Shock Wales call-up for uncapped wing Regan Grace

Regan Grace scored scored 89 tries in 143 games for St Helens rugby league side

Wales have given Bath wing and rugby league convert Regan Grace - who is uncapped in rugby union - a shock call-up to their summer squad.

Grace has been called up for Ospreys wing Keelan Giles, who has suffered a groin injury.

The 27-year-old switched codes in 2022 but serious Achilles injuries have delayed his competitive rugby union debut.

As Grace plays for an English club, he will be unavailable for Saturday's match against South Africa at Twickenham because it falls outside World Rugby's international window.

But he could play his first competitive professional rugby union match in the two-Test series against Australia in July.

Prop Henry Thomas has been ruled out of the game against the Springboks through injury, with Keiron Assiratti starting and Harri O'Connor called onto the replacements' bench.

Wales will announce a final 34-man squad for the tour of Australia after the South Africa game.

Grace was born in Port Talbot and, after playing for Ospreys Under-16s, spent six seasons with St Helens during which he won three Super League Grand Finals and the Challenge Cup, and played six games for Wales in rugby league.

He announced he was switching codes in July 2022 to link up with Racing 92 but ruptured his Achilles while playing for St Helens in August that year.

Grace did not make an appearance for the French Top 14 side after a relapse of the injury in February 2023.

In April, Bath signed Grace on a deal until the end of the 2024-25 season, which includes the option of him staying for the 2025-26 campaign.

Grace had joined Bath in February as he recovered from a long-term injury and played in two friendlies for the club in March against Gloucester and Leinster.

Wales are missing the rested Josh Adams for the summer series, while other options like Theo Cabango, Tom Rogers and Tomi Lewis are injured.

with the other back three options in the squad including Liam Williams, Cameron Winnett, Rio Dyer, Jacob Beetham, Josh Hathaway and Mason Grady. The latter will line up at centre against the Springboks this weekend.

"He’s got speed," said Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.

"We’ve lost a few in the back three and he’s got that X-factor.

"It’s great to get him in the environment and get to know him a bit better.

"You can’t buy what he’s got, we’re excited to have him here. He’s got gas and he can make things happen."