OSPREYS wing Eli Walker has been released from Wales' World Cup squad due to a hamstring injury.

Walker was called into the 31-man party earlier this month as a replacement for knee injury victim Leigh Halfpenny.

The speedster's blow increases the likelihood of Newport Gwent Dragons wing/full-back Hallam Amos starting Sunday's tournament opener against Uruguay in Cardiff.

He could go head-to-head with Lions wing Alex Cuthbert for the right to join George North and Liam Williams in the big clash with England a week on Saturday.

Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty, whose father Paul and uncle Richard both played in the 1987 World Cup, has been called into the squad and will link up with Warren Gatland's men tomorrow, the Welsh Rugby Union announced. The abrasive forward impressed as an impact sub in the final warm-up against Italy.

A WRU statement read: "Due to the nature of the impending competition and the potential for his injury to extend into the latter stages of the pool stage, the decision has been made to release Eli at present."

Walker, who made his international debut against Ireland last month, was called into the squad alongside Mike Phillips last Tuesday - after Halfpenny and Rhys Webb were ruled out of the competition by injury."

Gatland's men start their Pool A campaign on Sunday, with a match against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium.

Moriarty tweeted: "Feel for @EliWalker24 having to miss out because of injury. Unbelievably thankful to be given a call up and can't wait to get back involved."