Gatland announces Wales training squad ahead of tough summer matches

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Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland has named his training squad ahead of matches against South Africa and Australia this summer.

The Welsh squad is coming off a difficult Six Nations, in which they finished bottom with no wins, despite showing some moments of promise.

They have a chance to show signs of improvement against reigning World Cup champions South Africa on June 22 at Twickenham, before heading to Australia for two matches against the Wallabies.

Gatland has called-up former Newbridge man Elliot Dee, as well as his Dragons teammate Matthew Screech, formerly of Bedwas RFC.

Former Risca RFC winger Rio Dyer, who plays for the Dragons, will also travel with the squad as he looks to add to his 19 caps.

The squad:

Forwards:

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)
Elliot Dee (Dragons)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys)
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby)
Sam Parry (Ospreys)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby)
Dillon Lewis (Harlequins)
Harri O’Connor (Scarlets)
Henry Thomas (Castres Olympique)
Ben Carter (Dragons)
Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs)
Matthew Screech (Dragons)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

Backs:

Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys)
Rio Dyer (Dragons)
Keelan Giles (Ospreys)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby)
Liam Williams (Kubota Spears)
Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)

Speaking after the squad announcement, Gatland said: “We’ve selected a bigger squad because we don’t have the English club-based players available for the South Africa match. So we will be reducing the squad from 36 to 34 players for Australia.

“I think everyone appreciates and realises we’re building towards 2027. There were moments during the Six Nations where we played some really good rugby and put the opposition teams under some pressure, but we probably weren’t accurate enough.

“It’s about playing for longer periods, putting halves together and putting an 80-minute performance together which ultimately gives you confidence and gives you that opportunity to win games.

“We need to build on that. We need to keep working hard. We’ve got some experience to come back into the squad and some exciting players which is good.”