Holmes and Morgan are summoned for Wales duty by Gatland
RUGBY UNION
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has handed surprise call-ups to uncapped wings Jonah Holmes and Luke Morgan for this season’s autumn Tests.
The 26-year-olds, who play for Leicester and Ospreys respectively, are the only international rookies among a 37-man group named by the Welsh Rugby Union for games against Scotland, Australia, Tonga and South Africa next month.
Stockport-born Holmes qualifies for Wales through a grandparent, while Morgan is Wales’ all-time sevens points scorer. “The two uncapped players in Luke and Jonah are both in-form backthree players, and we’re looking forward to seeing them in this environment and seeing what they can do,” Gatland said.
Gatland is without Scarlets flankers Aaron Shingler and James Davies, Bath number eight Taulupe Faletau, Cardiff Blues back-row forward Josh Navidi as well as Ospreys centre Scott Williams due to injuries.
Also on the injury list are Blues forward Seb Davies and wing Owen Lane, who had been widely backed for a call-up, and experienced Dragons back Hallam Amos, but Gatland welcomes back eight British and Irish Lions to his squad following Wales’ summer tour of Argentina, including skipper Alun Wyn Jones, centre Jonathan Davies and hooker Ken Owens.
Dragons prop Leon Brown, who made his Test debut last autumn, returns, and lock Jake Ball features after a lengthy injury absence. Exeter Chiefs’ Tomas Francis retains his place.
The back-row resources comprise the experienced Dan Lydiate, Ellis Jenkins, who was squad co-captain for the successful mission to Argentina, Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty, but Dragons flanker Ollie Griffiths is a surprise absentee.
There is a call-up for Dragons centre Tyler Morgan, who started Wales’ 2015 World Cup quarter-final defeat against South Africa at Twickenham.
Wales face Scotland in their opening game at the Principality Stadium on November 3. Gatland added: “This autumn is the start of a 12-month countdown to the Rugby World Cup and it is a huge opportunity for the players.
“The players who performed and represented Wales so well in the summer deserve the opportunity again, and we are really pleased with the depth we have built across the squad.”
Wales squad: Backs: A Davies (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets), T Williams (Cardiff Blues), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Northampton), R Patchell (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T Morgan (Dragons), H Parkes (Scarlets), O Watkin (Ospreys), J Adams (Worcester), S Evans (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Scarlets), J Holmes (Leicester), L Morgan (Ospreys), G North (Ospreys), L Williams (Saracens). Forwards: R Evans (Scarlets), W Jones (Scarlets), N Smith (Ospreys), E Dee (Dragons), R Elias (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), L Brown (Dragons), T Francis (Exeter Chiefs), S Lee (Scarlets), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), J Ball (Scarlets), A Beard (Ospreys), B Davies (Ospreys), C Hill (Dragons), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), E Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), D Lydiate (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons), J Tipuric (Ospreys), A Wainwright (Dragons).