Uncapped Ospreys pair start for Wales

Wales head coach Robin McBryde has selected five uncapped players, including Keelan Giles and Adam Beard, in his starting line-up for the pre-tour training match against RGC 1404 on Friday.

The Ospreys pair are joined in the fifteen by Liberty Stadium colleagues Sam Davies and Nicky Smith. 

Cory Allen, who has signed a two-year deal with the Ospreys from next season, starts on the wing.

McBryde, heading up the coaching team for the June Tests agaist Samoa and Tonga said:

Friday night’s match will give us a perfect chance to give certain players an opportunity and see new combinations working together ahead of the tour.

“Some players need to prove fitness and form and this week’s training camp, along with the match is the ideal opportunity to do that.

“We are grateful to RGC for the match and to Conwy Council for the opportunity to train and play at the fantastic Parc Eirias facilities. We have such a warm welcome whenever we come to North Wales so to be able to play a training match against the Cup winners in front of a big, enthusiastic crowd will give the players a tremendous boost before travelling to the southern hemisphere." 

The rest of the squad features on the bench including Ospreys hooker, Scott Otten, who has been added to the training group.


Wales team v RGC 1404, Friday 2 June,  7pm, Parc Eirias (players will be wearing their squad numbers, indicated below):

Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues, 32); Keelan Giles (Ospreys 29), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons 27), Jamie Roberts (capt, Harlequins 24), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues 25); Sam Davies (Ospreys 22), Aled Davies (Scarlets 21); Nicky Smith (Ospreys 1), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues 6), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs 4), Adam Beard (Ospreys 10), Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons 11), Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues 14), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues 17), Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons 16).

Replacements from:

Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues 2), Wyn Jones (Scarlets 3), Rhodri Jones (Ospreys 5), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys 33), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys 7), Ryan Elias (Scarlets 8), Scott Otten (Ospreys 9), Rory Thornton (Ospreys 12), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues 13), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets 15), Thomas Young (Wasps 18), Gareth Davies (Scarlets 19), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues 20), Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers 23), Scott Williams (Scarlets 26), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues 28), Steffan Evans (Scarlets 30), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets 31)