UNCAPPED OSPREYS DUO Sam Davies and Rory Thornton have been included in Wales’ 36-man squad for next month’s home internationals against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.
Fly-half Davies has been in fine form for the Welsh regional side so far this season and will look to push Dan Biggar for the No 10 shirt, while Thornton has been drafted into the second row.
Meanwhile, fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who plays for French giants Toulon, has been called up 13 months after his last game for Wales where he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of last season’s World Cup and the subsequent Six Nations.
George North, Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Faletau, who play for English Premiership sides, have been included as ‘wildcards’ under a new Welsh Rugby Union system designed to reduce the number of players based outside the country selected for international duty.
A maximum of three ‘wildcards’ can be chosen for any one campaign in a season, with Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland missing out on this occasion.
Backs (15)
Wings/fullbacks: Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), George North (Northampton), Liam Williams (Scarlets)
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Centres: Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets)
Fly-halves: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys)
Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues)
Forwards (21)
Back rows: Dan Baker (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt)
Second rows: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Bath), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys)
Hookers: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets)
Props: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Rhys Gill (Cardiff Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
Fixtures (all at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Nov 5: Wales v Australia
Nov 12: Wales v Argentina
Nov 19: Wales v Japan
Nov 26: Wales v South Africa
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Uncapped Ospreys pair named in Wales squad as Halfpenny also returns
UNCAPPED OSPREYS DUO Sam Davies and Rory Thornton have been included in Wales’ 36-man squad for next month’s home internationals against Australia, Argentina, Japan and South Africa.
Fly-half Davies has been in fine form for the Welsh regional side so far this season and will look to push Dan Biggar for the No 10 shirt, while Thornton has been drafted into the second row.
Meanwhile, fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who plays for French giants Toulon, has been called up 13 months after his last game for Wales where he suffered a knee injury that ruled him out of last season’s World Cup and the subsequent Six Nations.
George North, Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Faletau, who play for English Premiership sides, have been included as ‘wildcards’ under a new Welsh Rugby Union system designed to reduce the number of players based outside the country selected for international duty.
A maximum of three ‘wildcards’ can be chosen for any one campaign in a season, with Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland missing out on this occasion.
Backs (15)
Wings/fullbacks: Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), George North (Northampton), Liam Williams (Scarlets)
Centres: Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets)
Fly-halves: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Sam Davies (Ospreys)
Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues)
Forwards (21)
Back rows: Dan Baker (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Bath), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt)
Second rows: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Bath), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys)
Hookers: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets)
Props: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Rhys Gill (Cardiff Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
Fixtures (all at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Nov 5: Wales v Australia
Nov 12: Wales v Argentina
Nov 19: Wales v Japan
Nov 26: Wales v South Africa
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fresh faces Fresh Look Leigh Halfpenny November Rory Thornton sam davies Wales