End of road for Charvis after Wales omission

Colin Charvis, once captain of Wales, has finally seen his Test career buried despite the Grand Slam champions' shortage of specialist open-side flankers ahead of next month's trip to South Africa. Charvis has lost out to two non-specialists, the versatile Ospreys back-rower Jonathan Thomas and the Llanelli Scarlets forward Dafydd Jones, who last played for his country in 2006.

"It wasn't a close decision," said Warren Gatland, the head coach, who must travel without the injured Cardiff Blues breakaway Martyn Williams and his understudies, Robin Sowden-Taylor and Ben Lewis. "We looked at the possibility of bringing back Colin as a short-term fill, but this tour is about the future."

Three uncapped players have made the cut: the Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop, the Blues lock Bradley Davies and the London Irish scrum-half Warren Fury.