Wales

Jones retained as Wales captain

Monday, October 26 Wales coach Warren Gatland has reappointed Ryan Jones as captain of the national side as he announced a 29-man squad for the upcoming home series of matches against New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Argentina.

Gatland's squad continues to pick home-based talent with only Dwayne Peel (of the Sale Sharks) selected from the players based in England.

Dragons back row man Dan Lydiate is on course to become Wales' 1071st capped player after being named as the only uncapped selection in a squad which will be led by Ospreys skipper, and 2008 Grand Slam captain, Ryan Jones.

Three of the five players who made their international debuts on Wales' two-Test tour of the USA and Canada this summer are retained - Blues flanker Sam Warburton (1 cap, USA), Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies (2 caps) and Ospreys tight-head Craig Mitchell (2 caps).

The other tour debutants, Scarlets full back Daniel Evans and Ospreys centre Jonathan Spratt, miss out. Another summer tourist, 27-year-old Ospreys prop Paul James, impressed tour coach Robin McBryde enough to keep his place in the squad, giving him the chance to add to his one and only cap to date against Romania in the summer of 2003.

Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel is named despite not being available for the Series opener against the All Blacks on 7 November. That is due to the release policy at his club, a fact well known to Gatland, and he is the only player currently plying his trade outside of Wales to be selected.

With 2009 British & Irish Lions scrum half Mike Phillips absent through injury, Peel will contest the scrum-half berth, when available, with Gareth Cooper (Blues) and Martin Roberts (Scarlets).

In the forwards, Gatland has been boosted by the timely return from injury of the Blues' Test Lions, Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams, and has retained many of the names who have been regular contributors during his two-year reign.

Ospreys duo Andrew Bishop and Ian Gough are two of the regulars who have been omitted on this occasion as Gatland remains true to his previous policy of selecting players who have shown good Regional form and keeping his squad as small as possible.

"The selection process has been relatively simple for us. Generally we have gone for the incumbents in their positions at Regional level and selection reflects the good form our Welsh sides have shown already this season," said Gatland.

"Dan Lydiate is a good example of someone who has let his form do the talking. He deserves his chance, as does Sam Warburton, who also impressed the coaches on tour this summer.

"Craig Mitchell keeps his place after making his debut in the USA and, as a recognized tight-head, he is definitely someone we are looking to develop. However, both Gethin Jenkins and Paul James are versatile props who can play on both sides of the scrum.

"It's ironic that we will have Dwayne to train with is for three days in Test week, but that he will have to go back to Manchester on match-day. It is a situation we have long been made aware of, accepted a long time ago and have made allowances for."

Gatland has referred to this year's Invesco Perpetual Series, against three teams ranked above them in the IRB World rankings and World Cup rivals Samoa, as "the toughest I have come up against during my coaching career".

Wales Squad for Invesco Perpetual Series '09:

Backs (13): Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Cooper (Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues), Mark Jones (Scarlets), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Martin Roberts (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys).

Forwards (16): Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, captain), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues), Martyn Williams (Blues)

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