WARBURTON TO CAPTAIN WALES AGAINST BAA-BAAS

Wales have named five uncapped players in the squad set to meet the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday 4th June, in celebration of 130 years of the Welsh Rugby Union, and nominated Blues back row forward Sam Warburton to captain the side.
Warburton will lead a side selected from the 26-man squad in the absence of Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees, who is rested. The uncapped players in the squad are Dragons pair Lloyd Burns (hooker) and Toby Faletau (flanker), Scarlets duo Lou Reed (second row) and Scott Williams (centre) and Ospreys prop Ryan Bevington.
Gavin Henson (Toulon) also returns and could win his 32nd cap after a two year lay-off alongside Dragons wing Aled Brew, who himself last featured for Wales against Fiji in November 2010.
The Baa-Baas side will feature the likes of Italian talisman Sergio Parisse, South African Rugby World Cup winners Francois Steyn and Ruan Pienaar and 98-times capped Welshman Martyn Williams.
Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones is set to join Gareth Thomas as the most capped player in Welsh rugby history by making his 100th appearance against the Baa-baas.
“We have selected some exciting youngsters who have been chosen on form in the knowledge that there are a few players who are being rested or are injured for this game, but it means they have a chance to impress,” said national coach Warren Gatland.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to look at some players that have been hitting their form over the last few weeks.
“These are really exciting times for us as a squad, the Rugby World Cup is on the horizon and we begin our preparations with this first up match against the Barbarians before two intensive training camps in Poland and then our final three matches in August.
“Sam Warburton takes over the captaincy mantle from Matthew Rees, who is rested. Sam is one of the leaders in the squad and will benefit from the experience of captaining the side after having such an impressive Six Nations campaign.”

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