FORMER RUGBY LEAGUE star Regan Grace will make his Wales debut against the Queensland Reds after being named by coach Warren Gatland in the starting side Wednesday.
The ex-St Helens wing represented Wales six times in the 13-man game before switching codes in 2022, but serious injuries have hampered him since.
Prop Kemsley Mathias, hooker Evan Lloyd, No.8 Mackenzie Martin and centre Eddie James will also have their first Wales starts on Friday in Brisbane against the Super Rugby team.
Replacement hooker Efan Daniel is another in line for a debut, off the bench, in a new-look team after consecutive Test defeats to the Wallabies.
Lock Cory Hill will captain the side with Dewi Lake, who skippered Wales in both Tests against Australia, not in the 23.
“We said that we want the players that have come out here on tour to have an involvement, whether that is starting or in the 23,” said Gatland.
With the likes of Liam Wright and Tate McDermott on Australia duty against Georgia on Saturday, the Reds feature fellow Wallabies James O’Connor and Jock Campbell.
It is the Reds’ first home clash against a national side in 20 years and their first with Wales since 1991, when a young John Eales was in the side that won 35-24.
WALES:
15. Cameron Winnett
14. Rio Dyer
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Eddie James
11. Regan Grace
10. Sam Costelow
9. Gareth Davies
1. Kemsley Mathias
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Archie Griffin
4. Matthew Screech
5. Cory Hill, captain
6. Christ Tshiunza
7. Taine Plumtree
8. Mackenzie Martin
Replacements:
Efan Daniel
Corey Domachowski
Harri O’Connor
Dafydd Jenkins
Tommy Reffell
Kieran Hardy
Ben Thomas
Mason Grady
QUEENSLAND REDS:
15 Jock Campbell
14. Floyd Aubrey
13. Tim Ryan
12. Dre Pakeho
11. Mac Grealy
10. James O’Connor
9. Louis Werchon
1. Sef Fa’agase
2. Richie Asiata
3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
4. Connor Vest
5. Ryan Smith
6. Seru Uru
7. John Bryant
8. Joe Brial
Replacements:
George Blake
Matt Gibbon
Massimo De Lutiis
Josh Canham
Connor Anderson
Will Cartwright
Mason Gordon
Lachie Anderson
I’m glad the Irish players aren’t playing more games. The Scots are going until the end of July! Most of our players have had such an attritional year and it’s good they can get home and rest now. Perhaps we should have a wolfhound team playing a few games but I don’t know the logistics of all of this.
Unless Wales convert the Avengers it won’t make a difference