CARDIFF (Reuters) - Wales have named uncapped prop Rhys Carre and wing Owen Lane in their 42-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, which includes 36 players who featured in the team's 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam triumph.
But there are some notable absentees, including loose-forward Dan Lydiate and veteran back Jamie Roberts, while Thomas Young will be considered when he returns from injury.
Coach Warren Gatland has selected 18 players with previous World Cup experience for the training squad, which will be put through their paces in the Swiss Alps and Turkey as part of their preparation for the global event that runs from Sept. 20 to Nov. 2.
The squad will be led by lock Alun Wyn Jones, who will be appearing at his fourth World Cup, and sees 72-cap loose-forward Taulupe Faletau return from injury.
"We’ve named a 42-man squad packed with experience. A good number of the Grand Slam winning squad are in there plus some players who have returned from injury," Gatland said in a media release by Welsh Rugby on Tuesday.
"The last couple of years have been about building depth and exposing players, and we have done that well, so we have kept the numbers down to make the squad as manageable as possible."
Gatland adds the uncapped duo deserve an opportunity to stake a claim for a World Cup place having been on the radar for some time.
"We have been really impressed with Rhys (Carre) and with Owen (Lane). They have both been on our succession plan for a while and it will be good to have them in camp with us and to see what they are able to do."
The squad will head to altitude training in the Swiss Alps, before home and away warm-up internationals against England in August followed by warm-weather work in Turkey.
They have a home international against Ireland on Aug. 31, and Gatland will name his final 31-man squad the following week.
Wales have been drawn in Pool D at the World Cup with Australia, Georgia, Uruguay and Fiji.
Wales’ 42-man World Cup training squad:
FORWARDS (23)
Leon Brown (Dragons) (5 Caps)
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues) (*Uncapped)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (35 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (40 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (12 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTSamson Lee (Scarlets) (40 Caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (12 Caps)
Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (28 Caps)
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (18 Caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (7 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTKen Owens (Scarlets) (64 Caps)
Jake Ball (Scarlets) (32 Caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys) (13 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (64 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (24 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTAlun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (125 Caps)
James Davies (Scarlets) (3 Caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (72 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (31 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (16 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTAaron Shingler (Scarlets) (17 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (64 Caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (8 Caps)
BACKS (19):
ADVERTISEMENTAled Davies (Ospreys) (16 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (41 Caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (26 Caps)
Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (70 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTJarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (11 Caps)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (73 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (13 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTScott Williams (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors) (10 Caps)
Hallam Amos (Dragons) (18 Caps)
Steff Evans (Scarlets) (12 Caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (81 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENTOwen Lane (Cardiff Blues) (*Uncapped)
George North (Ospreys) (83 Caps)
Jonah Holmes (Leicester Tigers) (2 Caps)
Liam Williams (Saracens) (55 Caps)
ADVERTISEMENT(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Hugh Lawson)