PONTYPRIDD outside-half Neil Jenkins has been handed a surprise international recall by Wales for Friday's Autumn international series opener against Romania at The Racecourse, Wrexham.

After more than a season in the wilderness because of a serious knee injury, the world record international points scorer returns to coach Steve Hansen's side against one of the weaker rugby playing nations and will be partnered by Llanelli scrum-half Dwayne Peel.

Llanelli's former Pontypool prop Martin Madden is likely makes his first start for Wales on Friday along with Pontypridd hooker Mefin Davies who, like Madden, went on as a replacement in South Africa in the summer.

New caps have been handed to Kiwi-born centre Sonny Parker and his Pontypridd prop colleague Gethin Jenkins.

In other surprises, Bridgend's Gareth Thomas has been recalled on the wing in place of Cardiff ace Craig Morgan, with Robert Sidoli alongside Steve Williams in the second row.

The game is the first of Wales' four Test matches next month, the others against Fiji, Canada and New Zealand.

The powerful Parker has only recently become qualified for Wales after completing a three-year residence qualification.

He has long been thought of as a Wales possibility, having first been praised by Hanson's predecessor as national boss, Graham Henry.

Gethin Jenkins is only 21 but is very highly regarded as a powerful scrummager, hard-worker and very mobile.

The Romania game should not present Wales with too many difficulties, hence the decision to make a few experiments.

Wales: R Williams (Cardiff), M Jones (Llanelli), S Parker (Pontypridd), T Shanklin (Saracens), G Thomas (Bridgend), N Jenkins (Pontypridd), D Peel (Llanelli), G Jenkins (Pontypridd), M Davies (Pontypridd), M Madden (Llanelli), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), S Williams (Northampton), M Owen (Pontypridd), C Quinnell (Llanelli), C Charvis (Swansea. captain).

* Newbridge lock Mike Peard has been banned for three games by the Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary committee after being sent off for punching against Treorchy on September 28. This means he will miss the home clash with Tondu on Saturday and the game at Llandovery the following week. But the club are seeking clarification if the Gwent Police match against the Caerphilly Academy on November 6, for which Peard has been selected, will count as his third game or whether he will have to miss the big clash against Pontypool on November 16. The appeals by skipper and flanker Damien Cooper and outside half Jason Williams against their sendings off against Blackwood were again not heard as referee Ceri Evans could not attend the hearing.