FORWARDS coach Robin McBryde says that Wales are spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding which man wears 2 on his back at the World Cup.

On Monday four hookers – Gloucester’s Richard Hibbard, the Scarlets’ Ken Owens, the Ospreys’ Scott Baldwin and Cardiff Blues’ Kristian Dacey – were named in the 47-strong training squad for the tournament.

If there are no injuries between now and the end of August then it is likely that uncapped 25-year-old Dacey will miss out when head coach Warren Gatland, like McBryde a former hooker, whittles his group down to 31 for England 2015.

But any one of the leading trio could stake a claim to be in the middle of the front row when Wales lock horns with Uruguay on September - Hibbard is a British and Irish Lion, Owens was first choice against South Africa last summer before suffering a neck injury and Baldwin was excellent in the Six Nations.

It presents a welcome headache for McBryde, who was at pains to point out the decision for who made the grade for the extended squad could have been even tougher.

He said: “We know coming behind that you have (Scarlets’ three-times capped hooker) Emyr Phillips, who has been unlucky with the timing of his (shoulder) injury, as has Elliot Dee up at the Dragons. I know Kingsley and Lyn (Jones, head coach and director of rugby) are big fans of him.

“It is not a case of if you’re in the squad you are comfortable because there are people ready to step up and take your place.

“Richard wasn’t happy with the fact he didn’t finish the Six Nations as the number one hooker. Injuries and form played a part in that – Scott had a strong Six Nations and Ken has really hit the ground running after his rehab from a neck injury.”

McBryde believes that the quality and experience present in the squad makes it Wales’ best set of forwards for years and several big calls loom with Gatland likely to opt for an 18/13 split of forwards and backs rather than 17/14.

“A number of players involved in the last World Cup will have benefited from the experience and that makes them better equipped to deal with what’s ahead of them,” said McBryde.

“But also some of the new faces in the squad have got quite a bit if experience. It just offers something new and I think across the board we are in a better position this year than we were four years ago.”