Dewi Lake named as Wales captain as three Ospreys named in tour squad

Wales have named their touring squad that will play two Test matches against the Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a fixture against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane.

Dewi Lake will captain the side with Gareth Thomas and Owen Watkin being the other two Ospreys named in the squad.

Three uncapped players are listed among the 19 forwards and 15 backs named today: hooker Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby) plus wingers Regan Grace (Bath Rugby) and Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby). 

Keiron Assiratti and Elliot Dee have been ruled out of the trip down under, Assiratti due to a back injury and Dee after failing to recover from an ankle injury sustained prior to Wales camp. Henry Thomas also misses out on selection as he continues to recover from a foot injury.

Gatland said: “I’m excited about this Wales squad. We know Australia is a tough place to go and play rugby, but we are relishing the challenge. 

“We’re expecting two fiercely contested Test matches down under and are also pleased to be able to play a third fixture against the Queensland Reds.

“We are focusing on getting better as a group. This is a young squad that’s still learning at this level. There are lots of positives and good things that we can build on from the weekend and there are also areas that we will be working hard to address over the next few weeks."

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Mae Prif Hyfforddwr Cymru, Warren Gatland wedi cadarnau ei garfan o 34 o chwaraewyr fydd yn teithio i Awstralia ar y 26ain o Fehefin.

Bydd Cymru’n chwarae dwy Gêm Brawf yn erbyn y Wallabies yn Sydney a Melbourne cyn cwblhau’r daith wrth wynebu’r Queensland Reds yn Brisbane.

Dewi Lake fydd yn gapten ar y garfan – sydd eisoes wedi ennill 597 o gapiau rhyngddynt ar y llwyfan rhyngwladol hyd yn hyn. 

Mae tri o chwaraewyr sydd eto i ennill cap wedi eu dewis yn y garfan – sy’n cynnwys 19 o flaenwyr a 15 olwr. Y bachwr Efan Daniel (Caerdydd) a’r asgellwyr Regan Grace (Caerfaddon) a Josh Hathaway (Caerloyw) yw’r tri hynny.

Mae anafiadau i gefn Keiron Assiratti a phigwrn Elliot Dee’n golygu na fyddan nhw’n teithio i Awstralia. Ni fydd Henry Thomas ar yr awyren chwaith wrth iddo barhau i wella o anaf i’w droed.

Dywedodd Warren Gatland: “Mae’r garfan yma’n fy nghyffroi.’Ry’n ni’n gwybod fod Awstralia’n lle anodd i fynd iddo i chwarae rygbi – ond ‘ry’n ni wir yn edrych ‘mlaen at y daith a’r her honno.

“Bydd y ddwy gêm brawf yn ffyrnig o gystadleuol ac ‘ry’n ni hefyd yn falch iawn o’r cyfle i allu chwarae trydedd gêm yn erbyn y Queensland Reds.

“Ry’n ni’n canolbwyntio ar wella a chryfhau fel grŵp. Mae’r garfan hon yn ifanc o hyd ac yn dal i ddysgu am chwarae ar y lefel yma. ‘Roedd llawer o agweddau cadarnhaol o’r gêm dros y penwythnos – ac fe allwn ni weithio’n galed iawn dros yr wythnosau nesaf i adeiladau ar y pethau positif hynny.”


WALES SQUAD FOR AUSTRALIA TOUR |   CARFAN CYMRU AR GYFER Y DAITH I AWSTRALIA

Forwards (19)

Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 10 caps)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 3 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 31 caps)
Efan Daniel (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 13 caps)
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 3 caps)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – 1 cap)
Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 57 caps)
Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau – 12 caps)
Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts – 32 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 17 caps)
Matthew Screech (Dragons / Dreigiau – 2 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 10 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 11 caps)
Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 4 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 3 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 18 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 49 caps)


Backs (15)

Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 1 cap)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 77 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 21 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 13 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 12 caps)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 1 cap)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 36 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Gweilch – 39 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 20 caps)
Regan Grace (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – uncapped / heb gap)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – uncapped / heb gap)
Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 90 caps)
Jacob Beetham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 1 cap)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 6 caps)