NEWPORT pair Dale Burn and Gareth Gravell and Ebbw Vale threequarter Rhys Shorney have been called into the Wales A squad for pre-Six Nations training.
Burn and Shorney have been around a while and have been in consistent form, but Gravell earns recognition after fewer than 10 games at senior level, just as back row teammate Andrew Powell did.
Gravell has played in big games for Newport against Munster, Leinster and Llanelli in his first season at senior level.
The 21-year-old from Burry Port said, "It's a nice surprise to be in the A squad, it all seems to be happening for me."
Gravell joins Burn, Powell, Chris Anthony, Andy Marinos, Matthew Watkins, Jonathan Pritchard and Ben Breeze as Newport's Wales A squad members while Ebbw Vale already provide locks Chay Billen and Neil Edwards, now joined by Shorney.
Newport insist they will pay bottom-of-the-table Caerphilly, without a win after eight games, every respect in their league game at Virginia Park tomorrow night.
"We have to bear in mind we have lost four games on the trot, three against Leinster and against Llanelli, though against very strong opposition, and we have to get the show back on the road," said coach Ian McIntosh.
"We are certainly not taking Caerphilly lightly, so we have put in a strong side."
Team manager Jim McCreedy said bluntly, "It's a vital match for us which we've simply got to win. We know Caerphilly did very well against Swansea and sometimes when you bring in new coaches it gives your side a lift."
* The nine Welsh premier clubs meet today to discuss plans by the WRU for streamlining the structure next season.
Former Wales star Jonathan Davies, now a TV pundit, comes out heavily today in favour of four district teams and pleads for the survival of Neath and Ebbw Vale.
But Sir Tasker Watkins' much awaited report into the game is believed to recommend that the future of Welsh rugby be club-based, also calling for a professional body to run the game instead of the WRU general committee.
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