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Scrum rock Adam Jones is out of Wales’ entire autumn international campaign because of an ongoing knee injury, the WRU has confirmed.

The news comes as a huge blow to the Wales management, who grudgingly accepted they must do without their first-choice tight-head prop for the Millennium Stadium clashes against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

The Ospreys star has officially withdrawn from the 35-man squad set to contest the four-match autumn campaign.

Jones will instead undergo a rehabilitation period of between six to 10 weeks, with regular assessments to establish exactly when he can return to playing action. He will also miss Wales’ training camp in Spala, Poland.

The rest of Rob Howley’s squad fly out this weekend.

Wales’ decision to rule out Jones was taken after his knee problem was reviewed by his orthopaedic consultant yesterday. Jones originally injured his knee in early September and aggravated the problem while playing for the Ospreys in their Heineken Cup defeat at Leicester last weekend.

Jones lasted just 48 minutes of that big European clash and the Ospreys said he needed further scans to identify the magnitude of the problem.

Caretaker Wales coach Howley stated earlier this week he was hopeful Jones would be fit for training in Poland and the autumn games, but last night conceded defeat in that wish.

The decision to rule out Jones means his Ospreys understudy Aaron Jarvis could make his Wales debut against Argentina on November 10.

Howley’s other options are Bath prop Paul James, Scott Andrews of the Blues and teenage newcomer Samson Lee of the Scarlets.

James is the most experienced of the quartet, but has featured predominately at loosehead this season for his club. Andrews has struggled to hold down a place in Phil Davies’ Blues side, while Lee is a rookie.

Wales called up the Scarlets tight-head earlier this week as cover for Jones.

Lee will travel to Poland, but the WRU say a decision on whether the Scarlets youngster or another player will join the squad full-time for the autumn matches will be made in due course.

More than 200,000 fans have already committed to head for the Millennium Stadium to roar on their Wales this autumn.

The game against New Zealand is already a 74,000 sell out. Tickets for the Australia game are going well, with the WRU saying Argentina and Samoa ticket sales have been gathering pace in recent days.

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis, said: “Warren Gatland will be back in Wales from Lions duty for the games against New Zealand and Australia and the importance of those two encounters cannot be underestimated.

“There are still plenty of tickets left for the Argentina and Samoa matches, but we have come to expect a surge of sales for these games and supporters are again following that pattern this year. We know the economic conditions are tough, so everyone in the WRU greatly appreciates the support we are getting from the fans.

“To have sold almost a quarter of a million tickets at this stage is a fantastic foundation and we will be working hard in the weeks ahead to encourage as many people as possible to come to the Millennium Stadium this autumn.”

Gallery: Adam Jones back home at Neath RFC

Can Wales' pack cope without Adam Jones? have your say in the comments box below

Click here: Scarlets prop Samson Lee called up to cover injured Wales star Adam Jones

Click here: Aaron Jarvis ready to grab his Wales Autumn Internationals chance