International second row Luke Charteris will be joined by three rising stars from the region on Wales’ tour of the USA this summer.
Dan Lydiate, Lewis Evans and Jason Tovey have all been included in Caretaker Coach Robin McBryde’s 32-man squad for the two-test tour.
For Lydiate, today’s announcement was particularly significant, as he has battled back to fitness after sustaining a career-threatening neck injury 18 months ago in Perpignan.
Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner was very pleased both for the players and the region. “The selection of three of our young players for this tour demonstrates the potential we have in the region,” he said. “Jason has consistently performed at age grade level and Dan has battled very hard to get back to the great form he was showing before his injury.
“Lewis and Dan worked well as a unit both for the successful Under 21 Welsh side and also for the Dragons and I believe they will both be a strong addition to the squad.”
The announcement turns the heat up on this weekend’s game against Leinster as the Dragons are still fighting to avoid the Heineken Cup Playoff which would put all their players out of contention for the first test in the States.
“We are delighted for the players who have been selected,” said Dragons Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins “It is testament to the hard work put in by these four over the season. It is also recognition of our policy of giving youngsters opportunities. Let’s hope we can avoid the playoff and that these four will be available to tour.”
Wales Squad for USA
1 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 997)
2 Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS)
3 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
4 Gareth WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
5 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
6 Eifion LEWIS-ROBERTS (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,064)
7 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
8 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
9 Deiniol JONES (CARDIFF BLUES)
10 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
11 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
12 Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,032)
13 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,029)
14 Lewis EVANS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
15 Rob McCUSKER (SCARLETS)
17 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES)
18 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
19 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
20 Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY – Cap No 985)
21 Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,063)
22 Nicky ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,016)
23Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,059)
24 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
25 Jonathan SPRATT (OSPREYS)
26 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS)
27 Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
28 Richard MUSTOE (CARDIFF BLUES)
29 Tom JAMES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,055)
30 Chris CZEKAJ (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,038)
31 Gareth OWEN (OSPREYS)
32 Jason TOVEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
Dan Lydiate, Lewis Evans and Jason Tovey have all been included in Caretaker Coach Robin McBryde’s 32-man squad for the two-test tour.
For Lydiate, today’s announcement was particularly significant, as he has battled back to fitness after sustaining a career-threatening neck injury 18 months ago in Perpignan.
Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner was very pleased both for the players and the region. “The selection of three of our young players for this tour demonstrates the potential we have in the region,” he said. “Jason has consistently performed at age grade level and Dan has battled very hard to get back to the great form he was showing before his injury.
“Lewis and Dan worked well as a unit both for the successful Under 21 Welsh side and also for the Dragons and I believe they will both be a strong addition to the squad.”
The announcement turns the heat up on this weekend’s game against Leinster as the Dragons are still fighting to avoid the Heineken Cup Playoff which would put all their players out of contention for the first test in the States.
“We are delighted for the players who have been selected,” said Dragons Chief Executive Gethin Jenkins “It is testament to the hard work put in by these four over the season. It is also recognition of our policy of giving youngsters opportunities. Let’s hope we can avoid the playoff and that these four will be available to tour.”
Wales Squad for USA
1 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 997)
2 Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS)
3 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
4 Gareth WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
5 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
6 Eifion LEWIS-ROBERTS (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,064)
7 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
8 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
9 Deiniol JONES (CARDIFF BLUES)
10 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
11 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
12 Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,032)
13 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,029)
14 Lewis EVANS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
15 Rob McCUSKER (SCARLETS)
17 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES)
18 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
19 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
20 Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY – Cap No 985)
21 Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,063)
22 Nicky ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,016)
23Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,059)
24 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
25 Jonathan SPRATT (OSPREYS)
26 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS)
27 Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
28 Richard MUSTOE (CARDIFF BLUES)
29 Tom JAMES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,055)
30 Chris CZEKAJ (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,038)
31 Gareth OWEN (OSPREYS)
32 Jason TOVEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
