Wales Confirm Roster to Tour USA and Argentina

Wales have confirmed their roster to tour the USA and Argentina. The Welsh are to play against South Africa in Washington D.C. on June 02 before playing two test matches in Argentina on June 09 and 16 respectively.

The tour is new for Head Coach Warren Gatland who is yet to have toured Argentina despite having coached Wales since 2008. The most recent Welsh tour to Argentina was back in 2006 with test matches taking place in Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires.

Since then Wales and Argentina have played six matches, all of which have been played in Cardiff. The Welsh have won five of these fixtures with Argentina’s one win being in November 2012 under Santiago Phelan.

When Wales toured Argentina in 2006 Los Pumas were coached by Marcelo Loffreda. He received tours in 2004 and 2006m, winning three of the four test matches.

For next month’s tour Gatland has appointed Cory Hill and Ellis Jenkins as his co-captains. Regular captain Sam Warburton has barely played all season since suffering a knee injury in December. Alun Wyn Jones led Wales in the Six Nations but also misses the tour.

There is room on the roster for veteran Luke Charteris. Both he and Tom Prydie return after lengthily absences for Gatland’s squad.

Not selected are Dan Evans, Jarrod Evans and Owen Lane, three players to have had impressive seasons. Meanwhile the fullback position is up in the air. Regulars Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny have both been rested by Gatland. As such Hallam Amosand New Zealand u20’s player Gareth Anscombe are the contenders.

Argentina’s roster is yet to be named. Los Pumas are to have European-Based players eligible for selection again for the first time since RWC 2015.

WALES
Forwards: Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies, Seb Davies, Luke Charteris, Cory Hill (co-capt.), James Davies, Ellis Jenkins (co-capt.), Ross Moriarty, Josh Navidi, Aaron Shingler

Backs: Aled Davies, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rhys Patchell, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Scott Williams, Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steff Evans, George North, Tom Prydie

FIXTURES
Saturday June 02 South Africa vs Wales, Washington D.C
Saturday June 09 Argentina vs Wales, San Juan
Saturday June 16 Argentina vs Wales, Santa Fé