Seven Scarlets chosen for 2011 Rugby World Cup squad

A record number of Scarlets backline players have been selected for the World Cup in New Zealand with a well-deserved place in the forwards for uncapped Scarlets hooker, Ken Owens.

He is joined in the squad by another six team mates from the Scarlets region, all of who play in the backline. Congratulations go to all our Scarlets:

• Stephen Jones, fly-half
• Ken Owens, hooker
• Jonathan Davies, centre
• Tavis Knoyle, scrum half
• George North, wing
• Rhys Priesland, fly-half / full-back
• Scott Williams, centre

Sam Warburton will lead Wales as captain at the 2011 Rugby World Cup for the showpiece tournament in New Zealand in replacement for the injured Scarlets and Wales skipper Matthew Rees who has undergone neck surgery in the past week.

Fly-half Stephen Jones is heading to his fourth World Cup where he will hope to become Wales’ all-time leading appearance record holder. The Scarlets have provided seven players for the World Cup, along with seven from the Ospreys, five from the Dragons, six from the Cardiff Blues and the remainder from English and French clubs.

Scarlets Head Coach Nigel Davies said: “We are very pleased for all our Scarlets players and congratulate them on achieving this huge honour to represent Wales in a showcase tournament. It will be great experience for some of the younger Wales internationals and I am delighted for Ken who gets his first chance of a Wales cap after all the effort he has put over the past two seasons and since returning from injury.

“A word for the boys not going to the tournament including our injured players Matthew Rees and Morgan Stoddart – it’s tough and they will be disappointed but they know they’ll have plenty of support to get back to fitness from the region and it will be great to have two of our key players them back in and around our environment, once they’ve recovered from their operations.

“I’ve spoken with Josh Turnbull today and he has no doubt impressed the Wales camp during the time he has been training; he’s very committed, ambitious and has worked hard. We obviously welcome his return to the Scarlets and he’ll come back in great shape having trained so intensively with Wales and will be a real boost for us.

“To have so many Scarlets involved, particularly in the back line is testimony to the investment that has been made in the region’s development plans to bring forward great Welsh talent. It’s exciting to see talented young players like Scott Williams get their opportunity to appear on the biggest rugby stage at the World Cup is something that will only benefit our region in the long-term.

“A lot is said about losing players to the World Cup but it’s the same for all clubs and no surprise. We have been planning this period for some time and we will look to manage it competently and certainly not using it as an excuse in our campaign. Importantly, we see it as an opportunity on two levels; firstly we get the chance to strengthen our foundations true to the Scarlets style of rugby and commitment to develop Welsh talent across our playing squad.

“Secondly, we can all take pride in a group of Scarlets international players who will come back to us more experienced, wiser and confident as a result of playing at the very highest levels and intensity. We all wish them the very best out in New Zealand.”

Wales Squad 2011 Rugby World Cup:

Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Lloyd Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), Paul James (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys) Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Craig Mitchell (Exeter Chiefs), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Aled Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), Lee Bryne (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), George North (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys).