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Humphreys stands by as Cooper gets Welsh recall

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Tuesday 4th Feb 2003.

BATH'S scrum-half Gareth Cooper and flanker Gavin Thomas were yesterday included in Wales' 31-man squad for the RBS Six Nations Championship ­ and teammate Jonathan Humphreys could join them later this week.

Thomas, who featured in Wales' November internationals, retained his place in coach Steve Hansen's plans, while Cooper has forced his way back after his solid club form this season.

But veteran hooker Humphreys could yet be handed the chance to add to his 33 caps.

The former Wales and Cardiff skipper is in the frame as Hansen copes with a hooking crisis ­ Barry Williams (broken jaw), Robin McBryde (foot) and Andrew Lewis (back) all injured.

Pontypridd's Mefin Davies was the only hooker named in the 31-man squad. A second hooker will be selected in the next few days, with the candidates being Humphreys, Bridgend's Gareth Williams, Matthew Rees of Pontypridd and Neath prop Duncan Jones, whose hooking potential is being assessed.

Bath centre Kevin Maggs joins an extended 31-man Ireland squad for international training in County Kildare this week

The Irish management will trim the squad to 22 players on Friday, before announcing their team to face Scotland on February 16.

Gloucester players who have been asked to take a pay cut may offer to give up some of their annual bonuses rather than have their salaries reduced.

Tom Walkinshaw, owner of the Premiership club, met the players last week to ask them to accept cuts of between five and 10 per cent.

He is understood to be asking those receiving more than £45,000 a year to accept a 10 per cent reduction and those earning less than £45,000 to have their salaries cut by five percent.

Full-back Chris Catling said: "We have a chairman's bonus which is paid at the end of the year.

"If we finish top of the pile in the Premiership after 22 games, which is the way things are going at the moment, the players have talked about donating some of the bonus back rather than taking a pay cut."

Meanwhile, Gloucester's Zurich Premiership derby with Bath at Kingsholm on Saturday is a sell-out.

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