Trio called up for Wales

Fury, Delve and Bishop get their chance

Last updated: 14th May 2008

Andrew Bishop vLeicester

Bishop: Called up to tour South Africa

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Wales coach Warren Gatland has included three uncapped players in his squad to tour South Africa in the summer.

The RBS Six Nations champions are due to face the World Cup winning Springboks on June 7 in Bloemfontein and then in Pretoria seven days later.

And Wales will head to South Africa with new face Warren Fury - part of the London Irish side that reached the Heineken Cup semi-finals - and Andy Williams battling it out with Gloucester's Gareth Cooper for the scrum-half shirt.

Uncapped Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop is also included in the squad, while Cardiff lock Bradley Davies will also look to win his first cap.

"This is a great chance for some of the younger guys," Gatland said.

"And for a number of the players chosen it is about what I've heard about them and Bradley and Andrew are thought of very highly.

"I also worked with Warren during our Wasps days and I know what a good kid he is."

Future

Lee Byrne, Dwayne Peel, Martyn Williams, Gavin Henson and Mike Phillips are all missing through injury, while Robin Sowden-Taylor and Ben Lewis have also been ruled out of the trip, meaning that Wales are without a specialist openside flanker.

Jonathan Thomas and Dafydd Jones, both more accustomed to life on the blindside, will be asked to fill the gap - with Gatland resisting the temptation to recall Colin Charvis.

"It wasn't a close decision," said Gatland.

"We had looked at the possibility of bringing back Colin as a short-term fill but this tour is about the future and it has given us the chance to call some younger guys into the squad to develop them.

"We feel we can cover the number seven jersey by moving Jonathan Thomas from blindside to openside flanker and including Dafydd Jones in the squad."

Wales will also lack experience at full-back with Llanelli's Morgan Stoddart and Cardiff's Jamie Roberts having won just one cap each.

Wales - Backs: M Stoddart (Llanelli Scarlets), A Bishop (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues), M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), S Parker (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), J Hook (Ospreys), A Williams (Newport Gwent Dragons), W Fury (London Irish), G Cooper (Gloucester).
Forwards: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), H Bennett (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), G Delve (Gloucester), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Comments

Chris Woodward says...

With the absence of a recognised openside for this tour perhaps it's now time to look at how many over sea's backrow players we have playing in our regions and reduce them to bring on our own grown players. with martyn williams out we now have no other options? perhaps we could look at our under 21's openside stepping up.

Posted 14:45 18th May 2008

Rhys Williams says...

must be doing something right this has to be the the best side ever to go on tour come on the boys!!!!

Posted 23:19 15th May 2008

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