LLANELLI'S Newport-born lock Chris Wyatt has been called into the Wales squad to travel to Australia and New Zealand next month.

The 29-year-old was chosen ahead of Newport's Ian Gough as the replacement for Pontypridd's new Gwent region recruit Michael Owen, who has been forced to pull out with knee ligament damage.

Wyatt, capped 33 times, won his first honour as a replacement against Zimbabwe on the summer tour to southern Africa in 1998 and last played for Wales as a replacement against Scotland last April.

"We wanted to have another middle-of-the-line jumper and that's why we went for Chris. This is a real opportunity for him," said Wales coach Steve Hansen.

Meanwhile, Reuben Thorne will lead New Zealand in their June Tests against Wales, England and France.

Loose forward Thorne was confirmed as skipper by coach John Mitchell ahead of other candidates Taine Randell, Tana Umaga and Anton Oliver.

Thorne, who led the Crusaders through an unbeaten Super 12 in 2002 and to the final again this year, became the All Blacks 58th Test captain when he was appointed by Mitchell last season.

Thorne led New Zealand to success in last year's Tri-Nations Series.

A 26-man squad has been named for the games and it includes five new faces.

The newcomers are Auckland wingers Malili Muliaina and Joe Rokocoko, Wellington centre Ma'a Nonu, Canterbury utility back Daniel Carter and his provincial team-mate and lock forward Brad Thorn. All five were outstanding performers in the just concluded Super 12.

The All Blacks play England at Wellington on June 14, Wales at Hamilton on June 21 and France at Christchurch on June 28.

All Blacks squad: Leon MacDonald (Canterbury), Malili Muliaina (Auckland), Doug Howlett (Auckland), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Caleb Ralph (Canterbury), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Tana Umaga (Wellington, vice captain), Daniel Carter (Canterbury), Aaron Mauger (Canterbury), Carlos Spencer (Auckland), Steve Devine (Auckland), Justin Marshall (Canterbury), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Richard McCaw (Canterbury), Marty Holah (Waikato), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury, captain), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Ali Williams (Auckland), Chris Jack (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Kees Meeuws (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Anton Oliver (Otago), Carl Hoeft (Otago), Dave Hewett (Canterbury).

* The Barbarians have made 15 changes from the team which beat England for the game against Scotland at Murrayfield on Wednesday night.

The Barbarians play Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Barbarians: C Jantjes (South Africa), S Staniforth (Australia), D Gibson (New Zealand), A Rougerie (France), F Contepomi (Argentina), A Pichot (Argentina), A J Venter (South Africa), S Phelan Argentina), T Flavell (New Zealand), H Louw (South Africa), M Galway (Ireland), A Garvey (South Africa), R Ibanez (France), O Roux (South Africa). Replacements: M Sexton (Ulster), F Tournaire (France), R Strudwick (London Irish), O Magne (France), D Edwards (London Irish), M Perry (England), C Stoica (Italy).