Powell to miss S.Africa and All Blacks rugby clashes

Andy Powell will miss Wales' clash against South Africa on Saturday and the two-Test New Zealand tour after tearing a thigh muscle.

Powell had just been recalled by Wales head coach Warren Gatland following the infamous golf buggy incident which saw him arrested for attempting to drive the vehicle towards a motorway during this season's Six Nations Championship.

But the Cardiff Blues back-row forward suffered a thigh injury in training on Tuesday and his place on the replacements' bench this weekend goes to uncapped Scarlets flanker Rob McCusker.

Powell, a British and Irish Lion in South Africa last year, was kicked out of the Welsh Six Nations squad by Gatland after the buggy incident.

His exit was prompted after he drove the buggy while over the limit the morning following Wales' victory against Scotland in February.

He was subsequently banned from driving and fined 1,000 pounds by Cardiff magistrates.

He was set for a chance to redeem himself over the next weeks before injury struck.

Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies said: "Andy has a grade two injury to his left thigh which effectively sidelines him for a minimum of four weeks and leads to his omission from the tour."

Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Gavin Thomas will take Powell's place on tour, which features games against the All Blacks in Dunedin and Hamilton later this month.