Wales
Davies' fitness centre of club versus country row
ESPN Staff
October 30, 2014
Jonathan Davies will stay with Wales and not return to France © Getty Images
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Wales centre Jonathan Davies' fitness has become the subject of a bizarre club versus country row after Clermont Auvergne indicated he would be out for "two to three weeks" with a shoulder injury.

The Top 14 leaders issued a statement on Thursday claiming the severity of Davies' injury, although Wales management are still hopeful he will feature in the November 8 autumn opener against Australia. The Welsh Rugby Union also remains defiant.

"The WRU stand by the statement on Tuesday about the fitness of Davies", an WRU spokesman said.

French media initially reported Davies had dislocated a shoulder during Clermont's European Rugby Champions Cup clash against Saracens last weekend, which would have effectively ruled him out for the entirety of the autumn internationals.

The "two to three week" lay-off claimed by the club would see Davies miss the clash against the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium, while also being doubtful to play in the following Tests against Fiji and New Zealand. Despite the dispute, WalesOnline report the player will stay with Wales this weekend and not return to France.

Clermont coach Franck Azema said in the statement: "He has a tear in the large muscle attached to the shoulder blade and will be out for two or three weeks.

"We have good communication with the Welsh and we will discuss with them when we work on Jonathan's recovery, since he could go back and forth between Wales and Auvergne."

Wales coach Warren Gatland received a boost on Wednesday when the results of the initial scan had shown Davies suffered shoulder muscle damage and not a dislocation. Gatland is facing somewhat of a centre crisis ahead of the Wallabies Test; Cory Allen and Scott Williams are both recovering from respective leg and hamstring issues, although the Welsh camp have since received positive news on the pair.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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