Rugby:Wales captain Matthew Rees has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup after failing to recover from a neck injury, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed. The Scarlets hooker has been battling the problem for some time and missed the Principality's recent test matches against England.

Welsh assistant coach Shaun Edwards explained: “There are more important things in life than rugby and Matthew is in such pain it has to be second to his life. We are gutted he will not lead us into the World Cup but he has to take the doctor’s advice because you can’t live like that. He can’t sleep and is in constant agony.”