Welsh coach Ruddock names three new caps

New Wales coach Mike Ruddock today named three uncapped players in his squad for next month's tour to Argentina and South Africa.

Llanelli Scarlets full-back Barry Davies has gained a place among the 33-man party, together with Newport Gwent Dragons forwards Peter Sidoli and Jason Forster.

There is also a recall for Leicester prop Darren Morris, more than two years after his last Test match appearance, while highly-rated young prospects such as wing Nathan Brew and fly-half Nicky Robinson also gain chances.

Ruddock, who recently took over the coaching reins from New Zealander Steve Hansen, has been hit by injuries for the three-Test trip.

More than a dozen players are sidelined, including Iestyn Harris, Stephen Jones, Martyn Williams and Robin McBryde, as Wales prepare to meet Argentina in Tucuman on June 12 and Buenos Aires seven days later, followed by South Africa in Pretoria on June 26.

Wales have a warm-up game before then, tackling the Barbarians at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate ground on Wednesday week.

The tour squad will be captained by back-row forward Colin Charvis as Ruddock faces his first major challenge in the coaching hot-seat.

Flanker Forster, aged 33, is one of six Dragons players selected by Ruddock, who coached the Gwent side to third place in this season’s Celtic League.

Forster, a former Wales sevens skipper, has been among the most consistent performers in Welsh rugby over recent seasons, but didn’t get a look-in during the Hansen era.

Lock Sidoli, the younger brother of injured Wales forward Robert, is also rewarded for outstanding Celtic League form, with full-back Davies’ call-up widely anticipated after an impressive campaign with Celtic league champions Llanelli.

Morris, whose career has got back on track following his move to Leicester, won the last of 15 Wales caps in November, 2001, just five months after he toured Australia with the Lions.

Morris’ fitness problems became a much-publicised issue in Wales, but Ruddock has monitored his progress with Leicester as he looks to shore up a suspect Welsh scrummage.

Veteran lock Gareth Llewellyn, meanwhile, has been selected, despite playing semi-professional league rugby with Swansea during the past two months.

Llewellyn, who could soon break Neil Jenkins’ Test record of 87 caps, saw his contract with the Ospreys cancelled earlier this season.