Newport Gwent Dragons' giant lock Luke Charteris is back in the Wales team and ready to face the USA Eagles.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has again shown faith in the youngster who lines up alongside Grand Slam hero Brent Cockbain on Saturday.

Charteris is joined in the Wales side in Hartford by Dragons team-mates Kevin Morgan and Ceri Sweeney, with Ian Gough on the bench.

Wales skipper Mark Taylor, who once thought his Wales career was over after suffering an injury nightmare, will earn his 50th Test cap in Hartford to join an elite group of six players to have reached half a century of games for Wales.

The 32-year-old may be missing the Lions tour of New Zealand but is delighted just to be on Wales' trip to the USA.

Taylor, who will join Premiership outfit Sale Sharks this summer, returned from a chicken-pox type virus earlier this year to answer his country's injury problem on the wing for the RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam decider against Ireland in March.

He now takes over as skipper from Six Nations captain Gareth Thomas and Michael Owen, both Down Under with the Lions, and leads a second-string Wales team.

"It is a great honour to be captaining Wales again and winning my 50th cap at the same time makes it all the more special," said Taylor.

"There have been times over the past few years when I wondered whether I would ever get the chance to play for Wales again, let alone captain the side, so this is a special day."

Wales coach Mike Ruddock has been forced to make 10 changes to the side that clinched their country's first Grand Slam in 27 years following injuries and call-ups for the Lions. Among the changes is 24-year-old Llanelli Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees, who takes over from veteran Mefin Davies, ruled out with a back strain.

Ruddock said: "This is a great opportunity for Matthew, as well as a number of other players, to show what they can do during the absence of the players picked with the Lions.

"He has played well for the Scarlets all season, is very active in the lineout and works hard both in defence and attack. It is up to him to take his chance with both hands.

"He is fortunate to have a number of experienced players around him in Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain, Jonathan Thomas and Ryan Jones, who all played key roles in winning the Six Nations.

"Despite losing so many players to the Lions I am still very pleased with the team I have been able to pick. I think it is a strong side with a good mix of experience and youth. We will obviously be trying out a few new combinations but the team has been gelling well in training."

Wales, who have won their last six games, face an American side coming off the back of a narrow 30-26 defeat to neighbours Canada and a 28-22 victory over Romania.

Ruddock added: "They are a well organised team with some very strong runners behind."