WALES have received a double boost with confirmation that star players Mike Phillips and James Hook will be released by their French clubs for the start of preparations next week to face the Barbarians and Australia in June.

On Monday Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley named Bayonne scrum-half Phillips and Perpignan fly-half Hook in a 38-man training squad for the Grand Slam champions’ summer itinerary, which includes a June 2 game with the Baa-Baas at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and three Tests against last year’s Tri Nations champions Down Under.

The squad are set to meet up on Monday, with the exception of the Ospreys’ contingent who will be preparing for the RaboDirect PRO12 final against Leinster in Dublin on Sunday, May 27 after they demolished Munster in Swansea on Friday night.

Bayonne and Perpignan were not obligated to release Phillips and Hook by that date as it falls outside the International Rugby Board’s formal date of release for the summer Tests.

But the Welsh Rugby Union have been notified by their French counterparts that the players will be available as Wales look to win their first Test against the Wallabies on Australian soil since a 19-16 victory in 1969 when they were captained by Newport’s great second row Brian Price.

And Howley praised the move by the French federation.

Howley said: “This is fantastic news for us as it means Mike and James will be fully involved in the complete preparation programme we have in place.

“They are both experienced international players but it is still a huge advantage to have them working within our environment from day one.

“We are extremely grateful to the French Rugby Union and the individual clubs involved for taking this step.

“It is a gesture which will undoubtedly benefit the players and I know they will want to thank their individual clubs for helping them fulfil their international commitments with Wales.

“It is an example of northern hemisphere rugby working in unity for the benefit of our players and the game in general.”

Howley added: “We are all aware of the difficulties we can encounter when Welsh qualified players are based outside Wales, but this decision shows there are opportunities for us to realise mutual benefits.”

Clermont Auvergne full-back Lee Byrne was not included in Howley's squad as he is likely to be in action for his club up until the tour party leaves for three Tests in Australia.