WAYNE Pivac has picked uncapped Dragons duo Taine Basham and Ashton Hewitt in his first squad as new Wales head coach ahead of next Saturday’s clash against the Barbarians in Cardiff.

The pair are joined in the 35-man party by regional team-mates Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ollie Griffiths, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright and Sam Davies.

Pivac has also selected New Zealand-born backs Johnny McNicholl and Willis Halaholo, as well as uncapped Cardiff Blues forward Shane Lewis-Hughes.

The Principality Stadium clash with the Baa-Baa’s, who will be coached by former Wales boss Warren Gatland, is an uncapped fixture.

Basham’s selection comes just three days after the 20-year-old turned in a man-of-the-match performance in the European Challenge Cup victory over Castres.

The openside crossed for a hat-trick of tries as the Dragons got their campaign in Europe up and running with a 31-17 success against the Top 14 outfit.

Winger Hewitt will be hoping it’s third time lucky for him after injury twice dented his chances of playing for Wales – concussion in 2017 and a shoulder problem last summer.

As for fly-half Davies, won the last of his eight caps in the 19-17 defeat of Samoa on Wales’ summer tour two years ago.

“I think every player at the Dragons is aspiring to play for Wales so we are naturally pleased for those who have been rewarded with call-ups,” said Dragons chief Dean Ryan.

“All those players who have sat on the fringes and are aspirational to play for Wales, they can do that by being consistently good here.

“I’m just hopeful that people continue to see the work that they are doing here that reflects their bravery to come to places like this, stay at places like this and try to give us a different trajectory.”

On Davies, he added: “Sam has made a brave move to come to a new club and define the trajectory of that club.

“Sometimes that puts him under a huge amount of pressure as a 10, but I think he has been tremendous in the way he has dealt with that and led the side.”

Davies’ chances of featuring in the matchday squad are very strong considering he and Cardiff Blues’ Jarrod Evans are the only two specialist 10s in the 35.

The squad features a host of Wales’ World Cup stars, however, captain Alun Wyn Jones is not included due to injury.

Joining him on the sidelines is Jonathan Davies, George North, Rhys Patchell, Josh Navidi, Cory Hill and Gareth Anscombe, while England-based Dan Biggar, Tomas Francis and Rhys Carre are not available as the game is outside the designated Test window.

Wales squad: Forwards – Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Ken Owens, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Samson Lee, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies, Seb Davies, Taine Basham, Ollie Griffiths, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Wainwright.

Backs – Aled Davies, Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Sam Davies, Jarrod Evans, Willis Halaholo, Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Owen Lane, Josh Adams, Steff Evans, Ashton Hewitt, Johnny McNicholl, Hallam Amos, Leigh Halfpenny.