{"id":9502,"date":"2019-09-13T11:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-09-13T15:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9502"},"modified":"2019-09-14T11:01:53","modified_gmt":"2019-09-14T15:01:53","slug":"beard-and-hill-uncertain-for-wales-world-cup-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=9502","title":{"rendered":"Beard and Hill Uncertain for Wales’ World Cup Opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Locks Adam Beard and Cory Hill could both be unavailable for Wales\u2019 World Cup opener against Georgia in 10 days\u2019 time.<\/p>\n

Beard is set to join Wales\u2019 World Cup squad in Japan early next week after having his appendix removed.<\/p>\n

And Beard\u2019s squad colleague Hill is continuing to recover from a stress fracture in his leg, with the second pool fixture against Australia on September 29 having been his stated initial target.<\/p>\n

Wales hope that 23-year-old Beard will be available to face Georgia after being assessed on his arrival in Japan, it is understood.<\/p>\n

Skipper Alun Wyn Jones and Jake Ball, though, are seemingly in pole position to start against Georgia.<\/p>\n

And if Beard and Hill are absent, it could mean Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler providing second-row bench cover.<\/p>\n

Ospreys lock Beard, who has won 16 caps, was admitted to hospital in Wales ahead of the squad\u2019s departure for Japan on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Wales face Pool D opponents Georgia in Toyota City on September 23.<\/p>\n

A Welsh Rugby Union spokesperson said: \u201cAdam Beard was admitted to hospital in Wales with suspected appendicitis by Wales team medics ahead of the squad\u2019s departure last Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had his appendix removed uneventfully later that day and is recovering well.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will rejoin the rest of the squad in Japan early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wales head to the southern city of Kitakyushu on Saturday, where they will continue preparations to meet Georgia.<\/p>\n

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