Wales announced yesterday details of their warm-up games and other preparations for next year’s World Cup.

Warren Gatland’s men are set to play a double-header against Ireland, with the matches taking place at the Millennium Stadium on August 8 and Aviva Stadium on August 29, before hosting Italy at the Cardiff venue on September 5.

They will also undergo intensive training camps in Switzerland, Qatar and Poland ahead of the World Cup, which begins in mid-September.

Head coach Gatland, who guided Wales to fourth at the 2011 competition, said: “We are delighted at our schedule for next year.

“We have home and away ties against Ireland as an extended squad and will face Italy with our final World Cup party.

“The training camps have been designed to push the limits of the squad and ensure we peak at the tournament.

“We were very pleased with the results of the 2011 preparation and this schedule not only uses what we learnt back then but builds upon it.”

His 31-man squad for the World Cup will be announced on August 31, after the second match with Ireland.