Wales: Richard Hibbard issue 'resolved' says Rob Howley

Richard Hibbard came on during the last 10 minutes of Gloucester's 22-15 defeat by Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership.

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley says the issue of Richard Hibbard's appearance for Gloucester has been resolved following a meeting on Monday.

Hibbard made a brief appearance as a substitute for Gloucester after Wales had deemed him unfit to face Fiji.

Coach Warren Gatland was seeking an explanation from the player.

"We're more than happy the position has been resolved, and Richard is back with us and we look forward to New Zealand now," said Howley.

"Warren Gatland spoke to him early on this morning, it has been resolved

"We had to release him because he was not in the 23. As far as we were concerned Richard wouldn't have been involved last Saturday.

"If a hooker had come off in the first five minutes Richard would not have been able to go on against Fiji he wouldn't have been fit.

"They [Gloucester] thought he was fit to go on the bench and he's gone on in the last 10 minutes and presented himself sore this morning."

Howley added that he did not believe the soreness to be a major problem.

The former Wales and Lions scrum-half also confirmed full-back Leigh Halfpenny, fly-half Dan Biggar and centre Jonathan Davies are all training ahead of the visit of the All Blacks.

The three were ruled out of the 17-13 win over Fiji.

Davies has not played at all during the autumn series, while Biggar and Halfpenny were both injured during the 33-28 defeat by Australia.

Scrum-half Rhys Webb is also expected to be fit to face New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on 22 November after picking up a knock against the Wallabies.

"Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies are all in training," added Howley.

"Jonathan needs to go through some contact but we're hopeful he will be up and running."