BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Williams earns Wales call

Wales v Barbarians, at the Millennium Stadium, Wednesday, 29 May (kick-off 1915 BST)

Live coverage on BBC2 Wales, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sport Online

Locks Steve Williams and Gareth Llewellyn have both been recalled from the international wilderness for Wales' Millennium Stadium appointment with the Barbarians next Wednesday.

London Irish forward Williams makes his first appearance in a Welsh jersey since going on as a substitute against New Zealand at Wembley five years ago.

Neath skipper Llewellyn, meanwhile, last started a Wales game during the 1999 World Cup. He is his country's most-capped forward, with 65 international appearances - the last against England as a replacement in the Six Nations.

Ian Gough and Chris Wyatt, Wales' second-row partnership against Scotland last month, drop out as coach Steve Hansen makes five changes from that Lloyds TSB Six Nations game for next week's non-cap fixture.

Neath captain Gareth Llewellyn
Gareth Llewellyn hasn't started for Wales since 1999

Williams, who will be moving to Northampton in July, said it was a dream end to a good personal season.

"You tend to think this sort of thing won't happen again," the 31-year-old told BBC Radio Wales.

"When I moved out of Wales I was well aware of the selection situation at the time, and I didn't see it changing. Thankfully they have."

Llanelli scrum-half Dwayne Peel fills the vacancy left by Rob Howley's international retirement, while hooker Robin McBryde starts instead of Barry Williams and Bath flanker Gavin Thomas takes over from Nathan Budgett.

Wales leave for a two-Test tour of South Africa tomorrow week, so Hansen's starting XV could well be the one he envisages tackling the Springboks in Bloemfontein on June 8.

Scott Quinnell, Wales' Six Nations captain, is among a handful of players missing the South African trip to rest injury complaints, so his fellow Lion Colin Charvis continues leadership duties.

Peel apart, the back division is identical to that on duty against Scotland, with Newport centre Andy Marinos having recovered from a finger injury, but there is no place among Hansen's 22 for Iestyn Harris.

Cardiff's former rugby league star has a groin injury which forced him out of the South Africa tour squad, meaning that Neil Jenkins, Wales' most-capped player and record international points scorer, earns a bench recall.

Hansen has yet to finalise his replacements, and won't do so until after Sunday's Parker Pen European Shield final between Pontypridd and Sale.

Ponty forwards Gethin Jenkins, Robert Sidoli, Richard Parks and Michael Owen are all likely candidates, but depending on their fitness after the Shield showdown.

Wales: K Morgan (Swansea); R Williams (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), A Marinos (Newport), C Morgan (Cardiff); S Jones (Llanelli), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Ebbw Vale), R McBryde (Llanelli), C Anthony (Newport), S Williams (London Irish), G Llewellyn (Neath), G Thomas (Bath), M Williams (Cardiff), C Charvis (Swansea, capt).
Reps: M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), A N Other, A N Other, R Powell (Cardiff), N Jenkins (Cardiff), J Robinson (Cardiff).


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