Welsh trio will be available for the Blues

Feb 13 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

CARDIFF Blues will have Wales squad members Tom James, Jamie Roberts and Robin Sowden-Taylor available for Saturday’s Magners League top of the table clash against Leinster in Dublin.

Wales have released the trio after they were not selected for the Six Nations clash against Italy at the Millennium Stadium.

Roberts won his first cap against Scotland last weekend, but has been replaced by Scarlets wing Mark Jones.

James and Sowden-Taylor are desperate for rugby having not featured in the Six Nations and not played any professional rugby for more than a month

Sowden-Taylor last played for the Blues against Edinburgh on January 4, but has been continually overlooked for region and country because of the presence of Martyn Williams. James has been suffering from a kidney infection and his last appearance was the Heineken Cup victory over Stade Francais two months ago.

Deiniol Jones, Williams, Gethin Jenkins and Tom Shanklin are all unavailable for the clash.

Gareth Delve and Gareth Cooper have been released to Gloucester, Alix Popham will play for the Scarlets, while Mike Phillips might be allowed to feature for the Ospreys.

Ireland wing Shane Horgan has been named in the 24-man Leinster squad alongside Ireland internationals Leo Cullen, Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings and Trevor Hogan, although the Irish province are missing Brian O’ Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O’Kelly, Jamie Heaslip and the injured Gordon D’Arcy.