New Wales coach Wayne Pivac names his first squad

New Wales coach Wayne Pivac has named a 35-man squad to prepare for his first fixture in charge against the Barbarians at Principality Stadium on November 30.

Wales face the BaaBaas as part of a double-header with Wales women and Pivac has selected a squad that includes 22 players who featured at the recent World Cup as well as five uncapped players.

The game isn’t a capped international but Taine Basham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Willis Halaholo, Ashton Hewitt and Johnny McNicholl will all hope to pull on the red national jersey for the first time.

“It is great to get the squad announced and get the ball rolling on our first meet-up and first fixture next week,” said Pivac, who has taken over from fellow Kiwi Warren Gatland after his twelve-year stint in charge.

“This Barbarians game is a great chance for us as a new squad and management to get together and to set the scene for what we are looking to do. Having this opportunity ahead of tournament rugby in the Six Nations is ideal for us.

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“It is also a great chance for some players to really put their hand up and show what they are about and take to the field in front of a big crowd at home.

“We will be bringing a few additional players in to train with the squad during the week, just to see them in the environment and will also be bringing some of the injured players in for some of the scene-setting style sessions.”

The squad features 20 forwards and 15 backs, with the front row contingent consisting of Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Samson Lee and Dillon Lewis. RWC squad members Jake Ball, Adam Beard and Bradley Davies are all named alongside Seb Davies as the second row options.

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Back rows Basham and Lewis-Hughes are joined by Ollie Griffiths and the experienced quartet of Ross Moriarty, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric and Aaron Wainwright.

All three World Cup scrum-halves – Aled Davies, Gareth Davies and Tomos Williams – feature in the squad alongside fly-halves Sam Davies and Jarrod Evans.

Halaholo is named as one of the centres in the squad alongside Hadleigh Parkes and Owen Watkin. Other backline selections in addition to Hewitt and McNicholl include Josh Adams, Hallam Amos, Steff Evans, Owen Lane and Leigh Halfpenny.

WALES SQUAD (v Barbarians, November 30)

Forwards:

Elliot Dee (Dragons) (29 Caps)

Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (9 Caps)

Ken Owens (Scarlets) (73 Caps)

Rob Evans (Scarlets) (36 Caps)

Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (22 Caps)

Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (35 Caps)

Leon Brown (Dragons) (6 Caps)

Samson Lee (Scarlets) (41 Caps) 

Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (22 Caps)

Jake Ball (Scarlets) (42 Caps)

Adam Beard (Ospreys) (20 Caps)

Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (66 Caps)

Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps)

Taine Basham (Dragons) (Uncapped)

Ollie Griffiths (Dragons) (1 Cap)

Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues) (Uncapped)

Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (41 Caps)

Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (26 Caps)

Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (72 Caps)

Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (18 Caps)

Backs: 

Aled Davies (Ospreys) (20 Caps)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (51 Caps)

Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (16 Caps)

Sam Davies (Dragons) (8 Caps)

Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues) (3 Caps)

Willis Halaholo (Cardiff Blues) (Uncapped)

Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (25 Caps)

Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (22 Caps)

Owen Lane (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)

Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (21 Caps)

Steff Evans (Scarlets) (13 Caps)

Ashton Hewitt (Dragons) (Uncapped)

Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets) (Uncapped)

Hallam Amos (Cardiff Blues) (22 Caps)

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (85 Caps)

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