Rugby: Leading Welsh players unavailable for All Blacks clash

Wales coach Warren Gatland will hope to field a side capable of beating the All Blacks on November 8th. Photo / Getty Images

Wales are set to be without their English-based rugby players for next month's test against the All Blacks in Cardiff.

Premier Rugby, which runs the English club premiership, has barred Welsh players who earn their livings in England from taking part in the test as it is not in the International Rugby Board's official test window.

Therefore clubs are not obliged to release anyone for the November 7 match at Millennium Stadium.

Wales will be without experienced halfback Dwayne Peel, who plays for Sale. He was a likely starter as first-choice halfback Mike Phillips is missing after undergoing an ankle operation.

Welsh coach Warren Gatland will also be without Sale prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts, who was likely to start in the absence of injured tightheads Adam Jones and Rhys Thomas.

It leaves Wales contemplating the callup of former Waikato and Chiefs prop Deacon Manu, who has qualified for Wales on residency grounds having played for the Scarlets for the last three years.

Manu was this week named in the Fiji squad and may have a choice to make when Gatland announces his squad on Sunday.

Other English-based players who could have been in contention are Gloucester's Gareth Delve and Nicky Robinson, Sale's Lee Thomas, Harlequins' Ceri Jones and Wasps' Warren Fury.

- NZPA