NZ-born duo included in Pivac's Wales squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has named a 35-man squad to prepare for his first fixture in charge against the Barbarians at Principality Stadium on November 30.
The game isn’t a capped international but Taine Basham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ashton Hewitt and New Zealand-born duo Johnny McNicholl and Willis Halaholo will all be hoping to pull on the red national jersey for the first time a week on Saturday.
The squad features 20 forwards and 15 backs with the front row contingent consisting of Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Samson Lee and Dillon Lewis.
World Cup squad members Jake Ball, Adam Beard and Bradley Davies are all named alongside Seb Davies as the second row options.
Loose forwards Basham and Lewis-Hughes are joined by Ollie Griffiths and the experienced quartet of Ross Moriarty, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright.
All three of Wales’ World Cup scrumhalves Aled Davies, Gareth Davies and Tomos Williams feature in the squad alongside flyhalves Sam Davies and Jarrod Evans.
Halaholo is named as one of the centres in the squad alongside Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Watkin. Backline selections in addition to Hewitt and McNicholl also include Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steff Evans, Owen Lane and Leigh Halfpenny.
On announcing his first Wales squad, Pivac said: "It is great to get the squad announced and get the ball rolling on our first meet-up and first fixture next week.
"This Barbarians game is a great chance for us as a new squad and management to get together and to set the scene for what we are looking to do. Having this opportunity ahead of tournament rugby in the Six Nations is ideal for us.
"It is also a great chance for some players to really put their hand up and show what they are about and take to the field in front of a big crowd at home.
"We will be bringing a few additional players in to train with the squad during the week, just to see them in the environment and will also be bringing some of the injured players in for some of the scene-setting style sessions."
Wales squad:
Forwards: Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies, Seb Davies, Taine Basham (Uncapped), Ollie Griffiths, Shane Lewis-Hughes (Uncapped), Ross Moriarty, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Wainwright.
Backs: Aled Davies, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Sam Davies, Jarrod Evans, Willis Halaholo (Uncapped), Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Owen Lane, Josh Adams, Steff Evans, Ashton Hewitt (Uncapped), Johnny McNicholl (Uncapped), Hallam Amos, Leigh Halfpenny.
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