Rugby Union: Wales leave Quinnell to find his international fitness

Kevin Bowring, the Wales coach, yesterday resisted the temptation to meet the New Zealand challenge by pitching in Scott Quinnell, one of Wales' few truly world-class forwards, at Wembley tomorrow week. Quinnell, though back playing for Richmond, is still not considered fit enough for international rugby.

Bowring said Quinnell was in line for a Five Nations' Championship comeback but added: "Playing New Zealand is a different matter to playing for your club. He's been playing for his club from game to game, but carrying injuries and not training between games. I think he is about three or four weeks away from international fitness."

Ieuan Evans, the 33-year-old wing, is another who is still well short of international fitness. Scott's brother Craig Quinnell is currently unavailable with injury.

Bowring named an international training squad of 26, from which the final team and six replacements for the New Zealand game will be selected on Tuesday.

WALES SQUAD (v New Zealand, Wembley, 29 November): K Morgan (Pontypridd), G Wyatt (Pontypridd), N Walker (Cardiff), G Thomas (Bridgend), D James (Pontypridd), S Gibbs (Swansea), L Davies (Cardiff), A Bateman (Richmond), A Thomas (Swansea), N Jenkins (Pontypridd), P John (Pontypridd), R Howley (Cardiff), C Loader (Swansea), S John (Cardiff), C Anthony (Swansea), D Young (Cardiff), B Williams (Richmond), J Humphreys (Cardiff), M Voyle (Llanelli), C Stephens (Bridgend), G Llewellyn (Harlequins), R Appleyard (Swansea), M Williams (Pontypridd), G Jones (Cardiff), N Thomas (Bath), S Williams (Cardiff).

London Scottish have fallen out with their co-tenants Richmond over match scheduling. The club had wanted to stage their Tetley Bitter KnockOut Cup match against Bath on 3 January at the Athletic Ground. Richmond already had a home tie, against Doncaster, and London Scottish have been forced to move their match to the Recreation Ground, Bath.

The Bath fly-half Richard Butland, 26, has been placed on the transfer list at his own request. Bath are likely to want about pounds 50,000 to buy out the remaining 30 months of Butland's four-year contract.