Wales release James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard

James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard are among eight players released from Wales' World Cup training squad.

Nicky Smith, Rory Thornton, Dan Baker, Rhys Patchell, Jack Dixon will also return to their respective regions and clubs.

Hook and Phillips delivered ineffective displays in Wales' opening World Cup warm-up game against Ireland last Saturday and were replaced early in the second-half of a 35-21 Millennium Stadium defeat.

Hibbard's exit, though, is a surprise. He made the British and Irish Lions Test team in Australia two years ago but he now misses out, with fellow hookers Scott Baldwin, Ken Owens and Kristian Dacey retained.

Gloucester star Hook has been largely a fringe Wales player since the last World Cup in New Zealand four years ago, but his versatility as a fly-half, centre and full-back led many to believe he would feature in the final selection picture.

Phillips, meanwhile, now finds himself behind Rhys Webb, Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams in the scrum-half pecking order, and at the age of 32 with 94 Wales caps, it might be that he has played his last game in the red shirt.

Players who remain in the training squad include wing Eli Walker, centre Tyler Morgan, lock Dominic Day and flanker Ross Moriarty, who all made their Test debuts against Ireland five days ago.

And with Baker gone, it increases considerably the possibility of Gloucester forward Moriarty, whose father Paul and uncle Richard both played for Wales at the 1987 World Cup, providing flanker and No 8 options in coach Warren Gatland's final squad.

There will be disappointment from the players but its important to stress that the door is not closed

"It's been a difficult task reducing the squad down and deciding who will meet up with us again on Monday," Gatland said.

"All the players involved over the past eight weeks have put a huge amount of effort in. The intensity and dedication from the players out in Switzerland and Qatar has been really impressive.

"That makes our job a lot harder but as we continue to move into our rugby focused phase of training its important we reduce the squad number down.

"There will be disappointment from the players but its important to stress that the door is not closed. We name our final Rugby World Cup squad on August 31 and a lot can happen between now and then.

"As a squad we will now meet up again on Monday to continuing preparing for Ireland away which is just over a fortnight away."

Forwards

Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospresy), Christian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dominic Day (Bath), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues)

Backs
Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Ospreys), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert, Cardiff Blues), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Matthew Morgan (Bristol), George North (Northampton Saints), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets).