Wales suffered another massive blow yesterday when British Lions centre Allan Bateman was ruled out of their tour of southern Africa.
Bateman will have surgery next Wednesday - the day after Wales leave for Zimbabwe - on a nose injury he sustained at the start of this year.
It means Richmond, who want the player ready for the start of next season, have prevailed in a club-versus-country battle over Bateman.
Richmond's rugby director John Kingston said: "It's unfortunate that Allan misses the tour, but we need to respect the medical advice given.
"We have shown support to touring teams this summer with nine players representing four nations."
Bateman becomes the 17th leading Wales player to pull out of the tour, following team-mates such as Scott Gibbs, Neil Jenkins and David Young.
The Welsh player of the season was outstanding for his country in this year's Five Nations Championship, scoring two tries against England and producing superb defensive displays against Scotland and Ireland. He did not play in the clash with France because his daughter was ill.
England coach Clive Woodward named four new caps for his side to take on Australia in the opening match of England's southern hemisphere tour and England's New Zealand-born coaching assistant John Mitchell issued them with a stern warning about he perils they will face on the pitch.
Richmond wing Spencer Brown, Saracens centre Steve Ravenscroft and flanker Ben Sturnham, together with Sale openside Patrick Sanderson, will make their Test bows against the Australians in Brisbane on Saturday. There was also an international recall for forgotten full-back Tim Stimpson and a first start for teenage Newcastle prodigy Jonny Wilkinson.
