Chiefs duo in Wales training squad

By Mark Stevens
19/7/23

Exeter Chiefs duo Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza have both been named in Warren Gatland's 43-man Wales senior squad to travel to Turkey (23 to 31 July) to prepare for the first match of the 2023 Vodafone Summer Series.

Wales play three Test matches against England (home and away on 5 and 12 August) and South Africa (19 August at Principality Stadium) before the official 33-player squad that will head to France is announced.

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.”

WALES SQUAD

Forwards

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

Backs

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