Lock Matfield out of S Africa tour

PARIS, France -- South African lock forward Victor Matfield has decided to miss the Springboks' tour to the United Kingdom later this month.

The World Cup-winner, who will join French club Toulon on January 1, has cited fatigue and personal commitments for his withdrawal.

Matfield's place in the tour party will be taken by Central Cheetahs' lock Barend Pieterse.

The Boks' only Test on the short tour -- which signals the end of coach Jake White's time with the team -- is next weekend against Wales.

They have suffered a number of setbacks in the lead up to the tour with loose forwards Danie Rossouw, Wikus van Heerden and prop Gurthro Steenkamp all withdrawing because of injury.

World Cup winners Percy Montgomery, BJ Botha and Jean de Villiers were not even considered because of ailments, while overseas-based Butch James, Ashwin Willemse and Gary Botha were not made available by their new European clubs.

To add to that, veterans Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad have retired from rugby.

Meanwhile, Gavin Henson has been recalled to the Wales squad for the one-off Test in Cardiff. The Ospreys center is one of seven players who did not feature at the World Cup to have been named in a 31-man squad.

There is no place for World Cup captain Gareth Thomas, as caretaker coach Nigel Davies gives some younger players a chance.

Will James also misses out -- while Chris Horsman, Kevin Morgan and Dafydd James are all injured and Martyn Williams has retired.

Uncapped Llanelli full-back Morgan Stoddart is included. As well as Henson, Lee Byrne, Tom James, Rhys Thomas, Luke Charteris and Robin Sowden-Taylor also come back in.

Henson was one of the stars of Wales' 2005 Grand Slam win but did not make the World Cup after failing to re-discover his best form following injury.

Davies, who will make way for Warren Gatland after the November 24 match, will cut his squad to 24 on Sunday after the next round of Heineken Cup fixtures. E-mail to a friend