Davies to lead Wales in Japan

As revealed by Matt Lloyd in The Rugby Paper on Sunday, Bradley Davies will captain a young Wales side that ncluded nine uncapped players to their tour of Japan next month.
With Sam Warburton, Gethin Jenkins and Alun-Wyn Jones away with the British & Irish Lions and Ryan Jones being rested, interim coach Rob McBryde has put his trust in the 26-year-old.
The Cardiff Blues lock will make his return to Test rugby for the occasion after missing the last Six Nations through injury.
The squad has been trimmed from 32 to 27 players with forwards Emyr Phillips, Scott Baldwin, James King, Andries Pretorious and Dan Baker looking to get their first cap.
In the backs, Blues sensation Rhys Patchell has been called from the Wales U20 squad to replace the injured Rhys Priestland with Dafydd Howells, centre Owen Williams and Steven Shingler also looking to be involved in their first Test.
Wales’ two-Test series against Eddie Jones‘ Japan starts in Osaka on June 8 before moving to Tokyo on June 15.
“We’ve had the training squad together for more than a week and we’ve been impressed,” said McBryde.
“They have really put the effort in and stepped up as we have asked them to. Everyone in the training squad put their hand up for selection making our jobs much harder. It’s a chance for these players now to experience the international Test environment and put their marker down.”
Wales Squad:
Forwards: Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Scott Andrews (Blues), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues).
Backs: Lloyd Williams (Blues), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Steven Shingler (London Irish).