Wales name strong roster for Canada and Argentina tests

Wales has named a strong roster for home test matches in July. The 2021 Six Nations champions will play host to Canada and Argentina. The matches come in the form of one against the North Americans and two against the South Americans.

Head Coach Wayne Pivac has named a 34-man roster. It contains both youth and experience. On the one hand, there is no shortage of names from the team which reached the Semi Finals of RWC 2019. On the other hand, there are five uncapped players.

Out of the series is Alun Wyn Jones. The Welsh captain will be in South Africa leading the British & Irish Lions. The Welsh captain’s armband will go to veteran center Jonathan Davies. He previously captained Wales against Italy in 2019.

The Welsh roster contains 19 forwards and 15 backs. 30 of the 34 players play their rugby in Wales. They do so for Cardiff, the Dragons, the Ospreys and the Scarlets. They are joined by four English-based players: Ioan Lloyd and Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) and Will Rowlands (Wasps).

Argentina’s roster will have a connection to Wales. Scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou plays for the Dragons while flanker Tomás  Lezana will join the Scarlets next season from the Western Force.

WALES ROSTER – JULY INTERNATIONALS

FORWARDS: Rhodri Jones (20 Caps), Nicky Smith (39 Caps), Gareth Thomas (uncapped), Elliot Dee (37 Caps), Ryan Elias (17 Caps), Sam Parry (4 Caps), Leon Brown (17 Caps), Tomas Francis (57 Caps), Dillon Lewis (28 Caps), Adam Beard (25 Caps), Ben Carter (uncapped), Cory Hill (32 Caps), Will Rowlands (7 Caps), Taine Basham (uncapped), James Botham (6 Caps), Ross Moriarty (45 Caps), Josh Navidi (28 Caps), Josh Turnbull (10 Caps), Aaron Wainwright (29 Caps).

BACKS: Kieran Hardy (4 Caps), Tomos Williams (22 Caps), Rhodri Williams (3 Caps), Callum Sheedy (9 Caps), Jarrod Evans (6 Caps), Jonathan Davies (88 Caps) (Cap), Willis Halaholo (4 Caps), Nick Tompkins (10 Caps), Ben Thomas (uncapped), Hallam Amos (23 Caps), Leigh Halfpenny (95 Caps), Jonah Holmes, Owen Lane (2 Caps), Ioan Lloyd (2 Caps), Tom Rogers (uncapped).

FIXTURES
July 03 – Wales vs Canada – Millennium Stadium (Cardiff)
July 10 – Wales vs Argentina – Millennium Stadium (Cardiff)
July 17 – Wales vs Argentina – Millennium Stadium (Cardiff)