Ospreys reveal strong squad for South African tour

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: A 31-man touring squad departed Llandarcy Academy of Sport on Monday for a two-game Pro14 mini-tour to South Africa.

Dan Baker, Rhodri Jones, Dan Lydiate and Gareth Thomas return from injury to make the trip while Sam Parry is included following his loan spell at Bristol Bears.

The first destination is Bloemfontein, where the team faces Conference A rivals Cheetahs on Saturday.

The team travel to Cape Town the following day, which will be their training base until Thursday (April 11), when they head to Port Elizabeth for the first-ever visit to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, to play Southern Kings the following day.

After returning to Cape Town on Saturday, the travelling party head home to the UK overnight Sunday, when focus switches to the final game of the regular Pro14 season, the Judgement Day clash with Cardiff Blues on Saturday, April 27.

Ospreys travelling squad

Backs: Dan Evans, Tom Williams, Keelan Giles, Hanno Dirksen, Luke Morgan, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, James Hook, Owen Watkin, Cory Allen, Luke Price, Sam Davies, Matthew Aubrey, Aled Davies.

Forwards: Dan Lydiate, Sam Cross, Olly Cracknell, Dan Baker, James King, Justin Tipuric, Rob McCusker, Lloyd Ashley, Bradley Davies, Adam Beard, Ma’afu Fia, Tom Botha, Sam Parry, Scott Otten, Scott Baldwin, Rhodri Jones, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas.