CARDIFF (UNITED KINGDOM) - Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday named a well-tested 34-man squad to contest the four-match November Test series with 20-year-old Ospreys prop Nicky Smith the only uncapped player involved.
Wales Rugby coach Warren Gatland attends training session two days ahead of their match against South Africa in Durban on June 12, 2014
A total of 12 players return to international duty after missing the summer tour to South Africa, but there was no place for either veteran prop Adam Jones or fly-half James Hook.
The pair have more than 170 caps between them with 95 going to 33-year-old Jones who joined Cardiff Blues from the Ospreys earlier this year.
Hook, 29, who has played in a number of positions behind the scrum for his country also failed to make Gatland's cut for a demanding series of games less than a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
Wales go up against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa. on successive weekends in Cardiff.
Newcomer Smith is among six props named in the squad - Gethin Jenkins, Paul James, Samson Lee, Aaron Jarvis and Rhodri Jones are the others - with Hook's versatility not enough to catch Gatland's eye.
There is a recall for Wasps lock Bradley Davies, who has been in outstanding form this season, with France-based players Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate also taking their places, as expected.
Others to miss out, though, include fleet-footed Ospreys wing Eli Walker, Cardiff Blues hooker Matthew Rees and his Blues colleague, fly-half Rhys Patchell.
"We are really happy with the squad," Gatland said.
"There is a lot of experience that has come back in, 12 players who were injured in the summer and didn't tour South Africa. They are back and fit and we have a couple of exciting youngsters as well.
"Nicky Smith has been playing exceptionally well for the Ospreys. We have been impressed with him and it's a great opportunity.
"When you look through the squad there is a huge amount of experience. "We've taken a lot of things into account and made some tough decisions.
"We've had to weigh up a balance of players who play in Wales and outside, due to how often they can train and are with us, but we are really happy with the squad.
"We are looking to the future and the next 12 months ahead with this squad, but it doesn't close the door for anyone not selected."
That final comment will give a glimmer of hope to both Jones and Hook for a possible Six Nations return early next year.
The Wales squad for the November Test series against Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa:
Forwards
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester Rugby), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), James King (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Dragons).
Backs:
Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), James Roberts (Racing Metro), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hallam Amos (Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Tom Prydie (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Liam Williams (Scarlets).