Warren Gatland 'excited' by his Wales squad for July's tour of Australia after calling up Bath code-crosser Regan Grace... who has not yet played a competitive game of rugby union
- Wales coach Warren Gatland has named a squad of 34 for July's Australia tour
- Former rugby league star Regan Grace will form part of an inexperienced party
- Gatland has said that he is 'excited' about the squad he will take Down Under
Former rugby league star Regan Grace is poised to win a first international cap for Wales in Australia next month despite not having played a competitive game of union at club level.
Grace, 27 and contracted to Bath, was named on Monday as part of Warren Gatland's 34-man squad for two Tests with the Wallabies and a clash with the Queensland Reds.
Hooker Dewi Lake captains a young and inexperienced party with Grace a notable inclusion after he was called up to head coach Gatland's squad last week as injury cover.
In all likelihood it remains a long shot that the ex-St Helens man will be involved against Australia, but there is a good chance he will make a Test debut against the Reds in Brisbane.
Grace is one of three uncapped players in Wales' touring party alongside Gloucester back Josh Hathaway and rookie Cardiff hooker Efan Daniel.
Bath winger Regan Grace, 27, could make his debut for Wales in Australia next month
He has yet to play a game of competitive rugby union since switching over from rugby league
Gatland said: 'I'm excited about this Wales squad.
'We know Australia is a tough place to go and play rugby, but we are relishing the challenge.
'We're expecting two fiercely contested Test matches and are also pleased to be able to play a third fixture against the Queensland Reds.
'We are focusing on getting better as a group. This is a young squad that's still learning at this level.'
Wales are yet to win a game in 2024 after finishing bottom of this year's Six Nations table on the back of five straight defeats.
Last Saturday, they were beaten 41-13 by South Africa.
'There are lots of positives and good things we can build on from the weekend and there are also areas we will be working hard to address over the next few weeks,' Gatland said.
Grace swapped codes in 2022 after scoring 89 tries in 143 games for St Helens and winning three Super League titles and a Challenge Cup.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has said that he is 'excited' by the squad he will take to Australia
Hooker Dewi Lake, pictured in action on Saturday, will captain Wales this summer Down Under
But his time in the 15-a-side game – first with Racing 92 in Paris and then Bath – has been hit by serious Achilles injuries.
His only two games in union were pre-season friendlies for Bath ahead of the club campaign just finished, meaning he is still very inexperienced.
But Wales are attracted to his 'X Factor' qualities and he has benefitted from a call-up with Gatland's squad suffering a number of fitness issues.
Props Keiron Assiratti (back) and Henry Thomas (foot) haven't been included for the Australia trip.
Wales are also lacking experience at hooker.
Elliot Dee isn't travelling due to an ankle injury and last week MailSport reported Sam Parry left the Wales squad due to his treatment in camp.
Thomas is expected to return to full fitness in the next few weeks, but without him Wales' tighthead prop options are Dillon Lewis, Harri O'Connor and Bath's Archie Griffin.
Lake, Daniel and Evan Lloyd are the three hookers.
Lake was impressive against South Africa, scoring Wales' only try.
He takes over as Gatland's captain from Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins who led the team impressively during a troubled Six Nations campaign.