FORMER Dragons back Calvin Wellington is in contention to make his Wales rugby league debut in the Test against France next weekend.

The 26-year-old from Port Talbot, who is the cousin of Super League star Regan Grace, has been named in a 30-strong squad for the clash in Albi on Sunday, June 19 (kick-off 2.30pm).

Also named are Newport-born Dalton Grant and Joe Burke along with Kyle Huish and Rhodri Lloyd, who played age-grade union for the Dragons before choosing to play for Wigan.

Speedster Grace is not included after only recently returning for Saints after injury while Gil Dudson, the prop from Abergavenny who will move to Warrington from Catalans Dragons next year, is unavailable.

Wellington is one of 14 uncapped players in the squad, which will be cut to 21 next week for the trip to France for a first 13-a-side international since the win over Ireland in November 2018 that secured qualification for the upcoming World Cup.

 

Calvin Wellington had a spell with the Dragons in union but could make his Wales rugby league debut

 

The Dragons paid a transfer fee to St Helen to bring in Wellington in November 2017, with then head coach Bernard Jackman labelling him a "freak of an athlete", but the centre/wing was hindered by injuries at Rodney Parade.

He made just two senior appearances – against Saracens and Worcester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup – and was released in 2019.

Wellington, who was spotted by the Saints playing for Aberavon Quins, went on to play union for Sale FC in National League One before returning to the 13-man code.

He played for Workington before earning a move to Oldham, who has played for four times in the current campaign.

"I prefer league, there's a lot more involvement," said Wellington when signing for the Lancashire club.

"Things didn't work out for me at Dragons because of injuries and opportunity knocked for me at Workington Town so I went up there.

"It was great to be back in league and eventually to be part of the Town team that won promotion at the end of last season, but a lot of my time in Cumbria was affected by Covid.

"I feel I'm still finding my feet in league, and I want to improve and learn as much as I can.

"One of the things that attracted me to Oldham was the opportunity to be coached by an ex-player who used to be a top centre. If Stu Littler can't show me how to be a good centre, who can?"

Wales squad: Caleb Aekins* (Leigh Centurions), Bailey Antrobus* (York City Knights), Gavin Bennion (Rochdale Hornets), Joe Burke (West Wales Raiders), Chester Butler (Huddersfield Giants), Michael Butt (Swinton Lions), Curtis Davies (Workington Town), Connor Davies (Workington Town), Rhys Evans (Bradford Bulls), Ben Evans (Bradford Bulls), William Evans* (Whitehaven), Jude Ferreira* (London Broncos), Dan Fleming (Bradford Bulls), Matty Fozard (Widnes Vikings), Dalton Grant (London Broncos), Cobi Green* (Rochdale Hornets), Tom Hopkins* (Barrow Raiders), Kyle Huish* (Wigan Warriors), Lewis Hulme* (Widnes Vikings), Paddy Jones* (Swinton Lions), Elliot Kear (c) (Bradford Bulls), Kieran Lewis (Saint Gaudens XIII), Rhodri Lloyd (Swinton Lions), Lewis Pinder* (Wigan Warriors), Owen Restall* (Oldham Roughyeds), Luis Roberts* (Leigh Centurions), Anthony Walker (Bradford Bulls), David Weetman* (Workington Town), Calvin Wellington* (Oldham Roughyeds), Rhys Williams (Salford Red Devils).

*Uncapped