Gatland calls up uncapped Plumtree

Uncapped back row Taine Plumtree, who Scarlets last week unveiled as a new signing, has been called up to the Wales squad.

Swansea-born Plumtree, 23, is the son of ex-Swansea head coach and All Blacks assistant John Plumtree.

Warren Gatland took his squad to Switzerland on Monday for two weeks with Plumtree, below, joining them.

Head coach Gatland said: “We've called up Taine Plumtree to the squad to give him an opportunity. I spoke to Taine about three weeks ago about the possibility; he was in discussions with the Scarlets about signing for them. He seemed pretty excited. He's born in Swansea, has come through the New Zealand system and also eligible for South Africa as well with a South African mum.

“For us, given that we've had Josh Macleod pull out of the squad due to injury, some players unavailable and Taulupe Faletau has picked up a bit of an injury, we thought it was a great opportunity for Taine to come in.

“He's a six foot five backrow forward, we don't have a lot of those here in Wales. He's 23, whether he makes the world cup squad or not he's definitely a player we want to keep in mind for the future.

“Potentially that's later down the track with the Six Nations, but he gets a chance to come in and we just know how excited he is to get the opportunity to come in and take that chance with us out in Switzerland.”

Following the training camp in Switzerland the squad will have a few days off before reconvening for a training camp in Turkey running July 23 to 31.

Wales then have three Summer Series Test matches against England (home and away on August 5 and 12) and South Africa (August 19) before the official 33-player squad to head to Rugby World Cup 2023 in France is named.

Plumtree represented New Zealand at the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship, where he played against Wales, but has not been capped at senior level.