A GWENDREATH Valley rugby player has been called up to the Wales squad for the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup.

Kieran Hardy, from Pontyberem, missed out on the final selection for the squad to go to the World Cup but was called up this weekend as a replacement for Taulupe Faletau who was ruled out of the competition with a broken arm after the final group game against Georgia on Saturday.

The 27-year-old scrum half who plies his trade with the Scarlets joined up with the squad in Versailles on Sunday and will be preparing for Wales’ quarter final clash with Argentina in Marseille this coming Saturday.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: “We feel we have a number of options in the back row at the moment, so we’ve decided to call up Kieran to give us extra cover at scrum-half and to take some pressure off from a training perspective.” 

Wales’ head of physical performance, Huw Bennett, said: “Kieran was a part of the original training group back in late May when we had all the camps. We’ve been keeping tabs on all the players who were on the short-list to make sure they are good to go when they come in.

“We know Kieran is a great professional and he will fit in straight away. Losing Taulupe is massive for us because he is a big character.

“After the game last weekend, we were happy for the victory, the points difference, but losing Taulupe put a bit of a sobering stamp on it. A couple of people were probably kicking themselves as before the game they said we’d been lucky with injuries, but it happens.

“We’re lucky in that we feel the strength in depth in the squad is good.”

Kieran currently has 18 caps and will be vying for a scrum half spot in his first Rugby World Cup and hopefully add to his four tries for his country. He already has one try for the Scarlets under his belt after crossing the whitewash in the Scarlets’ friendly against the Dragons last weekend.

Wales finished top of Pool C after four wins from four games, including three bonus points for four or more tries in a match after a 32-26 win against Fiji, 28-8 win against Portugal, 40-6 win against Australia and 43-19 win over Georgia.

They will be facing Argentina in the quarter finals on Saturday after the Pumas finished second in Pool D.

Wales v Argentina will take place on Saturday, October 14 at Stade de Marseille, Marseille (kick off 4pm BST, live on ITV and S4C).