"I DIDN'T think I was within a million miles of this" was the stunned reaction of Ebbw Vale second row Neil Edwards to his inclusion in the Wales A team to face Uruguay in Cardiff on Saturday.

It was only last season Edwards (pictured) was taken on by Vale from Mountain Ash after they had gone to watch a full back in action.

"I was shocked then," said Porth-born Edwards, 26, "and I'm shocked now. I can't believe this has happed in the space of a year."

Edwards' inclusion alongside clubmate Chay Billen is one of six changes to the side which defeated Tonga.

Edwards was an 11th-hour call up yesterday morning after Bridgend's Chris Stephens failed to recover from a back spasm.

Other forward changes are Llanelli prop Martin Madden for senior squad choice Duncan Jones and Neath's Nathan Bonner-Evans for Newport's dead leg victim Andrew Powell at No 8.

Behind, Swansea's Gavin Henson replaces Barry Davies at full back, Jon Pritchard takes over from Newport clubmate Andy Marinos (in the senior squad) at centre and Neath's fit-again Shane Williams replaces Newport's Ben Breeze on the left wing.

Four changes among the replacements include the call-up of Ebbw Vale No 8 Will Thomas.

"Mike Ruddock (Wales A and Ebbw Vale coach) has helped me massively in the last two years and has brought more organisation and dedication to my game. I'm a lot more serious about my rugby now," added Edwards who spent most of last season on his club's bench.

"It obviously gives me ambitions to go further, but let's get Saturday out of the way first. "It's another step up but I'm not going to get carried away, just try to do a perform well. That's what matters - trying to do justice to myself and for my family and friends." He added: "I didn't think I was within a million miles of this to be honest."

Ruddock said: "I felt it would be a good time to introduce him. He's played well for Ebbw Vale against most of the best middle jumpers around.

"He's got international size, international reach and he's hungry for the opportunity and deserves it and Graham Henry agrees."

Wales A: Henson (Swansea), Wyatt (Pontypridd), Watkins, Pritchard (both Newport), Williams, Jarvis (both Neath), Madden (Llanelli), Davies (Pontypridd) captain, Anthony (Newport), Billen, Edwards (both Ebbw Vale), Budgett, Ringer (both Bridgend), Bonner-Evans (Neath). Replacements: Williams, Jones (Bridgend), Jenkins (Pontypridd), Thomas (Ebbw Vale), Cooper (Bath), Robinson (Cardiff).