Nine newbies in Wales squad
Wales have added nine uncapped players to their 47-man training squad as they begin preparations for the 2015 World Cup which includes 25 forwards and 22 backs.
All 12 players on National Dual Contracts have been named in the extensive squad as the players embark on an intensive preparation regime before the final 31-man World Cup squad is announced on August 31.
Gethin Jenkins will be aiming to feature in a fourth World Cup for his country and is named as one of eight props along with Scarlets trio Rob Evans, Rhodri Jones and Samson Lee, Ospreys pair Nicky Smith and Aaron Jarvis, Paul James and the uncapped Tomas Francis.
Richard Hibbard, Ken Owens, Scott Baldwin and Kristian Dacey are the four hookers.
Wales' second row contingent from the 2015 Six Nations, Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies are all included along with the uncapped pair of Bath lock Dominic Day and Wales Under-20 captain Rory Thornton. Thornton, who has previously trained with the national side will link up with the squad following the conclusion of his U20 commitments.
Captain Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau who all featured in the 2011 World Cup are included along with Osprey trio James King, Dan Baker and Justin Tipuric as well as uncapped Gloucester flank Ross Moriarity.
There are four uncapped players included in the backs with Gareth Anscombe, Newport Dragons' pair Jack Dixon and Tyler Morgan and Ospreys wing Eli Walker all named.
At scrumhalf, Six Nations squad members Gareth Davies, Mike Phillips and Rhys Webb are joined by the recalled Lloyd Williams.
Elsewhere Dan Biggar, Rhys Priestland, Rhys Patchell, James Hook and Matthew Morgan are all included along with centres Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams and Cory Allen.
European Champions Cup winner Leigh Halfpenny, Six Nations squad members Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, George North and Liam Williams, are joined by the recalled, Cardiff Blues bound wing, Tom James.
"As a coaching team we are extremely happy with the blend of the squad, in terms of the experience, we are able to include as well as the young talent that has really impressed us.
"The easy part for the players has been done in terms of being selected, the hard work will begin from day one with a huge schedule of preparation ahead of them.
"The players will face a tough couple of months of intensive training as we will be taking them to Switzerland, Qatar and Poland and I can assure everyone they are no holiday camps.
"We put a lot of emphasis on conditioning and preparation in 2011, which worked well for us, and we are looking to step that up again this time. The 47 players all have the opportunity to make that 31-man party and I'm sure they will all be eager to feature in a World Cup on these shores.
"We believe the longer we are together the better we perform and this preparation will give us every opportunity to be at our best come World Cup," said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland
Following individually tailored rest periods, the squad will begin to meet up for initial conditioning training at the WRU National Centre of Excellence from June 15.
They will then embark on the first of three intensive training camps in Switzerland from July 1-15. The players will then head to Doha on July 20 for further bespoke training for nine days. The squad will return to prepare for the first Test against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium (Saturday, August 8), before three days training in North Wales. They will then return to Spala for seven nights on August 16, ahead of the return warm-up fixture in Dublin against Ireland on August 29.
Warren Gatland and his fellow selectors will then whittle down the squad to the 31 players – who will contest the 2015 World Cup on August 31.
Wales will then play a final Test against Italy, at the Millennium Stadium, on Saturday September 5.
Wales Training Squad:
Forwards: Rob Evans, Tomas Francis, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis, Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Samson Lee, Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Kristian Dacey, Richard Hibbard, Ken Owens, Jake Ball, Luke Charteris, Dominic Day, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Rory Thornton, Dan Baker, Taulupe Faletau, James King, Dan Lydiate, Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton.
Backs: Gareth Davies, Mike Phillips, Rhys Webb, Lloyd Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, James Hook, Matthew Morgan, Rhys Patchell, Rhys Priestland, Cory Allen, Jack Dixon, Tyler Morgan, Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams, Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny, Tom James, George North, Eli Walker, Liam Williams.
