Gareth Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Robinson, Martyn Williams, T. Rhys Thomas and Gethin Jenkins have all been selected while Rob Sidoli and Tom James return to train with the Blues.

New Cardiff Blues signing and Wales’ most capped player and leading try scorer Gareth Thomas will have the honour of captaining Wales at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Thomas made his Wales debut in the opening Pool match of the 1995 tournament in South Africa and will take another Welsh record when he appears at his fourth World Cup campaign.
Currently locked on 11 appearances in the RWC finals with the 1991 skipper Ieuan Evans, the 33-year-old Cardiff Blues player will win his 96th cap in next week’s Invesco Perpetual Summer Series ’07 match against Argentina when he leads Wales for the 18th time.

Thomas will be among a six-man Leadership Group identified by Wales coach Gareth Jenkins to spearhead the Welsh challenge in France. Among the six are two other players who have led their country, Stephen Jones, Michael Owen. The others in the group are Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas and Dwayne Peel.

There are 19 players within the 30-man squad with previous Rugby World Cup experience and Colin Charvis, Martyn Williams and Stephen Jones will be going to their third World Cup.
Speaking about the difficulties of cutting his World Cup training group to 30, Gareth Jenkins said:

“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. But there is no more time for discussion – we have had to choose the best 30 players to represent us at the greatest rugby tournament in the world and we will be doing all we can to win the title.

“It’s tough on those players who have missed out, especially as they have all worked so hard to make the grade. But we have our top 30 players and now we need the nation to fall in behind them to give them the best chance of success.”

Gareth Jenkins has split his 30-man squad into 14 (backs) and 16 (forwards).

His back division contains three scrum-halves – Dwayne Peel, Mike Phillips and Gareth Cooper – and three outside-halves – Stephen Jones, James Hook and Ceri Sweeney.
There are three specialist wings in Mark Jones, Shane Williams and Dafydd James with full-back Kevin Morgan adding his own versatility to that of his captain, Gareth Thomas, in providing cover across the back three. Tom Shanklin, Jamie Robinson and Sonny Parker are the specialist centres.

Up front, three hookers make the trip – Matthew Rees, T Rhys Thomas and Huw Bennett – and four props – Chris Horsman, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones and Duncan Jones.
New boy Will James joins Ian Gough, Ian Evans and Alun-Wyn Jones as the second row options, although Jones could also figure at flanker.
The back row contains three players with Welsh captaincy experience – Colin Charvis, Michael Owen and Martyn Williams – and they are joined by Alix Popham and Jonathan Thomas. Owen and Thomas are also able to play in the second row.

WALES 2007 RUGBY WORLD CUP SQUAD

Backs
1. Gareth Thomas (Cardiff Blues, captain)
2. Kevin Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons)
3. Shane Williams (Ospreys)
4. Dafydd James (Llanelli Scarlets)
5. Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues)
6. Jamie Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
7. Sonny Parker (Ospreys)
8. Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets)
9. Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets)
10. James Hook (Ospreys)
11. Ceri Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons)
12. Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets)
13. Mike Phillips (Ospreys)
14. Gareth Cooper (Gloucester Rugby)

Forwards
15. Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons)
16. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues)
17. Colin Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons)
18. Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets)
19. Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys)
20. Ian Evans (Ospreys)
21. Will James (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
23. Ian Gough (Ospreys)
24. Chris Horsman (Worcester Warriors)
25. Adam Jones (Ospreys)
26. Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets)
27. T Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues)
28. Huw Bennett (Ospreys)
29. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
30. Duncan Jones (Ospreys)

The Wales team to play Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in the Invesco Perpetual Series ’07 on Saturday, 18 August, is:
Wales: Kevin Morgan (Dragons): Dafydd James (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Gareth Thomas (Blues, captain), Mark Jones (Scarlets); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Alix Popham (Scarlets).
Replacements: T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Jamie Robinson (Blues).

WALES SQUAD – 2007 RUGBY WORLD CUP

BACKS

Gareth THOMAS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 25.07.74. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 16st 2lbs / 102kgs
International record: 95 caps (W 49, L 45, D 1; 190 pts – 38T)
RWC record: 11 apps; 30 pts (6T)
1995 – Japan (3T), New Zealand, Ireland
1999 – Argentina, Japan* (1T), Samoa (1T), Australia
2003 – Canada (1T), Italy, New Zealand*, England

Kevin MORGAN (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 23.02.77. 5’10” / 1.78m. 12st 9lbs / 80kgs
International record: 43 caps (W24, L18, D 1; 55 pts – 11T)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – Canada, Italy

Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7″ / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 22, L 21, D 2; 145 pts – 29T)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – New Zealand, England

Dafydd JAMES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 24.07.75. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 21, L 24, D 1; 70 pts – 14T)
RWC record: 3 apps
1999 – Argentina, Samoa, Australia

Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 41 caps (W 17, L 23, D 1; 85 pts – 17T)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – Tonga, New Zealand

Jamie ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 07.04.80. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 6, L 14; 35 pts – 7T)

Sonny PARKER (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.08.77. 6’1″ 1.86m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 11, L 12; 25 pts – 5T)
RWC record: 3 apps; 15 pts (3T)
2003 – Canada (1T), Italy (1T), New Zealand (1T)

Mark JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 11, L 16, D 2; 50 pts – 10T)
RWC record: 3 apps; 2T
2003 – Canada (1T), Tonga, Italy (1T), England

Stephen JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6’1″ / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 62 caps (W 26, L 34, D 2; 538 pts – 6T,95C,103P,3DG)
RWC record: 5 apps; 36 pts (1T, 5C, 7PG)
1999 – Japan*
2003 – Tonga (1C, 4PG), Italy*, New Zealand (4C, 3PG), England (1T)

James HOOK (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 14st 3lbs / 90kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 3, L 9, D 1; 94 pts – 3T, 17C, 13PG, 2DG)

Ceri SWEENEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 21.01.80. 5’10” / 1.78m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 15, L 17; 84 pts – 4T, 23C, 5PG, 1DG)
RWC record: 4 apps
2003 – Canada, Italy, New Zealand*, England*

Dwayne PEEL (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5’9″ / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 53 caps (W 23, L 28, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)
RWC record: 5 apps
2003 – Canada*, Tonga*, Italy, New Zealand*, England*

Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 16st 6lbs / 104kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 10, L 11, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY)
DoB: 07.05.79. 5’7″ / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 34 caps (W 16, L 18; 30 pts – 6T)
RWC record: 5 apps; 10 pts (2T)
2003 – Canada (1T), Tonga (1T), Italy*, New Zealand, England

FORWARDS

Michael OWEN (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 07.11.80. 6’5″ / 1.96m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 17, L 19, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 70 caps (W 30, L 37, D 3; 53 pts – 10T, 1DG)
RWC record: 6 apps; 18 pts (3T, 1DG)
1999 – Japan, Samoa
2003 – Canada, Tonga* (1T, 1DG), Italy (1T), England* (1T)

Colin CHARVIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 27.12.72. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 87 caps (W 39, L 46, D 2; 100 pts – 20T)
RWC record: 7 apps; 20 pts (4T)
1999 – Argentina (1T), Australia
2003 – Canada (1T), Tonga, Italy, New Zealand (1T), England (1T)

Alix POPHAM (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 17.10.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 17st 4lbs / 110kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 9, L 15, D 1; 15 pts – 3T)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – Tonga, New Zealand

Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5″ / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 34 caps (W 15, L 17, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)
RWC record: 3 apps
2003 – Italy*, New Zealand, England

Ian EVANS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8″ / 2.04m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 1, L 3, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

Will JAMES (GLOUCESTER RUGBY)
DoB: 22.12.76. 6’6″ / 1.99m. 19st 2lbs / 122kgs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)

Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5″ / 1.96m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 3, L 8)

Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6′ 6″ / 1.98m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 40 caps (W 16, L 21, D 3; 5 pts – 1T)

Chris HORSMAN (WORCESTER WARRIORS)
DoB: 02.02.78. 5’11” / 1.81m. 17st 9lbs / 112kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 4, L 7; 5 pts – 1T))

Adam JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 20st 5lb / 129kgs
International record: 41 caps (W 20, L 19, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
RWC record: 5 apps
2003 – Canada*, Tonga*, Italy, New Zealand, England

Matthew REES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 16st 9lbs / 106kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 3, L 7, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

Thomas Rhys THOMAS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 23.04.82. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1)

Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 6, L 6)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – Canada*, Tonga*

Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 17, L 27, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)
RWC record: 5 apps
2003 – Canada, Tonga, Italy*, New Zealand*, England*

Duncan JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 38 caps (W 15, L 21, D 2)
RWC record: 2 apps
2003 – Canada, Italy

* Replacement appearance

WALES v ARGENTINA

15 Kevin MORGAN (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 23.02.77. 5’10” / 1.78m. 12st 9lbs / 80kgs
International record: 43 caps (W24, L18, D 1; 55 pts – 11T)

14 Dafydd JAMES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 24.07.75. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 21, L 24, D 1; 70 pts – 14T)

13 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 41 caps (W 17, L 23, D 1; 85 pts – 17T)

12 Gareth THOMAS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 25.07.74. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 16st 2lbs / 102kgs
International record: 95 caps (W 49, L 45, D 1; 190 pts – 38T)

11 Mark JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 11, L 16, D 2; 50 pts – 10T)

10 James HOOK (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 14st 3lbs / 90kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 3, L 9, D 1; 94 pts – 3T, 17C, 13PG, 2DG)

9 Dwayne PEEL (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5’9″ / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 53 caps (W 23, L 28, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)

1 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 38 caps (W 15, L 21, D 2)

2 Matthew REES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 16st 9lbs / 106kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 3, L 7, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 20st 5lb / 129kgs
International record: 41 caps (W 20, L 19, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

4 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6′ 6″ / 1.98m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 40 caps (W 16, L 21, D 3; 5 pts – 1T)

5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8″ / 2.04m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 1, L 3, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)

6 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5″ / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 34 caps (W 15, L 17, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)

7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 70 caps (W 30, L 37, D 3; 53 pts – 10T, 1DG)

8 Alix POPHAM (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 17.10.79. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 17st 4lbs / 110kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 9, L 15, D 1; 15 pts – 3T)

REPLACEMENTS

16 Thomas Rhys THOMAS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 23.04.82. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1)

17 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 46 caps (W 17, L 27, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)

18 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5″ / 1.96m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 3, L 8)

19 Colin CHARVIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 27.12.72. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 87 caps (W 39, L 46, D 2; 100 pts – 20T)

20 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 16st 6lbs / 104kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 10, L 11, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

21 Ceri SWEENEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 21.01.80. 5’10” / 1.78m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 15, L 17; 84 pts – 4T, 23C, 5PG, 1DG)

22 Jamie ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 07.04.80. 6’2″ / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 6, L 14; 35 pts – 7T)