Ken Owens joins injured pair out of Wales tour to Japan

Ken Owens has joined Scarlets team-mates Scott Williams and Rhys Priestland in withdrawing from the Wales tour of Japan through injury.

Hooker Owens, 26, suffered nerve damage after a heavy blow to his neck in Friday's Pro12 semi-final in Ulster.

Uncapped Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Sam Parry, 21, had already been added to the training squad.

Centre Williams (shoulder) and Priestland (Achilles) were also injured while on Scarlets duty against Ulster.

Priestland, 26, aggravated an Achilles tendon injury during the warm-up before Friday's Pro12 semi-final in Ulster.

His place in the squad has been taken by 19-year-old uncapped Cardiff Blues fly-half Rhys Patchell, who has enjoyed an impressive first season with Cardiff Blues, scoring 147 points in 22 appearances. No replacement has been called for Williams.

Wales are still monitoring the fitness of another Scarlets player, full-back Liam Williams. He tweaked a hamstring in the semi-final defeat by Ulster.

The Wales training squad gathered in Cardiff on Monday to prepare for the two-Test tour, which begins in Osaka on 8 June.

Interim coach Robin McBryde, covering while Warren Gatland and Rob Howley are on British and Irish Lions duty, will cut down the training squad down to 27 players next Tuesday.