Dewi Lake will captain a Wales team that includes Scarlets centre Joe Roberts on debut – one of 15 changes – in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash against England at Twickenham. Roberts, 23, is partnered in midfield by Nick Tompkins, while there are also starts for the likes of wing Tom Rogers, fly-half Owen Williams, lock Rhys Davies and flanker Tommy Reffell.

Wales coach Warren Gatland looks set to hand Scarlets centre Joe Roberts a Test debut among wholesale changes for Saturday’s second Rugby World Cup warm-up game against England. Wales head to Twickenham on the back of an impressive 20-9 victory in Cardiff that saw then score 14 unanswered second-half points through converted tries from Gareth Davies and George North.

Like Wales’ Gareth Anscombe, Danny Care has unfinished business with the World Cup but refuses to hold back during England’s warm-up games even if it means repeating one of his career’s most crushing disappointments. Japan-bound half-back Anscombe was injured in a warm-up match against England at Twickenham four years ago and missed the 2019 tournament.

Leigh Halfpenny will finally win his 100th cap for Wales against England on Saturday in a team captained by Jac Morgan. Three players are at the other end of the spectrum and will make their international debuts – Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop), Corey Domachowski (loosehead prop) and Max Llewellyn (centre).

Ryan Elias intends to strike against England next Saturday, even though he was nowhere near his Wales comrades when they almost downed boots in the Six Nations. The Scarlets hooker was absent from any picket line with an Achilles injury back in February, when angry Welsh dragons nearly scorched the fixture in a dispute over delayed contracts.

Josh Adams insists there can be no holding back when Wales face England in a couple of weeks – even though any injuries could disrupt both teams’ World Cup plans. After a challenging two-week training camp in Switzerland, Adams is looking forward to the next instalment in Turkey as the Wales senior men’s squad starts to turn its attentions to next month’s Vodafone Summer Series.

The Scarlets will face opposition from Georgia for the first time next season when they meet Black Lion in the European Challenge Cup. EPCR have announced that Georgia’s Black Lion and the Cheetahs from South Africa have accepted invitations to compete in the 2023/24 tournament.

Sion Parry is hoping to make the leap from carpenter and semi-pro rugby player to become an international this summer after being called up into the Canadian national squad. The tough as teak Pontypridd openside enjoyed a stellar season in the Indigo Premiership at Sardis Road last winter and his reward has been a surprise offer from Canadian head coach Kingsley Jones to join the two Test tour to Tonga.

Warren Gatland has called up uncapped back-row forward Taine Plumtree to Wales’ World Cup training squad for a two-week camp in Switzerland. Plumtree is part of a group that has travelled to Fiesch in the Swiss Alps, the Welsh Rugby Union said.

Head coach Mark Jones has named a starting side boasting five changes for the crucial Pool A encounter against France at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday 4th July in the U20 World Rugby Championship. (Live S4C, 3.30pm UK)

Gareth Davies is enjoying the grind of Warren Gatland’s Rugby World Cup training camp as the Wales scrum-half turned heads with photos posted on social media. The 32-year-old has been working to get into peak physical shape since the end of the season with Scarlets.

Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel has welcomed the confirmation that his team will play the Barbarians this autumn in a fundraising memorial match in honour of Phil Bennett. A year on from his death last summer at the age of 73, the Wales and Llanelli legend has been remembered by the announcement of the September fixture.