THREE Gwent representatives have been named in Wales’ 24-man squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

Back rower Joe Burke and wing Dalton Grant, both from Newport, and Swinton Lions second row Rhodri Lloyd, who hails from Caerphilly, have all been included in John Kear’s squad.

The tournament – which will be played in England – kicks off on October 15, with the final being played at Old Trafford on November 19.

Wales will be based in Preston during the tournament, with a warm-up fixture against Lebanon on Saturday, October 8, before playing their first group game against Cook Islands in Leigh on Wednesday, October 19.

They then face Tonga (Monday, October 24 in St Helens) and Papua New Guinea (Monday, October 31 in Doncaster).

The team will be led by captain Elliot Kear, who will emulate Whitchurch High School classmate, Sam Warburton, who captained the Wales rugby union side in a World Cup in both 2011 and 2015. Another former Whitchurch High School classmate, Gareth Bale, will replicate the honour when he leads out the Welsh football team at their first World Cup in 64 years this November in Qatar.

Experience comes in the form of Wales’ most capped men’s senior international and record try scorer, Rhys Williams, who will look to add to his 31 appearances and 22 tries during the tournament.

There are two uncapped players in the squad. Caleb Aekins, a try scorer as Leigh Centurions won promotion to Super League on Sunday, is joined by Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity), who was part of the Wales squad that travelled to France in June.

Evans only made his professional rugby league debut this season having crossed codes from rugby union at the age of 31.

Anthony Walker is also included after being ruled out of the 2017 World Cup just days before travelling to Australia, after scans revealed an abnormality in his brain that has been with him since birth and forced him to retire. Having received the all clear and returning to playing the sport in 2020, Walker will be out to add to his tally of nine caps, the last of which was won in the test match against France in June.

The squad in full is:

Caleb Aekins (Leigh Centurions), Bailey Antrobus (York City Knights), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets), Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders), Chester Butler (Bradford Bulls), Mike Butt (Swinton Lions), Connor Davies (Workington Town), Curtis Davies (Whitehaven), Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls), Will Evans (Whitehaven), Kyle Evans (Wakefield Trinity), Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls), Dan Fleming (Featherstone Rovers), Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings), Dalton Grant (London Broncos), Tom Hopkins (Barrow Raiders), Elliot Kear (captain – Bradford Bulls), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), James Olds (Valley Diehards), Ollie Olds (Valley Diehards), Josh Ralph (Mounties), Luis Roberts (Leigh Centurions), Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls), Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils).