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Gareth Anscombe's Rugby World Cup hopes have been dealt a hammer blow after he damaged his ankle ligaments in training.

The Cardiff Blues pivot is currently wearing a protective boot and could now be cut from Wales' World Cup squad on Monday amid fears he will be unavailable for the opening stages of the global showpiece.

The 24-year-old has not however been released from the squad and will undergo further assessment in the coming days.

Anscombe impressed when he came off the bench to make his international debut against Ireland earlier this month and has been widely tipped to be named in Warren Gatland's final 31.

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The New Zealand under 20s fly-half, whose mother was born in Cardiff, signed a National Dual Contract in Wales after initially joining Cardiff Blues last summer.

Gatland was influential in his move to Wales after identifying the former Chiefs star as a potential starting number 10 for Wales at the World Cup before Dan Biggar established himself as undisputed number one.

Anscombe's hopes of representing Wales at the World Cup were handed a major boost following the opening warm-up match against Ireland when rival James Hook was axed from the initial party.

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He spoke of his pride after winning his first cap for Wales two weeks ago, expressing his desire for more international honours at the Rugby World Cup.

But it appears those hopes could now be dashed with Gatland unlikely to select a squad player with no guarantees that he'll be fit to play in the opening stages.

That could leave the door open for Bristol star Matthew Morgan, who is thought to have impressed in training.

A WRU spokesman said: "Gareth did pick up an ankle injury in training last week and he is continuing to be assessed at the moment."