Little-known Aussies in Wales league squad - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Little-known Aussies in Wales league squad

Ian Laybourn 15/09/2011 01:20:14 PM Comments (0)

Wales rugby league coach Iestyn Harris will give opportunities to two little-known Australians who have thrown their hats into the ring for the Four Nations Series which kicks off next month in England.

Tyson Frizell, 19, and Matt Seamark, 24, both contacted Harris directly to declare their eligibility and have been named in the initial 35-strong training squad ahead of the autumn's clashes with England, Australia and New Zealand.

Frizell, who has a Welsh father and a Tongan mother, is an Australian rugby union schoolboy international who has already broken into domestic rugby league at the highest level after making his NRL debut for Cronulla in July.

Townsville-born Seamark, who qualifies through a Welsh grandmother, is currently playing in the Queensland Cup competition with Wynnum Manly, the feeder club of Brisbane Broncos.

"I've seen videos of their matches," said Harris. "They've held their hands up, they're Welsh qualified and they desperately want to be involved with their national side.

"They both look like high-quality players and, as they qualify and want to be involved, I'd be foolish to overlook them.

"We'll get them in the training camp, see what they're like in the flesh, see what intensity they train at and then see if we can put them into the side."

The squad includes former Wales and British Lions rugby star Gareth Thomas, who has recovered from a broken arm, and his Crusaders team-mate Peter Lupton, who qualifies through residency.

Twenty out of the 35 have played for either Crusaders or South Wales Scorpions in 2011, including Warrington winger Rhys Williams, who started the season on loan at Crusaders.

Training starts next week, initially with camps in both North and South Wales, in readiness for a warm-up match against Ireland in Neath on October 22.

Wales squad: Craig Kopzcak, Mark Lennon, Jacob Emmitt, Chris Beasley, Ian Webster, Tyson Frizell, Andy Bracek, Gil Dudson, Ben Flower, Jordan James, Elliot Kear, Peter Lupton, Jamie Murphy, Gareth Thomas, Lloyd White, Lee Williams, Ross Divorty, Danny Jones, David Mills, Geraint Davies, Neil Budworth, Rhys Griffiths, Joe Burke, Chris Davies, Andrew Gay, Dalton Grant, Aled James, Rhodri Lloyd, Steve Parry, Jack Pring, Christiaan Roets, Ian Watson, Lee Briers, Rhys Williams, Matt Seamark.

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