Artful Arwel makes a comeback

Arwel Thomas will be back on Wales duty next week for the first time since Graham Henry arrived more than two years ago and promptly considered him too frail for international rugby.

The Swansea stand-off's inclusion, among a squad of 22, represents a major breakthrough for a player last seen on the global stage when the Springboks ran riot to win 96-13 in Pretoria. A slip of a lad who looks more 15 than 25, Artful Arwel has finally convinced the Lions coach that he can't be ignored.

Neil Jenkins, MBE, will surely regain the place he lost to Stephen Jones last season but a place on the bench against Samoa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday week will be a huge step in the right direction for his Swansea rival.

'Just being involved again is brilliant,' said Thomas. 'I've missed out on a lot during the last couple of years, playing some big games but not doing the business consistently, so I can't really have too many arguments.'