Richard Hibbard asked for explanation over club appearance

Warren Gatland said he will ask Richard Hibbard for an explanation over why he played for his club Gloucester on Friday night, despite being ruled out of Wales contention due to an injury.

The Wales head coach confirmed Hibbard would be coming back into his squad ahead ahead of next Saturday's game against New Zealand, but said he would be having a conversation with the 30-year-old hooker.

"I just want to get some clarity on what's going on, because, if he was fit for Wales, he would have been involved. Either he's fit or he's not."

"I don't blame Gloucester at all. Sometimes a player needs to be stronger", Gatland said, after yesterday's game against Fiji.

Wales gave their blessing for hooker Richard Hibbard to be on the bench for Gloucester last night, according to the club's director of rugby.

Hibbard played the last seven minutes against Harlequins, despite not being considered to play for Wales against Fiji today, after injuring his ankle against Australia last weekend.

Yesterday, Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde said that if Hibbard "does take the field of play, then obviously he jeapordises his inclusion" for Wales' autumn international against New Zealand next week.

After the game last night, Gloucester director of rugby David Humphreys said: "We did not have any problems with Wales. We had discussions with the Welsh management yesterday and it was agreed with the Welsh management that Richard would be sitting on the bench. We are unaware of what changed between last night and this morning."

"The starting point in all these discussions is we wouldn't do anything that jeopardised player welfare and, as far as we were concerned, Richard was fit to play and that was agreed with the Welsh management yesterday afternoon."

"We are very surprised by this. As far as we are concerned, there was no issue. I don't think this is something which should have been made a big issue."