Wales scrumhalf Dwayne Peel has declared himself as fit, contradicting claims from the camp that injury had ruled him out of the World Cup.

Last week Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said that the 29-year-old had both a ruptured finger and a hip injury.

Peel claims he has been at pre-season training with Sale Sharks since the end of July.

"I had a finger injury at the start of pre-season, the first week in June, but I'm fine now," Peel told the BBC.

"I got cleared by the surgeon to play and to have full contact at the end of July so I'm fine, good to go."

Club and the player capped 76 times have both expressed their puzzlement surrounding Howley's comments.

"The fact of the matter is this - he broke his finger in late May, he's been available [for training] since July and he's as fit as a butcher's dog," said Sale executive director of sport Steve Diamond.

"So the reason they've not picked him is not on his injury status, it's on their selection policy."

Mike Phillips is the undoubted first choice scrumhalf for Wales currently, while youngsters Tavis Knoyle and Lloyd Williams appear to have leapfrogged Peel in the pecking order.

"We've got two youngsters who have impressed us hugely by the way they've trained," Wales coach Warren Gatland said.

"Tavis and Lloyd are probably two of the fittest guys we've got in the squad.

"It's just been difficult for Dwayne. The last few years when we have had him involved he's unfortunately had a lot of injuries.

"Rob Howley has spoken to him on a couple of occasions. We know what a quality player he is but it has been difficult for us to include him because he hasn't been available."