McBryde selects pride of Wales (Wales Tour Squad)

[Cymro]

Ryan Jones will captain Robin McBryde's Wales team to tour Canada and USA this summer and leads a squad which could include up to seven uncapped players.
Wales caretaker coach McBryde has today named a squad of 32, but those selected from the Scarlets or the Dragons will miss out on the tour – although remaining behind on standby - allowing them to play for their region in the Heineken Cup 24th qualification play-off match, scheduled for the same day as the first Test on tour against Canada.

The Ospreys region supply three players making senior squad debuts in prop Craig Mitchell, centre Jonathan Spratt and full-back Gareth Owen – with all three having figured in the Principality Premiership this season for Neath as well as the Ospreys. Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones and Dan Biggar all return to the fold, with stalwarts Ian Gough, James Hook and Andrew Bishop all retained.

Eight players from the Wales U20 squads in the last two seasons have made the squad:

2008: Sam Warburton, Josh Turnbull (Six Nations, JWC), Jason Tovey (+2009), Jonathan Davies, Gareth Owen and Dan Biggar (already capped) were all in the same Wales Under 20 side as Leigh Halfpenny last season, helping Wales to the last four of the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship in Wales (Warburton was skipper).

2007: Dan Lydiate and Lewis Evans were two of the Wales Under 20 backrow two seasons ago, along with Tom James and Bradley Davies who will also travel to North America.

2006: Craig Mitchell played for Wales Under 21 in 2006, in the same side as current tourists Chris Czekaj, Andrew Bishop and James Hook, and Lions squad members Jamie Roberts and Alun-Wyn Jones.

2005: Jonathan Spratt captained Wales Under 19 at the 2005 IRB Under 19 World Championship. Rob McCusker has earned representative honours for Wales Sevens in the IRB Sevens World Series over the past few seasons.

http://www.wru.co.uk/20655.php or http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...lsh/8042686.stm

WALES 2009 TOUR SQUAD

Duncan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 997)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs
International record: 52 caps (W 23, L 27, D 2)

Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS)
DoB: 03.05.86. 6'1" / 1.85m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs
International record: Uncapped

Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 1, L 6)

Gareth WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 19.12.78. 5'8". 15st 4lbs
International record: 5 caps (L 5)

John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 10, L 2)

Eifion LEWIS-ROBERTS (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,064)
DoB: 13.02.81. 6'1" / 1.86m. 21st 3lbs / 135kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1)

Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6'6" / 1.98m. 18st 1lb / 115kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 2)

Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6' 6" / 1.98m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 27, L 29, D 3; 5 pts - 1T)

Deiniol JONES (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 18.11.77. 6'5". 16st 0lbs
International record: 5 caps (W 4, L 1)

Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6'9" / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 7, L 6)

Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6'3" / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 39 caps (W 17, L 22; 10 pts – 2T)

Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,032)
DoB: 09.06.82. 6'1" / 1.86m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 3, L 3)

Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 31 caps (W 17, L 13, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

Lewis EVANS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 09.07.87. 6'3" / 1.91m. 16st 10lbs / 106kgs
International record: Uncapped

Rob McCUSKER (SCARLETS)
DoB: 12.10.85. 1.95m / 6'4". 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: Uncapped

Josh TURNBULL (SCARLETS)
DoB: 12.03.88. 1.93m / 6'4". 15st 8lbs / 99kgs
International record: Uncapped

Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6'2". 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: Uncapped

Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6'4". 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: Uncapped

Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 67 caps (W 30, L 35, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)

Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY – Cap No 985)
DoB: 07.05.79. 5'7" / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 40 caps (W 18, L 22; 40 pts – 8T)

Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,063)
DoB: 16.10.89. 6'2" / 1.88m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1; 9 pts – 3C, 1PG)

Nicky ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,016)
DoB: 03.01.82. 6'1". 14st 7lb
International record: 12 caps (W 6, L 6; 28 pts – 2T, 3PG, 3C, 1DG)

Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,059)
DoB: 07.08.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 4 caps (W 3, L 1)

James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 33 caps (W 14, L 18, D 1; 209 pts – 6T,34C,35PG,2DG)

Jonathan SPRATT (OSPREYS)
DoB: 28.04.86. 6'2" / 1.88m. 16st 1lb / 102kgs
International record: Uncapped

Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6'1" / 1.86m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs
International record: Uncapped

Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 21, L 23, D 2; 60 pts – 12T)

Richard MUSTOE (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 09.12.81. 6'1" / 1.85m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: Uncapped

Tom JAMES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,055)
DoB: 17.04.87. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 1lb / 96kgs
International record: 3 caps (L 3)

Chris CZEKAJ (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,038)
DoB: 14.12.85. 6'3" / 1.91m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 1, L 5; 5 pts – 1T)

Gareth OWEN (OSPREYS)
DoB: 05.11.88. 6'0" / 1.82m. 13st 12lbs / 88kgs
International record: Uncapped

Jason TOVEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
DoB: 28.04.89. 5'11" / 1.80m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: Uncapped

http://www.wru.co.uk/20655.php

WALES 2009 TOUR SQUAD

Duncan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 997)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs
International record: 52 caps (W 23, L 27, D 2)

Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS)
DoB: 03.05.86. 6'1" / 1.85m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs
International record: Uncapped

Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 1, L 6)

Gareth WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 19.12.78. 5'8". 15st 4lbs
International record: 5 caps (L 5)

John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 10, L 2)

Eifion LEWIS-ROBERTS (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,064)
DoB: 13.02.81. 6'1" / 1.86m. 21st 3lbs / 135kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1)

Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6'6" / 1.98m. 18st 1lb / 115kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 2)

Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6' 6" / 1.98m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 27, L 29, D 3; 5 pts - 1T)

Deiniol JONES (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 18.11.77. 6'5". 16st 0lbs
International record: 5 caps (W 4, L 1)

Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6'9" / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 7, L 6)

Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6'3" / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 39 caps (W 17, L 22; 10 pts – 2T)

Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,032)
DoB: 09.06.82. 6'1" / 1.86m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 3, L 3)

Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 31 caps (W 17, L 13, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

Lewis EVANS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 09.07.87. 6'3" / 1.91m. 16st 10lbs / 106kgs
International record: Uncapped

Rob McCUSKER (SCARLETS)
DoB: 12.10.85. 1.95m / 6'4". 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: Uncapped

Josh TURNBULL (SCARLETS)
DoB: 12.03.88. 1.93m / 6'4". 15st 8lbs / 99kgs
International record: Uncapped

Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6'2". 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: Uncapped

Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6'4". 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: Uncapped

Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 67 caps (W 30, L 35, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)

Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY – Cap No 985)
DoB: 07.05.79. 5'7" / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 40 caps (W 18, L 22; 40 pts – 8T)

Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,063)
DoB: 16.10.89. 6'2" / 1.88m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1; 9 pts – 3C, 1PG)

Nicky ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,016)
DoB: 03.01.82. 6'1". 14st 7lb
International record: 12 caps (W 6, L 6; 28 pts – 2T, 3PG, 3C, 1DG)

Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,059)
DoB: 07.08.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 4 caps (W 3, L 1)

James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 33 caps (W 14, L 18, D 1; 209 pts – 6T,34C,35PG,2DG)

Jonathan SPRATT (OSPREYS)
DoB: 28.04.86. 6'2" / 1.88m. 16st 1lb / 102kgs
International record: Uncapped

Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6'1" / 1.86m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs
International record: Uncapped

Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 21, L 23, D 2; 60 pts – 12T)

Richard MUSTOE (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 09.12.81. 6'1" / 1.85m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: Uncapped

Tom JAMES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,055)
DoB: 17.04.87. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 1lb / 96kgs
International record: 3 caps (L 3)

Chris CZEKAJ (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,038)
DoB: 14.12.85. 6'3" / 1.91m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 1, L 5; 5 pts – 1T)

Gareth OWEN (OSPREYS)
DoB: 05.11.88. 6'0" / 1.82m. 13st 12lbs / 88kgs
International record: Uncapped

Jason TOVEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS
DoB: 28.04.89. 5'11" / 1.80m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: Uncapped

 

[Sir Speedy]

Hurray. Totally youth team for the win.

 

[Cymro]

Craig Mitchell and Rob McCusker are the shock players going, seeing as both have played the majority of rugby for Welsh Premiership sides Neath and Llandovery respectively. I presume Bearman aint selected because he is not qualified for Wales yet.

 

[Thingimubob]

yeah I heard that Bearman is still a month or two away from being able to represent Wales.
One question though, where the hell is Richard Fussell?! He's one of the form wings in Wales, and he's been left out... Suprised at Czekaj, he's barely played for the Blues this season (though had a decent game against Munster yesterday). Glad that Dan Lydiate is in teh squad, I;ve been impressed by his performances for the Dragons this season.
My Starting 22's would be:

Without Scarlets: Without Dragons:
15. Jason Tovey 15. Gareth Owen
14. Chris Czekaj 14. Mark Jones
13. Jonathan Spratt 13. Jonathan Davies
12. James Hook 12. James Hook
11. Tom James 11. Tom James
10. Nicky Robinson 10. Nicky Robinson
9. Dwayne Peel 9. Dwayne Peel
8. Ryan Jones 8. Ryan Jones
7. Robin Sowden-Taylor 7. Robin Sowden Taylor
6. Sam Warburton 6. Sam Warburton
5. Luke Charteris 5. Ian Gough
4. Bradley Davies 4. Bradley Davies
3. John Yapp 3. John Yapp
2. Gareth Williams 2. Gareth Williams
1. Duncan Jones 1. Duncan Jones
Replacements Replacements
16. Richard Hibbard 16. Richard Hibbard
17. Eifion Roberts 17. Eifion Roberts
18. Ian Gough 18. Deiniol Jones
19. Dan Lydiate 19. Dafydd Jones
20. Gareth Cooper 20. Gareth Cooper
21. Dan Biggar 21. Dan Biggar
22. Gareth Owen 22. Jonathan Spratt

I'm hoping that the Scarlets get the play off (sorry Speedy), because I want to see the Dragons youngsters (especially Tovey) in action for Wales.
S4C said they'll have live coverage of the USA vs Wales game in Chicago, but I didn't hear them say anything about the match against Canada? Are the BBC covering that one, or is it not being covered at all? I'd have thought it would be because it's usually the bigger match.

 

[dullonien]

Good squad, but I'm surprised by a few omissions. Richard Fussell and Gareth Delve, why aren't they on this tour? The only sensible reason for not having Fussell is because Czekaj can cover full-back (as he showed against Munster), but I would have left Mark Jones behind and told him to become more involved in games for the Scarlets and score more try's. Won't really matter as Tom James will be the star of this tour, he'll rip them to shreds!

Thingymubob's teams look good to me, though I'd have Eifion at 3 in front of Yapp (Yapp's not a good enough scrummager to play tight-head for Wales yet) and I'd probably start Warberton at 7, with Dafydd Jones at 6 to see if Jones can rekindle some of the world class form he showed all those years ago. He's only had opportunities at 7 for Wales recently, and we all know he's a blindside! We also need to blood a new 7 to eventually replace Martynand we already know Sowden-Taylor isn't good enough. Maybe Warberton's eventual position will be 6, with Ben Lewis at 7, but untill Lewis recovers from injury, Warberton has the quality to be a very good openside.

Deiniol Jones might also be the one to parter Bradley Davies, both have been in top form for the Blues, and I'm still not convinced by Charteris. I was surprised to learn that Charteris is just about 20st (19st 12lbs), he doesn't use this weight enough for my likeing.

All in all though, happy with the squad, it's nice to see so many quality youngsters involved, should set us up nicely for the future.

 

[Thingimubob]

I haven't seen much of Warburton at 7, though he's played there quite a bit for the Wanderers this season I think. I do remember seeing him score a class chip and chase try (against Llanelli in the Swalec Cup I think) a couple of weeks ago. But for me, Sowden-Taylor is the nearing thing to a Martyn-mold player we've got, so he'll have to do for now, untill Ben Lewis is back.
Main reason I didn't Deiniol Jones and Bradley Davies together is because they fell apart a bit in the line out against Leicester, so I thought it might be worth partnering Davies with someone like Charteris. It might have been a one off thing in the Leicester game, especially with Tom Croft's performance, so it might be worth starting them together since they are solid performers.
Ah to be fair to Mark Jones, he's one of few Scarlets who seem to actually but 100% into his game, though his try-drought at International Level is worrying so that counts against him. I'd like him on this tour so there's an experienced head in the back three, but I'd prefer Fussell.

 

[dullonien]

Solid reasoning there, can't argue with any of that. Warberton can play anywhere in the back-row, 6 is probably his best position, so I'd be happy to see him paired with Sowden-Taylor and Ryan Jones (has the making of a very well balanced unit).

I feel Charteris has the potential to be a world class second row, I just feel he's a bit like Michael Owen, lacking on the aggression front, though he shouldn't with his size. I suppose pairing him with one of Bradley Davies, Deiniol Jones or Ian Gough (wow, there's great strength in depth at second row, Ian Evans aswell when he recovers!), should provide the agression. This is the kinda tour that will hopefully kick his progress on, saying that, he will probably miss out due to the playoff with the Dragons .

Mark Jones has really frustrated me in recent years, he has the skills to be a great all round player. He's excellent defensively and has bags of pace, he just seems to fall over too often! Fussell was probably a casualty of the play-off situation though, with the management wanting to keep it to 5 players from both the Dragons and Scarlets.

I'm quite looking forward to this tour, haven't had this kinda young talent coming through in my lifetime .

 

[cyRil]

30th May - Lions first warm up, Wales test, BaaBaas, FA Cup final... I'm gonna be 'ammered!!!

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 12 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

30th May - Lions first warm up, Wales test, BaaBaas, FA Cup final... I'm gonna be 'ammered!!! [/b]

And I'll be revising for my History exam <_< woo...

 

[Sir Speedy]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ May 12 2009, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 12 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

30th May - Lions first warm up, Wales test, BaaBaas, FA Cup final... I'm gonna be 'ammered!!! [/b]

And I'll be revising for my History exam <_< woo...
[/b][/quote]
And I'll be not revising for my maths exam.
Procrastination ftw!

 

[Cymro]

Apparently Delve declined to Tour. Also where is Ceri Jones, a crime not to be selected and so Phil John

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Am I allowed to say that I hadn't heard of Craig Mitchell, despite being an Ospreys supporter?