Cory Hill Is New Wales Captain . . . And So Is Ellis Jenkins

Wales will take two captains on tour to North and South America this summer.

Coach Warren Gatland has opted to go for “co-captains” Cory Hill and Ellis Jenkins for the matches next month against South Africa and Argentina.

The pair will jointly lead a group of 31 players that does not include a raft of rested Lions stars and players who are still out injured, such as current skipper Alun Wyn Jones, former captain Sam Warburton and centre Jonathan Davies.

Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Ken Owens are all rested, while Rhys Webb begins his international exile having joined Toulon with fewer than 70 caps.

George North and Ross Moriarty are the only members of the full Lions squad in New Zealand that have been picked to face South Africa in Washington D.C. before the two-Test series against the Pumas.

Cardiff Blues scrum-half Tomos Williams is the only uncapped player named by Gatland, but there are plenty who have only recently won international honours, while Scarlets wing Tom Prydie also returns to the Test scene after a five-year absence.

Wales will head to the Americas at the end of the month and will face the Springboks in their first test in Washington D.C on June 2nd.  They will then travel south to Argentina for two tests against the Pumas on June 9th (San Juan) and June 16th (Santa Fe).

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Warren Gatland’s side have won their last two outings against South Africa, both in Cardiff, but a neutral venue in the U.S capital awaits for the opening tour clash.

Wales have won five out of the last six meetings against Argentina, all of which were at Principality Stadium.  On home soil, the Rugby Championship side have won three of the last four tests against Wales (in 2004 and 2006) and the visitors last tour series win against the Pumas came in 1999 with the side captained by Rob Howley and featured Neil Jenkins as his half-back partner.

“This summer is a great opportunity for this squad to build on their experience, get test match game time under their belt and face Rugby Championship opposition,” said Gatland.

“We have picked a squad of 31 to try and give players as much game time as possible. It shows the depth we have built in recent years that we have just one uncapped player in the squad in Tomos, but he has been in a number of squads so knows the environment well.

“We have picked Cory and Ellis as co-captains, they are both leaders and have experience captaining at regional level so this is an opportunity for them to build on that.
“This summer is another step on our 2019 RWC path and a great opportunity to build on recent campaigns.”

Wales Squad – Summer Tour 2018
Forwards:
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (25 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (8 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (18 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (7 Caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (2 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (31 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (38 Caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (2 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (62 Caps)
Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues) (4 Caps)
Luke Charteris (Bath) (74 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (15 Caps) (Co-Captain)
James Davies (Scarlets) (1 Cap)
Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) (6 Caps) (Co-Captain)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (20 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (17 Caps)`

Backs:
Aled Davies (Scarlets) (8 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (32 Caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (*Uncapped)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (15 Caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (8 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (55 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (4 Caps)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (55 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors) (2 Caps)
Hallam Amos (Dragons) (15 Caps)
Steff Evans (Scarlets) (9 Caps)
George North (Northampton Saints) (73 Caps)
Tom Prydie (Scarlets) (7 Caps)

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