Wales announce 35-man squad for England and New Zealand encounters
Warren Gatland has named his Wales squad to face England on May 29 and for next month's New Zealand tour
©Press Association
Wales have announced an experienced 35-man squad for the clash against England later this month and also for their three-Test tour to New Zealand in June.
Leigh Halfpenny, who sustained a knee injury prior to the World Cup was expected to make a return at the end of May after being sidelined for almost eight months.
However 27-year-old had lost his battle to be fit in time for the New Zealand tour but the good news for Wales will be the return of their captain Sam Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones after both the players made a successful recovery from their respective injuries.
Warburton suffered a shoulder injury in April while Jones had a heel injury in the recently concluded Six Nations tournament.
Apart from Halfpenny, wing Alex Cuthbert and flanker Justin Tipuric also missed out on the selection. Tipuric was advised to take a three-month break following the concussion he suffered in March while Cuthbert is sidelined with a knee injury.
The squad which has no uncapped player in it has an average of more than 30 caps per player.
While making the announcement, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said the upcoming clashes will be an exciting opportunity for the experienced squad.
"We have picked a squad that is packed full of experience for what is going to be a challenging, but exciting, five-match campaign.
"We will be facing the Six Nations champions at Twickenham first up, and that will be an important start to the tour and will set the tone for the weeks ahead.
"We will have a bit of time together when we land in New Zealand before the first Test, then it's into three Test matches against the All Blacks, plus a midweek match against the Chiefs.
"It is a great opportunity for us to test ourselves, build on the World Cup and the Six Nations, and it's a challenge we are all looking forward to.
"We are in a great position in terms of the experience in the squad, especially when you look at the age of most of the players, and this is going to be another important summer."
Wales will take on England at the Twickenham Stadium on 29th May while the three Tests against New Zealand will be played on 11th, 18th and 25th June.
Wales squad:
Backs: G Davies (Scarlets), R Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Ospreys), R Priestland (Bath), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), T Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Roberts (Harlequins), S Williams (Scarlets), H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Morgan (Bristol), T James (Cardiff Blues), G North (Northampton), E Walker (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
Forwards: R Evans (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), P James (Ospreys) G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Scarlets), S Lee (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), K Owens (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing 92), B Davies (Wasps), A W Jones (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), J King (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester), J Turnbull (Cardiff Blues), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).
