Warren Gatland names training squad for Turkey

Rob LloydNews

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named 43 players in the Wales senior men’s squad to travel to Turkey (July 23-31) to prepare for the first match of the 2023 Vodafone Summer Series.

Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Davies, Sam Costelow and Tom Rogers will travel with the squad, while Johnny Williams and Joe Roberts will stay at home to recover from injury before linking up with the squad on their return.

Warren Gatland said: “We’re really pleased with how our two-week training camp has gone in Switzerland. The players worked extremely hard and made really good progress. 

“As well as having the natural benefits from living at high altitude, players experienced temperatures in the mid-to late thirties (degrees centigrade) during our on-pitch sessions which will be good preparation for our next camp in Turkey.

“The 43 players travelling to Turkey are all available for selection for the first match against England on 5 August. Those not travelling remain in our wider training squad and will join back up with us on our return to Wales.

“We’ve decided to keep a larger group in our squad as we prepare for our three Vodafone Summer Series matches. We know injuries unfortunately can be picked up along the way, so it’s important to ensure that as wide a number of players as possible are up to speed with our plans.”

Forwards / Blaenwyr (25)
Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped / heb gap)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys / Gweilch– 42 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys /Gweilch – 21 caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dreigiau– 41 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 33 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 8 caps)
Sam Parry (Ospreys / Gweilch – 5 caps)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys / Gweilch – 71 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 50 caps)
Henry Thomas (Montpellier – uncapped / heb gap)
Adam Beard (Ospreys / Gweilch– 46 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons / Dreigiau– 9 caps)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys / Gweilch – 2 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 6 caps)
Will Rowlands (Dragons / Dreigiau – 23 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 5 caps)
Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)
Taine Basham (Dragons / Dreigiau – 11 caps)
Dan Lydiate (Dragons / Dreigiau – 68 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys / Gweilch – 9 caps)
Taine Plumree (Scarlets – uncapped / heb gap)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 9 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 37 caps)


Backs / Olwyr (18)

Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 67 caps)
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 45 cap)
Gareth Anscombe (unattached / heb glwb – 35 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 107 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – uncapped / heb gap)
George North (Ospreys / Gweilch – 113 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 27 caps)
Keiran Williams (Ospreys / Gweilch – uncapped / heb gap)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 49 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 7 caps)
Cai Evans (Dragons / Dreigiau – uncapped / heb gap)
Leigh Halfpenny (unattached / heb glwb – 99 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 25 caps)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby/ Caerdydd – 84 caps)