JASON Tovey has made the Wales training squad for the World Cup – and coach Warren Gatland admits he is expecting something different from the Newport Gwent Dragons outside-half.

Tovey has leapt over Dan Biggar into the 45-strong squad announced by Gatland after the narrow 31-28 defeat by the Barbarians on Saturday.

He joins Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland and James Hook as No 10s in the squad, though he can also play at full back equally well, while Hook, of course, has played for Wales at centre and full back.

Tovey, who is 21, has just completed his second full season with the Dragons and has also been preferred to another candidate in Nicky Robinson.

He becomes the sixth member of the Dragons team to make the Wales squad, joining Aled Brew, Luke Charteris, Toby Faletau and Dan Lydiate, who all started against the Barbarians, and Lloyd Burns, capped as a replacement.

“I’ve been pretty impressed with Jason, I’ve watched him closely and he brings different options after looking at the No 10s available,” said Gatland.

Attack coach Rob Howley also praised Tovey. “Jason gives us a left-sided option, he’s come on really well, as has Rhys Priestland,” he said.

And Luke Charteris, the senior Dragons player with 23 caps to his name, also predicts Tovey will add something to the squad.

“He will provide something special, he’s a bit different and he’ll do well in this environment, which will bring him on a lot,” he said.

“He’s got every chance of going to the World Cup, he can cover full back and 10, he’s skilful and a quality player, he’s got time on the ball and he can do things.”

But Gatland still had a warning for Tovey, saying his place-kicking ratio is not good enough. “James Hook and Stephen Jones are in the high 70s and Nicky (Robinson) is in the 60s, but Jason’s is 58%, which is not good enough,” he said.

“If you are going to win Test matches you have got to kick your goals, I’m pleased with Jason’s general game and he shows enough in attack but the place-kicking is not good enough.”

The Dragons management will now have to wait and see how many of their six squad players make it all the way to the World Cup before finalising their recruitment. If three or more are chosen in the squad to be announced on August 22, they may have to revise their plans.

Another player who has made the training squad is No 8 Gareth Delve, now playing in Australia for new team the Melbourne Rebels in the Super 15 competition, captaining them in some games.

“I’ve watched him in a few games and he’s done very well,” said Gatland. “He’s been involved in the squad in the past and he’s playing in the southern hemisphere so he’s acclimatised and used to the conditions, so he could be in the final squad. He gives us another option.”

The squad will start training at the Vale of Glamorgan from June 13, a week later for some, and will have two training camps in Poland in July depending on individual requirements.

Wales play England at Twickenham on August 6 and a week later in Cardiff and Argentina at home on the 20th, all at 2.30pm, with the final squad named two days after their last match. Wales preliminary squad for the World Cup: Forwards: H Bennett (Ospreys), L Burns (Dragons), R Hibbard (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets), S Andrews (Cardiff), R Bevington (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff), A Jones (Ospreys), C Mitchell (Exeter), J Yapp (Cardiff), L Charteris (Dragons), B Davies (Blues), AW Jones (Ospreys), L Reed (Scarlets), G Delve (Melbourne Rebels), T Faletau (Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Dragons), R McCusker (Scarlets), A Powell (Sale Sharks), J Thomas (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), S Warburton (Blues), M Williams (Blues). Backs: T Knoyle (Scarlets), D Peel (Sale), M Phillips (Ospreys), R Rees (Blues), S Jones (Scarlets), R Priestland (Scarlets), J Tovey (Dragons), J Hook (Perpigan), A Bishop (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), G Henson (unattached), J Roberts (Cardiff), G North (Scarlets), A Brew (Dragons), M Stoddart (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), L Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), L Halfpenny (Cardiff).