Wales' summer tour fixtures

Colin Charvis, Martyn Williams, Robin McBryde and Stephen Jones have all been named as captains for the testing trip to the south seas.

There are five uncapped players in the squad, Neath prop Adam Jones, Llanelli scrum-half Mike Phillips, Swansea hooker Huw Bennett and back-row men Jonathan Thomas (Swansea) and Alix Popham (Leeds).

Thomas replaces Bath No 8 Gareth Delve, who injured a shoulder during Wales' loss to the Barbarians.

Also out with a damaged shoulder is Iestyn Harris, who will undergo a minor operation and will miss the tour. He is replaced by another Swansea man, Gavin Henson.

Bridgend's Gareth Thomas was named in the original squad, but has bowed out due to personal reasons. He is replaced by Llanelli's Matthew Watkins.

Garan Evans wins a surprise recall, but there are shock omissions for Steve Williams, Gavin Thomas, Richard Parks, Martyn Madden, Leigh Davies and Neil Jenkins.

Both Craig Morgan and Dafydd James are missing with injuries, but Sonny Parker (broken arm) is selected despite currently being sidelined.

This is a system that has been used successfully in other sports, notably the Australian women's hockey team Steve Hansen

"We are trying to grow leadership qualities within the squad," said Hansen, "Having four captains gives us greater options and means the workload can be shared around four senior players.

"This is a start of a process we hope will lead to everyone taking greater responsibility.

"As well as the four captains, we will also have a line-out leader and a midfield leader to join them in forming a senior player group.

"This is a system that has been used successfully in other sports, notably the Australian women's hockey team."

Hansen also had a comment on the omissions from the squad:

"Some are ruled out through injury, others because of personal reasons and some because we want them to stay at home and work on their weaknesses," he said.

Wales squad in full:

Full-backs:
Rhys Williams (Cardiff), Garan Evans (Llanelli).

Kevin Morgan's unfortunate injury gives an opportunity to Garan Evans, whose only previous cap was on the 'tour to hell' in South Africa in 1998.

Wings:

Competition for centre positions is intense

Mark Jones (Llanelli).

Craig Morgan is unlucky to miss out with an injury, but Jones served Wales well in the Six Nations. The absence of in-form Gareth Thomas will be a blow.

Centres:
Mark Taylor (Swansea), Tom Shanklin (Saracens), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff), Sonny Parker (Pontypridd), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli).

Sonny Parker is expected to recover from his broken arm in time to play. Despite the wealth of talent in this position, Leigh Davies is unlucky to miss out.

Fly-halves:
Stephen Jones (Llanelli, capt), Gavin Henson (Swansea), Ceri Sweeney (Pontypridd).

Jones is a clear first choice at fly-half

There is no place in the squad for Neil Jenkins, possibly signalling the international end for the Welsh legend. Iestyn Harris' shoulder injury is a blow for coach Steve Hansen's forward planning.

Scrum-halves:
Dwayne Peel (Llanelli), Mike Phillips (Llanelli), Gareth Cooper (Bath).

The contest between Cooper and Peel to be the long-term successor to Rob Howley is set to continue in the south seas. Phillips gets the call-up in place of broken-thumb victim Ryan Powell.

Loosehead props:
Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli), Gethin Jenkins (Pontypridd).

Jenkins finished the Six Nations as Wales' first-choice tighthead, but seems to be considered as a loosehead for the tour.

Tighthead props:
Ben Evans (Cardiff), Adam Jones (Neath).

Jones' call-up is no surprise, but few expected Evans to get back in the squad ahead of Martyn Madden.

Hookers:
Robin McBryde (Llanelli, capt), Mefin Davies (Pontypridd), Huw Bennett (Swansea).

Hansen will be pleased to have McBryde back in contention to front up to the Aussies and Kiwis. Huw Bennett replaces the injured Gareth Williams.

Second rows:
Robert Sidoli (Pontypridd), Gareth Llewellyn (Neath), Vernon Cooper (Llanelli), Chris Wyatt (Llanelli).

Wales' second row gets a shake-up

Steve Williams is omitted after a lacklustre Six Nations, and Chris Wyatt got the call-up after Michael Owen's knee ligament injury saw him ruled out

Back row:
Martyn Williams (Cardiff, capt), Colin Charvis (Swansea, capt), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli), Jonathan Thomas (Swansea), Alix Popham (Leeds).

Gavin Thomas and Richard Parks will be disappointed to lose out, but Popham has profited by his move from Newport to Leeds. Jonathan Thomas gets a surprise chance because of the injury to Bath back-row Gareth Delve.

Management team:
Steve Hansen (coach), Alan Phillips (manager), Scott Johnson (skills), Andrew Hore (fitness), Mark Davies (physio), Mike Wadsworth (masseur), Mark Davies (analyst), John Williams (doctor).

Financial constraints mean that defence coach Clive Griffiths is left at home.