WALES have released seven players for Guinness Pro 12 game time but Newport Gwent Dragons wing/full-back Tom Prydie’s hopes of autumn international action are over, writes Chris Kirwan.

The 22-year-old has suffered a minor calf problem and has been sent back to the Dragons from Wales’ Vale of Glamorgan headquarters.

It means that Prydie will not be in contention for the Test against South Africa a week on Saturday, leaving him to wait to add to his five caps.

The speedster from Porthcawl last represented his country against Japan in the summer of last year but it is the third time since then that he has suffered an injury blow on international duty.

Last autumn he was forced to withdraw with a hamstring problem while in the summer a quad injury denied him the chance to impress in the Probables versus Possibles trial match.

“It’s a shame for Tom because he trained extremely well at the start of the camp but you have to be able to hold your body together,” said Wales boss Warren Gatland.

Prydie’s Dragons teammate Hallam Amos has been released for Friday’s Guinness Pro12 encounter with Munster at Rodney Parade and is set to feature on the wing.

It will be the 20-year-old’s first action since a mixed bag of a performance against Newcastle in the European Rugby Challenge Cup on October 24 when he made some dazzling breaks only to concede a pair of tries from charge downs.

Fly-half Rhys Priestland, centre Scott Williams, hooker Emyr Phillips and scrum-half Rhodri Williams will play for the Scarlets against Glasgow while number eight Dan Baker and flanker James King return to the Ospreys for their clash with Ulster in Belfast.

“We've released some players back to the regions who we feel need some rugby and have been with us for the last few weeks,” said Gatland.

“Rhys will go back and play with the Scarlets and then he'll come back into the squad for next week with James Hook having to go back to Gloucester.

“We just felt after his game (against Fiji) on Saturday we wanted him to play another game of rugby. There are a few things we've spoken to him about which we want him to work on.”