend.

Hibbard angered Wales by appearing for his club Gloucester on Friday having been declared unfit for the national team's autumn international against Fiji.

It is understood Hibbard met with head coach Warren Gatland when he reported for Wales camp on Monday and they resolved the issue. Gatland had earlier said that he would seek clarity from Hibbard after he came on as a 73rd-minute substitute against Harlequins at Kingsholm on Friday having been declared unfit with an ankle injury by Wales.

Assistant coach Rob Howley said Hibbard was suffering from soreness when he arrived at the Millennium Stadium on Monday.

"We had to release him because he wasn't in the match-day 23 for Fiji, and he has gone to Gloucester and they felt he was okay to go on the bench," Howley said.

"In terms of all the information we had, and with it being an international game, we felt Richard wouldn't have been fit to go on against Fiji. Gloucester felt he was fit to go on the bench, and promised that he wouldn't go on, and he has obviously gone on in the last 10 minutes and has presented himself sore this morning.

"Obviously, things can change from a medical perspective from the Monday to the Friday. We are happy that the position has been resolved. Richard is back with us, and we look forward now to the All Blacks game.

"I don't think he is a concern. It is soreness. If we had involved him in the 23 for Fiji, he probably wouldn't have been available for selection for the New Zealand game."

Gatland will name his side to face the All Blacks on Tuesday. Full-back Leigh Halfpenny (concussion), centre Jonathan Davies (shoulder), fly-half Dan Biggar (groin) and scrum-half Rhys Webb (neck) are all back in training having been ruled out of the win against Fiji.

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