Aekins among 15 uncapped players named in Wales squad
Former Canberra Raiders and Penrith Panthers fullback Caleb Aekins is poised to finally fulfil his dream of representing Wales after being one of 15 uncapped players named in a 30-man squad ahead of the June 19 Test against France in Albi next Sunday.
Aekins, who made seven NRL appearances for the Canberra Raiders last season and previously played 12 matches for Penrith, was in Wales' preliminary squad for the 2017 World Cup but did not play in the tournament.
The former New Zealand schoolboys star, who joined Leigh Centurions this season to increase his chances of playing in the World Cup, qualifies for Wales through his mother Kimberley.
The squad, named by Wales coach John Kear, includes Leigh team-mate Luis Roberts, York City Knights recruit, Bailey Antrobus and Will Evans (Whitehaven) and Cobi Green (Rochdale Hornets), who represented Wales at the 2019 Nines World Cup in Sydney but are not yet full internationals.
Familiar faces in the squad include Rhys Williams, who will become Wales' most capped men's international if he plays against the French. Williams currently shares that accolade with Jordan James and Ian Watson, all with 30 caps to their name.
France named a 27-man squad last weekend.
There are two sets of twins in the Wales squad - Bradford duo, Ben Evans and Rhys Evans; plus Connor and Curtis Davies, who both play for Workington Town.
Wales have never fielded two sets of twins in an international fixture, although that could happen this Sunday when the women’s team face England. Rosie and Katie Carr, plus Ffion and Sara Jones are in the 19-player squad for the weekend’s test match at Pandy Park, home of Cross Keys RFC.
Regan Grace is not included in the squad having only recently returned to the St Helens side following injury, while Gil Dudson is unavailable.
Kear will reduce his squad to 21 players next week for the trip to France. The match will be Wales' first 13-a-side men's international since beating Ireland in November 2018 to qualify for the end-of-season World Cup.
Wales 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), Elliot Kear (c) (Bradford Bulls), Kieran Lewis (Saint Gaudens XIII), 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
Photo: NRL Photos
