2017 Rugby League World Cup: Wales name six uncapped players in training squad

Credit: PA

Wales coach John Kear has named six uncapped players in a provisional 38-man training squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The new faces include three from the NRL while Wigan prop Ben Flower and Warrington centre Rhys Evans have been included in the hope that they will recover in time from major surgery.

100 days until their opening match against Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on October 28.

The squad comprises 12 players from Super League, nine from the Championship, 13 from League 1 and four from Australian clubs.

Wales, who failed to win a game at the last World Cup under Iestyn Harris, also play Fiji and Ireland in their group, with the winners going through to the quarter-finals.

Wales will open their World Cup campaign when they face Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby on Saturday, October 28.

They will then travel to Townsville in northern Australia to take on Fiji on Sunday, November 7.

Wales’ final group match is against Ireland at Perth Rectangular Stadium on Sunday, November 12.

Wales' 38-man train-on squad:

L Patrick (Castleford), Z Williams (Coventry), C Davies, S Parry, L Reece (all Gloucestershire All Golds), D Ansell (Hunslet), S Hopkins (Leigh), M Channing, B Evans, D Grant, E Kear, R Williams (all London Broncos), J Ralph (Newcastle Knights), M Barron (Newcastle Thunder), J Burke (Oldham), C Aekins, D Brown (both Penrith Panthers), A Walker (Rochdale), C Kopczak (Salford), M Fozard (Sheffield Eagles), M Evans, C Farrer, A Gay, C Roets (all South Wales), R Grace, E Jenkins, M Knowles, B Morris, C Wellington (all St Helens), R Lloyd (Swinton), J Emmitt, D Fleming (both Toronto Wolfpack), R Evans (Warrington), O Olds (West Brisbane Panthers), G Dudson, L White (both Widnes), B Flower (Wigan), P Joseph (Workington).