Ospreys pair Sam Cross and Owen Watkin are among nine players from the region named in Wales’ 36-man squad for the forthcoming autumn international series.
The duo are two of five uncapped players in the squad, along with Dragons pair Leon Brown and Elliot Dee, and Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets).
Led once again by captain Alun Wyn Jones the squad will face four consecutive autumn tests at Principality Stadium, kicking off against Australia on November 11.
With the two-year countdown and preparations for the 2019 Rugby World Cup fully underway, the squad features a further six players who made their international bow this summer in the victories over Tonga and Samoa (Wyn Jones, Seb Davies, Adam Beard, Aled Davies, Owen Williams and Steffan Evans).
Nine 2017 British & Irish Lions (Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams) are named for the series which will see Wales take on Georgia, World Champions New Zealand and South Africa on successive Saturdays following the series opener against Australia.
Experienced prop quartet Rob Evans, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis and Samson Lee feature alongside Brown and Jones.
Ken Owens and Kristian Dacey join Dee as the hooking options with Jake Ball and Cory Hill named as second-rows along with Beard, Davies and Jones.
Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi and Aaron Shingler join Cross, Faletau and Tipuric as Wales’ back-row options.
Gareth Davies, Webb and Aled Davies feature as the three scrum-halves.
Rhys Patchell and Rhys Priestland are also named along with Biggar and Williams. Tyler Morgan joins the centre options alongside Davies, Parkes and Watkin.
Hallam Amos and Alex Cuthbert will link up with Evans, Halfpenny and Williams as the back-three options.
“I’m really excited about this squad as we kick off the two year countdown to the 2019 RWC,” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.
“We see this series as an opportunity to expose some players to the Test environment and continue to build our game as we look ahead to two years’ time.
“This autumn is a lot different to 12 months ago, where the focus was all about rankings. We have selected five uncapped players, there are a further six who made their debuts on the summer tour so it is a big opportunity to see all these players in this environment and I’m looking forward to seeing what they are able to do.
“The important message for those players who have missed out; the door isn’t closed.”
WALES 2017 UNDER ARMOUR SERIES SQUAD
Forwards (20):
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (17 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (2 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (14 Caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons) (Uncapped)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (23 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (34 Cap)
Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues) (4 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (Uncapped)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (50 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (26 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (1 Cap)
Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (6 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (Capt) (110 Caps)
Sam Cross (Ospreys) (Uncapped)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby) (66 Caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys) (60 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (3 Caps)
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (10 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (51 Caps)
Backs (16):
Aled Davies (Scarlets) (2 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (25 Caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (28 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (56 Caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (4 Caps)
Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby) (48 Caps)
Owen Williams (Gloucester) (1 Cap)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (64 Caps)
Tyler Morgan (Dragons) (4 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (Uncapped)*
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (Uncapped)
Hallam Amos (Dragons) (11 Caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) (46 Caps)
Steffan Evans (Scarlets) (2 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (71 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (43 Caps)
For tickets to watch Wales play Australia, Georgia or South Africa visit www.wru.wales/tickets or contact your local club.
