Tuesday 10 October 2017 17:16, UK
Wales coach John Kear has named three uncapped players in his final 24-man squad for the World Cup.
Kear has named 13 of the 17 players who featured in Wales' qualifying victory over Italy last October along with new faces Halifax threequarter Chester Butler, who is the grandson of former Wales international Colin Dixon, Salford's new signing Gavin Bennion and Josh Ralph from Queensland Cup club Tweed Head Seagulls.
London Broncos prop Ben Evans returns for the first time since the last World Cup but his twin brother Rhys, the Warrington centre, is ruled out after failing to recover from a shoulder injury, and there are places for St Helens duo Regan Grace and Morgan Knowles, who were both shortlisted for the 2017 Super League young player of the year.
Other injury absentees are Ben Flower, Jake Emmitt, Lloyd White, Ollie Olds, Calvin Wellington, Daniel Brown and Anthony Walker while Gil Dudson, Larne Patrick and Dan Fleming are unavailable.
Wales' hopes of including Leeds' Grand Final hero Stevie Ward were dashed due to a shoulder injury.
Kear said: "I'm really happy with the squad that I've got for the tournament.
"We've had withdrawals - some because of injury and some for personal reasons - but the lads who are going are showing a great deal of desire to represent their country.
"I'm pretty certain that they will perform at this World Cup on the biggest stage. It's a great opportunity.
"We've not won a World Cup match since 2000. We didn't qualify for the 2008 World Cup and we didn't win in 2013.
"It's a long time between World Cup wins but we're unbeaten in six matches and the main goal is to get that first win. There's then nothing to say that we can't get out of the group and make the quarter-finals."
Kear will bring his squad together on Tuesday to begin a two-day training camp in North Wales before flying out to Brisbane next Tuesday for a further camp ahead of their opening game against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Saturday 28 October.
Wales will then travel to Townsville in North Queensland to take on Fiji on Sunday 5 November, and play their final group match against Ireland in Perth a week later.
Wales' World Cup squad: Courtney Davies, Steve Parry (both Gloucestershire All Golds), Chester Butler (Halifax), Danny Ansell (Hunslet), Sam Hopkins (Leigh), Michael Channing, Ben Evans, Dalton Grant, Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams (all London Broncos), Matty Barron (Newcastle Thunder), Joe Burke (Oldham), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale), Craig Kopczak (Salford, captain), Matty Fozard (Sheffield Eagles), Andrew Gay, Christiaan Roets (both South Wales Ironmen), Regan Grace, Morgan Knowles, Ben Morris (all St Helens), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton), Josh Ralph (Tweed Head Seagulls), Phil Joseph (Workington), Matty Seamark (Wynnum Manly Seagulls).
