Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies will captain Wales on their two-Test tour of Japan next month, interim head coach Robin McBryde announced on Tuesday. Davies has not played for his country since being knocked out by a punch from New Zealand's Andrew Hore during a 33-10 loss to the All Blacks in November, having been ruled out of the Six Nations earlier this year with an ankle problem.

British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland on Monday insisted he won't ask Jonny Wilkinson to join the forthcoming tour to Australia unless his squad is hit by injuries. Wilkinson was crowned European player of the year on Sunday to cap a memorable weekend for the English stars, who had kicked Toulon to victory over Clermont Auvergne in the final of the European Cup just 24 hours earlier.

Coach Robbie Deans has challenged playmaker Quade Cooper to assert himself in his tour game against the British and Irish Lions if he wants to play for the Wallabies in next month's three-Test series. The maverick fly-half, who clashed with Deans over his coaching style last year, was left out of a 25-man initial Wallaby squad on Sunday for the Lions series, but Deans said a further six players were to be added to the final squad on June 10.

Flyhalf Quade Cooper was omitted from the 25-man Wallaby squad named to play the touring British and Irish Lions in next month's three-Test series, the Australian Rugby Union said on Sunday. Coach Robbie Deans left out the World Cup number 10 and instead has chosen James O'Connor as his fly-half in the Wallaby squad. Former rugby league international back Israel Folau is one of three uncapped players named in the squad along with ACT Brumbies skipper and backrower Ben Mowen and his teammate and back Christian Lealiifano.