NEWPORT Gwent Dragons are celebrating after a record number of their players have been chosen in the Wales squad for the game against the Babarians at the Millennium Stadium on June 4.

The fortunate five who have made the 26-man squad are wing Aled Brew, lock Luke Charteris, back row pair Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau and, the biggest surprise of all, hooker Lloyd Burns.

Burns has enjoyed a staggering rise - as forecast in the Argus yesterday - and, along with Scarlets centre Scott Williams, is the shock selection in the Wales squad.

And Gatland says Burns is a chip off the old block, too. "I’ve been really impressed with him recently, he’s a converted No 8, a bit like myself," he said.

"He’s big and physical and someone we want to bring into the squad to have a look at. His form has been good and this gives us an opportunity to see him.

"The set piece is strangely not so important, there were only six scrums against France so we are looking at mobility and impact.

"Not once was the line broken in the Six Nations from scrum or line-out so we are looking at the kick chase and exploiting turnovers.

"We will have two, maybe three second rows for the World Cup and and loose forwards who can play there to give us mobility."

Charteris has been handed a chance to reclaim his Wales slot after recovering from the neck problems which excluded him this season when he was a regular last year.

Lydiate is established now and Gatland again enthused about the arrival of Toby Faletau on the scene, surely set for his first cap against the Baa-Baas. In fact, Faletau’s inclusion is partly the reason for the exclusion of Andy Powell.

"You’ve got to recognise the impression Toby has made in the last number of weeks," said Gatland.

"Working off the back row and on hard grounds which we are likely to get in New Zealand, we have given Toby the opportunity to do what he’s been doing for the Dragons which has been outstanding and see if he can do it on the bigger stage."

Faletau followed up his most promising Welsh player of the year award by winning the Magners League best young player award at a dinner in Ireland on Sunday.

Brew’s selection continues his yo-yo kind of international career, recalled after two years against Fiji in the autumn, then discarded in favour of Tom James who wasn’t even in the squad, and now recalled again.

His 16 tries this season, a Magners League record, made a compelling argument. Kicking coach Neil Jenkins admitted, "We know how good a player he is, he’s a huge attacking threat, he plays off the outside half’s shoulder which is something we could use to our advantage.

"He’s been excellent with Jason Tovey’s crossfield kicks and it’s nice to see him back in the squad. We hope he brings his form into the Barbarians game."

Gatland also mentioned Tovey as a candidate though he hasn’t made the squad.

"He’s been pretty good for the Dragons with his kicking game going forward," he said.

Wales will have a new captain for the Baabaas game, 22-year-old Sam Warburton taking over from the rested Matthew Rees though former skipper Ryan Jones is in the squad.

"Sam is one of the leaders in the squad and will benefit from the experience of captaining the side after having had such an impressive Six Nations campaign," said Gatland.

Outside half Stephen Jones is set to become only the second Wales player to win 100 caps, alongside Gareth Thomas.

Despite Jones closing in on a personal landmark Gatland said, "Stephen is aware he is under pressure and continues to have criticism in the press in Wales which drives him on."