Doubts remain over player availability for Wales clash

All Black coach Graham Henry isn't too concerned about the potential loss of four top players for the All Black 'Grand Slam' opener against the Six Nations champions on November 5.

According to a BBC report, Premier Rugby Ltd - the English clubs' body - says it won't release players for the test because it's outside the International Rugby Board's release period. That means Newcastle flanker Colin Charvis and Gloucester hooker Mefin Davies will miss out. The report says French clubs should follow suit, meaning Welsh captain Gareth Thomas (Toulouse) and Stephen Jones (Clermont-Auvergne) will also be barred.

Their absence would have an obvious devaluing effect on a key test match as the All Blacks attempt to do the Grand Slam for the first time in 28 years.

However Henry thinks it unlikely that the four players will miss out.

"That's the first I've heard of this. I'd be very surprised if the Welsh union had gone ahead with arranging this test match without approaching the clubs and making sure they've got players released. I wouldn't imagine they would go into this without that.

"In any case, and I'm not 100 per cent about this, I think there is another test match being played on that day." Argentina are playing South Africa, meaning the clubs would normally have agreed to release any affected players on that day anyway.

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive David Moffett said: "We're confident we'll be able to get the players ... it is such an important occasion for Welsh rugby, as it's 100 years since the first match against New Zealand."

However, it appeared that Moffett may have underestimated the goodwill of the clubs towards the centenary match.

"I'm not aware David has spoken to Premier Rugby on this issue - he hasn't spoken to me," Phil Winstanley, rugby manager for PRL added. "The position could change but that's unlikely at the moment."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY