John Kear names 15 uncapped players in 30-man Wales squad
Wales head coach John Kear has named 15 uncapped players in a 30-man Wales squad ahead of their trip to France.
They travel to Albi on Sunday, June 19, for their mid-season international test with France. It will be a part of the side’s preparations for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.
Leigh Centurions duo Caleb Aekins and Luis Roberts have received their first call-ups by Kear.
Recent York City Knights recruit Bailey Antrobus has also earned a call-up. The forward made the move to England from the NRL earlier in May.
Super League’s Chester Butler and Rhys Williams have both been named in the 30-man squad.
Winger Regan Grace is not included in the squad having only recently returned to the St. Helens side following injury. Catalans prop forward Gil Dudson is not available.
Kear will trim his squad to 21-players next week for the trip to France. The match will be Wales men’s first 13-a-side international since beating Ireland in November 2018 to qualify for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.
John Kear names Wales 30-man squad
Caleb Aekins* (Leigh Centurions), Bailey Antrobus* (York City Knights), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets), Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders), Chester Butler (Huddersfield Giants), Michael Butt (Swinton Lions), Curtis Davies (Workington Town), Connor Davies (Workington Town), Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls), Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls), William Evans* (Whitehaven), Jude Ferreira* (London Broncos), Dan Fleming (Bradford Bulls), Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings), Dalton Grant (London Broncos), Cobi Green* (Rochdale Hornets), Tom Hopkins* (Barrow Raiders), Kyle Huish* (Wigan Warriors), Lewis Hulme* (Widnes Vikings), Paddy Jones* (Swinton Lions), Elliott Kear (c) (Bradford Bulls), Kieran Lewis* (West Wales Raiders), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), Lewis Pinder* (Wigan Warriors), Owen Restall* (Oldham Roughyeds), Luis Roberts* (Leigh Centurions), Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls), David Weetman* (Workington Town), Calvin Wellington* (Oldham Roughyeds), Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils).
*uncapped
Podcast: Paul Wellens on James Roby, England & coaching ambitions
LOVE RUGBY LEAGUE: All the latest news, Podcast, App & Fantasy RL
