Powell and Thomas back with Wales

Venue: TwickenhamDate: Saturday, 6 AugustKick-off: 1430 BSTCoverage: Live commentary on BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru; highlights on BBC Sport website and on BBC Three (Saturday 1900-2000 BST) and on BBC Two (Sunday 1100-1200 BST) Jonathan Thomas and Andy Powell are two experienced Wales back-row players Andy Powell and Jonathan Thomas have been included in a 39-man Wales squad to face England at Twickenham on Saturday, 6 August.

The back-rowers were discarded from the party of 35 players who recently travelled to Poland for the second of two intensive training camps.

Blues prop Scott Andrews and Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who also missed the trip to Spala, return as well.

Dwayne Peel is again unavailable, but could join the squad on 4 August.

The Sale Sharks scrum-half has been unable to join up with the rest of the players because English clubs have refused to release any Welsh player outside the designated International Rugby Board window.

But IRB rules state that all players must be released for national squad training and matches "at least 35 days before" the opening match of the 2011 World Cup.

English players have been released to the England squad under the terms of the agreement between the clubs and the Rugby Football Union.

The Welsh regions have a similar agreement with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Of the 35 players who trained at an Olympic facility in Poland for 10 days, only Scarlets flanker Rob McCusker will be unavaible for selcetion to face England. McCusker is struggling with a back problem.

Coach Warren Gatland will name the side on Thursday, 4 August for the first of three warm-up matches.

"The team to face England at Twickenham will be selected from this training squad," said Gatland.

"We have established a nucleus of players who will form our RWC squad based on their performances in training over recent weeks, but it is now time to translate those efforts onto the field.

"The players have worked hard, but places in that final World Cup squad are still very much up for grabs and a lot will depend on what we see over the course of these next three games."

After facing England at Twickenham, Wales will welcome Martin Johnson's side to the Millennium Stadium on 13 August, before ending their warm-up schedule by hosting Argentina in Cardiff seven days later.

"We have not shied away from facing the top quality opposition in preparation for this World Cup and it doesn't come much tougher than facing the 2003 World Cup winners and 2007 finalists on their home patch," added Gatland.

"The warm-up fixtures will be tough, but we are in a really tough group at the World Cup and replicating those conditions can, ultimately, only be of benefit to us."

Gatland must name his 30-man squad for September's World Cup in New Zealand by 22 August.

Wales open their campaign against defending champions South Africa on 11 September. The tournament begins with hosts New Zealand facing Tonga two days earlier.

Wales squad to face England on Saturday, 6 August (kick-off: 1430 BST):

Forwards: Scott Andrews, Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Adam Jones, Paul James (Ospreys), Ken Owens, Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams (Blues), Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull, (Scarlets), Gareth Delve (Melbourne Rebels), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks)

Backs: Michael Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan) Jonathan Davies, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams (Scarlets) Gavin Henson (unattached), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Aled Brew (Dragons), Shane Williams (Ospreys), George North, Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets).

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Powell keeps Wales World Cup hope

Sale Sharks back-row forward Andy Powell has won 17 Wales caps Andy Powell has not given up hope of forcing his way back into Wales coach Warren Gatland's World Cup plans.

The Sale Sharks back-rower was part of an initial 45-man squad that travelled to Spala in Poland for a training camp.

Powell was left out when the squad was trimmed for a second week but he said: "It's everybody's dream to be in a World Cup and if it does happen great.

"But my focus now is playing for Sale and the Welsh thing is at the back of my mind."

The 29-year-old was ommitted when Gatland cut the squad to the second training camp to 35, along with players like Cardiff Blues scrum-half Richie Rees and Ospreys forward Jonathan Thomas.

Powell does face tough back-row competition and it seems Ryan Jones, Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker and Justin Tipuric are ahead of him in the Wales pecking order.

But the coach did say: "The door is still very much open for those players who are not making this trip."

Powell, however, is now concentrating on his new club following his summer move from Wasps.

"We'll watch to see what the other boys, youngsters can do. It's an opportunity for them," said Powell.

"And for me it's just to go back up to Sale, train well and catch the coaches' eyes up there so they can give feedback to Gatland to say that I'm still training hard.

"But he was positive, he said 'keep going'... which is good from that perspective.

"England is coming up now [in] two weeks but all I can do is keep training hard and if it comes along I'll grasp it with two hands."

Wales go to Twickenham on 6 August to face England before a return Test in Cardiff the following Saturday, then complete their World Cup warm-up programme against Argentina on 20 August.

Gatland must then name his final 30-man squad for September's World Cup in New Zealand by 22 August.

Powell has not added to his 17 Wales caps since starting the 19-26 defeat to England in last season's Six Nations opener, where he suffered an injury early on.

"It was very frustrating, probably playing some of the best rugby I've played from the Lions up to that England game," Powell said.

"First 10 minutes taking a knock on the shoulder and probably not recovering from it for about six to eight weeks... it puts you back a few places.

"I was confident, I know my own ability and I work hard off the pitch to get myself back right."

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Bangor facing big task - Powell

Venue: Belle Vue, RhylDate: 13 July Kick-off: 1830 BSTCoverage: Updates on BBC Sport website and BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru Boss Neville Powell believes Bangor City have nothing to lose against HJK Helsinki in the Champions League second qualifying round.

The Welsh Premier League Champions face the Finnish side at Rhyl's Belle Vue in the first leg on Wednesday night.

"Obviously the odds are stacked against us," said Powell.

"We're under no illusions. It's going to be difficult [and] it's important we try and keep it as tight as we can at Rhyl."

Bangor make their Champions League debut against a side who have won their national title 23 times.

They are currently top of the Finnish First Division and are coached by former national team boss Antti Muurinen.

But former Liverpool, Barcelona and Ajax playmaker Jari Litmanen has not travelled to Wales as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery.

Powell and assistant Marc Limbert travelled to Finland last week to watch HJK's 4-2 victory against Turku.

"They've got international players in their side so the size of the task is immense," said Powell.

"We've got nothing to lose. Everybody's expecting us to get beat.

"We'd just like to try and keep that tie open for when we go over to Finland. If we can do that the lads will have had a massive achievement.

"I know for a fact these lads will be giving 120% and doing everything they can to try and get a result.

"The amount of times Bangor have come back from the dead and beat these big teams, it's incredible.

"You never know it might just be another fairytale in the history of Bangor City."

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