Sir Clive Woodward© Photo by Dean Treml/Getty Images

Sir Clive Woodward has hit out at Wales and Australia's decision to have just two hookers in their squad for the forthcoming Rugby World Cup.

While England have plumped for three hookers in their 31-man party, Australia have named two - Stephen Moore and Tatafu Polota-Nau - and Wales followed suit on Monday with Ken Owens and Scott Baldwin their two No.2s.

World Rugby regulations say that in a matchday squad of 23 players, the six front-row players - three starters and three replacements - must be suitably trained and experienced in that position. Wales have since said they are up-skilling tight-head Aaron Jarvis so he can cover hooker while Australia have worked with Scott Sio over the summer.

This is to prevent the scenario of Australia or Wales being left with just one hooker on a matchday if one of their two No.2s sustains a late injury.

But such an approach has irked the man who coached England to the 2003 World Cup. Woodward, in his column for the Daily Mail, has hit out at their decision saying it should be compulsory for three hookers to be included in the World Cup squad.

"What is going on here is open to interpretation, but it is just so wrong," Woodward writes. "Since the last World Cup the size of the squads has been increased from 30 to 31 specifically to allow for an extra front-row forward to be included for well-founded safety issues.

"And there are real safety concerns. If we want proper scrummaging contests - and everybody seems agreed that we do - we must also have proper player welfare measures. That is non-negotiable. Every squad must have three specialist hookers and it should be mandatory. And I am sure that is what RWC intended even if they seem to have left a loophole by actually insisting on just six specialist front row forwards in a match day 23."

He adds: "I look at Wales and Australia naming just two hookers and I wonder if they are being really fair to their own players, let alone the opposition, and the paying public."

Woodward has also called for England coach Stuart Lancaster to "put pressure on the world of rugby to address the situation."