Grace and Knowles absent from Wales squad

WINGER Regan Grace and loose forward Morgan Knowles are the high profile absentees from the Wales squad for the European Championship and 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

Elliot Kear captains the Dragons, who take on France, Scotland and Ireland. Grace and Knowles are both unavailable for selection.

The winner and runner-up will qualify automatically for the World Cup.

“There’s a lot at stake in this year’s internationals and we’re all looking forward to the challenge,” said head coach John Kear.

“We have a good mix of youth and experience in our squad and it’s really encouraging to see lots of the upand-coming talent progressing through to the senior team.”

The squad contains 12 players who represented Wales at the 2017 World Cup squad. There are nine uncapped players, including West Brisbane Panthers’ James Olds, the brother of international half-back Ollie.

Wales begin against France in Carcassone on October 27, face Scotland in Galashiels on November 2 and then host Ireland at Wrexham’s Racecourse Stadium on November 11.

Wales squad: Dalton Grant (Bradford Bulls), Rhys Gant, James Mason, Liam Rice-Wilson, Chris Vitalini (all Coventry Bears), Josh Ralph (Easts Tigers), Chester Butler, Connor Davies, Curtis Davies, Dan Fleming, Sion Jones (all Halifax), Ben Evans, Elliot Kear, Rhys Williams (all London Broncos), Elliot Jenkins (Rochdale Hornets), Gavin Bennion (Salford Red Devils), Ben Morris (St Helens), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), Jake Emmitt (Toronto Wolfpack), Courtney Davies (unattached), James Olds (West Brisbane Panthers), Morgan Evans, Steve Parry (both West Wales Raiders), Gil Dudson, Lloyd White (both Widnes Vikings).