Rhodri Jones© (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)

Rhodri Jones has been ruled out of the start of the Rugby World Cup, with his participation in the entire tournament in doubt due to injury. 

The Scarlets prop has withdrawn from Warren Gatland's training squad and is due to undergo surgery having suffered a ruptured pectoral muscle. He is expected to be out for between 12 and 16 weeks, with Wales kicking off their campaign against Uruguay in just over nine weeks' time.

Wales will continue their preparations in Doha, Qatar this weekend with Jones' place on the plane to be taken by Cardiff Blues front row, Scott Andrews.

"It is hugely disappointing for Rhodri, who was working extremely hard out in Switzerland. We wish him all the best with his recovery from the injury," said Gatland.

"It is a great opportunity for Scott to come into the squad and show us what he is capable of. In terms of the tighthead position, Samson has continued to make excellent progress and we have been very impressed with both Aaron Jarvis and Tomas Francis during the first batch of training."

Gatland's men will spend 10 days in Doha and were due to head to Spala, Poland - where they prepared for the 2011 World Cup - on their return. 

Due to their work in Switzerland, however, that trip has now been cancelled and the squad will instead return to their base at the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) National Centre of Excellence.

"We are ahead of where we want to be and when we reviewed the first camp and the schedule it was felt our time would be better spent using the world class facilities on offer at the Vale," consultant head of physical performance, Paul Stridgeon, said.

"The altitiude chamber, the heat stress option and the cyrotherapy chamber will compliment our first two camps well and remaining in Wales reduces to travel days which we can use two greater training effect.

"There will be a greater emphasis on the 'rugby' side of training at that point and we benefit more by staying here in Wales."