Jenkins opts for youthful squad

GARETH Jenkins has left Colin Charvis out of his squad to tour Argentina next month but insisted the former Wales captain still had an international future.

The exclusion came amid speculation concerning Charvis’ future beyond this summer at Newcastle.

Newly installed Wales coach Jenkins named a 28-man squad for the two-Test trip to South America in June.

The selected players boast an average age of 24 and will be captained by Ospreys prop Duncan Jones.

But the name of 33-year-old back-row forward Charvis, who has won 84 caps, was nowhere to be seen in the squad or among the list of injured players, those undergoing rehabilitation or simply being rested.

Other big-names not on the list included Gloucester’s grand slam-winning hooker Mefin Davies, 33, and 30-year-old Llanelli Scarlets wing Dafydd James.

Jenkins said: “I have spoken to Colin, Dafydd and Mefin and these players we know plenty about.

“We know them inside out and they have an opportunity to rest and recharge themselves.”

The squad contains five uncapped players — Ospreys’ Richard Hibbard, Ian Evans, James Hook and Alun Wyn Jones plus Newport Gwent Dragon Rhys Thomas — along with another five who boast just 10 caps between them.

Jenkins said: “When I came into the job, I realised there were 16 games between now and the World Cup, the first two being Argentina away. This season was a challenge because of the amount of players unavailable to the team.

“My first role, therefore, was to sit down with the support team and the medical people to find out about our players who are rehabilitating, injured or needed the summer to bring themselves back up to peak form. So, when I looked at the young players who were available and, on top of the players we are leaving out of it completely, I was pretty pleased.

“I’m able to take a 28-man squad with an average age of 24. It’s a pretty positive squad and I’m excited. If you look at that squad, there’s a team there who could be competitive in Argentina.”

Wales will play their first ever Test in Patagonia, the Welsh colony in Argentina, on June 11 before tackling the Pumas again in Buenos Aires on June 17.

Without regular skipper Gareth Thomas, who is still recovering from a damaged neck artery, and rested vice-captain Michael Owen, Jones has been handed the lead role for the South American trip.

Jenkins has great faith in his 27-cap front-row man, and said: “He has the form and experience and respect of the squad so it’s a great opportunity for Duncan.”