Warren Gatland and his fellow selectors have named six Dragons in the 45-man preliminary Rugby World Cup training squad from which 30 players will be chosen to mount Wales’ tournament challenge in New Zealand in September.
Gatland waited until the conclusion of this afternoon’s DHL International clash with the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium before finalising his training squad and he now has until 22nd August to reduce it further for the 2011 RWC campaign.
Following their performances against the Barbarians, Aled Brew, Lloyd Burns, Luke Charteris, Toby Faletau and Danny Lydiate have all been included, with Jason Tovey being added from the region to the back contingent.
Training will begin in earnest for many of those named at the WRU National Centre of Excellence, the Vale Resort, Hensol, from 13th June, although the rest period will be extended to the 20th June for certain players depending on individual needs and circumstances.
The training squad will then embark on two separate and bespoke training camps in Spala, Poland from 2nd July to 11th July and from 18th July to 26th July, with players again selected for these camps based on their individual training requirements.
Wales face England at Twickenham on Saturday 6th August (Kick-off 2.30pm) in the first of three remaining RWC warm-up matches. A week later they host Martin Johnson’s team at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 13th August, before taking on Argentina, again at home, on Saturday 20th August (both Kick-offs also 2.30pm).
Gatland’s final squad selection for 2011 RWC will be announced on Monday 22nd August, with the squad due to fly out to New Zealand on Wednesday 31st August.
Tickets remaining for the summer RWC warm-up fixture against England at the Millennium Stadium are priced from £40 and £30 for adults, £110 family ticket, with a new category introduced this season of £15 for the under 18s enclosure.
The final game on home soil before RWC against the Pumas is priced at £30 and £20 for adults, £70 for a family of four and £15 for the under 18s enclosure.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.wru.co.uk/ticketsor by calling the ticket hotline 08442 777 888.
FORWARDS:
Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets).
Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues).
Luke Charteris (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Lou Reed (Scarlets).
Gareth Delve (Melbourne Rebels), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate(Dragons), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Sam Warburton (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues).
BACKS:
Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues).
Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Jason Tovey (Dragons), James Hook (Perpigan).
Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Gavin Henson (Unattached), Jamie Roberts (Blues).
George North (Scarlets), Aled Brew (Dragons), Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys).
Lee Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).
