Tuesday 23 September 2014 14:03, UK
Former Great Britain prop Garreth Carvell has been named in John Kear's first Wales squad, some 14 years after he last played for the country.
The 33-year-old former Hull and Warrington front rower, who is on a short-term deal with Castleford, is included in Kear's 22-man squad for the 2014 European Championships, which get under way when Wales meet Scotland in Workington on October 17.
Carvell last played for Wales in the 2000 World Cup but has put his hand up to play for his old Hull boss Kear, who has succeeded Iestyn Harris as Wales head coach.
I'm expecting him to be a stalwart in the side. At 33, he is our oldest player, while Connor Farrer, at only just 19, is our youngest.
He is expecting to be fit to play despite ending the Super League season on the sidelines with a neck injury.
Kear said: "Garreth enjoyed playing for the Welsh team all those years ago and, when I spoke to him about it, I was pleased with his response and how keen he was to come back.
"I'm expecting him to be a stalwart in the side. At 33, he is our oldest player, while Connor Farrer, at only just 19, is our youngest.
"It's good that we have old hands helping through the up and coming lads, and it bodes well for this tournament and the future of Wales Rugby League as we continue to build towards Rugby League World Cup 2017."
Kear's squad is selected from 14 clubs across four professional leagues, with World Cup squad members Peter Lupton (Workington), Dan Fleming (Castleford), Jake Emmitt (Leigh) and Elliot Kear (Bradford) providing the experience alongside a host of newcomers.
Squad: J Burke, D Grant (both Barrow), B Smith (Batley), E Kear (Bradford), G Carvell, D Fleming (both Castleford), R Williams (Central Queensland Capras), M Barron (Gateshead), I Duffy (Gloucestershire All Golds), O Olds (Ipswich Jets, Australia), J Emmitt (Leigh), R Massam, C Roets (both North Wales Crusaders), Y Parker (Oxford), A Bateman, P Carleton, P Emanuelli, C Farrer, K Scrivens, J Sheridan (all South Wales Scorpions), M Fozard (St Helens), P Lupton (Workington).
