Wales: Ex-league star cracks Warren Gatland’s squad for Wallabies series while double prop casualty hits
Regan Grace has been named in Warren Gatland's Wales squad.
Wales have included former rugby league wing Regan Grace in their 34-player squad for their upcoming two-Test series against the Wallabies on Australian soil.
The ex-St Helens finisher, who was recently added to a training squad after Keelan Giles suffered a groin injury, is inexperienced in terms of rugby union minutes.
Indeed, he has played just two senior games for Bath, who signed him this year after he linked up with the club to continue his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury.
Rugby league star
Grace was a crowd favourite at St Helens during his time at the Super League outfit but switched codes in 2022, joining Top 14 side Racing 92 before injury struck.
Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys has described Grace as an “X-factor” player as the flyer looks to feature against the Wallabies and Reds during July.
He joins two other uncapped players in the squad with Gloucester back Josh Hathaway and Cardiff hooker Efan Daniel also the new faces in Warren Gatland‘s 34.
Gatland has suffered an injury-hit build-up to this tour as Giles, hooker Elliot Dee and flank Jac Morgan were ruled out before last weekend’s Springboks meeting.
Compounding their absence is news that tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti join Henry Thomas in being ruled out of the tour, as the front-row suffers a further blow.
Archie Griffin, Dillon Lewis and Harri O’Connor will occupy the tour berths in that position, while hooker Dewi Lake has been named as tour skipper for the Welsh.
“I’m excited about this Wales squad. We know Australia is a tough place to go and play rugby, but we are relishing the challenge,” said head coach Gatland.
“We are expecting two fiercely-contested Test matches and we are also pleased to be able to play a third fixture against the Queensland Reds.
“We are focusing on getting better as a group. This is a young squad that is still learning at this level.
“There are lots of positives and good things that we can build on from the weekend and there are also areas that we will be working hard to address over the next few weeks.”
Wales squad for Australia tour
Forwards: Corey Domachowski, Kemsley Mathias, Gareth Thomas, Efan Daniel, Dewi Lake (c), Evan Lloyd, Archie Griffin, Dillon Lewis, Harri O’Connor, Ben Carter, Cory Hill, Dafydd Jenkins, Matthew Screech, Christ Tshiunza, James Botham, Mackenzie Martin, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright
Backs: Ellis Bevan, Gareth Davies, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Mason Grady, Eddie James, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Rio Dyer, Regan Grace, Josh Hathaway, Liam Williams, Jacob Beetham, Cameron Winnett
