 Bath centre Tom Cheeseman is one possible Wales tour call-up |
Wales coach Gareth Jenkins says he is giving careful consideration to Gavin Henson's replacement for June's two-Test tour of Argentina. The Lions and Ospreys player last week pulled out of the tour to concentrate on getting fully fit for next season.
"It's work in progress, it's a priority but he will be an out-and-out number 12," Jenkins said.
"We are looking at a young set of players and we are looking at which one we are going to give the opportunity."
Bath centre Tom Cheeseman is one possibility after a fine season with the Guinness Premiership side, but he faces stiff competition from several of his Wales Under-21s team-mates.
There are a number of candidates, including Dafydd Lockyer (Pontypridd), Craig Mitchell (Neath), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Dafydd Hewitt (Cardiff), and Gavin Evans (Scarlets).
Of this crop, only Cheeseman, Evans and Bishop have been playing top-level professional rugby with any sort of regularity, although Bishop is more of an outside centre than the 12 Wales are seeking.
"This tour is an opportunity to give a young man some exposure and allow us to have a view about him going forward," Jenkins added.
"Because if you look at one of the weak areas we have got in our selection it is 12."
Henson joins fellow senior internationals Martyn Williams, Stephen Jones, Robert Sidoli and Michael Owen in being rested for the tour.
Gareth Thomas, Dwayne Peel, Brent Cockbain and Ryan Jones are out injured.
Wales leave for Argentina on 1 June and play two Test matches, the first in Puerto Madryn, Patagonia, on 11 June and the second in Buenos Aires on 17 June.