1 month ago
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Uncapped pair Freddie Thomas and Blair Murray have been included in Wales' 35-strong squad for the autumn series in November.
New Zealand-born Scarlets wing Murray qualifies for Wales through his mother.
Gloucester lock Thomas has been capped by England at both under-18 and 20s level but has switched allegiance as he qualifies through his Welsh grandparents.
Head coach Warren Gatland has also given a shock recall to 31-year-old Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams, more than ten years after his last Wales cap.
Gareth Anscombe, Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers and Nicky Smith also return following international absences.
Wales kick off their three-Test campaign against Fiji in Cardiff on Sunday, 10 November before hosting Australia and world champions South Africa.
Aaron Wainwright is included despite not having played this season due to injury.
“This is an exciting squad with some experience coming back to join the younger players," said Gatland.
“We have three very different opposition in Fiji, Australia and South Africa, but are looking forward to the challenges that each will pose."
Dewi Lake retains the captaincy despite the return of Jac Morgan to the squad, after missing the summer tour to Australia through injury.
Gatland has been tracking Thomas, who qualifies for Wales through his Swansea grandparents, and is among five Gloucester players in the squad.
Half-backs Anscombe and Williams, Josh Hathaway and Llewellyn, who scored a hat-trick on Saturday, make up the Kingsholm contingent that outnumber those players from Dragons.
However scrum-half Rhodri Williams appears to have immediately benefitted from Gareth Davies’ decision to retire from international rugby earlier this week.
Williams won the last of his three caps against Scotland in the 2014 Six Nations.
Wales are without Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams, Dafydd Jenkins, Liam Williams and Elliott Dee through injury.
More to follow
Forwards: Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Christ Tshiunza, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Taine Plumtree, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs: Tomos Williams, Rhodri Williams, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow, Gareth Anscombe, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Max Llewellyn, Eddie James, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Blair Murray, Rio Dyer, Josh Hathaway, Tom Rogers, Cameron Winnett.
