Patchell and Jones drafted in by Wales

RHYS Patchell and Rhodri Jones have been officially drafted in to Wales’s squad after injuries ruled out Phil Dollman and Samson Lee for this summer’s South Seas tour.

Both Dollman and Lee were deemed off limits because of knee problems sustained in domestic finals.

“Samson’s knee unfortunately flared up in the Scarlets’ PRO12 final against Munster and it hasn’t settled down enough for us to take him to the next level of training,” said Wales head coach Robin McBryde.

“So as of today he’s been ruled out and the Rhodri Jones will take his place in the squad.

“The last I heard of Phil Dollman was that he was awaiting consultation over a significant injury to his knee.

“I’m not sure what the result of that consultation was.

“But he’s out of the tour and Rhys Patchell is now part of the squad.”

For Dollman it is an especially cruel cut.

The Exeter Chiefs player had been set to win a first cap at the age of 32.

But the injury he picked up in his club’s Aviva Premiership play-off final win over Wasps means that particular honour has been taken away from him this summer.

And with Lions Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams set to be back in the mix for the autumn, and Hallam Amos and Rhun Williams likely to be available as well, the veteran could be forgiven for believing his best chance to win a Wales cap has been snatched away from him.

The “significant knee injury” might prove enough to sideline him for a significant chunk of next season, anyway.

“It’s not ideal for any of the players, especially for Phil and the time that it occurred and the manner that it happened,” said McBryde ahead of a trip that will see Wales play Tests against Tonga and Samoa.

“I have spoken to him and he said how the final was very much a bittersweet day for him.

“He scored a try and played in the winning side, but he also picked up this injury. “It’s tough.” But for Patchell it is a chance to remind Wales what he can do, a year after his last cap.

He has featured for the Scarlets at fly-half this season, but with Wales having Sam Davies, Owen Williams and Gareth Anscombe in their squad, the likelihood is they will look to Patchell to cover the full-back spot, possibly with Anscombe starting at No. 15.

“We haven’t got an out-and-out fullback,” acknowledged McBryde.

“Rhys Patchell has spent some time there and was good for us last summer against the All Blacks, while Steff Evans can play there as well.

“So there’s good versatility among the backline, with Owen Williams able to play 10 or 12.”

Ospreys prop Jones gets another chance to make an impression, with the luckless Lee again succumbing to injury.

Thomas Francis and Dillon Lewis are the other tight-heads in McBryde’s party.