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Wales call up a second uncapped tighthead to tour South Africa

(Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Uncapped Scarlets prop Harri O’Connor has been called up to the Wales squad for next month’s South Africa tour. It means that Wales head coach Wayne Pivac will now take 34 players to the southern hemisphere, adding 21-year-old O’Connor to his original squad selection.

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O’Connor was born in North Yorkshire, but he qualifies for Wales through his father who is from Bonymaen. Saracens prop Sam Wainwright, who is also uncapped, was named earlier this month as a squad replacement for an injured Leon Brown. Wales face three Tests against the world champion Springboks, starting in Pretoria on July 2.

A WRU statement read: “Thirty-four players will now travel to South Africa for the three-Test series in July. O’Connor has graduated from the Welsh exiles programme having previously been part of the Bath academy.

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“He studied at Llandovery College and played for Scarlets U18 before playing for Wales U18 and was also capped at U20s level. O’Connor began his rugby journey at Dorchester before being spotted by Dorset & Wilts for county matches and then moved into the Bath academy aged 15.

“The 21-year-old gained experience in the English Championship last season with Nottingham and made his first competitive start for the Scarlets against the Ospreys on New Year’s Day this year.”

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The inclusion of O’Connor means there are now four uncapped players in the tour party, tighthead pair O’Connor and Wainwright, along with back-rowers James Ratti of Cardiff and Leicester’s Tommy Reffell, a Gallagher Premiership title winner last Saturday at Twickenham.

WALES (revised squad for South Africa)
Forwards (20)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 43 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 10 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 27 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 64 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 38 caps)
Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – uncapped)
Sam Wainwright (Saracens – uncapped)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 34 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 6 caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 150 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons – 18 caps)
Taine Basham (Dragons – 10 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 89 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys – 65 caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby – 30 caps)
James Ratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – uncapped)

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Backs (14)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 11 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 33 caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 100 caps) Captain
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)
George North (Ospreys – 102 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 20 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 31 caps)
Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 5 caps
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 39 caps)
Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 51 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 16 caps)
Liam Williams (Scarlets – 78 caps)

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C
CO 12 minutes ago
Forget Ireland, the All Blacks face the real alpha of Europe next

I cannot believe that you don't think the French rugby team coach and captain are not discussing putting Jalibert on the bench in favour of Duponts club teammate that doesn't even play at 10.


This is a terrible, massive insult to a 10 and I'm sure Dupont would also be very enraged if benched for a player that doesn't even play halfback.


A good captain would've insisted to the coach that it was an idea of madness and either select Jalibert or replace him with another 10 if you want him to be reserve.


Jalibert may not be the world's finest tacklers but that's often not a tens main strength that the loose forwards and second five cover. An intercept pass is never great but they happen.


When any player is playing for his club then it's club first, respect doesn't need to be shown to opposition players simply because they're internationals.


Who exactly are you claiming Jalibert hasn't respected? If it's Toulouse international players then it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this bench demotion out.


The outcome of selecting Jalibert to the bench and he then throwing his croissants out the window of the team bus immediately prior to playing the Allblacks is a disaster that will be team disharmony as any team mates of Jalibert are in a state of anger and revolt so a performance that will be sub optimal against a team that is thirsting for revenge against France.


I don't know about you but the Allblacks are very upset they've lost twice in a row to France and want to put out a statement performance so this preparation by Galthie of creating havoc looks to me like a coach that is clueless.

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